There is a certain kind of airline credit card that does not need to win on earning rates, lounge access, or flashy premium perks. It only needs to solve one problem often enough to justify its annual fee. The free checked bag card is the classic example. These are not necessarily cards to spend on every day. They are often cards to keep because the math works at the airport, not at the grocery store.
That framing matters because bag-fee cards are easy to underestimate. In a wallet full of 5x categories, transferable points, and premium travel cards, a co-branded airline card can look underwhelming on paper. Yet a single family trip, a couple of domestic roundtrips, or regular work travel with checked luggage can make a “boring” airline card one of the most practical cards in the portfolio.
The keeper logic for bag-fee cards
A checked-bag benefit is one of the easiest airline perks to value because it replaces a direct out-of-pocket cost. When the perk is reliable, the cardholder does not need a speculative redemption or a perfect award chart sweet spot in order to come out ahead. The card either avoids baggage charges or it does not.
That is why bag-fee cards fit neatly into a “keeper card” framework. These cards do not have to be the best earners in the wallet. They simply need to pay for themselves often enough. In practice, that often means they stay open even when other cards get downgraded or canceled for annual-fee reasons.
Southwest: downgrade, don’t necessarily dump
Southwest is the easiest place to start because it illustrates how quickly the value proposition of a card can change. Southwest’s co-branded consumer cards currently advertise first checked bag free for the cardmember and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation, provided the Rapid Rewards number is attached appropriately. All of the consumer Southwest cards participate in that benefit, not just the premium Priority version.
That is important because it means a downgrade from Southwest Priority to a lower-fee Southwest credit card can preserve the checked-bag benefit while reducing the annual fee burden. For someone who already has A-List status, that matters even more. A-List now already covers preferred or standard seat selection at booking and allows extra legroom seat selection within 48 hours when available, reducing the distinct value of the higher-end card’s travel-day perks.
In other words, Southwest is a case where the right move may be to keep the airline relationship but simplify the card. The checked-bag feature survives the downgrade, while elite status picks up much of the slack on the travel experience side.
Alaska: a classic bag-fee keeper
Alaska’s co-branded credit card remains one of the clearest examples of a bag-fee keeper card. Bank of America’s Alaska/Atmos consumer card offers a free checked bag and preferred boarding for the cardholder and up to six guests on the same reservation when the eligible Alaska or Hawaiian flight is purchased with the card. That can add up quickly for anyone traveling with companions or checking luggage even a few times per year.
This is the kind of benefit that can quietly justify the annual fee without any help from bonus categories. It does not need to compete with transferable points cards on everyday spend because its value shows up exactly when Alaska is the airline being flown. That is often the hallmark of a successful keeper card: it is not trying to be universal, only useful in the right moments.
American Airlines: not flashy, still useful
The Citi AAdvantage cards fit the same mold. Citi notes that eligible AAdvantage cardmembers receive a free first checked bag on domestic American Airlines itineraries for themselves and up to four companions traveling on the same reservation. On the Platinum Select side, Citi explicitly states that the first checked bag is free on domestic itineraries for the primary cardmember and up to four companions.
That is enough to make the AAdvantage card easy to justify for someone who flies American often enough to encounter checked-bag fees. This is not necessarily a card to use for general spending if stronger transferable-points cards are already in the wallet. But as a bag-fee tool, it is straightforward and practical.
Delta: useful benefit, awkward timing
No bag fee right!
Delta’s co-branded American Express cards offer one of the stronger versions of the first checked bag free benefit. Delta states that eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express cardmembers can check the first bag free on eligible Delta flights, with the waiver extending to up to eight travel companions on the same reservation, for a total of nine passengers. Delta specifically lists Gold, Platinum, and Reserve personal and business SkyMiles cards as eligible for the first-bag-free benefit.
On pure utility, that is appealing. On timing, it may not be. The issue is not the bag benefit itself. The issue is American Express’s bonus policy. Amex is widely known for a “once per lifetime” welcome-offer rule, under which a card’s bonus is generally available only once per person per product. That means applying for a Delta SkyMiles card just to lock in a checked-bag perk can be a poor trade if there is any chance that same product might be more valuable later when a strong welcome bonus or a different travel need comes along.
