Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card – Full Review [2020]
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"The #1 Travel Rewards Card"
A fantastic travel card with a huge sign-up bonus, good benefits, and dedicated customer service for a moderate annual fee.
Chances are you’ve seen your fair share of advertisements for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. Perhaps you’ve seen your friends using it to pay for their meal at dinner, or overheard your coworkers mention how they use their Chase Ultimate Rewards points for free flights.
So what makes the Chase Sapphire Preferred so special? Is it actually worth all of this hype?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card gives you an excellent earning rate of 2x points per $1 on travel and dining worldwide, eligible delivery services, take out and dining out, 5x points per $1 on Lyft rides, a 12-month subscription for DoorDash DashPass, flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and great travel insurance coverage.
With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is one of the best travel credit cards on the market and an excellent choice for any traveler.
Pros
- The best ever sign up bonus of 80,000 points!
- Earns 2x points per $1 on all travel and dining purchases worldwide and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
- Earn 5x points per $1 on Lyft rides (through March 2022)
- 12-month DoorDash DashPass membership (must activate by December 31, 2021)
- No foreign transaction fees
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
- Travel and car rental insurance
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card - Snapshot
- Welcome Bonus & Info (Partner Content)
- Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide, eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 80,000 points are worth $1,000 toward travel.
- Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on orders over $12 for a minimum of one year on qualifying food purchases with DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
- Earn 5X points on Lyft rides through March 2022. That’s 3X points in addition to the 2X points you already earn on travel.
- Card Type:Credit Card
- Card Categories:
- Rewards Center
- Customer Service Number1-800-493-3319 (Available 24/7)
- Login Link
- Related Articles
The Ideal Cardholder
Do you love exploring the world? Do you love trying your city’s newest restaurants with friends? Are you new to the world of points and miles and want a card with flexible redemption options?
Then the Chase Sapphire Preferred could be a great card for you! With 2x points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide, eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out, you can earn more value for the money you’re already spending — each purchase getting you closer to your next vacation.
Great Card If
- You want a card with flexible redemption options
- You spend a lot on travel, dining out, and food delivery
- You travel frequently for work
- You’re new to the world of points and miles
- You frequently use rideshare services like Lyft
Don't Get If
- You seldom eat out and prefer cooking at home
- You don’t enjoy traveling
- You prefer a card with increased offerings like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Chase Sapphire Preferred - Card Fee's
- Annual Fee
- $95
- Foreign Transaction Fees$0
- Interest Rates
- 15.99%-22.99% Variable
- Balance Transfers
- 15.99%-22.99% Variable
- Fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- Cash Advance APR
- 24.99% Variable
How to Earn More Chase Points
Travel and Dining Expenses
Seeing as the bonus categories on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card are travel and dining, you’ll want to make this card your primary option for all purchases that fall within those categories.
So what exactly counts as a “travel” purchase with Chase? You’ll be happy to know that Chase’s definition of travel is quite broad — so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to earn 2x points.
Purchases that fall within the category include:
- Airlines
- Hotels/motels (including Airbnb)
- Timeshares
- Campgrounds
- Car rental agencies
- Cruise lines
- Travel agencies
- Discount travel sites
- Trains
- Buses
- Taxis (including Uber and Lyft)
- Limousines
- Ferries
- Toll bridges and highways
- Parking lots and garages
Hot Tip: You can monitor each of your transactions via your online Chase account. This will allow you to be certain you’re receiving the 2x multiplier on qualified purchases — and has the additional benefit of helping you keep track of your spending.
Chase Shopping Portal
If you prefer to skip the crowds and do all of your shopping online, then you’re in luck. With the Chase Ultimate Rewards shopping portal you can earn 2x, 5x, or even 20x points per $1 spent with companies like Apple, Bose, and Nike.
Just make sure to click through the Ultimate Rewards shopping portal first before heading to your chosen website to ensure you get the bonus.
Adding More Ultimate Rewards-Earning Cards
Adding more Ultimate Rewards-earning cards allows you to optimize your spending with further bonus categories. Take the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card, which earns 5x Ultimate Rewards points on travel through the Chase Travel Portal, 3x Ultimate Rewards on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5x Ultimate Rewards points on all other purchases.
This gives cardholders a 50% increase in points earned compared to the 1x earned with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card on purchases outside of the travel and dining categories.
Overall, there are many methods you can pursue to rack up the Chase Ultimate Rewards points. For even more ways to earn, check out our guide on the Best Ways to Earn Lots of Chase Ultimate Rewards Points.
