How to Maximize the Rewards You Earn with Chase Sapphire Preferred – The Points Guy

We often say Chase Sapphire Priority Card is the best first credit card for those learning about points and miles preferences. That’s not because this card is a beginner’s card – quite the opposite. Many of us at TPG still have the Sapphire Preferred as it is integral to our travel rewards strategy.

We highlight it for a few reasons:

In fact, right now, new applicants for Chase Sapphire Priority Card can earn a higher bonus of 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. The card comes with an annual fee of $95, but it’s relatively easy to cover it (and then some).

See how you can maximize your Chase Sapphire Preferred benefits to make sure you’re saving the most money — and earning the most points — as naturally as possible. It will help you gauge if the card is worth keeping every year.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Benefits Overview

Here are the notable benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred:

• $50 credits annually on hotel stays purchased through Ultimate Rewards.
• 10% bonus points per year based on your card spending (for example, if you spend 10,000 USD, you will get 1,000 bonus points).
• 5 points per dollar on Lyft (through March 2025) and rides booked through Chase Travel Portal.
• 5 points per dollar on every purchase of Peloton equipment and accessories of $250 or more — with a limit of 25,000 points (through March 2025).
• At least 12 months of free DashPass (or through December 31, 2024) to use with both DoorDash and Caviar.
• 3 points per dollar on dining and select streaming services.
• 2 points per dollar on all travel not booked through the Chase Travel Portal.
• 1 point for every dollar on everything else.
• Primary rental car insurance.
• Flight delay insurance.
• Luggage delay insurance.
• Extended warranty protection.
• There are no foreign transaction fees.

You don’t have to be a points and miles enthusiast to appreciate the card. These perks make the Chase Sapphire Preferred a very practical card for anyone who takes a vacation even once or twice a year.

With a $95 annual fee, the travel protections alone make this card worthwhile. And because cards get rewarded quickly, you’ll have a small amount of points in Chase by the time you’re confident enough to use them.

Related: Chase Sapphire Priority Review

First, the current Chase Sapphire Preferred rewards won’t last forever. Currently, you will receive 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. TPG rates that bonus at $1,600—though you can get more than that if you find out. Chasing Sweet Spots The Ultimate Reward.

Once you’ve used the bonus, what’s the best way to maximize this card?

Use your Chase Sapphire Preferred to pay for airline tickets

The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 5 points per dollar when booking flights through the Chase Travel Portal and 2 points per dollar when booked through an online travel agent or directly with the airline. But accumulating points is not the main motivation to use the card.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred automatically provides you with two significant benefits (among others) when booking flights:

• Flight delay insurance: You’re covered for up to $500 per ticket when your flight is delayed for 12 hours or more (or if your delay/cancellation results in an unexpected night).
• Luggage delay insurance: You and your immediate family are reimbursed up to $100 per day (for up to five days) to cover the purchase of essentials such as clothing, toiletries, etc. This benefit in effect when your baggage is delayed by six hours or more.

These perks alone are enough for many to hold the annual pass.

Use your Chase Sapphire Preferred to pay for hotels through the Chase travel portal

Each anniversary year, the Chase Sapphire Preferred comes with a Statement Credit $50 for a hotel stay booked through the Chase Travel Portal. You’ll also get 5 points per dollar when booking a ride through the Chase Travel Portal (though the $50 credit won’t earn points). It’s a great pair of benefits that is likely to appeal to anyone who normally book a hotel room through an online travel agency like Expedia or Priceline.

Just be aware that this may not be the best option if you’re booking at a major chain that’s part of a loyalty program like Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. Chase is considered a third-party platform for these booking purposes, which means you probably won’t earn points for your stay (and you may also not be entitled to any premium status perks). which one).

You can always call each property after booking (or try adding your loyalty number at check-in), but this may not work. Therefore, your best bet is to use this privilege for non-chain hotels or small accommodation establishments.

Use your Chase Sapphire Preferred to pay for car rental

Here’s another stand-alone benefit that could justify the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s $95 annual fee for many travelers: when you pay for your car rental with the card, you can waive the Loss Waiver coverage. Indoor rental agency’s expensive collision damage (CDW) — this coverage can cost up to $15 per day — and you’ll still get primary rental car insurancecourtesy of Chase.

Note that this includes card damage and theft without going through your own personal insurance company. You’ll also earn 5 points per dollar if you book through the Chase Travel Portal. However, this does not cover liability coverage (such as damage to the vehicle you hit).

Use Chase Sapphire Preferred to pay at restaurants

Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 3 points for every dollar at restaurants — whether you order takeout or dine in. That’s a nice perk to add up to the fact that the card offers a free year (at least) DashPass Membership with DoorDash. You’ll get free shipping on orders totaling more than $12 and earn 3 points for every dollar purchase. That equates to 6% back to your meal.

If you add the Sapphire Preferred to your DoorDash account today, you’ll enjoy those privileges through December 31, 2024.

Related: Just got the Chase Sapphire Preferred? Do these 6 things next

The card earns 1 point per dollar for all expenses that are not in the bonus category. That is not a reasonable rate of return. There are many cards out there (some with a $0 annual fee) that will better serve you for these transactions. If you want to stay focused on collecting Chase Ultimate Rewards, swipe Unlimited pursuit of freedom to earn a minimum of 1.5% cashback (1.5 points per dollar) on all purchases.

Don’t lose other card benefits using your Chase Sapphire Preferred

If you have other credit cards that offer valuable benefits for specific purchases, don’t use the Chase Sapphire Preferred out of loyalty.

For example, you can get one free checked baggage with United Airlines when you use your eligibility United Airlines credit card to pay for your flight. That could save you $60 round-trip, and it’s well worth using your United card.

Or if you frequently book the same hotel brand and elite status is important to you, use the hotel’s co-branded credit card to pay for your stay instead of the Sapphire Preferred. You will earn more points that way. For example:

Official app link: Chase Sapphire’s 80,000 priority points offer

Additional reporting by Emily Thompson and Ryan Wilcox.