using chase points to travel

Please turn on JavaScript in your browser It appears your web browser is not using JavaScript. Without it, some pages won't work properly. Please adjust the settings in your browser to make sure JavaScript is turned on.

How to use chase ultimate rewards® for travel.

Whether you're a longtime cardholder or just starting your credit card journey with Chase, you may be wondering: What is the best way to use Chase points ? The answer will be different for everyone, but if you like to travel, you may find that using your points on your trips is your favorite way to spend them. Learning how to use Chase Ultimate Rewards to make the most of your points could help you pack in a few extra adventures when planning your next getaway.

How to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are redeemable points you can earn through welcome bonus offers or when making purchases with your Chase-branded cards, such as:

• Chase Sapphire
• Chase Freedom
• Chase Ink Business

You may also earn Ultimate Rewards at an accelerated rate on certain purchases or bonus categories — the typical rate is one point earned per dollar spent.

Redeeming Chase Ultimate Reward points

As a general rule of thumb, one point equates to $0.01 in redeemable value. This can fluctuate, however, depending on how you decide to redeem your points. When it comes to travel there are three main ways to redeem Ultimate Rewards points:

• Booking travel directly through the Chase travel portal.
• Transferring your points to Chase travel partners, such as airlines and hotels.
• Redeeming your points for gift cards or statement credits.

Using Ultimate Rewards points for travel

If you decide to redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards to book travel, you may want to know what your options are. The main way you can redeem your points is through the Chase travel portal. There, you can directly find, book and pay for travel expenses such as flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, tours and other activities or transfer points to hotel and airline partners.

When transferring your Ultimate Rewards to Chase travel partners, i.e. airlines and hotels, the transfer ratio is typically 1:1. That means that however many Ultimate Rewards points you have, you'll have the same amount in partner points with whichever Chase Ultimate Rewards travel partner you choose.

Why book through Chase Travel portal?

Something to note when using the portal is that the value of your points can change depending on which card you have.

For instance, if you have the Chase Freedom Unlimited ® card, your points are worth one cent each. With the Chase Sapphire Preferred ® or Ink Business Preferred ® cards, your points are each worth 1.25 cents. You'll get the highest value with the Chase Sapphire Reserve ® , as points are worth 1.5 cents each in the travel portal with that card.

If you have multiple eligible cards, you can combine your points to get the most out of them.

One of the benefits of booking through the Chase travel portal is that you can earn points on paid reservations. For instance, with Chase Sapphire Reserve ® you can earn 5x points on airfare and 10x points on hotels and rental cars booked through the portal.

You can book flights, hotels and rental cars directly through the travel portal, but if you want to book a cruise using Ultimate Rewards points, you'll have to call Chase directly.

There's no right or wrong when it comes to how to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points. However, if you've been bitten by the travel bug, you may find the best way to use them is by transferring them to Chase partners or booking through the Chase travel portal. Take some time to compare points transfers and the travel portal and see which one helps you make the most out of your points.

• card travel tips
• credit card benefits

What to read next

Rewards and benefits frequent flyer programs: a guide.

Frequent flyer programs offer a variety of perks. Learn more about what frequent flyer programs are and what to consider when choosing one.

rewards and benefits Are frequent flyer credit cards worth it?

Frequent flyer credit cards help frequent flyers earn and redeem points or miles towards the cost of their future travel plans. Learn more about their risks and rewards.

rewards and benefits Chase Sapphire Events at Miami Art Week

Learn about the exclusive events a Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmember can experience at Miami Art Week.

rewards and benefits How to choose a credit card to earn travel points

There are many things to consider when choosing a credit card with travel points - how travel points work, how to earn them, and so on. Learn more here.

Chase Ultimate Rewards: How to earn, redeem, and maximize your points in 2024

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate credit cards to write unbiased product reviews .

The Chase Ultimate Rewards® rewards program is frequently considered one of the top credit card point systems available today — and for good reason. Ultimate Rewards points, which you can earn from some of Chase's best credit cards , offer some of the most generous and diverse travel redemption options you can find.

But you don't have to redeem rewards for travel if you don't want to. You can cash them out, trade them for gift cards, or even pay for your Amazon cart with them at checkout. Not all these redemptions are a good idea, but it's nice to know all your options.

Chase Ultimate Rewards Guide

Let's take a look at all the ways to earn and redeem Chase points.

How to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points

The only way to earn rewards in the Chase Ultimate Rewards ecosystem is by opening and using a Chase card that operates within this program.

Fortunately, Chase points-earning cards are some of the best travel credit cards available today, and each offers a generous welcome bonus and ongoing rewards for everyday spending.

Credit cards that earn transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards points

If you're looking to open a Chase rewards card, you may be wondering whether you should get the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a lower annual fee of $95 compared to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which has a $550 annual fee. The Reserve comes with higher points-earning rates and more bells and whistles, such as a $300 annual statement credit for travel purchases.

Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve card comparison for more details.

If you're a small business owner, on the other hand, you may want to opt for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, or another of the best Chase business credit cards .

What to know before applying for a Chase Ultimate Rewards card

Most credit card issuers have some guidelines that dictate whether or not they will approve you for their cards. Often they have to do with your credit score, but in the case of Chase there's also a limit on opening new cards to keep in mind.

The "5/24" rule from Chase means that you won't be approved for most Chase credit cards if you've opened five or more credit cards in the last 24 months. This doesn't mean five or more credit cards from Chase; this means five or more credit cards from any issuer. Keep this limitation in mind if you're planning to open multiple  rewards credit cards  in the near future, and strongly consider prioritizing applications for Chase cards so you don't run into this limit.

Chase cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® require high credit scores in the good to excellent range. An excellent credit score is anything above 800, according to the FICO scoring model. While you may get approved for one of these cards with a score in the high 600s and above, it's key to avoid taking on debt you can't pay off each month. No credit card rewards will make up for the high interest fees you'll incur. 

How Much are Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Worth?

Chase Ultimate Rewards® are among the most valuable travel rewards you can earn. These points offer high upside thanks to Chase's lucrative roster of 11 airline and three hotel transfer partners, as well as a respectable value floor when you redeem directly with Chase for travel and statement credits. As a result, Chase Ultimate Rewards points have an average redemption value of 1.8 cents per point in  Business Insider's most recent valuations .

How to use Chase Ultimate Rewards points

If you're considering a Chase credit card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points but want to make sure you'll be able to utilize your points, it helps to know all your options ahead of time.

The important thing to note is that if you don't have either the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, you won't have as many redemption options. You won't be able to transfer points to airline and hotel partners, and your points will only be worth 1 cent apiece toward travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards website.

If you do have one of the above cards, Chase lets you pool all your points in one place for optimal redemptions. So you can move points over from, say, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and get 1.25 cents per point for travel booked through Chase, or transfer your Ultimate Rewards to an airline or hotel program to book an award.

Here are the main redemption options you can look forward to:

Redeem for statement credits or gift cards (1 cent per point)

No matter which Chase card you have, you can trade points for statement credits at a rate of 1 cent per point. This option can be a good one if you don't want to travel or if you want to use your points to cover a splurge purchase of some kind. All you have to do is charge the purchase to your credit card, then redeem your points at a rate of 1 cent each in order to wipe all or part of the charge away.

Gift cards are another redemption option Chase offers, and you'll normally get 1 cent per point if you go this route. Sometimes Chase even offers gift cards with a better value for specific retailers, which can be a good deal. It's not unusual to see gift cards for retailers like Apple, Panera Bread, or Old Navy for 2,250 points per $25 gift card.

Pay for merchandise (point values vary, not a good deal)

If you prefer to shop directly with your points, you can redeem them for purchases on Amazon.com , PayPal, or with Apple. You'll get 0.8 cents per point when you use points to shop on Amazon or with PayPal, and 1 cent per point when you purchase electronics through Apple.

However, this isn't a good deal. Considering you can redeem points for statement credits to cover any purchase you want at a rate of 1 cent per point, you should make the purchase on your card (and you'll earn points for the purchase). Then, you can erase the charge from your statement by cashing in points for a statement credit at a rate of 1 cent each. 

Book travel through the Chase Travel Portal℠ (up to 1.5 cents per point)

You can also book hotels, airfare, vacation rentals, activities, and rental cars directly through the Chase Travel Portal℠ , which is similar to an online travel agency. If you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you get a 50% bonus when you book with points, thus giving your points 1.5 cents each in value.

With the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, you get a 25% bonus when you redeem points through the portal, or 1.25 cents per point.

As far as the top travel destinations you can visit with Chase Ultimate Rewards points, the sky is pretty much the limit (well, the entire globe, not the sky). You can use points to book flights and accommodations almost everywhere. But as far as value goes, the Chase Travel Portal℠ will usually get you the best value for cheap hotel stays and flights, while transferring Ultimate Rewards points to partners is generally a smarter move if you're looking to book a first-class flight or an expensive luxury hotel.

Pay Yourself Back with Chase points (up to 1.5 cents per point)

During the pandemic, Chase introduced a compelling new way to redeem points for everyday, non-travel expenses. Chase Pay Yourself Back lets you redeem Ultimate Rewards points toward purchases in eligible categories. 

However, this option has become less lucrative with Chase's recent devaluation of Pay Yourself Back. The return you'll get for your points varies depending on the card you have, with the best value coming from the Chase Sapphire Reserve card (1.25 cents per point in eligible categories, 1.5 cents per point for charitable donations) and Ink Business Preferred Card (1.25 cents per point in eligible categories).

If you don't have any travel plans in the near future, this could be another option for using your rewards to cut down on expenses — and you don't have to feel any guilt about missing out on optimal points value.

Transfer points to airline and hotel partners (2 cents per point or more)

Similar to Amex Membership Rewards , Chase Ultimate Rewards lets you transfer points to a wide range of airline and hotel partners. All Chase transfer partners let you move your points at a 1:1 ratio, which is not only valuable but also easy to understand. 