How to Use Chase Points for Max Value
When it comes to Chase Ultimate Rewards points, there are 6 main redemption options that vary in flexibility and value.
Transferring to Airline or Hotel Partners
Chase makes it easy for you to transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to a number of airlines and hotels that it has partnered with. For the most part, these transfers happen almost instantaneously and can make for some very high-value redemptions.
If you’ve never transferred points before, or you’re new to the world of points and miles, it can seem like a daunting task. However, it’s not nearly as difficult as it may seem. With just a little extra work, utilizing transfer partners can help you get huge value from your points.
If you need some help getting started, check out our guide on Chase’s Transfer Partners and How to Use Them.
Using Points Through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal
This method is great for travelers looking for simplicity and flexibility. With the Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal, there’s no need to worry about transfers, comparing point values, finding award space, or blackout dates.
When booking through the travel portal with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card, your points are worth a fixed 1.25 cents each — meaning 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points are worth $750 in travel purchases.
Through the portal, you can use your points to book flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, and other experiences.
For those who aren’t interested in dealing with point transfers, the Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal offers a simple way to book travel while still providing good value for your points.
Redeeming for Gift Cards
You also have the option of redeeming your points for gift cards from over 150 different brands. Unless a deal or promotion is being run with a certain brand, your points are worth 1 cent each for the gift card of your choice — meaning a $50 Starbucks gift card would cost 5,000 Ultimate Rewards points.
Redeeming for Cash-Back
If you’re not interested in using your points toward travel, you can easily redeem them for cash-back at a fixed rate of 1 cent per point. You can use the cash-back as a statement credit toward your purchases, or have the money deposited straight into your bank account.
Update: As of May 31, 2020, you can redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 1.25 cents per piece as a statement credit towards purchases at grocery stores, home improvement stores, and dining establishments until September 30, 2020.
Use Points With Amazon or Apple
If you have an Ultimate Rewards-earning card linked as a payment option on your Amazon or Apple account, you’ll have the option to pay for your item using points. As with previous options, your points will be worth 1 cent each.
Chase Experience Portal
With the Chase Experience portal, you can use your points to book VIP access to select sports, entertainment, and dining experiences. You can purchase experiences with points or cash, and point redemption options are most often valued at 1 cent each.
Hot Tip: At Upgraded Points, we don’t recommend redeeming your points for cash-back, Amazon purchases, or any option that only earns you 1 cent per point in value. Instead, we highly recommend transferring your points to airline and hotel travel partners, so you can use your Chase points for maximum value.
Chase Airline Transfer Partners
| Chase Airline Transfer Partner | Min Transfer | Transfer Ratio (Chase > Airline) | Transfer Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus AerClub | 1,000 | 1:1 | Almost Instant |
| British Airways Executive Club | 1,000 | 1:1 | Almost Instant |
| Flying Blue AIR FRANCE KLM | 1,000 | 1:1 | 1 hour |
| Emirates Skywards | 1,000 | 1:1 | New, pending reports |
| Iberia Plus | 1,000 | 1:1 | Almost Instant |
| JetBlue | 1,000 | 1:1 | Almost Instant |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | 1,000 | 1:1 | 1-2 days |
| Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards | 1,000 | 1:1 | Almost Instant |
| United Airlines MileagePlus | 1,000 | 1:1 | Almost Instant |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 1,000 | 1:1 | Almost Instant |
Chase Hotel Transfer Partners
| Chase Hotel Transfer Partner | Min Transfer | Transfer Ratio | Transfer Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| World of Hyatt | 1,000 | 1:1 | Almost Instant |
| IHG Rewards Club | 1,000 | 1:1 | 1 day |
| Marriott Rewards | 1,000 | 1:1 | 2 days |
Alternative Cards to the Chase Sapphire Preferred
Interested in the Chase Sapphire Preferred card but curious to learn about your other options? Check out these other offerings:
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Card
| Credit Card | Benefits & Info |
|---|---|
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card |
|
There’s a lot to love about the Venture card. With the introduction of airline transfer partners, and 2x on all other purchases, it’s easy to see why this is a direct competitor of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.
If the majority of your daily spending comes from purchases outside of dining and travel categories, then the Venture card might be a great option for you.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Card
The Bank of America Premium Rewards card offers a nice points-earning structure, along with simplicity and flexibility when it comes to redeeming those points.
