The Chase Sapphire Preferred has been a well-regarded entry-level travel card for over a decade. It offers a combination of earning potential, flexible redemption options, and travel protections at a $95 annual fee.
Rewards Structure
The card earns 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, gas stations and EV charging, eligible streaming services, eligible online grocery purchases, and eligible vacation homes at top brands, 2x points on other travel purchases, and 1x point on all other purchases. The real value is in redemption flexibility.
Annual Statement Credits
The card offers up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for eligible hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel, subject to issuer terms. According to current Chase program terms, purchases qualifying for the $100 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit do not earn points. The card also offers up to $120 statement credit every four years for an eligible Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee, subject to issuer terms. These ongoing benefits can help offset the $95 annual fee.
Transfer Partners
Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers 1:1 to multiple airline and hotel partners, including United Airlines, Hyatt, British Airways, Air France/KLM, Singapore Airlines, and several others. Transfer partners can potentially offer strong redemption value, though specific redemption rates vary by program, partner, and availability. Refer to Chase's current Ultimate Rewards program terms for details on transfer partners and redemption options.
Travel Protections
The Sapphire Preferred includes travel protections such as trip cancellation/interruption insurance, primary car rental insurance, baggage delay insurance, and trip delay reimbursement. These can provide meaningful value in a single incident.
Bottom Line
For anyone starting their travel rewards journey, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a strong option to consider. It's flexible and well-rounded. Terms and offers may change. Verify current details directly with the issuer before applying.
