An In-depth Expert Chase Sapphire Preferred Review:
If you’re a frequent traveler looking for an easy way to earn points, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (CSP) is a great option. For starters, you will earn 50,000 Ultimate Rewards points (worth at least $625 in travel or $500 in cash), after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of your card membership.
You’ll also earn 2x points on every $1 spent on all travel and restaurant purchases. For everything else you’ll earn 1 point for every $1 spent – not bad at all. It’s this points system that makes the Chase Sapphire Preferred one of the top-rated travel points cards on the market today.
Apply Now: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Lets dive deeper into the review on the Chase Sapphire Preferred sign-up bonus – which is one of the most generous offers out there. When you spend $4,000 using your card in the first 3 months, Chase will give you a bonus of 50,000 points. But what can those point’s get you, you ask? Those bonus points equate to a cool $625 for airfare or $500 cash.
Just login to your Chase Sapphire Preferred online
For that reason, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is also an excellent choice for people looking to get a free trip out of a credit card. So even if you don’t travel all that often, if you spend the minimum amount and add an authorized user you’ll rake in 59,000 points in just one year. That’s more than enough for an international flight – especially if you purchase through the Chase Travel Portal (we’ll get to this later on).
It’s also important to note you can only transfer your Chase points to their huge list of travel partners for amazing deals if you have the Sapphire Preferred, the Sapphire Reserve, or the Ink Plus Business credit card. So if you really want to use points to travel, this is the card to get.
We’ve got some tips though on how you can get the most out of the Sapphire Preferred – including how to spend smart, and getting maximize the potential of your points. Keep reading for all the information and tips you need to know to find out if the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the right credit card for you.
THE BASICS On The Chase Sapphire Preferred:
Card provider: Chase
Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $625 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Named Best Credit Card for Flexible Travel Redemption – Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, July 2016
2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Earn 5,000 bonus points after you add the first authorized user and make a purchase in the first 3 months from account opening
No foreign transaction fees
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 50,000 points are worth $625 toward travel
No blackout dates or travel restrictions – as long as there’s a seat on the flight, you can book it through Chase Ultimate Rewards
Chase Sapphire Preferred basic evaluation:
Best used for: Travel, airlines, hotels, dining, local transportation, dining, car rental, everyday purchases.
Who this card is good for: Frequent travelers, people who eat out a lot, people looking for free points, people who want to earn a free trip with bonus points
Let’s talk about who this Chase Sapphire Preferred is good for:
This card is great for frequent travelers, both business and recreation, as you’ll earn 2x points on every $1 spent. What’s great about this card though is that we’re not just talking about airfare here when it comes to ‘travel’ – the Chase Sapphire Preferred includes hotels, taxis, uber, lyft, tolls, and public transportation. That means even if you aren’t traveling far, you can use this card to still earn points locally.
You also earn 2x the points on dining out – which you obviously do while traveling and those lazy nights at home. So there’s real points earning potential here if you travel often and eat out regularly.
This card is good for earning points if:
You travel often, even if it’s locally
You eat out often
You want to take advantage of the 50,000 bonus points worth $625 in travel
You want to redeem points for travel
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is not a good card for you if:
You have no interest in redeeming points for travel
You don’t travel often
Your job has issued you a credit card to cover any travel expenses
You don’t commute to work, or pay for tolls
You don’t eat out often
You have no interest in traveling
Chase Sapphire Preferred credit score needed for approval?
To get your hands on this sleek blue metal Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and open your world up to a renowned points system, you’re going to need an ‘excellent’ credit score, as the average score for approval is 741. But, take note, that isn’t a hard line. One review on CreditKarma said they got approved with only ‘fair’ credit, claiming a score of 690 on FICO and 680 on Equifax.
Consumer research on the web shows that these are 3 main things Chase checks for in approving for the Sapphire Preferred card:
1. Credit score from credit report
In doing research on the web, we found many people who applied for the Sapphire Preferred had their Equifax credit report checked. It’s not necessarily normal for lenders to check all 3, but it can pose a problem because not all lenders report to the 3 bureaus meaning there’s a chance there’s varying information out there. So, we suggest checking out your Equifax score before applying and see if it’s in line with your other scores.
2. How much debt you have
Rule of thumb: don’t use more than 30 percent of your available credit. So if you have a credit line of $2,500 – you shouldn’t have a balance over $750. And by balance, we mean debt. You can spend more than that a month – just pay it off. After reviewing reports online, we found some people who applied for the Chase Sapphire Preferred claim to have been denied for holding high balances – or debts – on other cards.