That makes Delta the odd one out in this strategy. The checked-bag benefit is real and useful, but it is not compelling enough right now to justify consuming a valuable Amex slot and potentially burning long-term bonus eligibility just for baggage savings.
How these cards fit in a sophisticated wallet
A mature points-and-miles wallet does not need every card to serve the same role. Some cards exist to earn 5x. Some exist to unlock transfers. Some exist to provide travel protections. And some exist because a checked bag costs real money and the card reliably waives that cost.
That is why bag-fee cards often survive even after more glamorous cards get downgraded. They are purpose-built. Southwest may be worth keeping in a cheaper version because A-List already covers so much of the premium card overlap while the checked-bag feature remains in the card family. Alaska remains compelling because the bag perk can extend to multiple travelers on the same reservation. Citi AAdvantage remains a useful American Airlines companion even if it is not the first choice for daily spend.
The common thread is simple: these are not cards being kept for theoretical value. They are being kept because they make travel cheaper in a direct, repeatable way. In a hobby that can sometimes overcomplicate value, that kind of simplicity is a feature, not a bug.
There is a certain point in a points-and-miles journey where the goal stops being “find the single best card” and becomes “make the cards already in the wallet work together.” That is the sweet spot here. This setup is not about starting from scratch with a beginner two-card strategy. It is about extracting outsized value from a mature portfolio of personal cards, business cards, legacy products, rotating-category cards, and a few keeper cards that continue to earn their place year after year.
At the center of the strategy are three ideas. First, the wallet leans heavily on multiple 5x and 5% opportunities, including a legacy Amex SimplyCash Business, two Discover cards, and two Chase Freedom-family cards. Second, business cards do a lot of the heavy lifting, especially where they can complement personal cards and unlock point transfers or specialized bonus categories. Third, annual fees are being treated pragmatically: cards stay when they provide real, recurring value and get downgraded when elite status or overlapping perks make the premium version unnecessary.
The 5x foundation
The biggest strength in this wallet is not one premium travel card. It is the number of ways it can generate elevated returns on ordinary spending. That begins with the legacy Amex SimplyCash Business card, which earns 5% cash back at U.S. office supply stores and on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, on up to $50,000 per calendar year in combined purchases. For anyone paying a sizeable cell phone bill, that alone can make the card worth keeping, especially because few other cards still offer true 5% back on wireless service without a complicated portal or temporary promotion.
That is only part of the story. Two Discover cards create two separate 5% quarterly category caps, and that matters. Discover’s rotating categories earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in purchases per quarter after activation. When a quarter lines up with restaurants, that effectively creates two separate $1,500 caps to work with. For someone who reliably maximizes restaurant bonuses, that means a total of $3,000 per quarter can be pushed through Discover at 5% before the category is tapped out.
It’s not just credit card bonuses we also live for long-term 5x and stack-able cash back!
The Chase side is similarly strong. One legacy Chase Freedom card and one Freedom Flex create two additional 5x rotating-category lanes, each with its own $1,500 quarterly cap after activation. The Freedom Flex also brings permanent bonus categories such as 5% on travel booked through Chase Travel and 3% on dining and drugstores, but the more important point here is structural: having two Freedom-family cards means more room to exploit strong quarterlies when categories are useful. In practice, this kind of setup turns a routine quarterly promotion into a genuine strategy rather than a novelty.
Why the business cards matter so much
If the 5x cards are the engine, the business cards are the transmission. They determine how the rest of the wallet functions. That is especially true in the Chase ecosystem, where the distinction between a simple cash back card and a full-fledged transferable points card can come down to whether a premium Ultimate Rewards card is in the mix.
Ink Business Preferred is the most important business card in the current setup. It earns 3x on travel, shipping, internet/cable/phone services, and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines, on up to $150,000 in combined purchases per account year. That broad mix makes it unusually practical for a real business owner because it catches categories that are common but rarely covered well by consumer travel cards: phone service, internet, paid social, search ads, and travel spend that does not need to go through a portal.