The card is a strong choice for travelers who already have a banking relationship with Bank of America. Depending on the balance in their checking, savings, or investment accounts, customers earn a higher point multiplier when using the card.
Citi Premier℠ Card
The Citi Premier card is one of the few travel credit cards on the market to offer a high return on gas purchases. This makes the card an excellent choice for those who drive often for work or love taking road trips.
We’ve also compared the Chase Sapphire Preferred with a number of other popular cards:
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. The Chase Sapphire Reserve
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. The American Express® Gold Card
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. The Capital One Venture Rewards
The information regarding the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Card, Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Card, and Citi Premier℠ Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer
Frequently asked questions
What is the Chase Sapphire Preferred card?
This credit card offers great earning potential for restaurants and travel-related expenses while offering a variety of high-value redemption options.
These include 25% flight discounts (at $0.0125 per point), transfers to travel partners, and the ability to combine with other select Chase cards to earn even more points.
Put another way, get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals, and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred card a Visa card?
Yes, this card is processed through Visa (like all current Chase cards).
What are the benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card?
This credit card earns 1x to 2x points per dollar that can be used on shopping, purchasing travel tickets through the travel portal at 25% off, or transferring to loyalty accounts of partner airlines.
The card also offers a variety of travel insurance coverage, such as travel accident, trip cancellation and interruption, auto rental, lost luggage, and trip delay insurance.
Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred card use Ultimate Rewards?
Yes. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Who are the travel partners of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card?
The following travel partners accept transferred Chase points into their own loyalty programs at a 1:1 ratio (point to miles):
Airline partners include Air France/KLM, British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Emirates, JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic. Hotel partners include World of Hyatt, IHG Rewards Club, and Marriott Bonvoy.
Do Ultimate Rewards points expire?
No, as long as your account stays active and in good standing. Keep your bills paid and in good health and you will never lose your points.
When do the Chase Ultimate Rewards points post to your account?
Your points earned for purchases post at the end of each month with your card statement. Bonus points from other places may take longer.
If you are waiting for points to transfer to travel partners, Chase says the transfers may take up to a week. Points must be transferred in 1,000-mile increments.
What is the Chase Sapphire Preferred card's annual fee?
The annual fee is $95 per year.
Is there a foreign transaction fee on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card?
No, there are no foreign transaction fees.
Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred card a 0% APR card?
No. This card has a variable APR (see card fees above).
How much is 1 Chase Ultimate Rewards point worth?
A point is worth 1 cent if you use it directly for something like statement credit. However, a point’s value can vary from 1 to 2 cents if transferred to airline partners and redeemed for international travel.
How do you redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards for this card?
Simply log in to your Chase account, then click on any place that says “Ultimate Rewards,” and the next screen will let you select which card you want to access rewards for.
All your account information will be available on this screen, and you can switch or transfer points between accounts.
How do you transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United (or any other airline partner)?
When you are in the Ultimate Rewards portal, go to the “Use Points” menu and click on “Transfer to Travel Partners.”
On this next screen, it lists all possible partners and allows you to quickly select how many you want to transfer (in 1,000-mile increments). Allow up to a week for points to transfer.
You can only transfer points to yourself or an authorized card user.
How do you destroy the Chase Sapphire Preferred card?
While the recommended way to dispose of your card is to simply request closure of your account and send the card back in an envelope, you can also try a number of different methods.
What is the Chase Sapphire Preferred card made out of? Is the card metal?
Yes, the card uses a proprietary blend of metal with a blue finish that creates a unique appearance. It is thicker and heavier than most of its plastic counterparts.
Which is better, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card or Chase Freedom card?
You’ll find higher-value redemption options with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, but it is best to use both cards simultaneously.
The Chase Freedom® card has no annual fee and offers 5% cash-back in certain categories, which is greater than what the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers. You can combine all your points from both cards to use for valuable redemptions.
What is the Chase Sapphire Preferred card's login?
You’ll use the Chase bank login.
How do you cancel the Chase Sapphire Preferred card?
To cancel the card, call your membership services number on the back and tell them you want to cancel the card. Be sure to use or transfer all points before you do, or else they will be forfeited.
Also, if your annual fee has already hit for the year, you will need to pay it, so cancel before your yearly anniversary if you need to.
Now I know what chase sapphire preferred card is all about and how much it will cost to get this card. Thanks for passing along this nice information.
Glad you enjoyed the article Stephen! 🙂