Transferring your Chase Ultimate Rewards to Chase's travel partners is the best way to get the most value from your points, since there's no limit to how much your points can be worth. It all just depends on what kind of award flight or hotel stay you book — and if you book a first-class flight or luxury hotel, you could be looking at hundreds if not thousands of dollars in value.

Because most of Chase's airline partners are in an alliance, you can redeem your airline miles (after you transfer points from Chase) on any of the carrier's alliance partners.

For example, you could transfer your Chase points to United Airlines, then use your United miles to book award flights on Star Alliance partners like Air Canada, Lufthansa, or Singapore Airlines. The same goes for British Airways (Oneworld alliance, which includes American Airlines and Cathay Pacific) or Air France-KLM Flying Blue (SkyTeam alliance, which includes Delta and Korean Air).

Redeem points for experiences (point values vary)

You can also use Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book special experiences, including one-of-a-kind events hosted by Chase. It's hard to say what your exact point value will be for these redemptions since Chase often sets the "price."

Past examples include VIP dining experiences, sports games with VIP seating, and Broadway-style shows. Point requirements are all over the place from as low as 10,000 points for a single-day ski resort lift ticket to 760,000 points for a VIP weekend experience at the Sundance Film Festival. These redemptions were largely put on hold due to the pandemic, but are ramping up again.

Best ways to redeem your Chase points

While the best way to use points depends on your personal goals, there are plenty of redemptions that can pay off in a big way. Here are some of the most valuable ways to cash in your rewards if your goal is to book epic and unforgettable travel experiences for free.

Score cheap flights through the Chase Travel Portal℠

While transferring Chase points to airlines is often the best deal, don't forget that you can also save big by booking flights through the Chase Travel Portal℠. This is especially true when you find a cheap fare online because the lower the price, the fewer points you'll need to book through Chase.

Here's a good example of how this works in practice: When I was trying to find award flights to Milan, Italy for my family of four and my parents, I almost booked using 30,000 American Airlines miles each plus airline taxes and fees each way.

I ultimately found cheap one-way flights on TAP Air Portugal for $287.80 each. Since you get a 50% bonus value (1.5 cents per point) when you book flights through the Chase portal with points from the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, I was able to book six one-way flights worth $1,726.80 in total through Chase for just 115,120 Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

That's a much better value than redeeming American Airlines AAdvantage miles . With the American AAdvantage program, I would have paid 180,000 American miles plus around $100 per person (or $600 for six of us) in airline taxes and fees.

Transfer points 1:1 to Southwest Airlines

If you're OK with flying economy and mostly travel in the US and to the Caribbean or Mexico, you'll definitely want to consider transferring points 1:1 to Southwest Airlines. This frequent flyer program is revenue-based, meaning lower prices mean you can score award flights for fewer points. In fact, you can frequently find one-way flights for as little as 5,000 points during one of Southwest's countless sales.

Southwest also gives each customer two free checked bags, making it a good choice for families who travel with checked luggage. Finally, the airline has a generous cancellation and rebooking policy which means you can usually reschedule your flight — even at the last minute.

Fly cheap economy to Europe with Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Flying Blue (the loyalty program for Air France and KLM) is a truly underutilized Chase Ultimate Rewards partner. This partner lets you fly for cheap to and from Europe from most major cities, and often for less than you'll pay with other airline programs.

You can frequently find one-way awards to European cities like Amsterdam and Paris for less than 30,000 miles one-way with this program, making them a solid option to check out if you're dreaming of a European getaway. Best of all, awards are generally plentiful and you can usually find four or more economy awards on any given flight.

Transfer to airline partners to fly business class

Using airline miles to fly business class makes a lot of sense, and this is particularly true with airlines that have fixed award charts. Fortunately, Chase has several airline partners that make it easy to book premium cabins for a reasonable number of miles.

For example, you could transfer your Chase points to these airlines for an epic redemption:

• Use 107,000 Singapore Airlines miles to fly business class from the West Coast to Singapore with Singapore Airlines
• Use 50,000 Virgin Atlantic miles to fly Delta One from the US to Europe (outside of the UK)
• Use 87,500 Air Canada Aeroplan points to fly business class from the US to Asia (under 11,000 flown miles) on Star Alliance partners

These are just a few of the options to consider, although there are many, many ways to utilize Chase points for profitable transfers to airline partners. 

Book hotels through the Chase Travel Portal℠

While the Chase Ultimate Rewards program partners with IHG Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt, it's important to price shop awards before you transfer Chase points to these programs.

For example, you may find that a Marriott stay that costs 50,000 points will only set you back 12,000 Chase points through the portal. In that case, it makes more sense to book your hotel stay with points through Chase than it does to transfer all those extra points over to book the same room.

Here's a good example of the exact same hotel stay on the same dates with the IHG Rewards program. While you can book the Holiday Inn Montego Bay Resort for 50,000 IHG points through IHG.com, the same hotel on the exact same dates will only set you back around 18,000 points through Chase Ultimate Rewards with the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Also note that the Chase portal lets you book hundreds of thousands of independent and boutique hotels and resorts, meaning you can use your points to shop around for a good deal.

Book fun excursions you don't want to pay for

Another way to use Chase Ultimate Rewards is for fun day trips and excursions you wouldn't normally want to pay for. Think of snorkeling trips in the Caribbean, a sunset booze cruise in Hawaii for your anniversary, or a cooking class in Florence, Italy. You can use Chase points to book these experiences and more, and often for less than you think.

Remember that you'll get 25% more travel for free when you use points from the Chase Sapphire Preferred to book travel through the portal, but this amount goes up to 50% more travel if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

I have used Chase points to snorkel with stingrays in Grand Cayman, swim with sharks in Bora Bora, and see some of the world's oldest ruins in destinations like Italy and Greece. I see splurging for excursions as a fun way to treat myself and my family. And they're my points to spend, so why not?

Chase Ultimate Rewards FAQs

Whether Chase Ultimate Rewards are worth it depends on your spending habits, travel goals, and financial priorities. For frequent travelers and those who use credit cards strategically, Chase Ultimate Rewards can offer significant value. With opportunities for earning points on everyday purchases and the flexibility to redeem them for travel, cash back, or other benefits, many find the program to be highly rewarding. However, it's essential to assess your individual needs and compare the benefits of Chase Ultimate Rewards to other credit card rewards programs to determine if it aligns with your financial goals.

Chase Ultimate Rewards is a versatile and highly regarded rewards program offered by Chase Bank. It allows cardholders to earn points on their purchases, which can be redeemed for a variety of benefits, including travel, cash back, gift cards, and more. With Chase Ultimate Rewards, you have the flexibility to choose how you want to use your points, making it a valuable addition to your financial toolkit.

Chase Ultimate Rewards do not expire as long as your account is open and in good standing. Unlike many other rewards programs, your hard-earned points remain available for you to use whenever you're ready, giving you flexibility and peace of mind.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

**Enrollment required.

• Main content

• Credit Cards
• All Credit Cards
• Find the Credit Card for You
• Best Credit Cards
• Best Rewards Credit Cards
• Best Travel Credit Cards
• Best 0% APR Credit Cards
• Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards
• Best Cash Back Credit Cards
• Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
• Best Credit Cards to Build Credit
• Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping
• Find the Best Personal Loan for You
• Best Personal Loans
• Best Debt Consolidation Loans
• Best Loans to Refinance Credit Card Debt
• Best Loans with Fast Funding
• Best Small Personal Loans
• Best Large Personal Loans
• Best Personal Loans to Apply Online
• Best Student Loan Refinance
• Best Car Loans
• All Banking
• Find the Savings Account for You
• Best High Yield Savings Accounts
• Best Big Bank Savings Accounts
• Best Big Bank Checking Accounts
• Best No Fee Checking Accounts
• No Overdraft Fee Checking Accounts
• Best Checking Account Bonuses
• Best Money Market Accounts
• Best Credit Unions
• All Mortgages
• Best Mortgages
• Best Mortgages for Small Down Payment
• Best Mortgages for No Down Payment
• Best Mortgages for Average Credit Score
• Best Mortgages No Origination Fee
• Adjustable Rate Mortgages
• Affording a Mortgage
• All Insurance
• Best Life Insurance
• Best Life Insurance for Seniors
• Best Homeowners Insurance
• Best Renters Insurance
• Best Car Insurance
• Best Pet Insurance
• Best Boat Insurance
• Best Motorcycle Insurance
• Travel Insurance
• Event Ticket Insurance
• Small Business
• All Small Business
• Best Small Business Savings Accounts
• Best Small Business Checking Accounts
• Best Credit Cards for Small Business
• Best Small Business Loans
• Best Tax Software for Small Business
• Personal Finance
• All Personal Finance
• Best Budgeting Apps
• Best Expense Tracker Apps
• Best Money Transfer Apps
• Best Resale Apps and Sites
• Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) Apps
• Best Debt Relief
• Credit Monitoring
• All Credit Monitoring
• Best Credit Monitoring Services
• Best Identity Theft Protection
• How to Boost Your Credit Score
• Best Credit Repair Companies
• Filing For Free
• Best Tax Software
• Best Tax Software for Small Businesses
• Tax Refunds
• Tax Brackets
• Taxes By State
• Tax Payment Plans
• Help for Low Credit Scores
• All Help for Low Credit Scores
• Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit
• Best Personal Loans for Bad Credit
• Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit
• Personal Loans if You Don't Have Credit
• Best Credit Cards for Building Credit
• Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score Lower
• Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lower
• Best Mortgages for Bad Credit
• Best Hardship Loans
• All Investing
• Best IRA Accounts
• Best Roth IRA Accounts
• Best Investing Apps
• Best Free Stock Trading Platforms
• Best Robo-Advisors
• Index Funds
• Mutual Funds
• Home & Kitchen
• Gift Guides
• Deals & Sales
• Sign up for the CNBC Select Newsletter
• Subscribe to CNBC PRO
• Privacy Policy
• Your Privacy Choices
• Terms Of Service
• CNBC Sitemap

Follow Select

Our top picks of timely offers from our partners

Find the best credit card for you

The best ways to book domestic flights using chase ultimate rewards points, you have many options to use chase points for domestic flights thanks to its 11 airline partners..