That matters because business expenses are not hypothetical here. Travel, telecom, and digital advertising are real recurring costs. Ink Preferred can cover airfare, hotel stays that code as travel, car rentals, rideshare, tolls, parking, mobile phone service, and paid ads on platforms like Meta and Google Ads. Unlike many “business rewards” cards that mostly just reward office supply spend, Ink Preferred works well for a modern media or online business that buys traffic, depends on connectivity, and spends heavily on travel.
Ink Cash as the no-fee utility card
There is a strong case for downgrading Ink Preferred to Ink Cash and letting Sapphire Preferred carry the transferable-points burden on the personal side. Ink Business Cash has no annual fee and earns 5% cash back on the first $25,000 per account year in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services, plus 2% at gas stations and restaurants on the first $25,000 per year in combined purchases. If the goal is to reduce fees while still maintaining strong category coverage, Ink Cash is one of the most useful downgrade targets in the Chase system.
This is where Chase’s ecosystem design becomes especially valuable. Points earned on Freedom, Freedom Flex, and Ink Cash can be combined with a premium Ultimate Rewards account, such as Sapphire Preferred or Ink Preferred, and then transferred to airline and hotel partners. That means the no-fee cards are not merely “cash back” tools. In the right setup, they are effectively 5x transferable points cards. That is the core reason business cards complement the personal cards so well: the no-fee cards do the earning, and the premium card unlocks the redemption power.
In other words, a business card like Ink Cash is not just a downgrade path. It is part of a deliberate division of labor. The business side can rack up 5x on telecom and office-related spend, while the personal side keeps the transfer capability and consumer-facing perks alive.
Sapphire Preferred versus Ink Preferred
The fee question becomes more interesting because both Sapphire Preferred and Ink Preferred carry roughly the same annual fee, but they do different jobs. Sapphire Preferred brings the $50 annual hotel credit through Chase Travel, a 10% anniversary points bonus on base points earned from spending, the ability to transfer Ultimate Rewards to partners, and useful personal travel protections. Ink Preferred brings broader 3x business categories and cell phone protection when the bill is paid with the card.
For a user whose spending skews toward business travel, phone service, internet, and advertising, Ink Preferred can easily out-earn Sapphire Preferred. For a user who values dining, streaming, the hotel credit, and personal travel benefits, Sapphire Preferred can feel richer for the same annual fee. That is why the most sensible medium-term structure may be to keep Sapphire Preferred as the premium Ultimate Rewards anchor while converting Ink Preferred into Ink Cash, at least until there is a compelling reason to reopen or newly apply for another Ink Preferred for a bonus.
The Citi side: pairing Strata and Custom Cash
The same “team game” philosophy also applies in the Citi ecosystem. Citi Strata Premier is the premium ThankYou card in the wallet, with 3x on air travel and hotels, plus 3x on restaurants and gas, alongside the ability to transfer ThankYou points to partners. Citi Custom Cash, by contrast, is a tactical card that earns 5% back on the top eligible spend category each billing cycle, on up to $500 in purchases, then 1% thereafter.
On its own, Custom Cash is a nice niche card. Paired with Strata Premier, it becomes much more interesting. That pairing allows category-specific 5x earning on the Custom Cash side while keeping access to Citi’s broader transfer ecosystem through Strata Premier. It is the Citi equivalent of using Freedom or Ink Cash to feed points into a premium Chase card. The formula is familiar because it works: cheap earners on the front end, premium transfer card on the back end.
One note of caution remains important here. Custom Cash’s “select travel” category does include hotels when they code as travel, but not every stay thought of as a hotel will actually code that way. Extended stays, boutique properties, or payments processed through rental/property-management platforms may code as real estate or rentals instead of lodging, which means they will not trigger travel bonuses on Citi or Chase travel cards. That lesson is especially relevant for anyone who books unusual or longer-term lodging arrangements.
