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Whether you looking for your first travel credit card or are a seasoned pro at using rewards to reduce vacation costs, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is an excellent option to help you save on travel. It has a generous rewards program and new cardmember bonus and, if you use your card to book your airfare and accommodations, it also provides you with significant protections and added benefits.
However, the card has an annual fee and no promotional annual percentage rate (APR) for purchases or balance transfers. Whether the Chase Sapphire Preferred card would be a worthwhile addition to your wallet depends on your spending and travel habits.
- Annual fee$95
- Welcome offerEarn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Ongoing Purchases APR19.24% - 27.49% Variable
- Recommended credit scoreExcellent/Good
- Rewards rate
- 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x points on dining, vacation homes, gas & EV charging, top streaming services, and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs)
- 2x points on all other travel purchases
- 1x points on all other purchases
- Benefits
- Complimentary DashPass with $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for 12 months when you activate by 12/31/27, plus a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders
- Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
- Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck®, or NEXUS application
Additional benefits
Credits
You'll earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel.
Travel
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is an excellent card to take with you when you travel. It doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, making it especially useful if you're traveling outside of the U.S. Plus, it provides the following travel benefits:
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Trip cancellation/interruption insurance:If you use your card to pay for your travel and your trip is canceled or interrupted due to weather, illness, or other covered events, you'll be reimbursed up to $10,000 per person and up to $20,000 per trip for non-refundable expenses like fares and hotel stays.
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Baggage delay insurance:If your baggage is delayed by six hours or more when traveling by a passenger carrier, get reimbursed up to $100 per day for up to five days.
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Auto rental collision damage waiver:The card provides primary coverage against theft or collision damage if you decline the car rental company's insurance and pay for the entire cost with your card.
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Trip delay reimbursement:If your travel on a common carrier is delayed by 12 hours or more, the card will reimburse you for food and lodgings, up to a maximum of $500 per ticket.
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Travel and emergency assistance:If you need help while traveling, you can call a benefits administrator for legal and medical referrals, but you're responsible for the cost of any services provided.
Shopping
The Sapphire Preferred also provides the following benefits:
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Purchase protection:New purchases made with the card are covered against theft or damage for up to 120 days for up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
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Extended warranty:On purchases with warranties of three years or less, the card will extend the warranty.
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Partner benefits:For a limited time, you can take advantage of the following:
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Get a 12-month complimentary DoorDash membership and take advantage of $0 delivery fees if you enroll by Dec. 31, 2027
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How to earn rewards
You'll earn points on every purchase you make with the Sapphire Preferred Card. However, you can maximize your earnings by booking travel like flights, hotels, and rental cars through Chase — this nets you 5x points, compared to the 2x points you earn when booking elsewhere.
In addition, dining will net you 3x points, whether you dine in a restaurant, drop in for takeout, or order through an eligible delivery service. If you frequently purchase groceries online, you could also reap larger rewards. However, popular retailers like Target or Walmart don't qualify.
You don't earn rewards on any credits, cash advances, or balance transfers.
How to redeem rewards
The Chase Ultimate Rewards program offers several ways to cash in your points, offering more flexibility than some other cards. But, using your points to book travel through Chase or transferring them to a loyalty program partner can maximize your point value.
If you redeem your points through Chase Travel, you'll receive a boost up to 1.75x. But if you don't find what you're looking for there, you can transfer your points directly to a partner airline or hotel. Points transfer at a 1:1 ratio to over a dozen travel partners.
In addition, you can cash in your points via:
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Cash back
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Statement credits
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Credits for qualifying purchases
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Gift cards
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Amazon and Apple purchases
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Bookings made through Chase Experiences or Chase Dining
Who is the Chase Sapphire Preferred best for?
While frequent travelers should easily recoup their costs with the rewards they earn, you don't need to travel every month to get good use out of the Sapphire Preferred. Even occasional vacationers can come out ahead with a little planning. Add in the card's numerous other perks, and it's easy to see how many people could use this card to their advantage.
However, if you rarely travel or don't often spend in the card's bonus reward categories, you may not have much use for this card. The same goes for applicants who aren't eligible for the welcome bonus or who might struggle to meet the spending requirement necessary to earn it. If you fall into any of these categories, you may have to work a little harder to make this card worthwhile.
Chase Sapphire Preferred pros
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Competitive earning categories:This card offers solid rewards for both travel and everyday categories. If you can maximize these on a regular basis, you could quickly rack up points.