Points earned with Chase travel credit cards can be used to book almost any domestic flight.

Chase Ultimate Rewards® points transfer to over a dozen airline loyalty programs, including United Airlines, Southwest and JetBlue. Even if an airline — like Delta or American Airlines — doesn't partner with Chase, chances are you can still book its flights through other means.

If you'd rather not bother dealing with frequent flyer programs and blackout dates, you can use Chase points to directly pay for flights booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal . Plus, unlike traditional award bookings, you'll even earn miles on flights booked this way.

Below, CNBC Select details the best ways to save your cash by using Chase points to fly nearly anywhere in the U.S.

Our best selections in your inbox. Shopping recommendations that help upgrade your life, delivered weekly.  Sign-up here .

Best cards for earning Chase points

There are many Chase credit cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points and have excellent spending bonuses. However, you must have one of the following cards to unlock the ability to transfer your points to one of Chase's airline or hotel partners:

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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, and $50 annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.

Welcome bonus

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Regular APR

21.49% - 28.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers

Balance transfer fee

Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater

Foreign transaction fee

Credit needed.

Excellent/Good

Terms apply.

Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review .

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

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 plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

22.49% - 29.49% variable

5%, minimum $5

Read our Chase Sapphire Reserve® review.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in select categories each account anniversary year (travel; shipping purchases; internet, cable and phone services; and advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines), 1X point per $1 on all other purchases

Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

21.24% - 26.24% variable

Good/Excellent

Read our Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card review.

Once you have one of the aforementioned cards, the rewards earned with the following no-annual-fee cards become transferable to travel partners:

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Enjoy 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; and 3% cash back on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

0% for the first 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers

20.49% - 29.24% variable

Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Member FDIC. Terms apply.

Read our Chase Freedom Unlimited® review.

Chase Freedom Flex℠

5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate (then 1%), 5% cash back on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on drugstore purchases and on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services), 1% cash back on all other purchases

Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Member FDIC. Terms apply. Information about the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

Read our Chase Freedom Flex℠ review.

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year (then 1%); 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year (then 1%); 1% cash back on all other purchases

Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening

0% for the first 12 months from account opening on purchases; N/A for balance transfers

18.49% - 24.49% variable

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business

Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

How to use Chase points for domestic flights

Chase points can be transferred to 14 different airline and hotel loyalty programs. All transfers are at a 1:1 ratio and in 1,000-point increments.

• Aer Lingus AerClub
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• British Airways Executive Club
• Emirates Skywards
• Flying Blue (KLM and Air France)
• Iberia Plus
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
• United MileagePlus
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
• IHG One Rewards
• Marriott Bonvoy
• World of Hyatt

Although only three of these carriers are based in the U.S., many of these programs have useful partnerships with U.S.-based airlines. These partnerships allow you to transfer Chase points to one airline loyalty program and use those points to book a flight on a completely different airline.

As you'll see, this creates the opportunity to book a wide range of flights at excellent prices. Just remember that not every award flight is open to partner bookings — there generally must be "saver" award availability.

Don't miss: The best ways to book domestic flights using Amex Membership Rewards points

Booking United flights with Chase points

You can transfer Chase points directly to United's MileagePlus loyalty program or book United flights through a Star Alliance partner airline program, such as Air Canada Aeroplan.

United MileagePlus prices its award flights dynamically so you won't know exactly how much an award will cost until you search for it. The upside of this is that you book any available seat with miles . The problem, however, is that as the flights fill up, the cost for an award increases.

Before you transfer any Chase points to United, it's a good idea to compare prices against Aeroplan. The program has a distanced-based partner award chart, so you can book United saver awards for a fixed price, which can often save you a chunk of points.

Aeroplan award chart for partner flights within North America

When using Aeroplan you'll only be able to book United's saver awards, so you won't have access to every open seat. But when seats are available, you can save points by booking with Aeroplan. For example, CNBC Select found flights from Chicago to Hawaii that cost 25,000 miles through MileagePlus, but only 22,500 points when booking the exact same flight through Aeroplan.

Don't miss: How to access United Club airport lounges

Booking Delta flights with Chase points

Chase points don't transfer to Delta SkyMiles, but you can book Delta award flights through Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club. The program has a straightforward distance-based award chart and makes it easy to find and book Delta awards online.

When booking Delta flights with Virgin points, it's best to book nonstop flights because trips with connections will cost more. If you book an itinerary with a layover, your award won't be priced based on the total distance, but rather, you'll pay for the award flight as if you booked each segment separately.

For example, if you were flying from Phoenix to Charlotte via Detroit the total trip distance is 2,171 miles, normally a trip of that length would cost 15,000 points one-way. Instead, you'll be charged 21,000 points because the Phoenix to Detroit leg costs 12,500 points (1,600+ miles) and the Detroit to Charlotte leg costs 8,500 points (500+ miles).

Don't miss: How to access Delta Sky Club airport lounges

Booking American and Alaska flights with Chase points

You can use British Airways Avios points to book awards with American Airlines or Alaska Airlines as they are all members of the Oneworld alliance .

British Airways uses a distance-based award chart, so shorter flights cost less and longer flights are more expensive. There is a separate award chart for flights that involve multiple partner airlines , but that will rarely apply to domestic flights. Here's what you'll pay for awards with a single partner airline:

British Airways partner award chart for U.S. domestic flights

Each segment of a trip is priced individually, so awards with connections cost more. 

Although Singapore Airlines and Alaska Airlines aren't members of the same alliance, they have a partnership that allows members to redeem miles on each other's flights. There is a zone-based award chart for redeeming Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles for Alaska Airlines flights with some potentially great deals. For example, you can book a roundtrip from the West Coast to Hawaii for only 27,000 KrisFlyer miles.

There are limitations to this partnership: you can only book nonstop Alaska Airlines flights and you'll have to call Singapore Airlines (800-742-3333) to book the tickets. To search for Alaska Airlines awards open to partner bookings, use the American Airlines or British Airways websites.

Booking JetBlue and Southwest flights with Chase points

You can transfer Chase points directly to both JetBlue TrueBlue and Southwest Rapid Rewards. However, neither of the loyalty programs has an award chart for points redemptions. Instead, the cost of an award flight is tied to the cash price of the ticket.

This means you'll get a relatively consistent value for TrueBlue or Rapid Rewards points and there aren't any sweet spots to take advantage of. TrueBlue points are typically worth 1.3 to 1.4 cents per point, but if you're booking JetBlue's Mint class (i.e. business class) you'll get closer to 1.1 cents per point in value. Meanwhile, Rapid Rewards points are usually worth 1.3 to 1.5 cents per point.

The advantage of these programs is the simplicity — you can book any open seat as long as you have enough points. The downside is you can often extract more value out of your Chase points with other redemption options. 

As you'll see below, using your Chase points to book JetBlue or Southwest flights through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal is often a better option, depending on what Chase credit cards you have.

Don't miss: How to access Chase Sapphire airport lounges

Booking flights through the Chase travel portal

For anyone who doesn't want to bother with navigating complicated awards charts and obscure award booking restrictions, the Chase travel portal is the easiest way to use your Chase points to book domestic travel.

Booking flights through Ultimate Rewards works just like booking through any other online travel agency like Expedia . The only difference is that you can choose to pay some or all of your travel expenses with your Chase points . When you pay for your ticket with Chase points, you can even earn airline miles on your free flight.

You can redeem Chase points through the travel portal at a fixed value of 1 to 1.5 cents per point based on the Chase card account you are booking through.

• Chase Sapphire Reserve® : 1.5 cents per point (i.e. 10,000 points are worth $150 in travel)
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card : 1.25 cents per point (i.e. 10,000 points are worth $125 in travel)
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card : 1.25 cents per point
• Chase Freedom Flex℠ : 1 cent per point (i.e. 10,000 points are worth $100 in travel)
• Chase Freedom Unlimited® : 1 cent per point
• Ink Business Cash® Credit Card : 1 cent per point
• Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card : 1 cent per point

If you have more than one Chase card, you can move your points to the card that offers the highest redemption value.

This creates situations where booking through the Chase travel portal may be more lucrative than transferring points directly to an airline, particularly with airlines like JetBlue and Southwest, which both have dynamic award pricing. Just be sure to always double-check that you're getting the best price when booking with Chase.

Note that certain low-cost airlines, such as Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant, Sun Country and Southwest aren't available to book online through the Chase travel portal. However, you can book tickets with these airlines with your Chase points over the phone by calling 1-855-233-9462.

Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our  credit card marketplace  or get personalized offers via  CardMatch™ .

Bottom line

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are extremely flexible. They can be transferred to over a dozen different airline and hotel loyalty programs and can be used to pay for trips through the Chase travel portal. Thanks to this multitude of redemption options, you'll have no trouble using Chase points to book domestic flights with any of the major airlines and many smaller, low-cost carriers.

Best of all, many of the top travel credit cards earn Chase points, so it's easy to earn the rewards you need for your next trip.

Catch up on Select's in-depth coverage of  personal finance ,  tech and tools ,  wellness  and more, and follow us on  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

• 3 best Chase balance transfer credit cards of 2024 Jason Stauffer
• AIG Travel Guard insurance review: What you need to know Ana Staples
• Here are the 8 best password managers Ryley Amond

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

Chase Sapphire Reserve Review: A First-Class Premium Travel Card

What’s on This Page

The bottom line, pros and cons, detailed review, compare to other cards, benefits and perks, drawbacks and considerations, how to decide if it's right for you.