Keeper cards and practical annual-fee logic
Not every card needs to be an earning star to deserve a place in the wallet. PenFed Pathfinder is a perfect example of a “keeper by credit” card. Its main role here is simple: it is being retained for the $100 annual travel credit. There is value in that kind of simplicity. A card does not need to win every spending category if it reliably returns more than it costs.
The same logic cuts the other direction for cards whose premium features are now redundant. Southwest is the clearest example. With A-List status already in hand, the premium Southwest Priority card loses much of its on-boarding and seat-selection distinctiveness because A-List now already provides preferred or standard seat selection at booking and access to extra legroom seats within 48 hours when available. That makes a downgrade to a lower-fee Southwest card far easier to justify.
In that situation, the choice between Southwest Plus and Southwest Premier becomes mostly a math problem centered on annual fee, anniversary points, and the value of the flight discount code rather than a question of airport experience. If A-List is already doing the heavy lifting on travel-day benefits, paying extra for overlapping card perks becomes much harder to defend.
Cell phone bills: one of the most interesting battlegrounds
One of the more revealing spending categories in this wallet is the cell phone bill because several cards compete for the same spend. The legacy American Express SimplyCash earns 5% on wireless purchased directly from U.S. service providers. Ink Preferred earns 3x on phone services and also provides cell phone protection when the bill is paid with the card. Ink Cash, if adopted via downgrade, would earn 5x on phone service with no annual fee.
That makes the “best” card for the bill surprisingly context-dependent. If the goal is raw return, SimplyCash and Ink Cash have the edge at 5% or 5x. If the goal is balancing rewards with insurance benefits, Ink Preferred has a strong argument. The real complication is T-Mobile’s autopay policy: using a regular credit card can cost the monthly autopay discount because T-Mobile limits the discount to bank account, debit card, or its own card payment methods. That turns what looks like a simple “5x versus 3x” question into a larger optimization decision involving foregone discounts, insurance value, and rewards.
A portfolio built for combination plays
The most interesting part of this wallet is not any one card. It is the interaction between them. Two Discover cards mean quarterly category depth instead of just occasional convenience. Two Freedom-family cards mean quarterly Chase bonuses can be pressed harder than they could with a single card. A premium Ultimate Rewards card makes those rotating-category points much more valuable because they can be transferred out rather than merely redeemed as cash back.
The business cards deepen that effect rather than sitting off to the side. Ink Preferred captures the kinds of business expenses that a modern digital business actually incurs. Ink Cash can be a no-fee way to keep harvesting 5x from telecom and office-related spend while preserving the ability to combine points with Sapphire Preferred. Citi Strata and Citi Custom Cash do the same thing on the ThankYou side.
This is what a mature wallet should look like: not a pile of isolated cards, but a system. The premium cards are there to unlock value. The no-fee cards and legacy cards are there to generate it. The keeper cards (such as these bag fee prevention cards) hold niche perks that still beat their cost. The downgrade candidates are the ones whose benefits have been overtaken by elite status or duplicated elsewhere. That is how a large portfolio becomes more manageable and more profitable at the same time.
Our credit card strategy has changed from travel to earning more points while not traveling during this pandemic. One thing we did while quarantined and ordering online is we collected points and miles in order to save money in the future. Our strategy has changed wanting more benefits with travel and high cash back on Gas.
That space in your wallet or purse is valuable, and you should be the one to get that value. Selected banks are offering strong perks and $500+ value for a single card during the first year to encourage you to apply and try it out. These are the top 10 credit card offers that I would personally apply for right now, if I didn’t already have most of them. Notable changes:
IHG Hotels 140k/75k – 140k still highest ever, new 75k traveler offer.
Chase Freedom Unlimited raised to $250 Bonus plus extra cashback on groceries and gas stations
AmEx Blue Cash Preferred to Add Streaming, Transit Bonus Categories
If you pay off your balances every month, then you can join me and many others in funding a huge chunk of your annual travel budget with cash credits, points, and miles. You don’t need to be a “I only fly business class” world traveler. I mostly use my rewards points on domestic economy flights, mid-class hotels, and cheap car rentals. If you have credit card debt, you should focus on paying that off first as the interest charges could offset most of the perks.
