Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Benefits for Active-Duty U.S. Military Members

Serving in the military comes with the great responsibility of protecting us all and sacrifices such as time away from family. Military service can also come with financial challenges. This particular challenge was recognized years ago when 2 related acts were passed to help alleviate some of this burden for active-duty military members.

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act of 2003 (SCRA) and the Military Lending Act (MLA) regulate lending practices for military members and apply to financial transactions such as vehicle leases, mortgages, and payday loans. These acts also have an impact on credit card debt secured by military members.

Credit card issuers, such as Chase, closely follow these laws but may exceed requirements to also waive annual fees on credit cards issued to military members and in some cases, to their spouses and dependents.

In our article today, we focus on the benefits of one of the most popular cards offered by Chase, the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card.

Known for its flexible rewards and a long list of travel-related benefits and protections, the card is a worthy choice for military members and is one of the better credit cards for military members.

Let’s look at the potential value the card could have for an active-duty military member.

How Do the SCRA and MLA Acts Work?

Just briefly, let’s look at the legislation that has led to the waiver of credit card fees, by some card issuers, for active-duty military members.

In an effort to support the financial challenges members of the military were facing, the SCRA was passed in 2003 to limit the interest rates charged on consumer loans made to military members. The law applies to debts secured prior to active-duty military service and limits interest rates to 6% APR. Additionally, the law provides consumer protections such as limiting the repossession of a vehicle during active duty and placing liens on service members’ property.

The MLA was subsequently passed in 2006, then updated in 2013, and applies to debt incurred during active-duty military service. The MLA provides a 36% cap on interest. This amount includes any finance charges, fees, credit insurance premiums, application fees, and more. The act also provides protections for consumers such as prohibiting prepayment fees and a lender requiring the waiver of certain legal rights.

Bottom Line: The MLA and SCRA are acts passed to protect military members from certain debts incurred prior to active-duty military service and during active-duty military service. 

Card Overview

Before we go into the potential benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card for military members, let’s look at a snapshot of what the card has to offer overall.

BEST BEGINNER CARD

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 bonus points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.74% - 27.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.74% - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Why We Like This Card for Active-Duty Military

We like the Chase Sapphire Preferred card as a first-time travel rewards credit card for active-duty military, as the card offers the opportunity to earn flexible Ultimate Rewards points, at least 25% more value when you redeem your rewards for travel, and a long list of useful travel benefits. For these reasons, the card also serves as the perfect card for learning how to manage credit card rewards.

At redemption time, cardholders have lots of choices, including statement credits, redeeming for travel via the Chase travel portal, and transferring points to hotel and airline partners.

Whether you’re traveling domestically or abroad, travel benefits and protections that come with the card can save you money and provide help if you need it before, during, and after your travels.

Now let’s look at the potential value of each of the card’s key benefits ($2500 in value).

Initial Benefits

Annual Fee Waiver — ($95 Value)

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card doesn’t come with a high annual fee compared to the benefits the card offers. And with its lower annual fee, it’s a card you could keep for a long period of time, even beyond your military service.

No Additional Fees (Value Varies)

Chase waives all transaction fees for active-duty military members except insufficient funds fees and late fees.

Welcome Bonus ($600+ Value)

Even if you qualify for an annual fee waiver, you’ll still be eligible for a welcome bonus once you’re approved for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. Simply meet the minimum spending requirement within the first 3 months after card approval and receive the card’s current welcome bonus.

However, you’ll receive much greater value when you use your points to book eligible travel via the Chase travel portal — 25% more! Additionally, you can transfer Ultimate Rewards points to hotel and airline partners and receive even more potential value.

Earning Potential

The value of the benefits you receive for earning Ultimate Rewards points on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card will vary depending on your spending mix.

