Alerts Sign-up
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is often recommended as a top choice for those entering the world of points and miles, but its benefits go beyond being a beginner card. Many contribute its popularity to the flexibility of Chase Ultimate Rewards points and its attractive sign-up bonuses. Currently, new holders can earn a 100,000-point bonus after spending $5,000 in the first three months.
A distinguishing feature of the card is its annual $95 fee, which is often offset by its benefits. These include a $50 annual credit on hotel stays purchased through the Chase Travel℠ portal and various travel insurances. The card allows users to accumulate points quickly, with 5 points per dollar on certain travel purchases, 3 points per dollar on dining, streaming services, and online groceries, and 1 point per dollar on everything else. The same rate applies when booking through the Chase Travel portal, although bookings through other agencies earn 2 points per dollar. Other benefits include primary rental car insurance, trip delay insurance, and baggage delay insurance.
Cardholders should strategize their spending to maximize these opportunities. For airfare and hotel bookings, the benefits include points earnings and crucial insurances, such as trip delay insurance and baggage delay insurance, which may cover significant costs if travel plans go awry. Additionally, using the card for rental cars waives the rental agency’s collision damage waiver insurance, offering primary rental car insurance instead. When dining out or using DoorDash, cardholders earn additional points and benefit from DashPass membership.
