Why preferred the sapphire Chase should be your first rewards card


It is easy to decide what you want to travel for less, but it is difficult to know where to start.

While we have a guide to Starting with points and miles And even an integer Points 101 Free email series Designed to make him go with rewards winning and burning and encouraging him to dive there if he wishes, just start does not have to be so complicated.

The overwhelming majority of the time, my number one recommendation for those who seek to deepen the points and miles is first get the CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFERRED® card (see rates and rates). It is not an accident that has won the Best Travel Rewards Credit Card For the seventh consecutive year … that’s constantly great.


Highest offer: win 100,000 bonus points with the Chase Sapphire preferred After spending $ 5,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening the account.


The preferred sapphire has existed for more than 15 years, but that does not mean it is obsolete. In fact, it means that it is a classic that has stayed with the times since it was launched in 2009. But in this case, it is difficult to overcome this classic when starting in the panorama of the rewards credit card.

So, whether you are looking for what the credit card rewards to start, or with which card to get below, here are five reasons why the preferred Sapphire Chase remains my most recommended card.

Highest welcome bonus for limited time in years

The registration bonus for the Preferred sapphire It varies over time, but at this time, it is the highest offer we have seen since 2021: it gains 100,000 bonus points after spending $ 5,000 on purchases in the first three months since the opening of the account.

Use points of this card in a surprising place like the Maldives. Katie Peopler/The Points Guy

TPG in April 2025 Valuations PIG The welcome bonus at $ 2,050. It is based on the maximization points with the hotel transfer partners and airlines of Chase.

Learning to Maximize your Chase Ultimate reward points With transfer partners, such as Hyatt and United, requires some investigation. Even so, it is worth the innumerable benefits that you will reap once you start using transfer partners with valuable Ultimate Rewards.

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If you use points directly to Reserved trips through Chase Travel℠You will still get 1.25 cents value per point. Although this fixed assessment is lower than if maximizing its points with the partners, that is an excellent registration bonus that requires little effort to use.

Outstanding transfer partners who stretch their points

Once you put yourself in danger, the alignment of transferred partners Available with the preferred chase Sapphire is stellar.

These transfer partners are:

  • Aer lingus Aerclub
  • Air Canada Aeropan
  • Air France-Klm Flying Blue
  • British Airways Executive Club
  • Emirates Skywards
  • IHG A reward
  • Iberia Plus
  • Jetblue Trueblue
  • Marriott Bonvoy
  • Singapore Airlines Krisflyer
  • Southwest Rapid Rewards
  • United mileageplus
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
  • Hyatt world

Unlike other card programs, Chase Ultimate rewards points can be transferred to these partners with a 1: 1 relationship (or more, with Occasional transfer bonds).

This means that 100,000 Chase Ultimate rewards points could become the equivalent of 100,000 miles of the United Miles, Airplan Miles, World of Hyatt Points and the list continues. In the end, their points are more useful than they would be if they were locked to win and redeem with a loyalty program.

Summer Hull/The Points Guy

Several transfer partners, such as United, Southwest and Hyatt, are relatively exclusive to Chase, so alignment cannot be easily replicated with most other credit card programs.

To give an example of why this is important, it can cost $ 800 or more remain in a resort such as the Hyatt Regency Maui if I was paying with cash (which, at $ 800, would be 64,000 points if it would be redeemed at 1.25 fixed cents each option).

However, you can transfer your persecution points to the Hyatt world and book that same hotel of only 21,000 points per night Through the Hyatt awards table. Compared to a $ 800 rate, that would be almost 4 cents per point, much more than if used at the fixed rate through Chase Travel.

View from Hyatt Regency Maui. Clint Henderson/The Points Guy

The newest people for travel rewards often feel more comfortable starting with loyalty programs with headquarters in the United States than some international options, where you can take advantage of partners reserves often more easily. Fortunately, Chase has several of them to start, such as Hyatt’s world.

Annual low rate with additional advantages

Premium travel rewards cards like American Express Platinum Card® and the preferred sapphire luxury counterpart, the CHASE SAPPHIRE Reserve® (see rates and rates), they have replaced the Chase Sapphire slot preferred in my own wallet. However, I travel several times a month and I have been in the set of points and miles for a long time.