Here is how you’ll earn rewards on the card:

• 5x earnings on travel purchased via the Chase travel portal
• 5x earnings on Lyft rides (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x earnings on select Peloton purchases over $250 (through March 31, 2025)
• 3x earnings on dining, select streaming services, and at online grocery stores
• 2x earnings on all other travel
• 1x earnings on all other purchases

To illustrate the value of Ultimate Rewards, let’s say you spend an average of $2,000 per month on the card in various categories and earn a total of 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points. You can redeem those points as a statement credit worth $600, for travel via the Chase travel portal for $725 in value, or as mentioned earlier, transfer to hotel or airline partners for even greater potential value.

Hot Tip: Watch for transfer bonus promotions in your email box or in Upgraded Points’ regularly updated post to learn when Ultimate Rewards can be transferred to hotel or airline loyalty programs with up to a 50% bonus. 

Redemption Options

Pay Yourself Back (Value Varies)

Ultimate Rewards points can be worth 25% more in value when you redeem them for expenses made in specific Pay Yourself Back (PYB) categories that change on a rotating basis. For example, if you donated $75 to one of the eligible charities in the current PYB category, you could use 6,000 Ultimate Rewards points for a $75 statement credit to offset that expense.

Annual 10% Point Bonus ($100 Value)

Each card anniversary year, you’ll receive a bonus in the form of Ultimate Rewards points. The amount of the bonus is based on the number of points you have earned during the card year. For example, if you earned 80,000 Ultimate Rewards points, you would receive a 10% bonus of 8,000 points.

If you redeemed those 8,000 points for travel via the Chase travel portal, you would receive $100 in value.

Travel Benefits

Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection (LHRC) Benefits ($100 Value)

Book an eligible hotel stay on the LHRC website and receive an upgraded room (when available), daily breakfast for 2, early check-in/late checkout (when available), and free Wi-Fi. You’ll also receive an onsite amenity worth $100 that could include lunch, dinner, golf fees, a spa credit, or another amenity unique to the property.

You’ll be able to view the benefits and amenities available at each property prior to making your reservation. We’ve put together this step-by-step article with lots of additional information.

Annual Hotel Credit ($50 Value)

Enjoy a $50 hotel credit immediately after card approval and at each subsequent card anniversary when you book a hotel stay via the Chase Travel portal.

No Foreign Transaction Fees ($60 Value)

It’s difficult to estimate how much you’ll spend on foreign transactions in any given year, but let’s say you spend $2,000. Foreign transaction fees are generally around 3% of the transaction, which would result in a $60 savings.

Travel Protection Perks

Rental Car Collision Damage Waiver ($200 Value)

Reserve and pay for your rental car with your card, decline the agency’s collision damage waiver/liability damage waiver coverage, and receive primary protection for damage or theft of your rental car. Primary means that you do not have to first file a claim with any other applicable insurance before your card coverage applies.

If you rented a vehicle for 10 days and didn’t need to purchase CDW/LDW coverage costing $20 per day, you could save an estimated $200.

Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, and Trip Delay Coverage (Value Varies)

When the unexpected happens, it’s nice to have travel insurance coverage. While not meant to replace a comprehensive travel insurance policy, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card does offer protection should your trip be canceled for a covered reason.

You could be reimbursed up to $10,000 per trip, $20,000 total per occurrence, with a maximum benefit of $40,000 within a 12-month period for either trip cancellation or trip interruption. Trip delay reimbursement provides up to $500 per purchased ticket, per trip, for lodging and covered essentials.

Roadside Assistance ($50 Value)

Chances are you won’t need to use this roadside dispatch benefit often, but if you do, you will be happy to know that you’ll pay just 1 flat pre-negotiated fee for a service call. The service call can include limited towing, jumpstart service, tire changing an existing spare, standard winching, limited fuel delivery, and lock-out services. Currently, the fee is $59.95 and subject to change.

According to Homeguide.com, the average cost of a tow nationally is about $95 but can be as high as $300. Obviously, service call prices can vary, so we’ll estimate a savings of $50 should you need to use this service.

Baggage Insurance ($200 Value)

If the airline doesn’t pay the appropriate delayed or lost luggage benefit, or doesn’t pay you the full amount, no worries as you’ll have coverage with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

If your luggage is delayed 6 hours or more, you could receive up to $500 ($100 per day) for incidentals and up to $3,000 if your luggage is lost or stolen.