3. How many credit cards you have open
We also found that people claimed they were denied for having too many cards open. Some people even had ‘excellent’ credit scores, but were denied anyways. So, if you’ve opened a number of cards in the last few years it could be a problem for approval for the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
But remember, just because one person got denied doesn’t mean you will. When applying it’s important to take a comprehensive look at all three elements of your credit above, as well as other factors and weigh your chances.
Earning points with Chase Sapphire Preferred
Like we’ve mentioned, what makes this card one of the top travel-points cards is the fact that the Sapphire Preferred has an awesome points system. Here’s how you can use it:
2x Travel: airfare, trains, public transport, taxi, uber, lyft, tolls, hotels
2x Food: eating out
1x Other: list other activities * groceries etc*
Maximize your points earnings:
Book all travel on your Chase Sapphire Preferred
Pay for your public transport, tolls, Uber, Lyft and taxis using Sapphire Preferred
Every time you eat out pay with your Chase Sapphire Preferred
Expert tip: pay for the whole bill and have your friends give you cash, or transfer you the money through a 3rd party app
If you buy snacks at your hotel lobby, that counts as travel. Score!
For everything else in your life, charge it to your Sapphire Preferred for 1x for every $1 spent.
Purchase items through Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal for extra points (more on this later on)
(Could also use this graph:)
How to redeem Chase Sapphire Preferred Ultimate Rewards points?
After you’ve maximized your Ultimate Rewards points earnings by putting all your travel and dining expenses – along with everything else – on your Chase Sapphire Preferred, it’s time to put them to use. With Chase, you can redeem your points through the Ultimate Rewards Portal and the sub portal, Chase Travel where you’re really going to get the most for your points.
The Ultimate Rewards portal lets you redeem your points for everything from dining, food, gas, and products. The Chase Travel Portal on the other hand lets you redeem points for hotels and travel – like airline tickets.
One of the main highlights of this card is its usability for those who travel often. With the Chase Sapphire Preferred card you can redeem your points at a 25 percent discount for Chase Travel – that increases the total value of your points from $0.01 per point to $0.0125 per point.
Let’s do some math:
Say you put everything on your Chase Sapphire Preferred card, equating to $2,500 a month. Now let’s say $1,000 of that is related to your travel expenses and eating out – meaning you’re gaining 2x the points. That means you’re going to earn 24,000 points from travel and dining, and another 18,000 from everything else that year. That’s 42,000 points or $525 for travel. By the way – that’s not including your 50,000 signup bonus points, which when added in means you’re going to get $1,212 in free travel.
Want to know your points earning potential with the Chase Sapphire Preferred? Check out The numbers behind Sapphire Preferred section below.
What’s also a great about Chase is all their travel partners (which we’ll look into more later on) who you can also redeem points through. By redeeming your points through a travel partner, like the airline KLM for example, you can cash in at as high as $.05 a point – all depending on the partner.
Get the most out of your Chase Sapphire Preferred points
Now that we know how to earn points, and some of the basic ways to redeem them – let’s dive into the fun stuff: learning how to make your points go further and getting you better deals.
Another great aspect to the Sapphire Preferred is that there are a lot of ways you can make your points go further. Here’s what you need to know to get the most out of your Sapphire Preferred:
Maximize Points Tip 1. Use Sapphire Preferred with other Chase cards
Chase allows you to combine the points you earn with your Sapphire Preferred with the other Chase credit cards you use, like: Chase Freedom, or Ink Plus Business for example.
Your total points are going to vary though, depending on how much you spend on each card and the categories you’re earning points in. It’s all about maximizing the points earning potential on each card, so make sure you purchase the right things on the right card – like all travel and dining on Sapphire Preferred, and business expenses on the Ink Plus Business.
Maximize Points Tip 2. Chase shopping portal
By using the Chase shopping portal to purchase everything from big expenses, to appliances, or even household items you can earn 3 to 12 times the number of points you would simply using the Sapphire Preferred.
This is an awesome option because the Sapphire Preferred is really about travel and not everyday purchases – as those will only get you 1 point per $1 spent. So if you want to use your Sapphire Preferred to buy an everyday item, be sure to check out the Chase shopping portal first. By purchasing items through Chase partners like Sam’s Club, Apple and Bed Bath & Beyond in the portal, you can earn some serious extra points you’d otherwise miss.