This is a companion post to my Top 5 Best Business Card Offers. Small business bonuses are on average even higher than those on consumer cards.
A top travel card is now offering 100,000 bonus points after $5,000 in spending. That’s enough for a dozen short-haul trips, lie-flat seats, or five-star stays.
✔️ 1:1 transfers to major airline and hotel programs ✔️ 5x points on travel portal, 3x on dining ✔️ $50 annual hotel credit ✔️ No foreign transaction fees
$300 in statement credits every cardmember year for bookings made through Capital One Travel; this can be applied toward any type of travel booked through Capital One Travel, including flights, hotels, rental cars, etc. 10,000 bonus Venture miles on the account anniversary every year; there’s no spending requirement to unlock this, and it’s worth a minimum of $100 toward a travel purchase, or could get you up to 10,000 airline miles (which I value at $170)
Up to 50,000 Hyatt points. 25,000 Bonus Points after $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. Plus an additional 25,000 Bonus Points after a total of $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months. See link for details and rough valuation of points.
$95 annual fee, free night award upon card anniversary.
INTRO OFFER: Discover will match ALL the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year, automatically. There’s no signing up. And no limit to how much is matched.
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, select rideshares and online shopping, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
Redeem cash back any amount, any time. Rewards never expire.
Use your rewards at Amazon.com checkout.
Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites.* Activate for free.
Marriott credit cards from Chase and American Express now earn an elevated 6X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent on eligible grocery purchases amid coronavirus.
60,000 American Airlines miles after $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
First checked bag free on domestic AA flights ($60 value per roundtrip, per person).
$0 annual fee for the first year, then $99.
Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard
60,000 American Airlines miles after any purchase in the first 90 days and paying the $99 annual fee. See link for details.
$99 Companion certificate offer. Earn a certificate good for 1 guest at $99 (plus taxes and fees) after making your first purchase and paying the $99 annual fee in the first 90 days.
First checked bag free on domestic AA flights ($60 value per roundtrip, per person).
$99 annual fee.
Citi Strata Premier Card
60,000 points (worth $750 towards travel booked at ThankYou.com) after $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
3X points for every $1 spent on travel including gas stations.
Must not have gotten bonus from or closed a Citi Rewards+, ThankYou Preferred, Premier, or Prestige card in the past 24 months.
$95 annual fee.
Bank of America Premium Rewards Card
50,000 points (worth $500 towards travel) after $3,000 in purchases within the first 90 days. See link for details.
2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
$100 annual Airline Incidental Statement Credit.
Up to $100 credit towards TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee.
$95 annual fee.
Hawaiian Airlines World Elite MasterCard (Soon to be Alaska Airlines)
50,000 Hawaiian miles after $2,000 in purchases within 90 days. See link for details.
Free first checked bag for primary cardmember when using your card to purchase eligible tickets directly from Hawaiian Airlines.
Receive a one-time 50% off companion discount for roundtrip coach travel between Hawaii and The Mainland on Hawaiian Airlines.
$99 annual fee.
During this Coronavirus pandemic your credit card rewards can help you pay for groceries, food delivery and essentials. This is by using points, gift cards, or statement credits from existing cards or new ones with bonuses.
Note: Certain Chase cards have a “5/24 rule” which is an unofficial rule that they will automatically deny approval on new credit cards if you have 5 or more new credit cards from any issuer on your credit report within the past 2 years. This rule applies on a per-person basis, so if you are new, you might want to start with those Chase cards.
Chase just announced a new limited-time offers for its Southwest consumer credit cards, allowing cardholders to earn the #1 rated airline’s amazing Companion Pass plus 100,000 bonus points when they meet a minimum spending requirement.
If you frequently travel with a plus-one, the Companion Pass allows you to add them to any Southwest flight for just the cost of taxes and fees.
How to Qualify for the New Southwest Companion Pass Offer
Credit card issuers often offer increased sign-up bonuses for a limited time, and this one is no different. To qualify, you’ll need to do the following.
