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If you're looking for a premium travel credit card but don't want to pay hundreds of dollars in annual fees, put the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card on your list. With a reasonable $95 annual fee, it offers generous rewards in everyday spending categories and a nice sign-up bonus. Other benefits include travel insurance, purchase protection, a $50 annual hotel credit for bookings made through Chase, and a 10% points bonus on your yearly cardmember anniversary.
The catch? The Chase Sapphire Preferred® lacks premium travel benefits like airport lounge access. Its rewards rates are also lower than some other premium travel credit cards with higher annual fees, particularly regarding travel-related spending.
While the Chase Sapphire Preferred® is a travel card at heart, it offers bonus rewards in several everyday spending categories. The flexibility and versatility of the Chase Ultimate Rewards program is another stand-out feature, especially since it lets members transfer their points to popular airline and hotel partners associated with the brand.
In fact, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® shines the most when it comes to its reward redemption options. Despite its lower annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® still offers point transfers to Chase travel partners like British Airways, United MileagePlus, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt. Cardholders also get 25% more value when they redeem points for travel through Chase, which could include flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and more.
When earning rewards on everyday purchases, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® doles out Chase Ultimate Rewards points differently based on the categories you spend in.
Cardholders earn:
The ongoing rewards are offered on top of the card's sign-up bonus, worth 60,000 points when new cardholders spend at least $4,000 on purchases within three months of account opening.
Expert intel: If you're curious how much in rewards you might earn with this card over a year, imagine you spend the following amounts in this card's bonus categories and on regular purchases (on average) in a given month:
In this scenario, the cardholder would earn 7,000 points on regular monthly spending and 84,000 points over one year. Add the sign-up bonus on this card, and you would earn 144,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points during your first year as a cardholder.
Travel credit cards from Chase offer some of the most flexible redemption options on the market today, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® is no exception. Not only does the card offer several ways to use points in the travel realm, but members can redeem their rewards for a handful of easy, non-travel redemptions as well.
Non-travel redemption options with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® include:
Expert intel: When it comes to travel, cardholders can redeem their rewards for travel bookings through Chase (e.g. airfare, hotel stays, car rentals, and more) directly and get 25% more value for their points in the process. This is why materials on the card say the 60,000 point sign-up bonus is actually worth $750 in travel, whereas the bonus would be worth $600 if redeemed for cash back or gift cards.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® customers can also transfer points 1:1 to a selection of airline and hotel partners. Rewards must be transferred in increments of 1,000 points.
Chase transfer partners include:
Airlines:
Hotels:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® received an average score of 4.7 out of 5 based on our credit card review methodology. This score reflects superior rankings in categories like Features and Benefits, Security, and User Experience, along with lower scores for the card's Customer Service and Rates and Fees.
In the sections below, we explain our reasoning behind the scores we gave in each review category.
While the Chase Sapphire Preferred® charges a reasonable annual fee ($95) and doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, its ongoing variable APR can make carrying a balance a costly experience. The card does not offer an intro APR for purchases or balance transfers.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® offers generous benefits for cardholders, especially considering its reasonable annual fee. Chase Sapphire Preferred® perks include an annual $50 credit for hotel purchases made through Chase Travel℠, a 10% points boost based on the previous year's spending, and benefits with DoorDash, Peloton, and Lyft.
Cardholders also get purchase protections and travel coverages like trip cancellation and interruption insurance, primary auto rental coverage, and trip delay reimbursement.
Chase offers standard encryption on its website and mobile app, as well as enhanced security features like biometric authentication and 24/7 monitoring for suspicious activity. Cardholders also enjoy $0 liability protection for fraudulent purchases charged to their accounts.
The Chase mobile app boasts a 4.4 out of 5 rating on Google Play and 4.8 out of 5 stars in the App Store. The bank is known for its transparency, and all information regarding the card and its rewards program can be easily found online. Rewards earned with this card, called Chase Ultimate Rewards points, are also known for their versatility and ease of use.
Chase customer service tends to be top-notch on the phone and via other contact methods, including secure messages. The card issuer makes it easy for customers to inquire about their card's terms and conditions, or to request an upgrade or downgrade to another card product.
Chase scored lower in this category due to recent government actions based on its marketplace conduct, reported by the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Chase customer service is available 24/7, and response times are typically fast. You can reach credit card customer service on the phone (1-800-432-3117) or its social media channels (tweet Chase at @ChaseSupport or message them on Facebook or Instagram.)
When we tested these channels:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® has been a popular option for consumers since its initial introduction in 2009, although its rewards rates and features have changed over time. For the most part, individuals turn to this card when they want access to premium travel redemptions without paying the premium card price.