Maximize Points Tip 3. Partner programs
Like we mentioned above, retailers like Walmart partner with the Chase shopping portal often to offer you extra points and earning potential you might otherwise be excluded from on your card. These extra points can vary from 3x the points to 12x the points – so it’s always a good idea to check out what’s being offered in the Chase shopping portal before you do any online shopping.
Chase shopping portal partners: Sam’s Club, Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, Microsoft, Apple, Living Social, Dell, Vistaprint, Groupon, Aveda, Backcountry.com, Gift Certificates.com, Diapers.com, Restaurant.com
Chase also partners with a variety of companies in the travel industry so you can redeem all those travel points you’ve been racking up. Best yet – their travel partners often offer better deals than the Chase standard points to dollar conversion of 1 point to $.0125. In fact, you can earn up to $.05 per point depending on the travel partner.
Chase travel portal partners: Virgin Atlantic, United MileagePlus, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, British Airways, Air France KLM, Singapore Airlines, Korean Air SKYPASS, Hyatt Gold Passport, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards, Marriott Rewards, and the IGH Rewards Club.
Maximize Points Tip 4. Booking travel with cash rather than points can save you more
The Chase travel portal offers some awesome deals – but that doesn’t mean they’re always the best deal out there. It’s important when shopping for a travel ticket or hotel through the travel portal that you still shop around – checking out comparative websites like Kayak.
This is because if the deal on the Chase Travel Portal is about the same as the ticket price on other websites, you can actually earn more by buying the ticket outside the portal then cashing in on the points you’ll earn from buying the ticket. This way, you can use your points to buy a ticket that’s a bit more pricy down the line, or really snag a great deal through the travel portal later on.
Maximize Points Tip 5. Don’t use the travel portal for international travel
By using the travel portal itself, you’re only getting $0.0125 per every point you have – and hey, international travel is expensive! So instead, make sure you check out the Chase travel partners and the deals they have. A Chase travel partner can get you up to $0.05 per point – meaning your points can take you further.
Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Partners
Chase partners with airlines and hotels to give their credit card customers access to some of the best deals out there. By transferring your points from your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to a partner loyalty program, you can get most cash for your points – depending on the partner, it could be as high as $.05 per point (the normal ratio for the Sapphire Preferred in the travel portal is $0.0125 per point).
Here’s the list of the Ultimate Rewards travel transfer partners:
Virgin Atlantic, United MileagePlus, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, British Airways, Air France KLM, Singapore Airlines, Korean Air SKYPASS, Hyatt Gold Passport, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards, Marriott Rewards, and the IGH Rewards Club.
All of these partners redeem your points with at least a 1:1 ratio – which is another amazing perk. That means every point you earned with Chase is equal to an entire point with their travel partners – sometimes more.
Best ways to redeem your points with Chase Travel Partners
By partnering with airlines and hotels, Chase allows you to transfer your points to their loyalty programs for better deals. That means your Chase points are worth more – as much as $0.05 per point. To get you these deals, Chase has partnered with:
AirFrance Flying Blue/KLM
British Airways Avios Executive Club
Korean Air Skypass
Singapore Airline KrisFlyer
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
United Airlines MileagePlus
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Hyatt Gold Passport
IHG Rewards Club
Marriott Rewards
The Ritz-Carlton Rewards
The specific deals and rates vary, but here’s the best ways you can transfer the points you earn with your Sapphire Preferred to take the trip you’ve been dreaming about.
Fly Upper Class to Europe in Virgin Atlantic
By transferring your points to KrisFlyer you can book yourself a flight in Virgin Atlantic upper class – fancy! Now, Virgin Atlantic isn’t a part of the same group Singapore Airlines, but they let you book a roundtrip flight from the U.S., upper class Virgin Atlantic, for just 100,000 KrisFlyer miles.
Fly from certain U.S. cities to Europe with Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic doesn’t offer the best deals for international flying – especially because you can only fly from certain U.S. cities to Europe – like Orlando, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles to name a few. But, for about 42,500 points you can get a round trip economy flight to Europe – which isn’t a bad deal at all.
Use Virgin Atlantic points for Hilton HHonors
The Virgin partnership is not the best partner program by Chase – by far. But, what you can do is transfer your Chase points to Virgin Atlantic flyer miles, then transfer those to Hilton HHonors program for a 2:3 ratio. That means 10,000 Chase points is equal to 15,000 Hilton points. Score!