With a big sign-up bonus, elevated rewards on travel and dining, hundreds of dollars in annual credits and other perks, this card is a good choice for frequent travelers.

Rewards rate

Bonus offer

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Ongoing APR

APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable APR

Cash Advance APR: 29.99%, Variable

Penalty APR: Up to 29.99%

Balance transfer fee

Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Foreign transaction fee

• $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 $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
• Member FDIC

High rewards rate

Luxury perks

Premium travel protections

Transfer partners

Primary rental car coverage

High annual fee

Requires excellent credit

For avid travelers, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a good deal — even with its $550 annual fee.

Thanks to features such as an annual $300 travel credit, as well as bonus rewards that can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to several loyalty programs, it stands out as one of the best premium travel cards available.

However, to earn the card’s highest rewards rate, you’ll have to make travel purchases through the Chase portal, which can be limiting. And while the card offers excellent overall value for those who spend heavily on travel and dining, if you can't take advantage of its more niche benefits, a different travel card could be a better fit.

» MORE: Full benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase Sapphire Reserve® : Basics

Card type: Travel .

Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Annual fee: $550 .

Ongoing rewards:

10 points per dollar spent on Chase Dining purchases.

10 points per dollar spent on hotel stays and car rentals purchased through Ultimate Rewards®.

5 points per dollar spent on air travel booked through Chase.

3 points per dollar spent on travel and dining not booked with Chase.

1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

Through March 2025: 10 points per $1 spent on Lyft (7 points per dollar spent on Lyft plus 3 points per dollar spent on travel).

Foreign transaction fees: None.

Other benefits:

Up to $300 a year in statement credit automatically applied to travel purchases.

Complimentary Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership.

Access to Chase's Sapphire Lounges in select airports.

Multiple hotel and airline transfer partners.

Primary rental car coverage of up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage.

TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS credit, worth up to $100.

“Reserved by Sapphire” restaurant-booking feature, which grants cardholders access to reservations at popular restaurants across the country.

Trip delay reimbursement.

Trip cancellation or interruption insurance.

Lyft Pink All Access free membership for two years (must activate by Dec. 31, 2024).

How much is a point worth?

Chase Ultimate Rewards® points earned on this card are worth 1.5 cents each when redeemed for travel booked through Chase. Cardholders can also get more value per point by transferring them to Chase's airline and hotel partners.

Otherwise, points are worth less when redeemed for cash back, gift cards and merchandise.

Big sign-up bonus

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® features the following generous sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

To find out whether you pre-qualify for this card, check out NerdWallet’s pre-qualification tool.

Bonus rewards

Holders of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® can earn the following:

10 points per dollar spent on hotel stays and car rentals booked through Chase.

5 points per dollar spent on air travel purchased booked through Chase.

Travel and dining-related purchases made through the Chase portal will get you the highest rewards rates, which are lucrative for those who spend heavily in those categories.

And even for travel and dining purchases not made through the issuer, cardholders will still earn bonus rewards.

Plus, if you redeem those points through Chase for travel, they are worth an elevated 1.5 cents, which gives the card an impressive 4.5% effective rewards rate in those popular categories. That's a boon for folks who spend plenty in these areas — in the U.S. and worldwide as well.

Additionally, through March 2025, you can earn a total of 10 points per $1 spent on Lyft (7 points per dollar on Lyft plus 3 points per dollar on travel). That’s one of the highest earn rates you’ll find for ridesharing purchases on any credit card.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best credit cards for transit spending

Travel statement credit of up to $300

While many premium cards offer airline fee credits for baggage fees and other select purchases, the travel credit of up to $300 on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® covers a much broader range of travel purchases , including taxi rides, campground fees and train fares.

Because this credit is applied automatically, taking advantage of it is effortless. Use this card to pay for a $20 Uber ride and — poof! — that travel credit is applied to your credit card statement right away.

Airport lounge access and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS reimbursement

With the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , your next layover could be spent in an exclusive lounge with a complimentary cocktail in hand. The card comes with Priority Pass Select membership, with access to over 1,000 airport lounges internationally and meal credits at select airport restaurants and bars. Plus, you'll get access to Chase's own Sapphire Lounges . As of February 2024, there are Sapphire lounge locations in Boston, New York (LaGuardia and JFK) and Hong Kong, plus a Sapphire Terrace location in Austin.

With the card's TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS reimbursement, you can also speed through security and get to those swanky lounges a little sooner. The card offers reimbursement for the application fee for TSA PreCheck ($78) or Global Entry ($100) or NEXUS ($50) once every four years.

» MORE: The guide to Chase Lounges

Effective Nov. 15, 2022, cardholders will receive complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership for two years and 50% off for their third year when they enroll. This is the highest tier membership available from Lyft and retails for $199.

With the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , you can move points to several other loyalty programs at a 1:1 ratio. Transferring points and redeeming them strategically can be incredibly lucrative. NerdWallet values the points earned on this card at more than 1.5 cents per point when transferred to some partners.

Here are Chase’s transfer partners:

Aer Lingus (1:1 ratio).

Air Canada (1:1 ratio).

Air France-KLM (1:1 ratio).

British Airways (1:1 ratio).

Emirates (1:1 ratio).

Iberia (1:1 ratio).

JetBlue (1:1 ratio).

Singapore (1:1 ratio).

Southwest (1:1 ratio).

United (1:1 ratio).

Virgin Atlantic (1:1 ratio).

Hyatt (1:1 ratio).

InterContinental Hotels Group (1:1 ratio).

Marriott (1:1 ratio).

Complementary cards

Like a handful of other Chase cards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns Ultimate Rewards® points. That means if you already have another card in the Ultimate Rewards® family, you can generally transfer points to your Chase Sapphire Reserve® , potentially allowing you to get more value on the points earned.

Say you already have the Chase Freedom Unlimited® , which earns a minimum of 1.5% cash back on purchases, but lacks 1:1 transfer partners and bonuses when redeeming for travel through Chase. When you log on to your Chase account, you have the option of moving the rewards earned on that card to your Chase Sapphire Reserve® , where you can then transfer them to partners or book travel for 1.5 cents per point. That could effectively boost your rewards rate on the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to 2.25% or more.

» MORE: How the Chase Sapphire Reserve® fits into the 'Chase trifecta'

Sapphire Reserve vs. Sapphire Preferred

If you're looking at the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , you might also have your eye on its lower-cost sibling, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . That card has an annual fee of $95 , but it lacks the same rich benefits.

Which card is the better deal for you depends on your spending. For frequent travelers, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers far more long-term value. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a better choice for those who don’t plan on using so many perks but still want a large sign-up bonus and elevated point values.

For a more thorough breakdown of the differences, read NerdWallet's full comparison of these two cards. Here's how they stack up at a glance:

Restricting rewards

Although the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers competitive earn rates for dining and travel spending, you’ll be able to get the highest rewards rate only if you make purchases through the Chase portal. This can significantly limit your options.

For example, restaurants available to you through the Chase Dining portal will depend on your location. This means that cardholders based in larger cities like New York, for instance, will have more options available to them than those based in smaller areas.

Similarly, to earn the card's 10x and 5x rate for travel-related spending, you’ll have to book through the Chase portal, which can prove limiting compared with buying flights or renting cars directly, for example.

Moreover, if you're not an avid spender in either of the card’s bonus categories, travel and dining, you won’t get much use out of the card. A cash-back credit card that offers more diverse and flexible rewards options would be a better fit.

Somewhat limited lounge choice

If your go-to airport doesn’t have a Chase Sapphire Lounge or Priority Pass lounge, you'll be missing out on a key benefit of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® . Capital One offers a similar alternative with the $395 -annual-fee Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card . Cardholders also have access to Priority Pass lounges, plus Plaza Premium Lounges and Capital One Lounges at Dulles International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Denver International Airport.

But if lounge access is a priority for you, a better option might be The Platinum Card® from American Express .

Though The Platinum Card® from American Express has a higher annual fee ( $695 ), this card comes with much broader airport lounge coverage, along with plenty of other top-tier benefits. In addition to giving cardholders Priority Pass Select coverage (once you enroll), the card also offers access to several other lounge networks, including AmEx's own Centurion lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (for folks flying with Delta on the same day). Keep in mind, however, that the Priority Pass Select coverage on this card no longer includes credits to select airport restaurants, unlike the Chase Sapphire Reserve® . The card also offers several other premium benefits and statement credits, including up to $200 in Uber Cash, which can be used toward free Uber rides in the U.S. (up to $15 each month, plus a bonus $20 in December). Plus, it comes with a big welcome offer. Terms Apply.

» MORE: Credit cards with airport lounge access

If the $550 fee on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is too rich for your blood — even with all of its big perks — look to the less-expensive Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card instead.

As mentioned earlier, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has an annual fee of $95 . It has the same 1:1 transfer partners as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and a similarly robust sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. Although it lacks the most attention-grabbing perks, such as the $300 travel credit, it's ideal for folks looking for a versatile travel card with a lower price. Check out NerdWallet's best credit card deals to see how these cards stack up.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best no-annual-fee travel credit cards

Spending $550 a year on a credit card is a big deal — and probably isn’t worth it in this case if you’re not a frequent traveler. But if you fly often and can take advantage of the card's many perks, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is worth every penny.

To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express , see this page .

No appetite for actively managing your credit card travel rewards? This card gives you a flat 2 miles per dollar spent on most purchases. Redeem miles to "erase" any travel purchase at a penny per mile. There's a great sign-up bonus, and the annual fee is $95 .

Looking For Something Else?

Methodology.