Even if those letters are worth it, And they can be – It is rare that a newcomer of points and thousands begin with a card that comes with an annual rate of $ 695 (see rates and rates) for the Platinum Amex) or $ 550 for the sapphire reserve.

Clint Henderson/The Points Guy

Trying the water card waters with a card as preferred sapphire can be a much easier place to start. With only an annual rate of $ 95, trying a new card for at least a year is a minimum investment, especially while the welcome bonus is very high.

Some advantages can partially compensate for the annual rate, even continuously. For example, you can enjoy a Annual Hotel Credit of $ 50 For stays reserved through Chase Travel, and will also receive 10% of its points every year (according to your card spending).

Related: The 8 best credit cards with annual rates below $ 100

Good income rates that can improve over time

The preferred sapphire does not have the highest income rates, but still offers a solid return of many purchases:

  • 5 points per dollar on reserved trips through Chase Travel
  • 5 points per dollar on Lyft trips (until September 30, 2027)
  • 3 points per dollar at dinner
  • 3 points per dollar in selected transmission services
  • 3 points per dollar in purchases in the online groceries (excludes the Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
  • 2 points per dollar on all trips not reserved through Chase Travel
  • 1 point per dollar in everything else

These categories They are quite wide, and the trip includes everything from plane tickets and hotels to subway passes and parking lots. Meal Includes everything from a high -end restaurant to fast food and DORORASH DELIVERY SERVICES.

Since these points are worth 2.05 cents each (according to April 2025 Valuations), obtains between 2.05 and 10.25 cents in value per dollar loaded to the card, depending on the category in which he is spending.

Related: The Power of Chase Triafta: Sapphire Reserve, Ink Prefer and Freedom Unlimited

Easy to use rewards

The most gratifying way of maximizing its final rewards points is to transfer to the hotel and airline partners mentioned above when it award the availability of their favor.

However, I like this card for beginners because it is not necessary to do it. In fact, I have many friends and family that I never scheduled their persecution points through transfer partners.

View from the Conrad Bora Bora. Cameron Spearance/The Points Guy

You can use your Chase Ultimate rewards at a fixed speed to reserve flights, hotels and other trips through Chase Travel. With the preferred sapphire, its points are worth 1.25 cents each when used that way. If you or someone else in your home gets the Chase Sapphire reserveThe points used in this way are worth 1.5 cents each with that card.

The reserve site operates the same as when it is reserved to travel through an online travel agency as an expedition. This makes it a simple and intuitive way to use its points, even for those new in this way of traveling for less.

Chase makes it easier to approve when you are newer with rewards cards

Last but not least, Chase makes it easier to obtain credit cards issued by Chase before going too far in the trip of your rewards credit card.

There is an unwritten but well documented rule that Chase generally does not issue a new credit card account once you have opened five or more card accounts in all banks in the last 24 months. Informally, this is known as the 5/24 persecution rule.

That seems quite easy if you are only used to obtaining a new credit card once every few years, at most. However, once you enter the credit card rewards, it can be easy to use those slots as you get an airline card, hotel card, etc.

Zeynepkaya/Getty Images

Due to this restriction, it makes sense to begin by obtaining a persecution card, such as the preferred sapphire, as one of its first letters before finding a brick wall with the opening of the new persecution for some time.

Related: The best ways to fill your 5/24 slots

End

With the greatest bonus we have seen since 2021, now it could be the right time to immerse yourself in the credit card rewards and obtain the Chase Sapphire preferred card.

He walks a wonderful line between being rewarding and rich with respect to the benefits and points without being intimidating or too expensive to try. It can be the perfect gateway to have a wallet full of credit cards for final rewards and maximize transfer partners, Sweet Spots awards chartBuilt -in stoporvas and more.

Or, if you prefer, it can continue to be a classic and low -cost travel card that unlocks simple rewards by itself.

There is no incorrect way to use a favorite sapphire, and there is no better card with which your travel rewards trip begins.

For more information, read our Complete review of the Sapphire Chase Prefereted.


Apply here: Chase Sapphire preferred card


For rates and rates of the Amex Platinum card, click here.



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