Take off to the Middle East or North Africa from the U.S.
By transferring your points to KrisFlyer miles, you can redeem miles and fly airlines like United, Swiss, Lufthansa, or Turkish airlines to the Middle East and North Africa in economy for just 37,500. And if you’ve got the points to spend, travel business for just 57,500 miles.
Fly Oceana with your United Miles
Flights with Oceana can be super pricey if you’re paying with cash. If you’re willing to transfer your Chase points to United flyer miles though, you could fly economy Oceana to amazing destinations like Fiji for 70,000 miles.
Fly to China with United, then hop over to Fiji
United offers a great deal where you can fly from China to Fiji. But if you think getting to China is the problem – fear not! United offers some cheap flights to China with their flyer miles program. So this is a great option of flying from your home city in the U.S. is astronomical in both cash, and points.
Fly to Australia or New Zealand with United
While these countries are near oceana, getting here is going to cost you more points. Book your ticket with United and you can get here for about 80,000 miles for a round trip economy flight.
United flyer miles to travel from the U.S. to Europe
While United charges a pretty hefty 60,000 miles to fly from the U.S. to Europe – it might be worth it because you won’t have to pay a fuel surcharge. It’s not the best flyer mile deal out there – but if you want to avoid paying cash for that extra charge, we think it’s worth it to fork over the extra miles.
Fly to Northern South America from the U.S. with United
United works by splitting the giant continent of South America into two sections – Northern and Southern. With Northern South America being closer – you can score a round trip ticket here for as low as 40,000 miles. So, brush up on your Spanish and vamos (let’s go)!
Hop over to the Caribbean from the U.S. with your United flyer miles
By transferring your Chase points to United’s flyer mile program you can fly from the U.S. to the Caribbean for just 35,000 miles.
Take a domestic flight with United
Domestic flights can cost a pretty penny – so don’t hesitate booking a flight to the lower 48 with your United Flyer miles. You can get a round trip economy flight for just 25,000 miles.
Cheap domestic flights, and flights to the Caribbean with Southwest
Flights with Southwest can be seriously cheap – some city partners being as low as 6,000 points one way through the rapid rewards system. Another awesome point: if you qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass you can bring a flying partner along and you only have to pay for the additional taxes.
If booking domestically and you might need to cancel, book through Southwest
Southwest is great about letting you cancel your ticket – as they won’t charge you a fee and they’ll return your points right back to your Southwest flyer miles. And, if you’ve already paid taxes they’ll give you the money back in a voucher so you can use them for a future flight.
Take a short haul with British Airways
British Airways is famous for having great deals on their short haul flights, so it’s awesome that Chance has decided to partner with them. Transfer your Chase points to British Airways Avios points and see where you’re off to next!
Hop the other pond: fly from the West Coast to Hawaii with Avios points
For 25,000 points on British Airways Avios program, you can fly economy from the West Coast of the U.S. to Hawaii via American or Alaska airlines.
Fly from Boston to Dublin via British Airways Avios points
This isn’t the luck of the Irish – it’s British Airways famous points system at work. You can fly economy from Boston to Dublin for just 12,500 Avios points each way. There are fuel surcharges – but British Airways has tried to keep them low.
Miami to Peru via British Airways
Transfer your Chase points to Avios and fly from Miami to Lima, Peru for just 12,500 points each way in economy.
Take a stopover to save miles with British Airways
British Airways determines the price of each flight individually and based on distance. But, you can actually get to your final destination for less points by booking a stopover. It doesn’t always work – but it’s something to look into. You can also stay in your stopover for as long as you’d like with no additional cost – it’s just about looking for the right flights.
Last minute flight? Book British Airways
British Airways is great because they don’t charge a fee for booking tickets last minute – unlike other airlines and partner programs. The airline also has pretty low cancellation prices – as they’ll never exceed $40.
Visit Easter Island via Santiago, Chile with British Airways
This is one of the most memorable, and incredible trips you could take. But, getting to this famous island is pricy. Luckily, if you’re dying to visit Easter Island you can get there in economy for just 12,500 points on Avios each way from Santiago, Chile.
Fly to Japan via Los Angeles with British Airways
If you live on the West Coast, or getting out there isn’t a problem this is a great option for visiting Japan. Just transfer your points to Avios and fly from Los Angeles to Tokyo, Japan in economy for 25,000 points.