NerdWallet reviews credit cards with an eye toward both the quantitative and qualitative features of a card. Quantitative features are those that boil down to dollars and cents, such as fees, interest rates, rewards (including earning rates and redemption values) and the cash value of benefits and perks. Qualitative factors are those that affect how easy or difficult it is for a typical cardholder to get good value from the card. They include such things as the ease of application, simplicity of the rewards structure, the likelihood of using certain features, and whether a card is well-suited to everyday use or is best reserved for specific purchases. Our star ratings serve as a general gauge of how each card compares with others in its class, but star ratings are intended to be just one consideration when a consumer is choosing a credit card. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.

Frequently asked questions

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® 10 earns points per dollar spent on Chase Dining purchases through Ultimate Rewards®, 10 points per dollar spent on hotel stays and car rentals purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 5 points per dollar spent on air travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®; 3 points per dollar on dining and travel not booked through Chase and 1 point per dollar everywhere else. But rewards alone aren't enough to justify the hefty $550 annual fee. The card comes with an array of travel perks that can significantly reduce the cost of carrying it.

For its higher fee ( $550 , versus $95 for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card ), the Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns richer bonus rewards, provides more perks and protections (travel credits, airport lounge access and more) and gives you a higher point value when you redeem for travel (1.5 cents apiece versus 1.25 cents). Both cards offer the option of transferring points to about a dozen airline and hotel loyalty programs.

If you’ll use the travel perks — like the $300 annual travel credit and lounge access — and maximize the way you earn and redeem points, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® can be a good value . If you don’t travel much, you're better off with a different card.

You’ll need excellent credit to qualify for this card. That generally means a score of 720 or better, but credit scores alone do not guarantee approval. Your income and other factors will also be considered.

When you pay for your rental car with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , you’ll get primary collision damage and theft protection up to $75,000. The card also offers trip delay/cancellation insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and emergency medical evacuation.

You can transfer Ultimate Rewards® points earned on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® to 13 travel partners , including United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, Marriott, Hyatt and IHG.

Chase issues some of the better rewards credit cards on the market, including outstanding options in travel, cash-back and small-business cards. See the best Chase cards here .

About the author

Claire Tsosie

• Auto Insurance Best Car Insurance Cheapest Car Insurance Compare Car Insurance Quotes Best Car Insurance For Young Drivers Best Auto & Home Bundles Cheapest Cars To Insure
• Home Insurance Best Home Insurance Best Renters Insurance Cheapest Homeowners Insurance Types Of Homeowners Insurance
• Life Insurance Best Life Insurance Best Term Life Insurance Best Senior Life Insurance Best Whole Life Insurance Best No Exam Life Insurance
• Pet Insurance Best Pet Insurance Cheap Pet Insurance Pet Insurance Costs Compare Pet Insurance Quotes
• Travel Insurance Best Travel Insurance Cancel For Any Reason Travel Insurance Best Cruise Travel Insurance Best Senior Travel Insurance
• Health Insurance Best Health Insurance Plans Best Affordable Health Insurance Best Dental Insurance Best Vision Insurance Best Disability Insurance
• Credit Cards Best Credit Cards 2024 Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards Best Rewards Credit Cards Best Cash Back Credit Cards Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards Best 0% APR Credit Cards Best Business Credit Cards Best Credit Cards for Startups Best Credit Cards For Bad Credit Best Cards for Students without Credit
• Credit Card Reviews Chase Sapphire Preferred Wells Fargo Active Cash® Chase Sapphire Reserve Citi Double Cash Citi Diamond Preferred Chase Ink Business Unlimited American Express Blue Business Plus
• Credit Card by Issuer Best Chase Credit Cards Best American Express Credit Cards Best Bank of America Credit Cards Best Visa Credit Cards
• Credit Score Best Credit Monitoring Services Best Identity Theft Protection
• CDs Best CD Rates Best No Penalty CDs Best Jumbo CD Rates Best 3 Month CD Rates Best 6 Month CD Rates Best 9 Month CD Rates Best 1 Year CD Rates Best 2 Year CD Rates Best 5 Year CD Rates
• Checking Best High-Yield Checking Accounts Best Checking Accounts Best No Fee Checking Accounts Best Teen Checking Accounts Best Student Checking Accounts Best Joint Checking Accounts Best Business Checking Accounts Best Free Checking Accounts
• Savings Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Best Free No-Fee Savings Accounts Simple Savings Calculator Monthly Budget Calculator: 50/30/20
• Mortgages Best Mortgage Lenders Best Online Mortgage Lenders Current Mortgage Rates Best HELOC Rates Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders Best Home Equity Loan Lenders Best VA Mortgage Lenders Mortgage Refinance Rates Mortgage Interest Rate Forecast
• Personal Loans Best Personal Loans Best Debt Consolidation Loans Best Emergency Loans Best Home Improvement Loans Best Bad Credit Loans Best Installment Loans For Bad Credit Best Personal Loans For Fair Credit Best Low Interest Personal Loans
• Student Loans Best Student Loans Best Student Loan Refinance Best Student Loans for Bad or No Credit Best Low-Interest Student Loans
• Business Loans Best Business Loans Best Business Lines of Credit Apply For A Business Loan Business Loan vs. Business Line Of Credit What Is An SBA Loan?
• Investing Best Online Brokers Top 10 Cryptocurrencies Best Low-Risk Investments Best Cheap Stocks To Buy Now Best S&P 500 Index Funds Best Stocks For Beginners How To Make Money From Investing In Stocks
• Retirement Best Gold IRAs Best Investments for a Roth IRA Best Bitcoin IRAs Protecting Your 401(k) In a Recession Types of IRAs Roth vs Traditional IRA How To Open A Roth IRA
• Business Formation Best LLC Services Best Registered Agent Services How To Start An LLC How To Start A Business
• Web Design & Hosting Best Website Builders Best E-commerce Platforms Best Domain Registrar
• HR & Payroll Best Payroll Software Best HR Software Best HRIS Systems Best Recruiting Software Best Applicant Tracking Systems
• Payment Processing Best Credit Card Processing Companies Best POS Systems Best Merchant Services Best Credit Card Readers How To Accept Credit Cards
• More Business Solutions Best VPNs Best VoIP Services Best Project Management Software Best CRM Software Best Accounting Software
• Manage Topics
• Investigations
• Visual Explainers
• Newsletters
• Abortion news
• Coronavirus
• Climate Change
• Vertical Storytelling
• Corrections Policy
• College Football
• High School Sports
• H.S. Sports Awards
• Sports Betting
• College Basketball (M)
• College Basketball (W)
• For The Win
• Sports Pulse
• Weekly Pulse
• Buy Tickets
• Sports Seriously
• Sports+ States
• Celebrities
• Entertainment This!
• Celebrity Deaths
• American Influencer Awards
• Women of the Century
• Problem Solved
• Personal Finance
• Small Business
• Consumer Recalls
• Video Games
• Product Reviews
• Destinations
• Airline News
• Experience America
• Today's Debate
• Suzette Hackney
• Policing the USA
• Meet the Editorial Board
• How to Submit Content
• Hidden Common Ground
• Race in America

Personal Loans

Best Personal Loans

Auto Insurance

Best Auto Insurance

Best High-Yields Savings Accounts

CREDIT CARDS

Best Credit Cards

Advertiser Disclosure

Blueprint is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service focused on helping readers make smarter decisions. We receive compensation from the companies that advertise on Blueprint which may impact how and where products appear on this site. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Blueprint. Blueprint does not include all companies, products or offers that may be available to you within the market. A list of selected affiliate partners is available here .

Credit Cards

Why I chose the Chase Sapphire Preferred as my first ever rewards card

Sarah Li Cain

Robin Saks Frankel

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Grace Pilling

Published 6:03 a.m. UTC April 15, 2024

• path]:fill-[#49619B]" alt="Facebook" width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 18 18" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
• path]:fill-[#202020]" alt="Email" width="19" height="14" viewBox="0 0 19 14" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">

Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy .

DaLiu, Getty Images

I first started learning about the world of rewards credit cards from friends and bloggers and knew I wanted in. The challenge was that it took me a long time to build my credit , and I wanted to be sure I picked the right card. After some research, I landed on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card as my first rewards credit card. Yes, there are other cards with lower (or no) annual fees, but I have squeezed a ton of value from this credit card.

Here are the reasons why I landed on the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

our partner

Blueprint receives compensation from our partners for featured offers, which impacts how and where the placement is displayed.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Welcome bonus.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Regular APR

Credit score.

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

Editor’s Take

• Flexible points that can be transferred to 14 travel partners or redeemed through Chase Travel℠ at 1.25 cents each.
• $50 annual statement credit toward Chase Travel hotel bookings.
• Valuable travel protections.
• $95 annual fee.
• Category bonuses are limited and not competitive against other travel cards.
• Transfer partner list is limited compared to programs like Amex Membership ® Rewards and Citi ThankYou ® .

Card Details

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• 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, 2024.
• Member FDIC

1. I wanted flexible redemption options

Learning about travel rewards and how to redeem points as a beginner all those years ago felt extremely intimidating. I wanted to earn rewards that offered plenty of redemption options and where I could learn at a pace that felt accessible to me. Initially, I ignored the airline and hotel transfer partners and decided I would focus on how I would use my Ultimate Rewards® points through the Chase Travel℠ portal. 

Taking this route eased my fears about how to book flights and hotels using rewards. I was also happy that I didn’t have to feel loyal to one airline or hotel chain like I would have with a cobranded rewards card. After booking a few trips through the Chase travel site, I took the time to learn about the issuer’s travel loyalty transfer partners (there are 14 in total). But I still liked choosing which method — booking through Chase Travel or transferring points — was better for me to squeeze the most out of my points. 

Some travel rewards redemptions offer more value than others. Here’s some of the best ways to use Chase points .

2. The annual fee is accessible, even for occasional travelers

When I opened the Sapphire Preferred card, my family wasn’t traveling much. We were still settling into our new home, my husband had started a new job and I was juggling taking care of my young child with my freelance career. I aimed to earn enough rewards from the card to nab heavily discounted hotels and the occasional flight when we visited family once or twice a year.

