Chase Sapphire Preferred
The welcome offer, every credit and its catch, what it earns, the insurance, and whether the $95 fee pays for itself.
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Everyday travel · Chase
Welcome offer
75,000 points
Annual fee
$95
75,000 points after $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. Not available to current cardholders, and the bonus may be withheld from anyone who has had the card or its bonus before.
Authorized users: No feeForeign transaction fees: NoneRewards: Chase Ultimate Rewards
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The Atelier Take
The sensible first travel card, and one of the few worth keeping even after a premium card arrives.
Who it suits
The first serious travel card for most people. Low enough in fee to keep for years, and the points open transfers to World of Hyatt and United that make Chase points worth more than their cash value.
Who should skip it
Anyone who only wants cash back, or who would never transfer points to an airline or hotel: a no-fee 2% card does that job.
Every credit, and the catch
A hotel credit that pays back most of the fee, plus partner perks with end dates.
Chase Travel hotel credit
Up to $100 a year
Hotel stays booked through Chase Travel only; the credited amount earns no points.
Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS
Up to $120 every 4 years
Apple TV
One year, worth $180
A one-off benefit, and only worth something to people who would otherwise pay for Apple TV.
DashPass and DoorDash promo
$120 DashPass + $10 a month
The promo is for groceries, retail and similar DoorDash orders, and an unused month is lost.
What it earns
Rewards: Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which transfer to 14 airline and hotel programs including World of Hyatt, United and Southwest; most transfer 1:1, but World of Hyatt is 4:3 from this card (1,000 points become 750 Hyatt points).
5x
Everything booked through Chase Travel
Except Frosch and Valerie Wilson Travel bookings
3x
Dining, including takeout and eligible delivery
3x
Gas stations and EV charging
3x
Top streaming services and online grocery
Online grocery excludes Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs
3x
Vacation homes at top brands
5x
Lyft rides
Through September 30, 2027
5x
Peloton equipment and accessories over $150
Through December 31, 2027, on up to $5,000 of purchases
2x
Other travel
1x
Everything else
TPG values Ultimate Rewards points at 2.05¢ each, when transferred to partners, so 3x returns about 6.2¢ per dollar. Points from the no-fee Freedom Unlimited and Freedom Flex can be moved to this card and transferred too. Purchases covered by the hotel credit earn no points.
Transfer partners
Airlines
Aer Lingus, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Iberia, JetBlue, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Southwest, United MileagePlus and Virgin Atlantic.
Hotels
World of Hyatt, IHG One Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy and Wyndham Rewards.
Will the $95 fee pay off?
Enter what would go on this card. The result values points at TPG’s valuation, adds the credits that would actually be used and, in year one, the welcome offer, then sets the total against a no-fee card that pays 2% back on everything.
1 · Spending on this card
Example figures are filled in; replace them with real ones.
Travel booked through Chase Travel
5x
DiningIncluding takeout and eligible delivery
3x
Groceries in store
1x
Online groceriesNot Target, Walmart or wholesale clubs
3x
Gas and EV charging
3x
Top streaming services
3x
Flights booked directly
2x
Hotels booked directly
2x
Everything else
1x
2 · Credits that would be used
Tick only what would be used anyway, at full value.
When the hotel credit is ticked, the first $100 booked through Chase Travel is treated as covered by it and earns no points, as Chase’s terms say.
3 · Assumptions
The result
Not counted: the travel insurance, including primary car rental cover, 5x on Lyft (through September 30, 2027), 5x on Peloton equipment over $150 and 3x on vacation homes at top brands.
Insurance and protections
Unusually strong cover for a $95 card, including primary car rental insurance. Pay for the trip or purchase with the card to be covered; the Guide to Benefits has the full terms.
Auto rental collision damage
Primary cover up to $60,000 for theft and collision damage on most rentals with an MSRP of $125,000 or less, when the rental company’s cover is declined.
Trip cancellation and interruption
Up to $10,000 per traveler and $20,000 per trip for prepaid, non-refundable travel.
Trip delay
Up to $500 per traveler when a trip is delayed more than 12 hours or needs an overnight stay.
Baggage delay
Up to $100 a day for 5 days for essentials when bags are delayed more than 6 hours.
Lost luggage
Up to $3,000 per traveler for lost, damaged or stolen bags.
Emergency evacuation
Up to $100,000 on trips 100 miles or more from home.
Travel accident insurance
Up to $500,000 when the fare is paid with the card.
Purchase protection
Damage or theft within 120 days of purchase, up to $500 per item.
Extended warranty
Adds one year to U.S. manufacturer warranties of three years or less.
Roadside assistance
A dispatch service; the call-out fee is billed to the card.
Pros and cons
Pros
- A $95 fee buys points that transfer to Hyatt, United and a dozen more partners
- 3x on dining, gas, streaming and online grocery covers most household spending
- Primary car rental cover and trip cancellation insurance, rare at this fee
- No fee for authorized users
Cons
- No lounge access
- The hotel credit only works through Chase Travel
- Trip delay cover starts after 12 hours, not 6 as on the Reserve
- 1x on everything outside the bonus categories
Card terms change often and some offers are personalized; the issuer’s page is the final word.