Shopping Benefits and Protections

DoorDash DashPass ($120 Value)

Activate your DoorDash DashPass membership by December 31, 2027, and receive 1 year of complimentary DoorDash DashPass with free delivery, as well as benefits at Caviar. A minimum purchase, typically $12, as stated when using each app, applies. The DoorDash DashPass has a value of $9.99 a month or $96 annually.

Chase Offers and Shop through Chase ($100 Value)

Chase Offers are like free money. Just log in to your online Chase Sapphire Preferred card account and browse the Chase Offers available. Add the offers you’ll use to your card account, make the qualifying purchase and receive a statement credit.

You can also earn extra rewards by using the Shop through Chase shopping portal. Log in to your online Ultimate Rewards account, select Earn Bonus Points, and select a retailer or service provider from the Shop through Chase menu. Once you’ve made a qualifying purchase, you’ll receive the associated bonus earnings in your Ultimate Rewards account.

Purchase Protection and Extended Warranty (Value Varies)

When you purchase an eligible item with your card, you’ll receive coverage for damage, theft, or involuntary parting with purchase protection. You could receive up to $500 per claim, up to $50,000 per account. If an eligible product has a manufacturer’s warranty of 3 years or less, the extended warranty benefit adds 1 additional year to that protection.

Who Qualifies for Chase SCRA/MLA Benefits?

Chase briefly defines eligibility as any “active-duty servicemember, or member of the National Guard or Reserve and called to active duty.” Once your credit card application has been received, your eligibility will be verified via the Department of Defense Manpower Data Center (DDMA).

Spouses of active-duty military members are also covered under the SCRA and MLA acts and Chase will waive their credit card fees.

The process for eligibility verification of either party is the same. Once eligibility is confirmed, the applicant will receive a confirmation letter that the benefits have been applied to their card.

You will also receive a letter if, for any reason, Chase is not able to confirm your eligibility. The letter will explain the reason, if additional documentation is needed, and the next steps to take.

How To Request Military Benefits

Log in to your Chase card account, select Secure Messages, New Message, and select Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) as the topic. You will be able to send a message and attach any supporting documents to the message.

You can also mail the required documents to Chase, Attention SCRA Request, P.O. Box 183240, Columbus, Ohio, 43218-3240.

Hot Tip: When completing a new Chase credit card application, you could be asked to provide your source of income. Selecting “military” as the source may trigger a manual review of your application and after verification of your qualifications, you may not be charged the annual fee (thanks to the Military Money Manual for this tip). If more information is needed, you may be charged the annual fee and then be reimbursed once your eligibility is confirmed. 

Everything Else You Need To Know

Chase offers a military hotline for service members to call to discuss benefits. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. EDT. Call 877-469-0110 within the U.S. or 318-340-3308 if calling from outside the U.S.

Chase offers an extensive list of benefits for active-duty military members’ additional financial accounts, including checking, savings, mortgages, auto financing, and more.

Chase waives fees on personal credit cards, but not on business credit cards. However, there are some Chase business credit cards that do not have annual fees.

Although Chase does not limit the number of cards you can have, the issuer does have a 5/24 rule that limits the number of cards you can be approved for based on the number of cards you’ve acquired from all issuers in the past 24 months.

Additional Chase Cards Recommended for Active-duty Military

While Chase offers several rewards earning credit cards, the cards with the highest annual fees may offer the most value to military members as these cards have the most overall benefits.

Here are some of the cards offering the best value for active-duty military:

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$550

APR

21.74% - 28.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025

Cons

• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.74% - 28.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Why We Like the Card for Active-duty Military

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers premium travel benefits that can save you money and make your travel more comfortable. But that’s not all the card has to offer.