At $95, the annual fee felt affordable to us. A pricier card with lounge access wasn’t important, because we didn’t fly enough to feel that feature would be worth it. However, the Sapphire Preferred’s $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit was, since we stop and stay overnight on our cross-country drives during the summer. 

3. I was able to earn the welcome bonus easily

My family and I mostly used credit cards to pay for bills like utilities and groceries. Looking over our expenses, we could easily spend thousands of dollars over a span of several months. The minimum spend requirement to earn the welcome bonus — 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening — was well within our reach. Plus, I paid off my credit cards each month, meaning we didn’t pay any interest and our rewards earnings didn’t cost us extra. 

The minimum spend is higher than some rewards cards, though lower than luxury ones — my family and I were able to hit the minimum spend in a little over two months. Considering I earned $750 worth of travel if I booked through Chase Travel (which I was mostly doing in the beginning anyway), it was well worth it.

4. There are no foreign transaction fees

My mom and sister live in Canada where I grew up, so I make the annual trek with my family to visit them along with several other close friends. I knew that whatever credit card I signed up for, I wanted no foreign transaction fees when using it in another country. My last credit card did charge fees for transactions overseas, and though they may not seem like much on their own, they do add up.

This benefit alone didn’t convince me to sign up for the Sapphire Preferred but it was certainly a welcome benefit in addition to all the others. 

5. Why I keep the Sapphire Preferred even years later

The Chase Sapphire Preferred has stayed in my wallet for the last six years and I don’t plan on canceling it anytime soon. The initial signup bonus earned my family several hotel nights when we visited family and friends. In subsequent years we took advantage of the $50 annual hotel credit and other benefits, such as primary rental car insurance , to make the annual fee worth it. 

Over the years I’ve added two other Chase cards to the mix — the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card * The information for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. . I pool the points I earn from these two credit cards with my Sapphire Preferred because the Preferred offers a 25% points boost when booking travel through Chase. Since I have a family of three to book travel for, I want to use all the advantages I can get. 

Considering a rewards card? Here’s how to choose the right credit card for you.

*The information for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Sarah Li Cain is a finance and small business writer currently based in Jacksonville, Florida whose articles have been published with outlets such as Fortune, CNBC Select, the Financial Planning Association and Zillow.

Robin Saks Frankel is a credit cards lead editor at USA TODAY Blueprint. Previously, she was a credit cards and personal finance deputy editor for Forbes Advisor. She has also covered credit cards and related content for other national web publications including NerdWallet, Bankrate and HerMoney. She's been featured as a personal finance expert in outlets including CNBC, Business Insider, CBS Marketplace, NASDAQ's Trade Talks and has appeared on or contributed to The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio, ABC Radio, NPR, International Business Times and NBC, ABC and CBS TV affiliates nationwide. She holds an M.S. in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University. Follow her on Twitter at @robinsaks.

Grace Pilling is a deputy editor for credit cards at USA TODAY Blueprint. She believes credit cards are the ultimate choose-your-own-adventure tools of the financial world and gets excited about helping people discover the best credit card strategy for their unique goals. Prior to joining Blueprint, Grace worked on and led personal finance teams at Bankrate, CreditCards.com, MoneyUnder30 and MoneyGeek. She has a bachelor’s degree in English and writing and a diploma in editing and publishing.

Check it out: This is what the average household spends on grocery costs per month

Credit Cards Stella Shon

Capital One Quicksilver benefits guide 2024

Credit Cards Lee Huffman

United Airlines credit cards have a secret perk that makes it easier to book awards

Credit Cards Jason Steele

Can you pay off one credit card with another?

Credit Cards Louis DeNicola

Amex Gold vs. Platinum

Credit Cards Harrison Pierce

How to use Alaska Airlines Companion Fare

Credit Cards Ariana Arghandewal

How I maximize my Chase Ink Business Unlimited Card

How to do a balance transfer with Discover

9 ways to maximize the Citi Custom Cash card’s 5% cash-back categories

American Express Business Platinum benefits guide 2024

Credit Cards Chris Dong

Why I applied for the new Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card

Which Citi balance transfer card should I get?

Credit Cards Julie Sherrier

5 reasons why the Citi Diamond Preferred is great for paying down debt

Credit Cards Michelle Lambright Black

Welcome offer on Chase’s IHG One Rewards Premier Business card soars to 175K points

Credit Cards Carissa Rawson

You might be a small business owner and not even know it

How to book a cruise using points and miles

If you're eager to embark on a cruise and have accumulated points, you might not have to pay for your next trip.

In this guide, we will explore strategies to help you optimize your points and miles to reduce the cost of your cruise vacation. We'll discuss leveraging your existing loyalty programs and the best ways to unlock savings on your cruise fare.

Here are the top ways to use your points and miles for a cruise.

Should you book a cruise with points and miles?

While various options are available for redeeming your points and miles toward a cruise, it is important to note that the value you receive may not always be optimal (i.e., less than TPG's valuations ). In the realm of travel rewards, there are often more lucrative opportunities to leverage your points and miles for flights or hotel stays, where the value and flexibility tend to be higher.

If you have American Express, Capital One, Chase or Citi points, you might be able to get a redemption value of 1 to 1.5 cents per point for cruises. In this case, you'd get $100 or $150 off your cruise fare by redeeming 10,000 points. While this may seem high, it falls short compared to the value some travelers get when redeeming points for luxury hotels or first-class flights.

Some cruise lines have their own credit cards, but a few have formed partnerships with other brands. For example, Marriott Bonvoy members can earn and redeem points on Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection cruises . These partner options are often limited, though, and may require loyalty to a specific travel brand.

You can always use points to reduce travel expenses for any cruise vacation. For example, you can use American Express Membership Rewards points , Bilt Rewards points , Capital One miles , Chase Ultimate Rewards points and Citi ThankYou points to cover costs associated with airfare, hotels or rental cars for your cruise. This often proves to be a better use of your rewards.

However, if you really want to use your accumulated points to reduce your cruise costs, here are various options for booking a cruise with points and miles.

Book a cruise with credit card points

You can use certain credit card points to book a cruise. Typically, you will be required to make the reservation through the portal provided by your credit card issuer, but some require calling a booking center. You may also be able to charge the cruise to your card and then redeem your rewards for a statement credit against some (or all) of that purchase.

Here's how you can book a cruise on points with several major credit card companies.

Amex Travel Pay with Points

If you have an eligible American Express card that earns Membership Rewards points , you can use those points to cover the cost of your cruise through the Pay with Points program . With this program, you can redeem Membership Rewards points at a value of 0.5 to 0.7 cents per point for most travel purchases. However, we value each Membership Rewards point at 2 cents when you maximize the program's transfer partners, so you would be using them at a lower value.

The Amex Travel portal has a user-friendly search feature that allows you to explore different cruises based on specific filters such as date, destination, cruise line and trip duration even before you log in.

To book a cruise using Pay with Points, log in to the travel portal and do the following:

• Select your preferred cruise itinerary and cabin.
• Enter your passenger information.
• When it's time to check out, enter your Membership Rewards-enrolled American Express card information and select "Yes" to determine how many Membership Rewards points your account has.
• You can pay for the entire cruise using Pay with Points or erase a portion of the cost and pay the rest with cash.

Alternatively, you can look up the cruise you want and call 800-297-5627 to book directly with the Amex Travel team over the phone.

Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal is similar to Amex Travel, but the redemption value is higher.

Points from the $95 per year Chase Sapphire Preferred Card are worth 1.25 cents each toward travel booked through Chase, while points from the $550 per year Chase Sapphire Reserve are worth 1.5 cents.

Unfortunately, Chase's booking system doesn't let you book cruises directly through Chase's online Ultimate Rewards portal. You'll have to call the Ultimate Rewards booking hotline and talk to someone in the cruise reservations department instead.

To book a cruise and pay with Chase Ultimate Rewards points:

• Find the cruise itinerary and availability you want directly through the cruise line's website . If you have a specific cabin in mind, have that information handy. Unfortunately, reports indicate that you cannot book Disney Cruise Line sailings with Chase Ultimate Rewards.
• Call a Chase travel specialist directly at 855-234-2542, and be prepared to walk the adviser through the cruise line booking page on their end so they can find and book the cabin and options you want. Cruise advisers are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.
• Your cruise adviser will set up the itinerary for you and, upon checkout, will ask you how many points you want to apply against your final balance.

Citi ThankYou Rewards

The Citi ThankYou portal allows cardholders to use their ThankYou points as credit toward a cruise. Some cardholders can redeem points at a value of 1 cent apiece.

Finding your cruise within the Citi ThankYou portal can be frustrating because the search functionality isn't very robust. Travelers can only search for cruises by destination or cruise line, not by available dates.

To book a cruise using Citi ThankYou points:

• Log in to the travel portal by navigating through your Citi account (or directly at thankyou.com) and clicking on "Cruises" on the travel booking page.
• Then, filter by cruise line or destination. (Note that you can't search for cruises by a specific date.)
• Once you've identified the cruise you wish to book, call 800-842-6596 to speak directly with a Citi ThankYou travel specialist, who will allow you to apply Citi ThankYou points toward the final cost at checkout.

You can also use Citi ThankYou points to book a Disney cruise if you desire.

Capital One miles

Capital One offers more flexibility and a more straightforward redemption process than Amex, Chase and Citi. Unless you transfer your miles to an airline or hotel partner , each mile is worth a flat 1 cent toward travel.

Redeeming points doesn't require booking through a portal , thus freeing you up to book your cruise directly with the company or via a travel agent to get extra perks. This option also lets you pursue promotional package rates or discounts that might not be available through the Amex, Chase or Citi portals.

The award redemption process is straightforward: Use the card when paying for your cruise package, then log in to your account and use the "cover your travel purchases" option to apply your mileage balance as a credit toward the total amount you owe on your credit card statement.