Paying just $95 per year for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® unlocks the option for point transfers to Chase airline and hotel partners with the added benefit of having premium travel insurance benefits. Consumers who pick the Chase Sapphire Preferred® seem more than willing to give up the luxury travel benefits some other cards offer, including a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership, airport lounge membership, and big-ticket annual travel credits.
Travel rewards expert Luis Lan, the founder of an award-booking service called Better than Points, says the perks on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® can pay off in addition to its rewards. He adds that one of the main reasons he got the card was its primary auto rental coverage since most credit card auto rental insurance alternatives offer secondary coverage only.
"This allows me to decline the rental company's collision damage waiver and save on that daily costly insurance fee," Lan says.
Lan says the annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® pays for itself through the primary auto rental benefit alone since he can rent a car for up to 31 consecutive days internationally or within the U.S. and still be covered.
Consumers with a partner who wants to access premium travel insurance perks can also consider pairing up a few cards for a "best of all worlds" scenario. Credit card rewards consultant Matthew Dong of Wuhoo Group says that his wife has the Chase Sapphire Preferred® and he has the Chase Sapphire Reserve® for this reason.
Having both cards balances out their household travel needs since the Reserve offers premium travel benefits like airport lounge access (with the ability to bring up to two guests in the lounge), a $300 annual travel credit, and travel insurance benefits. In the meantime, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® offers bonus rewards in different categories, the $50 annual hotel booking credit, and its selection of travel insurance benefits.
For all these reasons and the lower annual fee, experts say the Chase Sapphire Preferred® can be a good introductory travel credit card that lets users dip their toes in the travel rewards world without a big financial commitment.
Reddit users largely agree with the assessment that the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great pick for moderate or newbie travel card users, adding that the big sign-up bonus alone could justify including the card in your wallet.
Some argue that people who spend less on travel and more on general (or versatile) spending categories might better benefit from a card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, which offers a higher return rate of 1.5% cash back on everyday purchases with no annual fee.
Expert intel: "[The Chase Sapphire Preferred] is one of my favorite cards to recommend to beginners in the points and miles world. What makes it special is its flexibility — you can unlock Chase's valuable transfer partners for maximum value, but you also have the option to book directly through Chase's travel portal and get a 25% bonus on your points. This 'training wheels' approach makes it incredibly forgiving for newcomers who might not be ready to dive into transfer partners right away." — Michael Gandara, awards travel coach with Nurse Michael Travels
Chase Sapphire Preferred® | Chase Sapphire Reserve® | |
Annual fee | $95 | $550 |
Base rewards |
|
|
APR | 20.49%-27.49% Variable | 21.49%-28.49% Variable |
Sign-on bonus | 60,000 points when you spend $4,000 on purchases within three months of account opening | 60,000 points when you spend $4,000 on purchases within three months of account opening |
For the most part, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is an upgraded version of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® with more premium benefits and a higher annual fee. While it will set you back $550 per year, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes with a $300 annual travel credit good for any travel purchases, Priority Pass Select airport lounge access (retail value of $469), a fee credit for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck membership and 50% more value for points when redeemed for travel through Chase.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® also comes with the most robust selection of travel insurance benefits of any travel credit card on the market today, including primary auto rental coverage, trip cancellation and interruption coverage, travel delay insurance, protection for lost and delayed baggage, emergency medical evacuation coverage, and more. Additional consumer protections include purchase protection against damage or theft, extended warranties, and even return protection.
This card also comes with the same redemption options as the Chase Sapphire Preferred®, including point transfers to airlines and hotels. With the higher annual fee, however, it makes the most sense for frequent travelers who can take advantage of airport lounge access and other premium benefits.
To create this comprehensive guide and overview of the Chase Sapphire Preferred®, we looked at credit card factors that matter to most consumers.
Factors we considered include rewards rates and redemption options, rates and fees, features and benefits, credit card account security, user experience, and customer service. We also considered first-hand experiences of current and past customers, along with overall consumer sentiment found on various review platforms, like Reddit.
Learn more about how we rate and review credit cards and their issuers.
Most consumers who have or have had the card seem to think it’s worthwhile. With its flexible redemptions for rewards, large sign-up bonus, and bonus rewards in everyday categories, it's easy to see how its customers extract a ton of value from the card each year.
When you add in benefits like the $50 annual hotel credit and travel insurance perks, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® can be an even better deal.
However, how much you travel and the airline and hotel partners you want access to can still make a difference when it comes to the best travel credit card for your lifestyle and goals. Before you sign up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred®, make sure to compare other premium travel credit cards from not only Chase but also American Express, Capital One, and Citi.
Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Offer Lounge Access to Cardholders?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® does not offer airport lounge access for cardholders. However, the higher annual fee Chase Sapphire Reserve® ($550 per year) comes with a Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership.
Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Have Foreign Transaction Fees?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® does not charge foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.
Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Made of Metal?
Yes, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® is a metal credit card.