• Up to $300 annual travel statement credit
• Worldwide lounge access via complimentary Priority Pass Select membership
• 10x earnings on car rentals, hotels, and dining purchased via the Chase travel portal
• 5x earnings on flights via the Chase travel portal
• 3x earnings on all other travel and on dining
• 50% more value when redeeming rewards for travel via the Chase travel portal
• Superb travel benefits and protections
• Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck fee reimbursement
• No foreign transaction fees

Having the high annual fee waived on the Chase Sapphire Reserve card coupled with the card’s broad collection of benefits makes the card a fine choice for the active-duty military member.

United Club℠ Infinite Card

LIMITED TIME OFFER

United Club℠ Infinite Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Perfect for frequent United flyers who want premium perks like United Club access and free baggage benefits.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

United Club℠ Infinite Card

Perfect for frequent United flyers who want premium perks like United Club access and free baggage benefits.

Welcome Offer

Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

90,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,080

Annual Fee

$525

APR

21.24% - 28.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-850)

Why We Like This Card

The United Club℠ Infinite Card is a premium card designed for the most dedicated of United frequent flyers who are looking for a card that provides the opportunity to earn extra United MileagePlus miles and receive lounge access via a yearly United Club membership.

United frequent flyers will find that the United Club Infinite card provides an enhanced experience on their United flights thanks to the money saved on each flight and the conveniences it provides.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4x miles per $1 on United purchases
• 2x miles per $1 on travel and dining purchases
• Complimentary United Club membership (up to $650 value per year)

Cons

• $525 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Limited-time Offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles
• 4x miles on United^® purchases
• 2x miles on all other travel and dining
• 1x mile on all other purchases
• United Club℠ membership - up to $650 value per year
• Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $360 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access^® travel services
• Earn up to 10,000 Premier qualifying points per calendar year (25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases)
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.24% - 28.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Why We Like the Card for Active-duty Military

If you fly with United Airlines even a few times each year, having the United Club Infinite card is sure to enhance your experience. Here’s why we like the card for those military members who fly United:

• United flight benefits, including priority boarding, free checked bags, and inflight purchase discounts
• United Club lounge access when flying United
• Bonus miles earned on United purchases and on travel/dining
• Premier upgrades, when available, on United award flights
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee reimbursement
• Discounted CLEAR membership
• Travel and shopping benefits/protections

Check out our related article on the best credit cards for United Airlines flyers.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual Free Night Award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual Free Night Award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.

Welcome Offer

Earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening.

125,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$875

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.74% - 27.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you’re a frequent traveler and a Marriott loyalist, there’s a lot to love about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card. The card comes packed with several great benefits like a free hotel night once a year, automatic Silver Elite status (with a fast-track to Gold Elite status), and multiple options for redeeming points.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Earn big when you use your card at thousands of participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
• Earn big at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
• Automatic Silver Elite Status

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• Marriott Silver Elite Status is the lowest status tier

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases.
• Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
• Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
• 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
• Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Card.
• Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees. Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.74% - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Why We Like the Card for Active-duty Military

If Marriott Bonvoy is your hotel program of choice, you’ll find a lot of reasons to have the Marriott Boundless card. Here are some of the key benefits of the card.

• Up to 17x total points per dollar spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
• Annual free night certificate worth 35,000 points
• Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status
• Spend $35,000 on the card in a calendar year for Gold Elite status
• 15 Elite Night Credits toward higher status
• 1 free Elite Night Credit for each $5,000 spent on the card
• Transfer points to airline partners
• No foreign transaction fees

Bottom Line: We’ve highlighted some of the key benefits of each card, but these lists are not all-encompassing. You’ll want to read more about the best Chase cards for active-duty military prior to deciding on which cards are best suited for your situation.

Final Thoughts

If you’re just getting started and looking for a well-rounded travel rewards credit card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is an excellent choice. The card offers the opportunity to learn the benefits of earning and redeeming flexible-style rewards and the experience of finding potentially elevated value when using travel transfer partners.

In addition to being a good foundation for earning and using rewards, the card could save you money and provide peace of mind with its extensive travel benefits and protections.

For more information on some of the best credit cards for active-duty military, we’ve put together a notable list.