You can earn Capital One miles with cards like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card . Each has varying features, so do some research to decide which card is best for you.

Related: Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Capital One Venture X: Worth the extra $300 in annual fees?

Book a cruise with airline miles

You can also book cruises using airline miles. However, like other options, the value of your travel rewards is often underwhelming. The following travel providers offer cruise portals that allow you to redeem rewards:

• American Airlines Cruises
• Delta Cruises
• United Cruises

For example, in the United Cruises portal, this seven-night Disney cruise out of San Juan, Puerto Rico, costs 151,571 United MileagePlus miles per person for an interior cabin — worth $2,198 by TPG's current valuation for United miles.

In contrast, the same room and sailing dates cost just $1,061 per person when paid for with cash — clearly a better value than paying with United miles.

Use cruise cobranded credit card points to book

With cruise line cobranded credit cards , you can earn points for purchases that you can then use to offset the cost of your cruise booking. However, this might not be your best option for earning and redeeming points.

Here, you'll want to be sure you can use your points toward the cruise fare instead of only onboard purchases. For example, the Royal Caribbean Visa Signature® Card offers a welcome bonus of 25,000 MyCruise Rewards points after spending $1,000 or more on purchases within the first 90 days of card membership to use on your next cruise. Your redemption choices vary.

For instance, you can redeem 25,000 points toward your companion's cruise fare on a three- or four-night Royal Caribbean cruise (certain conditions apply, i.e., minimum available ocean-view cabin and may not exceed $500 in value). Or, you can redeem 30,000 points for a $300 discount on a Celebrity Cruises voyage. To learn more about how to redeem MyCruise Rewards points, check out this PDF .

The information for the Royal Caribbean Visa Signature has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Redeem Marriott Bonvoy points

In 2021, Marriott announced that The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection would participate in the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. Members can redeem points on Ritz-Carlton cruises and enjoy elite status perks on voyages. However, the redemption rates aren't great.

You can redeem a minimum of 180,000 points toward a flat $1,000 savings on the cruise fare. After that, you can redeem increments of 90,000 points toward $500 in savings, up to the entire cruise fare. This redemption rate equates to about 0.56 cents per Marriott point, well below TPG's valuation of 0.84 cents per point.

Related: 17 ways to earn lots of Marriott Bonvoy points

Additionally, Marriott Bonvoy's Cruise with Points program allows you to cash in Marriott points for credit toward any cruise that's bookable on the Cruise with Points website.

You can redeem points in the following denominations, all valued at 0.4 cents per point:

• 63,000 points for $250 off your cruise fare
• 125,000 points for $500 off
• 250,000 points for $1,000 off
• 625,000 points for $2,500 off
• 1,250,000 points for $5,000 off

To redeem Marriott points for a cruise, call 1 800-596-0452.

Use points and miles for pre-cruise hotels and flights

You might make better use of your points and miles by redeeming them for flights to your departure port and for pre- and post-cruise hotel stays instead of for the cruise fare itself. With flights and hotels, you can often get more than 1 or 1.5 cents per point, unlike cruises, which generally provide lackluster redemption rates.

For example, you could transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United MileagePlus and get 3 cents per mile by booking a flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Miami International Airport (MIA). If you're an elite member or have a United credit card , you might even have access to special member award pricing .

Or, you could use 12,000 to 18,000 World of Hyatt points or an annual Category 1-4 award from the World of Hyatt Credit Card to pay for a room at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport in Florida before heading to Port Canaveral the next day.

By using points on this given one-night stay, you're getting 2.5 cents per point.

Bottom line

It isn't always easy to get great value for your points and miles when you use them toward cruise redemptions — at least, not the way you can for first-class flights. However, redeeming your points for free or discounted cruise travel is possible.

That said, you should steer clear of using airline miles or hotel points for cruises if you want to redeem your rewards for maximum value. Those are better used on flights and overnight stays.

It's a similar story for credit card currencies. Capital One offers the most flexibility of all the major issuers because you can book your cruise directly or through a travel agent . With multiple booking options, you can take advantage of additional perks and access promotional rates from travel agents and online retailers that aren't available through credit card portals. You could even stack those deals for additional savings by booking via an airline portal to earn miles.

Once booked, the Capital One award redemption process is straightforward; simply apply your mileage balance as a credit toward your total credit card statement. Each mile is worth a flat 1 cent toward travel, so you always know the value for comparison purposes.

If you ask me, that's how I'd book a cruise with points and miles to get the best value.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Why I got the Chase Freedom Flex and how I'm getting max cash back this quarter

As a TPG staffer, I have a pretty solid credit card portfolio. I love using The Platinum Card® from American Express to earn bonus points on flights, Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express for bonus cash-back on grocery and transit purchases and American Express® Gold Card to earn bonus points when I dine out.

However, I'm always looking for ways to make my money work harder to accomplish my goals. Recently, I decided to add the Chase Freedom Flex℠ to my arsenal.

Here's why I landed on that card and how I'm already working to get maximal value from its cash back categories.

Why I decided to apply for a Chase Freedom Flex card

With an upcoming move this summer, I have a few big purchases on the horizon. I'd looked at buy-now-pay-later options like Affirm but also realized these options wouldn't give me any points or cash back on my purchases. Plus, they aren't always interest-free.

Then, I researched cards with 0% intro APR offers .

One of TPG's 10 commandments of credit is "Thou shalt pay thy balance in full." But, the idea of putting my big furniture purchase on a 0% interest card and leaving my money to grow in a money market was pretty attractive.

I wanted a card that I thought would be a useful and complementary addition to my other cards for some time, not just a short-term account. The Freedom Flex card checked off all the boxes on my wish list:

• 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24% after that; balance transfer fee applies)
• No annual fee
• Quarterly bonus categories that would earn me 5% cash back when I activate — a value of $300 per year alone.

How Freedom Flex quarterly bonus categories work

Each quarter, Chase announces a few categories where Freedom Flex cardholders earn 5% cash back that quarter on up to $1,500 in purchases when they activate. All your purchases on the Freedom Flex earn 1%, so cardholders earn a bonus 4% to get to the quarterly 5% earnings.

For example, Amazon and Whole Foods purchases typically earn 1% cash-back, but since they're part of the Q2 bonus categories, cardholders can earn an additional 4% on these purchases for a total of 5% back.

However, I didn't realize at first that Chase is doing something new this quarter. It has added two categories to the quarterly bonus list that earn more than 1% year-round — hotels through Chase Travel (typically earns 5%) and restaurants (typically earns 3%). To keep the quarterly bonus-earning rate even, Chase simply added 4% on top of these year-round bonus earnings rates.

This means that after activating, I'm earning an impressive 9% on hotels through Chase Travel and 7% on dining my Freedom. Once I realized this, I started to put together my plan to maximize these bonus categories. (Thanks to my TPG colleagues for helping me wrap my brain around them.)

Related: Freedom Flex bonus categories

7% cash back on dining

Enjoying good food is a passion of mine, whether it be learning how to make a new dish or exploring a hot restaurant.

While I have other cards with dining rewards, this quarter's 7% back on dining means I'll pull out the Freedom Flex when the check comes to maximize cash back.

I'll keep an eye on my total spending, as that 7% reverts back to the 3% total after the first $1,500 bonus category spending. Then, I'll switch back to my dining default, my American Express® Gold Card , to earn 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar on my dining purchases.

5% back at Whole Foods Market

Another of this quarter's Freedom Flex bonus categories is Amazon; I was glad to see that Chase also includes purchases at Whole Foods Market stores in this cash back category.

If I didn't also have an Amex Blue Cash Preferred® Card , which offers 6% back on supermarkets, the 5% back at Whole Foods Market would be enticing. But since I already have a card that earns more at Whole Foods, I'm focusing my Flex spending on restaurants.

Up to 9% back on hotels

Finally, this quarter, you get up to 9% back on hotels with Freedom Flex , but you'll have to book through Chase Travel℠ to reach that maximum level.

While 9% is pretty tempting, I usually prefer to book hotels directly . I selected travel as my bonus-earning category on my Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card , so I can book directly and still earn 3% using that card.

Bottom line

Between the 0% introductory APR offer and the chance to earn 7% cash-back on my dining purchases this quarter, adding the Freedom Flex to my wallet was a no-brainer. If I decide to get the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® , I'll get even more value from the rewards I earn on my Freedom Flex.

For more details, check out our full review of the Chase Freedom Flex .

Apply here: Chase Freedom Flex

Better Together: How to combine Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for maximum travel rewards

Fortune Recommends™ has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Fortune Recommends™ and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

If credit cards were food, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card cards would definitely be peanut butter and jelly, respectively.

That’s because both cards start out perfectly solid on their own. Even if you never knew how to combine their powers, you’d be very happy using both on a daily basis. But once you discover how to make a PB & J sandwich, there’s no going back. You’ve discovered a treat that’s sweet, protein-rich and gives you an excellent excuse to eat Wonder Bread. 

It’s the same thing with the Sapphire and the Freedom Flex–combine them, and you’re in for a tasty treat that you wish you’d discovered sooner.

But what exactly is the “PB & J” of Chase rewards? Well, get your favorite white bread ready and let’s find out.

First, a little explanation of benefits…

Before I share the “recipe” to Chase’s PB & J, here’s a quick overview of both cards to provide some context.

Chase Freedom Flex℠

Intro bonus.

Rewards Rates

• 5% 5% cash back on activated bonus category purchases each quarter (up to $1,500 in purchases, then 1%)
• 5% 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• 3% 3% cash back on dining (including restaurants, takeout and eligible delivery services)
• 3% 3% cash back on drugstore purchases
• 1% 1% cash back on all other purchases
• 5% 5% cash back on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
• No annual fee
• Easy-to-earn welcome bonus
• Earns up to 5% cash back
• Foreign transaction fee
• Must active bonus categories every quarter
• 5% categories are capped
• Additional perks: Purchase protection, extended warranty protection, trip cancelation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, cell phone protection, complimentary Doordash and Instacart+ membership
• Foreign transaction fee: 3% of the amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Chase Freedom Flex – 5X rotating rewards

Here are the key highlights of Chase’s peanut butter, the Freedom Flex card. 