Dying to fly first class? Fly British Airways
If you’re looking to get the most out of your points, or you don’t have a lot to spend – booking a short-leg journey through British Airways Avios is a great way to get yourself in a first class seat.
You can also book a longer flight through British Airways and get a pretty good deal too. For example, flying from London to Chicago will cost about 68-80,000 points each way. These tickets would normally costs $5,000 each – so, it’s a pretty good deal.
Fly from the continental U.S. to Hawaii with Air France and KLM
The Air France KLM flyer miles program is called Flying Blue, and you can use this program to fly from the continental United States to Hawaii. This trip will cost you just 30,000 points and just $10 in fees. This is truly a great deal – especially if you’re flying from the East Coast which is much more pricy.
Use Air France & KLM’s Flying Blue Promo Awards
These deals change pretty often, but if you keep your eye on these promotions you can get anywhere from 25 to 50% off economy and business flights from Europe. That means tickets can be just 12,500 miles each way – awesome!
Treat yourself to a Singapore A380 Suite
Transfer your Chase points to KrisFlyer miles and fly in one of Singapore Airline’s luxurious A380 suites which comes with a double bed! A one way trip in one of these opulent suites will cost just 57,375 points from New York to Frankfurt. You can also fly from Los Angeles to Tokyo for 74,375.
Generally though, these tickets will set you back over 110,000 miles if you’re flying from the east coast, or central U.S. to Singapore. If you ask us, that’s not a bad deal at all – especially for how long you’ll be in the air enjoying that double bed!
Use KrisFlyer Miles to travel to Hawaii from the continental U.S.
By using Singapore Airlines flyer miles you can get to Hawaii from the continental U.S. in economy for as little as 17,500 one way. That same flight would cost you upwards of 22,000 miles on United. So, Singapore is offering a great deal here if you ask us.
Island hop in the South Pacific with Singapore Airlines
If you’ve always dreamed of hopping around the islands in the South Pacific, this is the time to transfer your Chase points to Singapore Airlines. You can travel one way for as little as 12,500 miles in economy. Plus, if you book round trip you can add a stopover in there for no extra cost.
Fly luxuriously with Lufthansa via Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Miles
Singapore lets you book flights on Lufthansa, like first class tickets for 160,000 miles.
Fly to Tahiti with Korean
Another way to get to this incredible Pacific island is booking a flight with Korean Air Skypass. You can find yourself kicking back on the Tahitian beach with just 60,000 Korean Air miles – yes, that’s round trip. If you want a bit more luxury, you can fly business for just 90,000 miles round trip.
Fly roundtrip to Hawaii with Korean for cheap
Korean Skypass get’s you a roundtrip ticket from the continental U.S. to Hawaii for just 25,000 miles in economy. That’s a great deal since many other carriers and partners charge another 5-10,000 miles more for that same trip.
Fly to Europe with Korean Air Skypass
You can get to Europe in economy for about 50,000 miles with the Skypass – what a deal! Once you’re in Europe you can fly around with Korean too – those flights costing just 25,000 round trip.
Experience first class with Korean
If you’re dying to experience the incredible luxury, and service you get in first class – taking that flight with Korean is a great choice and bang for your buck. Flying one way in first class in Korean will only cost you 80,000 miles – yes please!
Fly to Southern South America with Korean
Just like British Airways, Korean splits this colossal continent into two sections. If you’re looking to go to the southern part of South America you can book a ticket with Korean Skypass for just 50,000 miles round trip in economy. Plus – you can have a stopover for no extra cost. So get planning your South American adventure already!
Book a stay at a luxury Hyatt Hotel with the Gold Passport
A category one Hayatt room will cost you as little as 5,000 points – what a deal! But, these rooms aren’t all that expensive in the first place. So, definitely consider getting more bang-for-your-buck with a higher category room.
For example: a room in the Maldives might cost upwards of $800 a night! But don’t sweat it, you can pay for it with about 30,000 Gold Passport points you’ve transferred from your Chase points.
Get an all-inclusive stay with Hyatt Gold Passport
An all-inclusive stay at a Hyatt hotel will cost you between 32,000-40,000 points a night. That covers the hotel as well as all your drinks and meals – sounds delish!