Imagine flying with a companion for virtually free for two whole years! Southwest Airlines is making that dream a reality with an incredible new offer on all three personal Chase Southwest credit cards. This is your chance to snag the highly coveted Southwest Companion Pass for 2026 and 2027, and potentially even for the last few months of 2025!
Here’s how to seize this fantastic opportunity:
The Generous 100,000 Point Signup Bonus
Southwest is currently offering a massive 100,000 point signup bonus when you open any of their personal Chase Southwest credit cards. To earn this bonus, you’ll need to spend $4,000 within the first five months of account opening. This extended spending window gives you plenty of time to meet the requirement at your own pace. But don’t wait too long – this limited-time offer is scheduled to end soon.
Your Path to the Companion Pass
To earn the Southwest Companion Pass, you typically need 135,000 qualifying points. However, here’s where this offer gets even better:
10,000 Point Head Start: Every year, Southwest sweetens the deal by depositing 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points into your account by January 31st. This means you effectively only need to earn 125,000 points to secure the pass.
104,000+ Points from the Bonus: Once you meet the $4,000 spending requirement, you’ll have at least 104,000 points (100,000 bonus + 4,000 from spending), possibly more depending on your spending categories.
Bridging the Gap: You’ll only need to earn approximately 21,000 additional points to reach the 125,000 effective threshold. There are many easy ways to do this, such as everyday spending on the card, making purchases through the Southwest shopping portal, or even transferring points from partners.
Double the Fun: Two Years of Companion Pass
By hitting the 135,000 point threshold in 2026, you’ll not only enjoy the Companion Pass for the remainder of 2025 but also for the entirety of 2027 and 2028. That’s up to two full years of bringing a friend or family member along for just the cost of taxes and fees on your Southwest flights.
Don’t miss out on this incredible chance to maximize your travel and explore more with a companion by your side!
Compare Southwest Consumer Credit Cards
CREDIT CARD
ANNUAL FEE
INTRO BONUS
PERKS
LEARN MORE
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
$69 (Free with benefits)
Companion Pass®SOUTHWEST RAPID REWARDS POINTS More Info
Lost luggage reimbursement Baggage delay insurance
Visit the offer page: The offer is currently not available when you visit the card landing pages on Chase’s website, so be sure to use one of the above links to apply.
Apply by the offer deadline: The limited-time offer won’t be around for more than a few weeks, so be sure to apply as soon as possible if you’re interested.
Meet the spending requirement: You’ll need to spend $4,000 in the first three months. Keep in mind that the clock starts when you open your account, not when you receive the card.
The Southwest Companion Pass could be your ticket to amazing family adventures. It lets you bring a kiddo (or any companion!) for free (just pay taxes and fees) on any Southwest flight you book. Sounds awesome, right? Remember that each Southwest credit card has its own benefits, so compare them to find the one that suits your family’s travel style.
Do your research, weigh the pros and cons, and then jet set to incredible memories with your loved ones!
Also keep in mind they do these amazing special offer via Chase Offers such as below 10% back at Panera and 10% on Jersey Mike’s and Walmart:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of our all-time favorite travel rewards cards up there with the Venture X Card — and right now, it’s offering a welcome bonus of 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points. There’s never been a better time to apply for this ultra-well-rounded $95 annual fee card. And we’ll show you why.
Welcome Bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Go here and start earning towards summer travel!
Earn 100,000 Points With the Chase Sapphire Preferred
As a new applicant for the Sapphire Preferred, you can earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
This offer is nothing short of incredible; it’s the most generous welcome bonus we’ve seen on this card in nearly four years. We highly recommend this card and this Southwest Airlines offer as our top two deals right now.
What is this Sapphire Preferred welcome offer worth?
The value of the Sapphire Preferred welcome bonus depends on how you choose to redeem your new stash of Ultimate Rewards points. But no matter how you use them, these points are worth a lot.
