The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has consistently been at the top of our list of favorite travel rewards cards due to its earnings and redemption options for valuable Ultimate Rewards points and its complementary travel and shopping benefits. There’s no wonder it’s often selected as a person’s first travel rewards card.
Today we’re going to expand on our normal narrative and talk about a seldom-explained option for maximizing and sharing the benefits that come with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card.
The option we’re referring to is adding an authorized user. We’ll discuss all the benefits of doing so, a few of the downsides (there aren’t many), and also which benefits you won’t find extended to additional users.
If you’re looking for a way to add other users to your card and want to know more about how it works, you’ll find those answers here.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Snapshot
Before we dive into the how and why you’d want to add an authorized user to the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, let’s look at an overall snapshot of the card including a link for you to use to access key information including fees, interest rates, and any terms/conditions that might apply.
What Is an Authorized User?
An authorized user is a person the primary cardholder has added to the credit card account and therefore becomes authorized to make spending transactions on that account. Adding an additional user can be cost-effective versus paying an extra annual fee for that person to be approved for their own separate card. It is also a way to help the user establish credit.
You could add a family member, close associate, or any other trusted individual to your card and authorize them to make charge transactions on your account. You will, however, be solely responsible for any charges made by authorized users.
Let’s now explore the benefits, the restrictions, and the process of adding an additional user to your card.
Benefits of Adding an Authorized User to the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Before we get into the earning, redemption, travel, and shopping benefits of adding an authorized user, let’s look at some of the reasons you would consider doing so.
1. No Fee for Adding an Authorized User
Add as many authorized users as you wish to the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and neither you nor the additional cardholder will pay an extra fee for doing so.
2. More Cost-effective Than Applying for a Separate Additional Card
Although the additional cardholder does not enjoy all of the same benefits as the primary cardholder, adding an authorized user is more cost-effective than applying for a separate credit card and paying an additional annual fee.
3. Can Help To Establish Good Credit
Adding an authorized user, regardless of age, will help establish credit for that person, even if the person does not use their card. As long as the primary cardholder keeps their own credit in good standing and that activity is reported to the credit bureaus, the authorized user will benefit.
4. Establishes Credit History
One factor that affects your overall credit score is the length of your credit history. Adding an authorized user, especially one who is young, can help establish initial credit and start the clock ticking to build that history.
Bottom Line: Adding an authorized user can help that person establish credit and start building a credit history. There is no charge for adding an authorized user to your Chase Sapphire Preferred card and it could be a cost-effective alternative to having that person apply for their own card.
Earning Rewards
5. Spending Counts Towards the Welcome Bonus Requirement
All purchases made by the primary cardholder and any authorized users count toward the minimum spending requirement (in the first 90 days after the primary cardholder’s initial card approval) for achieving the offered welcome bonus.
6. Earning With Bonus Category Purchases
Travel and dining purchases made by the authorized user earn 5x points on travel purchased through the Chase Travel portal, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, which will be deposited into the primary cardholder’s account.
7. Earn Rewards on Every Purchase
Every other purchase made by the authorized user, even outside of the bonus categories, earns 1x earnings for each dollar spent on the card.
Redeeming Rewards
8. Rewards Can Be Redeemed for the Authorized User
While authorized users do not have redemption privileges, the primary cardholder controls the rewards account and can utilize the earned Ultimate Reward points to book travel via the Chase Travel portal or make other redemption transactions for the authorized user.
9. Transfer Ultimate Rewards Points to Loyalty Program Accounts
One benefit of adding an authorized user is that you can transfer Ultimate Rewards points to their airline frequent flyer account or hotel loyalty program account to use for award flights or free hotel nights. In some cases (i.e. World of Hyatt), the authorized user must be a member of your household.
Bottom Line: Adding an additional user to your card can help you qualify for the initial welcome bonus and allow you to build rewards faster to reach individual or family travel redemption goals.
Travel Benefits and Protections
Authorized users share in several travel benefits and protections. Image Credit: Eric Nielsen via Unsplash10. Car Rental and Ride-Sharing Program Benefits
- Lyft Benefits — Primary cardholders will receive 5x Ultimate Rewards points (through March 2025) for their own purchases and those made by authorized users
- Visa Discounts on Car Rentals — Receive up to a 25% discount plus other perks at Hertz, Avis, and National
Use the Chase Sapphire Preferred card (or a combination of Chase Ultimate Rewards points and your Chase Sapphire Preferred card) to reserve and pay for the rental car, then decline the rental car agency’s CDW or LDW coverage for damage, theft, loss of use, and applicable towing.
12. Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Coverage
This benefit provides protection should your trip be canceled or disrupted for covered reasons. Eligible travel expenses are reimbursed up to $10,000 per covered person, up to $20,000 total per covered trip, and up to a maximum of $40,000 within a 12-month period per account.
13. Trip Delay Reimbursement
Receive up to $500 per trip for covered expenses due to a trip delay of greater than 12 hours or overnight.
14. Baggage Insurance
Receive up to $100 per day reimbursement for covered expenses for up to 5 days if your baggage is delayed more than 6 hours. Additionally, lost or damaged baggage reimbursement is covered for up to $3,000 per person, per covered trip. Limits and conditions apply.
Receive help when you have a roadside breakdown and pay 1 set fee that includes standard towing, tire changing, jump-starting, lockout service, fuel delivery, and standard wenching. Limits apply.
16. Travel Accident Insurance
In the case of specific severe injury or death when traveling via common carrier, a benefit of up to $1,000,000 may apply.
17. Travel and Emergency Assistance Service
Help is available 24/7 while you’re traveling by calling the hotline. Receive medical and legal referrals, assistance with emergency transportation, and more.
Bottom Line: Authorized users can share several travel benefits and protections. Many can be utilized by calling the number on the back of the card or presenting the card at the time of purchase.
Shopping Benefits and Protections
18. DoorDash Benefits
Cardholders (and authorized users) receive free DoorDash DashPass membership so long as it’s activated by December 31, 2024. The benefit is activated during the first use, includes free delivery, and offers reduced fees on orders $12 and over.
19. Instacart+ Benefits
Cardholders (and authorized users) get a free 6-month membership to Instacart+ when the benefit is activated by July 31, 2024. Instacard+ offers free delivery on orders over $35, a 5% credit back on eligible pickup orders, and a lower service fee on all orders.
Cardholders will also receive a $15 statement credit each quarter to offset some of the purchases they make with Instacart.
20. Extended Warranty Protection
The original manufacturer’s warranty of 3 years or less will be extended for 1 additional year. Purchase an eligible item with your card and receive up to a maximum of $10,000 per claim, and $50,000 per account.
Covered items purchased with your card receive protection for theft, damage, or accidental loss, for up to 120 days from the date of purchase. A limit of $500 per item and $50,000 per account apply.
22. No Foreign Transaction Fees
Purchases made by either the primary cardholder or any authorized users are not subject to foreign transaction fees. This benefit can end up saving you a significant amount of money each year, depending on how often you travel.
How To Add an Authorized User to the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Adding an authorized user to your Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a simple process. Image Credit: ChaseTo add an authorized user, simply log into your Chase Sapphire Preferred card online account via chase.com and click on the dropdown as shown above.
Image Credit: ChaseYou’ll need to provide the first name, last name, date of birth, and address of the additional user to complete the short form. If the person has a foreign address, you will need to call Chase to add them.
You can also add an authorized user by calling the number on the back of your card.
The new authorized user card will be sent within 7 to 10 working days.
Everything Else You Need To Know
While there are very few downsides to adding an authorized user, you’ll want to understand the following:
- The primary cardholder is solely responsible to repay any charges the authorized user makes
- Chase will report the authorized user account to the credit bureaus
- All correspondence will be sent to the primary cardholder
Additional Primary Cardholder Benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Earn 2x Ultimate Rewards points for any travel purchase not purchased through Ultimate Rewards. Image Credit: Idealphotographer via ShutterstockWhile an authorized user enjoys many of the benefits that come with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, some benefits are granted strictly to the primary cardholder.
- Transfer Ultimate Rewards points to airline and hotel partners
- Redeem Ultimate Rewards points for travel via the Chase Travel portal for 25% additional value
- Redeem Ultimate Rewards points for statement credits, cash-back, merchandise, gift cards
- Access to view and add Chase Offers (both authorized users and the primary cardholder can use these offers, however)
Bottom Line: Although the authorized user shares many of the card’s attributes, major benefits and all redemption options are reserved for the primary cardholder. Plus, the primary cardholder assumes all responsibility for paying any incurred charges. Chase will send all correspondence to the primary cardholder and report activity to the credit bureaus for all users.
Final Thoughts
Adding an authorized user to your Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a decision you should not take lightly, even with the fact that it costs nothing to accomplish. You are, in fact, taking on the responsibility for the spending transactions of another person.
This may never be a problem if the person is a family member or other trusted individual. However, it could be important to set expectations as to spending limits, repayment, and any potential consequences before adding the user.
Sharing card benefits and helping the user establish credit can be positive outcomes of adding authorized users. For these reasons, it can be worth any pre-determined minimal risk of doing so for the right person.
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