Upgrade for a great value with Hyatt Gold Passport
You can upgrade your room for a great value – about 3,000 points a night – at Hyatt hotels. The upgrade gets you exclusive access to club rooms, lounges, as well as free snacks and drinks. But, you can also use the upgrade to get into a better room like a suite. This will set you back an additional 6,000 points per night.
The lap of luxury: stay at the Ritz-Carlton
Ok, these are not the best deals out there. But if you really want to stay at the Ritz-Carlton you could shop around and find a good deal. We suggest pay for your room upfront, then upgrade with your points which starts at just about 5,000 per night. This is a great way to make your points go further.
Stay at the Marriott
The Marriott and the Ritz-Carlton pretty much share the same rewards program – for this reason, you don’t always get the best deals with the Marriott either. But you can also pay for your room here and upgrade with your points to make your points go further. Also, on average, a category one Marriott hotel room will cost you about 6,000 points – not so bad afterall.
Other Chase Sapphire Preferred card travel benefits
Having a Sapphire Preferred card in your wallet doesn’t just give you access to a top-tier points system, it supports you with travel insurance, essential reimbursements, and perks. Here’s the other benefits to having a Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card:
No foreign transaction fees: Pay nothing extra when using your Sapphire Preferred credit card overseas.
Chip enabled: Chip enabled cards aren’t just the law now, they’re safer and widely accepted around the world. Your Sapphire Preferred is chip enabled, meaning you’re going to be accepted in twice as many places around the world as American Express – and your spending is a lot safer.
No blackout dates or restrictions: so long as there’s a seat on the flight you want – Chase lets you book through their Ultimate Rewards Portal.
Access to events & experiences: Chase offers limited, and exclusive access to events and experiences to Sapphire Preferred card holders.
Travel accident insurance: In the case that something goes terribly wrong like accidental death or dismemberment, Chase will cover you up to $500,000 if you’ve paid for the train, bus, cruise or airfare with your Sapphire Preferred.
Emergency travel assistance: Sometimes emergencies arise when traveling, Chase has your back in this case offering emergency assistance services. The Chase Benefit Administrator can offer you legal and medical referrals in case of an emergency while traveling – although, the costs for those services is not covered.
Trip cancellation or interruption protection: If you have to cut your trip short, or even cancel it because someone gets sick or there’s severe weather (as well as other covered situations), you can get reimbursed up to $10,000. That covers pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses like travel fares, tours, and hotels.
Car rental insurance: If you rent your car by paying with your Sapphire Preferred, Chase will reimburse the vehicle up to the actual cash value in the case of theft or collision (for most rentals in the U.S. as well as abroad).
Lost luggage reimbursement: Chase will give you up to $3,000 if your, or your immediate family member’s, checked or carryon luggage is lost or damaged.
Baggage delay insurance: If your baggage is delayed, Chase will reimburse you up to $100 a day for up to 5 days, for all the essentials you needed to buy while waiting for your bags. This includes items like clothing and toiletries.
Trip delay reimbursement: If you’re delayed over 12 hours – or you’re forced to stay overnight and wait – you and your family will be reimbursed for expenses like hotels and food. Reimbursement is up to $500 per ticket.
Global lifeline: If something goes wrong while traveling domestically or abroad, Chase will help you with emergency service assistance that includes card replacement and cash assistance.
Zero liability protection: If someone else get’s a hold of your card and racks up a balance you didn’t authorize, Chase won’t hold you responsible for the charges made with your card, or account information.
Purchase protection: If your brand new product (up to $500 in value) was lost or stolen with 120 days of purchase, Chase will cover it (up to $50,000 per account).
Extended warranty: Chase allows you to extend a U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by a year (certain warranties of 3 years or fewer).
Price protection: If you bought something with your Sapphire Preferred and within 90 days it’s advertised for cheaper in print or online – Chase will reimburse you the difference up to $500 per item and up to $2,500 a year.
Return protection: Chase will reimburse you for certain eligible items that a store won’t take back within 90 days of when you purchased it. This covers up to $500 per item, and up to $1000 total a year.
Chase BluePrint: This unique Chase online software helps you manage your account to avoid paying interest, help you pay down your balance and interest faster, and get a look at how much you spend. It’s a great tool to keep track of everything you use your Sapphire Preferred card for.
The numbers behind the Chase Sapphire Preferred
It’s important to look at more than just points-earnings potential with a credit card, as you also have to take into account the fees that go along with it.