To get the most value, one of the best strategies is transferring your points to Chase’s 14 travel partners. On average, RewardsCards users redeem Ultimate Rewards points this way for 1.93¢ each — making the bonus worth over $1,900 toward award travel. And Chase has some excellent partners, including Marriott, World of Hyatt, IHG, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, and United MileagePlus.
If you’d rather avoid the hassle of transferring points and searching for award space, you can redeem points earned with the Sapphire Preferred at a fixed rate of 1.25¢ each through Chase Travel.
Cardholders can also combine Ultimate Rewards points earned across their entire portfolio of Chase cards into a single account. That makes it easy to maximize card earnings and accumulate enough points toward your next redemption.
Why Should You Get the Sapphire Preferred?
It’s important to remember that the unpredictable economy could limit the availability of large bonuses like this from major banks, such as Chase. This might be the last opportunity before a potential recession or housing market downturn. Accumulate your points and choose the credit cards that will be most beneficial during difficult times, while also investing in future travel and better times.
Welcome bonus aside, the Sapphire Preferred is an incredibly well-rounded travel rewards card. It’s one we recommend to beginners and seasoned travelers alike. Here are just a few reasons why.
Lucrative earning rates
It’s easy to stock up on Ultimate Rewards points thanks to the Sapphire Preferred‘s many bonus categories. With this card, you’ll earn points as follows:
5X points on Lyft rides through March 2025
5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
3X points on eligible streaming services
3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
2X points on all other travel
1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Several useful benefits
The Sapphire Preferred has a lengthy list of practical benefits, including:
$50 annual hotel credit.
10% anniversary bonus points on the points you’ve accumulated from purchases over the past year.
Complimentary DashPass from DoorDash.
Primary collision damage waiver (CDW) insurance on car rentals worldwide.
Trip delay reimbursement of up to $500 per ticket for delays of 12+ hours.
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance up to $20k per covered trip.
Lost luggage reimbursement and baggage delay coverage.
Extended warranty and purchase protection.
No foreign transaction fees.
Reasonable annual fee
The Sapphire Preferred offers cardholders a lot of value — and you’ll get it all for just a $95 annual fee.
Who’s Eligible for This Sapphire Preferred Welcome Bonus?
Chase enforces multiple restrictions on rewards credit card applications. The first is a published application rule stating you can’t get the Sapphire Preferred if you currently hold a Sapphire card or have received a signup bonus for one in the previous 48 months.
“The product is not available to either (i) current cardmembers of any Sapphire credit card, or (ii) previous cardmembers of any Sapphire credit card who received a new cardmember bonus within the last 48 months…”
Keep in mind that you can still get this increased sign-up bonus if you’re currently an authorized user on another Sapphire Preferred account.
Chase cards are also subject to a second, unpublished rule known as the Chase 5/24 policy. If you’ve been approved for five or more personal credit cards in the previous 24 months (from any card issuer), you likely won’t be approved for this card.
$1,050 in foolproof free travel
While not the absolute highest-possible redemption value, the easiest way to use your Chase points for travel is through the Chase Travel Portal.
With the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you can redeem points for airfare, hotel stays, rental cars, and more at a rate of 1.25 cents each. The Chase Sapphire Preferred 100k bonus points offeris worth a guaranteed $1,000 in travel at the very least.
There are several benefits to redeeming your Chase points through the Chase Travel Portal:
It doesn’t require you to be familiar with the intricate aspects of awards travel, such as understanding which airline and hotel transfer partners offer the best value for specific situations.
You can book boutique hotels that don’t participate in a loyalty program.
You won’t have to worry about blackout dates and award availability.
You can also redeem your points in tandem with the Chase Sapphire Preferred annual $50 hotel credit.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers up to $50 in hotel credit each cardmember anniversary year. As long as you pay for a hotel through the Chase Travel Portal with your card, you’ll automatically receive a statement credit within a few days.
Bottom Line
It’s not very often we an increased offer on the Sapphire Preferred — much less one that offers 100,000 points. The offer is normally only 60,000. If you’re eligible to apply for this card and earn the welcome bonus, this is a limited-time card offer that you won’t want to miss!
