Are you new to the world of travel hacking and wondering which credit card to start with? Well, let the drum roll, because I’ve got the perfect one for you – the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card!
With its generous rewards and sign-up bonus, Chase Sapphire Preferred offers plenty of benefits to help you get the most out of your travel hacking journey. From earning a generous 2x rewards on travel and dining purchases to no foreign transaction fees, Chase Sapphire Preferred is the ideal first card for new travelers. Ready to get started? Read on to learn more about why Chase Sapphire Preferred should be your go-to card for travel hacking.
Why Chase Sapphire Preferred?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers a range of benefits any travel hacker should consider when taking their first step into the world of points and miles. Here’s why it’s ideal for beginners:
Generous Welcome Bonus:
As a new cardholder, you are welcomed with a generous bonus after meeting the required spending limit within the first three months. Chase Sapphire Preferred also offers a generous sign-up bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. This bonus alone is worth up to $750 in travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards. This amount can be redeemed for substantial more (see more before). In fact, 60,000 points could be redeemed for a one way flight to Europe in business class. That’s a significant boost to kickstart your travel hacking journey.
High Reward Rates:
One of the biggest advantages is the earning potential. For every dollar you spend on travel and dining worldwide, you earn extra points. Even non-travel purchases can earn you points.
With this card, you earn 2x rewards on all travel and dining purchases, allowing you to rack up points quickly and easily. Whether you’re booking a flight, hotel, or enjoying a meal at your favorite restaurant, you’ll earn double the rewards with Chase Sapphire Preferred. Trust me, these points add up faster than you’d think and can be used towards free flights, hotel stays, and more—turning everyday spending into future adventures.
Flexible Redemption Options:
The points you earn with Chase Sapphire Preferred are incredibly flexible. You can choose to redeem points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal or transfer them to one of Chase’s many travel partners to unlock potentially even greater value.
The Chase 5/24 Rule
Chase has an unofficial rule stating that if you’ve opened 5 or more credit cards across any banks within the past 24 months, your application will most likely be denied. Since the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is one of the highest value cards, it’s wise to make it one of your first. After you’ve meet the minimum spending requirement and received the bonus, then you can move on to other Chase travel credit cards.
Transfer Partners: The Real Game Changer
One highlight of Chase Sapphire Preferred is its ability to transfer points on a 1:1 basis to various airline and hotel partners via the Chase Ultimate Rewards Program. This maximizes your points’ potential and gives you incredible flexibility, enabling you to extract the maximum value from each point. At various times of the year, Chase has transfer bonuses that can increase your points from 20-30%. Now that’s what we’re talkin’ about.
Airlines: Chase’s airline transfer partners include big names across all three major alliances – Star Alliance, SkyTeam, and Oneworld. This means you can fly practically anywhere in the world! Some notable partners include United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Air France KLM, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic.
Hotels: When it comes to hotels, you have the option to transfer your points to top brands like Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt, and IHG Rewards Club. This can unlock some fantastic redemptions, from luxury city hotels to enchanting beachfront resorts.
All you need to do is transfer your points to the relevant partner and book through their platform. This is where things get interesting, as each partner has different redemption rates, so with a bit of strategy, you could get even more value from your points. This can transform you $750 in point value to over $1,200.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card’s extensive range of travel partners underscores its reputation as a powerhouse among travel reward credit cards. It simply expands your realm of travel possibilities, making it an ideal choice for your first card when entering the world of travel hacking.
Travel Benefits and Protections
In addition to the rewards program, Chase Sapphire Preferred offers a range of other perks and features that make it an excellent choice for beginners. The card provides primary car rental insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and baggage delay insurance, among other travel-related benefits. These added protections can save you money and provide peace of mind during your travels.
Conclusion
With its significant bonus offer, high reward rates, flexible redemption offers, travel partners, valuable travel protections, and extensive worldwide acceptance serving as the feathers in its cap, Chase Sapphire Preferred arguably makes an ideal first step in your journey toward using points and miles. It’s simple.