For that reason, let’s start with the annual fee: while the first year is free with the Chase Sapphire Preferred, every year after that you’ll have to pay a $95 fee for the credit card. This price is pretty good compared to other cards in this category, and keep in mind you can pay it off with points if you prefer.
In that case, it means you need to spend a minimum of $4,750 in the 2x category, or $9,500 in the 1x category to pay off your card for the year.
Interest rates and fees for the Sapphire Preferred:
Purchase Annual Percentage Rate (APR): 16.24% to 23.24% based on credit worthiness and may vary with the market based on Prime Rate
Balance Transfer APR: 16.24% to 12.24%
Cash Advance APR: 25.24, may vary with market based on Prime Rate
Overdraft Advance APR: 25.24 may vary with market based on Prime Rate
How to avoid interest: If you pay your balance by the due date you don’t owe interest. Important note: Interest is charged on balance transfers, cash advances, and overdraft advances the day of the transaction.
Late fees: Up to $15 is the balance is less than $100. But, will be up to $27 if the balance is between $100-$250 and up to $37 penalty fee for anything higher than that.
Annual fee: $95 per year, after the first year.
Your 50,000 point bonus on the CSP card:
If you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months of Sapphire Preferred, Chase will give you 50,00 points. In general your points go really far with travel in the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal, and your 50,000 introductory points can get you:
$625 for airfare
$625 for hotels
$500 in cash
Points used in the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal are worth a rate of 1 point to $0.0125. And, when you transfer these points to a Chase travel partner, you can get a rate of 1 point to $0.0125 and as high as $.05 per point.
Ultimate Rewards points system
Travel purchases: 2x points per $1
Dining & restaurant: 2x points per $1
Other expenses: 1x points per $1
Let’s do the math for your estimated points-earning potential with Sapphire Preferred:
Estimate travel costs on Sapphire Preferred per month: _____
Estimate dining costs on Sapphire Preferred per month: _____
Estimated other expenses you’ll put on your Sapphire Preferred per month: ______
Multiply each of your travel and eating out costs by 2 – that’s how many points you’ll earn on Sapphire Preferred a month, eg:
travel $500 x 2 = 1000 points
dining $200 x 2 = 400 points
Give it a try:
$___ in travel expenses x 2 = ____ points
$___ in dining expenses x 2 = ____ points
$1 = 1 point for other expenses. So your total on estimated other expenses is equal to that in points, eg:
other expenses $300 x 1 = 300 points
Give it a try:
$___ in other expenses x 1 = ____ points
Add all these points together, eg:
1000 + 400+ 300 = 1,700 points
Give it a try:
___ travel points + ___ dining points + ____other expenses points = ____ monthly points
Multiply the total number of points by 12 months to get your yearly total, eg:
1,700 points x 12 months = 20,400
Give it a try:
____ monthly points x 12 months = ____ yearly points
Now that you know your estimated yearly points earning potential with the Chase Sapphire Preferred, we can do the math on what those points can get you.
Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal: 1 point = $0.0125
So, if you have 20,400 points: 20,400 points x 0.0125 = $255
Give it a try:
your yearly total _____ x 0.0125 = $_____
But, like we’ve talked about, your points can be worth a whole lot more if you redeem them through one of Chase’s travel partners. You can find the rate of your points per dollar through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal where they list their travel partners. To do the math for this redemption, simply replace the rate of dollar per point, 0.0125, with the rate offered by the partner.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Review
★★★★ 4 STARS
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has been rated amongst the top travel credit cards time and time again, and we have to agree – it’s a great card for frequent travelers. The Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card has big points earnings potential, a comprehensive redemption portal, and works with multiple retail and travel partners to make your points go further.
In all, this is a great credit card option for those who travel often – for work, or recreation, and even locally. We love that the ‘travel’ category covers everything from plane tickets to tolls and uber – so even those who travel locally can use this card to redeem points. Chase also offers Sapphire Preferred card holders a wide array of perks and insurances they can take advantage of while traveling.
For these reasons we’ve given the card a solid 4 stars out of 5. The only downfall to this card is that it’s really specified to travelers – so if you don’t travel often the card isn’t worth it for you as you’ll only earn 1 point for every dollar spent on everything else.
FAQ’s
What’s the spending categories for the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
Earn 2x points on every $1 spent on travel and dining charged to your Chase Sapphire Preferred, and 1x the points on every $1 spent on everything else.
What’s the signup bonus for the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $625 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
What’s the annual fee for the Sapphire Preferred?