• 5% cash back on activated bonus category purchases each quarter (up to $1,500 in purchases, then 1%) , with the categories for Q2 2024 including Amazon.com, hotels and restaurants. 
• 0% intro balance transfer APR for 15 months (intro balance transfer fee: $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days) on both purchases and balance transfers. 
• $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases within your first three months . 
• $0 annual fee

For more detail, check out our full review of the Chase Freedom Flex .

Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card

• 5x 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ (excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit)
• 3x 3x points on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
• 2x 2x points on travel purchases not booked through Chase
• 1x 1x points on other purchases
• 5x 5x points on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025 (that's 3x points in addition to the 2x points you already earn on travel)
• Valuable welcome bonus
• Extensive list of transfer partners
• Extra value on travel redemptions
• No premium travel perks
• Has an annual fee
• Additional perks: $50 annual hotel credit, trip cancelation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, complimentary Doordash and Instacart+ membership along with quarterly Instacart+ credits
• Foreign transaction fee: None

Chase Sapphire Preferred – a grab bag of travel perks 

In a similar vein, here’s a quick breakdown of Chase’s homemade grape jam, the ever-popular Sapphire Preferred card: 

• 2x points on travel purchases , plus 3x points on dining, 3x points on select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ and 1x points on other purchases. 
• 25% travel redemption bonus when you redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards points through Chase Travel (e.g. redeem 10,000 points, get $125 in value). 
• 60,000-point welcome bonus after spending $4,000 within three months. 
• $50 annual statement credit good towards a hotel booked through Chase Travel. 
• $95 annual fee

To learn more, check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred . 

Circling back to our “recipe,” notice how Chase is quick to point out that your 60,000-point welcome bonus is worth $750 in travel redemption–all thanks to that handy 25% redemption bonus. And if you think about it, that means the points you earn with the card are worth 1.25X towards travel, too. 

So in reality, as long as you’re redeeming points through Chase Travel, your rewards chart really looks like this: 

• 5X > 6.25X on travel booked through Chase Travel
• 3X > 3.75X on dining/online groceries/streaming
• 2X > 2.5X on general travel
• 1X > 1.25X on everything else

Those are some mighty impressive earnings rates, lending even more value to the CSP as a travel companion. 

But here’s the crazy thing: that 25% bonus multiplier applies to every Chase Ultimate Rewards point you earn, regardless of which card you earn it with . 

Here’s how it all works. 

Here’s how your Chase Sapphire Preferred account lets you earn 6.25X with your Freedom Flex card

In our Chase Ultimate Rewards guide we outline all of the dozen-ish ways you can redeem your hard-earned Chase points. From trips to back massages to cash back, there’s hardly a bad option. 

But perhaps the most underrated option is the Combine points feature. 

Combine points allows you to move Chase Ultimate Rewards points from one Chase card to another–meaning you can earn points with one card–and spend them with another. Another that has, say a 25% points multiplier on points redeemed for travel…

As you can see, the option only applies to Chase rewards cards that generate Chase Ultimate Rewards points. So the Prime Visa and the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card cards, for example, won’t appear here–but your Freedom and Sapphire cards will. 

Unlike a bank transfer, combining Chase Ultimate Rewards points is free and instantaneous. Plus, you can always move the points back if you wish (although I’ve never found a reason to move points from a Sapphire card back to a Freedom card).

Then, as soon as you’ve combined all of your Chase Ultimate Rewards points into your Sapphire account, you can go spend them at Chase Travel where you’ll get an extra 25% in value: 

This trick also works with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card where you’ll get 50% extra value (provided you’re cool with the card’s $550 annual fee). 

Now, while I heartily recommend this trick to most travelers I meet–especially if they already have both cards–you should know that it still comes with three big caveats. 

PB & Js aren’t perfect, and neither is this trick

Though delicious, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches aren’t perfect. They’re high in fat, sugar and carbohydrates, and unlike the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, they don’t travel especially well. 

In a similar vein, here are the caveats to the “PB & J of Chase cards”: 

• The Chase Sapphire Preferred card charges a $95 annual fee and requires a 670+ FICO score to apply. 
• With the Chase Freedom Flex, you can only earn 5% cash back on activated bonus category purchases each quarter (up to $1,500 in purchases, then 1%) (generating 7,500 Chase Ultimate Rewards points worth $93.75). 
• Hotel rooms booked using points typically don’t generate any additional rewards or allow you to utilize your status benefits. 

But if you’re OK with these caveats, I hope you enjoy this simple recipe for tastier travel rewards.  And for more tips to help you get off the ground–quite literally–check out our Beginner’s guide to travel rewards .

Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.

EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE : The advice, opinions, or rankings contained in this article are solely those of the Fortune Recommends ™ editorial team. This content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of our affiliate partners or other third parties.

What the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Card offers

How other travel cards compare to the wells fargo autograph journey℠ visa® card, 3 key benefits cardholders get from the autograph journey , move over, chase sapphire preferred. this new travel credit card is turning heads.

Wells Fargo's newest card has one key advantage over the gold standard in travel cards.

Holly Johnson

Contributor

Holly Johnson is a credit card expert and writer who covers rewards and loyalty programs, budgeting, and all things personal finance. In addition to writing for publications like Bankrate, CreditCards.com, Forbes Advisor and Investopedia, Johnson owns Club Thrifty and is the co-author of "Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You'll Love."

Tiffany Connors

Tiffany Wendeln Connors is a senior editor for CNET Money with a focus on credit cards. Previously, she covered personal finance topics as a writer and editor at The Penny Hoarder. She is passionate about helping people make the best money decisions for themselves and their families. She graduated from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism and has been a writer and editor for publications including the New York Post, Women's Running magazine and Soap Opera Digest. When she isn't working, you can find her enjoying life in St. Petersburg, Florida, with her husband, daughter and a very needy dog.

The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card * -- Wells Fargo’s latest and best travel card -- recently launched with an impressive set of features. Its competitive rewards, welcome bonus and redemption options take aim at incumbent travel credit cards from Chase, American Express and Capital One.

What gives Wells Fargo’s first foray into the point-transfer space an edge is that you don’t have to book travel in a portal to earn the highest rewards rates. 

Here’s why we think the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey could go toe-to-toe with some of the best travel credit cards, plus three insider tips to help you decide if you should add it to your credit card lineup.

Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect with the Autograph Journey:

• Earn 60,000 welcome bonus rewards points after spending $4,000 in purchases within three months of account opening.
• Earn unlimited 5x points on hotels, 4x points on airlines, 3x points on other travel and dining and 1x on other purchases.
• Receive an annual statement credit with a $50 minimum airline purchase.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Other benefits include trip cancellation and interruption insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, roadside dispatch and cell phone insurance.
• $95 annual fee.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Here’s a rundown of four facts we discovered about the Autograph Journey that you should know when deciding whether to apply.

1. You can transfer points with Wells Fargo point-based cards

The launch of the Autograph Journey also marks the first transferable points program from Wells Fargo, which joins other card issuers like Chase and Capital One, which have their own pooling programs .

Autograph Journey will be able to do a points transfer with the no-annual-fee Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card . This is especially notable since the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card offers bonus rewards in different categories than the Autograph Journey. 

For example, the Autograph card earns unlimited 3x points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans, plus 1x points on other purchases. So you can maximize your point earning across different categories, then transfer your points to your Autograph Journey account to access premium travel redemptions.

2. It offers more options for earning bonus miles on travel than some competitors

The Autograph Journey will offer more flexibility than many travel rewards cards when it comes to earning more points on travel purchases. For example, cardholders earn unlimited 5x points on hotels booked directly with hotel brands and 4x points on airfare booked with airlines. 

This helps the card stand out from other popular travel credit cards that offer the most bonus points only if you book travel through their portals. For example, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card * and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card * only offer the highest bonus rewards on travel booked through Capital One Travel. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also offers its highest rate of 5x points on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, whereas other travel purchases earn 2x points.

Autograph Journey cardholders also earn a minimum of 3x points on other travel purchases, which could include rental cars, cruises and travel booked through online travel agencies like Expedia and Priceline.

3. The card may grow in value as more transfer partners join

The Autograph Journey Card will earn flexible travel rewards points that transfer to a selection of airline and hotel partners, similar to Amex Membership Rewards points or Chase Ultimate Rewards . While the list of transfer partners is limited, Wells Fargo stated in its initial press release that “more partners will continue to be added throughout the year.”

Points transfers could dramatically change the value proposition of the Autograph Journey, especially if new partners include domestic airlines and popular hotel loyalty programs. 

Wells Fargo point transfers will be available to new cardholders starting on April 4. For now, Wells Fargo transfer partners include the following:

Smart Money Advice on the Topics That Matter to You

CNET Money brings financial insights, trends and news to your inbox every Wednesday.

By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe at any time.

Your new Subscription

Here’s all of the excitement headed to your inbox.

Recommended Articles

After writing about hundreds of credit cards, these two are still my favorite, 6 reasons the chase sapphire preferred should be your next credit card, 3 steps to take when your flight is canceled or delayed, 8 best credit card strategies to maximize earnings in 2024, as a foodie who enjoys a night out on the town, this credit card gives me plenty to savor.

* All information about the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card have been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

CNET editors independently choose every product and service we cover. Though we can’t review every available financial company or offer, we strive to make comprehensive, rigorous comparisons in order to highlight the best of them. For many of these products and services, we earn a commission. The compensation we receive may impact how products and links appear on our site.