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Transfer partners: If you prefer to book travel directly with the provider, it's easy to transfer your points to more than a dozen airline and hotel partners. Doing so could increase the value of your rewards even more, depending on what you redeem them for.
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Travel protections:Frequent travelers may be put at ease by the Sapphire Preferred's ample travel insurance and reimbursement opportunities. Notably, the card offers primary rental car coverage; many travel cards only offer secondary coverage for rentals, meaning any claims must go through your personal car insurance first before the card's insurance will kick in.
Chase Sapphire Preferred potential cons
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No promotional APR:Unlike many cards, the Sapphire Preferred doesn't have a promotional APR offer on purchases or balance transfers.
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Annual fee:While there are many rewards cards without annual fees, this card has a $95 annual fee. Make sure the rewards and perks you earn outweigh that cost.
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High-value redemption options may be limited:You must redeem your points for travel through Chase or transfer points to a travel partner to get the most value for your rewards. Other redemption methods, such as gift cards or statement credits, give you less value for your points.
Where can you use the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a Visa card, meaning it belongs to the largest credit card network. It's accepted by most physical and online retailers.
How to make a Chase Sapphire Preferred payment
You can make a payment online, through the Chase mobile app, over the phone or by mail:
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Online or in-app:Visit chase.com/paycard or download the Chase app and log into your account to make a payment via a linked checking or savings account.
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Phone:You can make a payment 24 hours a day, seven days per week, through Chase's automated phone line at 1-800-436-7958.
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Mail:Mail a check or money order to the following address:
Cardmember Services
P.O. Box 6294
Carol Stream, IL 60197-6294
Chase Sapphire Preferred customer service info
To get help with your account, contact customer support through the following methods:
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Phone: 1-800-432-3117
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Chase's credit card resource center
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Chase Sapphire Preferred login page
Alternative cards to consider
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offerEarn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- Purchase APR18.49% - 28.49% variable
- Introductory APR0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then variable 18.49% - 28.49% APR
- Recommended credit scoreGood, Excellent
- Rewards rate
- 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
- Benefits
- Generous intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
- No foreign transaction fees
Why we like it:The Quicksilver Cash Rewards card stands out for its straightforward 1.5% cash back on all purchases, offering simplicity compared to the Chase Sapphire Preferred's category-based reward system. With no annual fee, it's also a more cost-effective option for those who prefer a hassle-free experience. Additionally, its flexible redemption options, allowing cash back to be redeemed in any amount at any time, provide greater accessibility and convenience for users.
- Annual fee$795
- Welcome offerEarn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Ongoing Purchases APR19.49% - 27.99% Variable
- Recommended credit scoreExcellent
- Rewards rate
- 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠*
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct*
- 3x points on dining worldwide
- 1x points on all other purchases
- *After the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
- Benefits
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables
- Get complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV and Apple Music for a minimum of one year when activated by June 22, 2027, a value of $288 annually
- Receive up to a $120 statement credit every four years to cover the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS
Why we like it: The Chase Sapphire Reserve's inclusion of a $300 annual travel credit effectively offsets a portion of the higher annual fee, making it more valuable for frequent travelers.
Additionally, the Reserve provides superior travel benefits, including access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide through Priority Pass Select, enhancing the overall travel experience.
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offerAs high as $200 cash back after spending $2,000 within the first 6 months (welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer; cash back is received as Reward Dollars, redeemable for statement credit or at amazon.com checkout)
- Introductory Purchases APR0% on purchases for 15 months
- Ongoing Purchases APR19.49%-28.49% Variable
- Introductory Balance Transfer APR0% on balance transfers for 15 months
- Ongoing Balance Transfer APR19.49%-28.49% Variable
- Recommended credit scoreExcellent, Good
- Rewards rate
- 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases, then 1%)
- 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases, then 1%)
- 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases, then 1%)
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout
- Benefits
- Generous intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Get up to a $7 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Stream.ESPN.com U.S. websites (subject to auto-renewal)
Why we like it: The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express is appealing for its strong cash-back rates in everyday spending categories, including 3% at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%). This is more beneficial for typical shoppers compared to the Sapphire Preferred, which only offers bonus grocery rewards for online orders.
It also stands out with a $0 annual fee, making it a cost-effective choice for budget-conscious consumers. Plus, the card's introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months is a significant perk that the Sapphire Preferred doesn't offer (see rates and fees ).
This article was edited by Alicia Hahn
Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to the author(s) and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank's website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