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Are there foreign transaction fees associated with the Sapphire Preferred?
No, there are no foreign transaction fees.
Does Chase Sapphire Preferred have a 0% APR?
No, the APR for the Sapphire Preferred is 16.24% to 12.24% varied.
How can I avoid paying interest on my Chase Sapphire Preferred card?
If you pay your balance by the due date you don’t owe interest. Important note: Interest is charged on balance transfers, cash advances, and overdraft advances the day of the transaction.
What are the late fees for the Sapphire Preferred?
The late fee’s are up to $15 is the balance is less than $100. But, will be up to $27 if the balance is between $100-$250 and up to $37 penalty fee for anything higher than that.
Is the Sapphire Preferred chip enabled?
Yes, the Sapphire Preferred credit card is chip enabled and widely accepted around the world.
If someone steals my Sapphire Preferred credit card or card information, will Chase hold me responsible?
If someone else get’s a hold of your card and racks up a balance you didn’t authorize, Chase won’t hold you responsible for the charges made with your card, or account information.
How can I redeem the points I earn with my Sapphire Preferred?
You redeem your points for dining, food, travel, and shopping through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal.
How can I redeem the points I earn with my Sapphire Preferred for travel?
You can use the sub-portal Chase Travel in the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal to redeem your points at a $.0125 per point ratio.
What is the ratio of points to dollars in the Chase Travel Portal?
Each point you earn is worth $0.0125 – that’s a 25 percent increase in value for just shopping with Chase.
Are there blackout dates or restrictions when booking through the Chase Travel Portal?
If there’s a seat on the flight you want – Chase lets you book through their Ultimate Rewards Portal.
I want to book a trip – how can I get the maximum dollar to points ratio?
You can get the maximum dollar to points ratio by transferring your points from the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal to one of the Chase Travel Partner’s air miles programs. Here, a single point will be worth anywhere from $0.0125 to $0.05.
Who are the Chase Travel transfer partners?
Virgin Atlantic, United MileagePlus, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, British Airways, Air France KLM, Singapore Airlines, Korean Air SKYPASS, Hyatt Gold Passport, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards, Marriott Rewards, and the IGH Rewards Club.
Who are the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal partners?
Sam’s Club, Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, Microsoft, Apple, Living Social, Dell, Vistaprint, Groupon, Aveda, Backcountry.com, Gift Certificates.com, Diapers.com, Restaurant.com
Is there a way I can earn extra points by shopping with my Sapphire Preferred?
Yes, you can shop through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal and buy products from their partners – Sam’s Club, Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, Microsoft, Apple, Living Social, Dell, Vistaprint, Groupon, Aveda, Backcountry.com, Gift Certificates.com, Diapers.com, Restaurant.com – to redeem up to 5x the points on every $1 spent.
What are some of the extra benefits provided with the Sapphire Preferred?
Chase offers different kinds of insurances like: travel accident, trip cancellation or interruption protection, car rental insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, trip delay reimbursement, a global lifeline in case of emergency, extended warranties, purchase protection, and return protection.
Can I combine the points I earn with my Sapphire Preferred card with the points I earn on my other Chase credit cards?
Yes, you can combine the points you earn with your Sapphire Preferred with the points you earn from other Chase credit cards.
How can I estimate how many points I would earn a year using the Sapphire Preferred credit card?
Estimate travel costs on Sapphire Preferred per month: _____
Estimate dining costs on Sapphire Preferred per month: _____
Estimated other expenses you’ll put on your Sapphire Preferred per month: ______
Multiply each of your travel and eating out costs by 2 – that’s how many points you’ll earn on Sapphire Preferred a month.
$___ in travel expenses x 2 = ____ points
$___ in dining expenses x 2 = ____ points
$1 = 1 point for other expenses. So your total on estimated other expenses is equal to that in points.
$___ in other expenses x 1 = ____ points
Then, Add all these points together.
___ travel points + ___ dining points + ____other expenses points = ____ monthly points
Multiply the total number of points by 12 months to get your yearly total
____ monthly points x 12 months = ____ yearly points
How can I determine how much my points are worth in the Chase Travel Portal?
In the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal: 1 point = $0.0125.
your yearly total _____ x 0.0125 = $_____ in the Chase Travel Portal
How much money does the 50,000 points bonus equal in the Chase Travel Portal?
You can earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $625 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel Portal.
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