Once I opened the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) a 12 months in the past, I had no thought how shortly it will turn into my go-to device for incomes journey rewards — or how a lot worth I’d have the ability to unlock straight away.
Since then, I’ve used it to e-book worldwide flights, navigate surprising journey hiccups and discover ways to stretch factors way over I imagined after I first utilized.
Whether or not you’re new to incomes journey rewards or just lately picked up the cardboard your self, listed here are six beginner-friendly methods to benefit from the Chase Sapphire Most popular.
Associated: After more than 15 years, why the Chase Sapphire Preferred should still be your first rewards card
Use the welcome bonus to assist cowl your subsequent journey
Incomes a welcome bonus is likely one of the best methods for inexperienced persons to kick-start their factors and miles journey, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers new cardholders the prospect to earn a significant quantity of Chase Ultimate Rewards factors after assembly the minimal spending requirement.
As a result of Chase Final Rewards factors maintain sturdy worth and provide versatile redemption choices, that welcome bonus can stretch surprisingly far. A considerable stash of factors can simply cowl a home round-trip, a number of lodge nights and even a part of a global itinerary.
Proper now, new cardmembers can earn 75,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months — a powerful provide that averages slightly below $1,670 in spending per 30 days.
In the event you switch these factors to considered one of Chase’s airline or hotel partners, the bonus is price about $1,538, in accordance with TPG’s December 2025 valuations.
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Once I earned my 60,000-point welcome provide in 2024 (now not accessible), I shortly constructed on it with on a regular basis spending and ended up with 100,000 factors in a number of months, which was sufficient to cowl a big portion of a three-week trip to Europe. A few of my redemptions included:
- 15,000 factors for a nonstop flight on Air France from Washington, D.C., to Paris
- 8,000 factors for a nonstop flight on Swiss from Zurich to Ljubljana, Slovenia
- 49,500 factors for a three-night keep at IHG’s Resort Indigo Florence in Italy
One of the vital thrilling components of beginning your travel card journey with the Sapphire Most popular is watching your factors rework into flights and lodge stays. Making my first journey redemptions taught me simply how highly effective a single welcome bonus may be — particularly if you’re starting your factors and miles journey.
Associated: How I turned 100,000 Chase points into a multicountry European trip
Use the cardboard for on a regular basis spending to persistently earn factors
One more reason why the Chase Sapphire Preferred works so nicely for inexperienced persons is its easy high-value incomes construction throughout classes most individuals spend in each day.
A few of its key incomes charges embody:
- 5 factors per greenback spent on journey booked by way of Chase Journey℠ (excluding purchases that qualify for the $50 lodge credit score)
- 5 factors per greenback spent on Lyft purchases (by way of September 2027)
- 3 factors per greenback spent on dining, select streaming services and on-line grocery purchases
- 2 factors per greenback spent on all different journey not booked by way of Chase Journey
- 1 level per greenback spent on all the pieces else
As a brand new cardholder, the simplest option to construct your factors stability is just to make use of the cardboard on your everyday purchases.
Throughout my first six months with the cardboard, I put almost each buy on it and watched my factors stability develop quickly — all from transactions I might have made anyway.
It’s an excellent reminder that you just don’t want a sophisticated technique or a pockets stuffed with playing cards to maximise worth. Constantly placing your common spending on one sturdy card is sufficient to develop a significant factors stability whilst you find out how the system works.
Associated: I thought I’d hardly use my Sapphire Preferred, then it became one of my go-to cards
Make the most of the cardboard’s built-in journey protections
One of many Chase Sapphire Preferred‘s most underrated advantages is its suite of journey protections that may prevent lots of of {dollars} if one thing goes flawed on a visit. These embody primary rental car coverage, trip delay reimbursement and baggage delay insurance — perks many inexperienced persons don’t understand they’ve.
I realized the worth of those protections firsthand after getting right into a minor accident in a rental automobile.
It’s the type of scenario you by no means assume will occur, however as a result of I’d paid for the rental with my Sapphire Most popular, I knew the cardboard’s major rental automobile protection was there to deal with any harm. In the long run, I didn’t want to make use of the profit since I wasn’t at fault, however having that peace of thoughts within the second was a profit all its personal.
The cardboard’s journey delay reimbursement is one other standout characteristic. In case your flight is delayed by a qualifying variety of hours or in a single day, you may be reimbursed for important bills like meals and lodging, making an unexpectedly lengthy journey day far much less worrying.
For a card with a modest $95 annual charge, these protections provide outsize worth, particularly should you’re touring internationally, renting automobiles or simply need added safety if you’re away from house.
Associated: Chase Sapphire rental car insurance: What it covers and how to file a claim
Switch factors to journey companions for higher-value redemptions
One of the vital highly effective options of the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the power to switch Chase Final Rewards factors to greater than a dozen airline and lodge companions, together with United MileagePlus, World of Hyatt, Air France-KLM Flying Blue and British Airways Club, at a 1:1 ratio.
Since Final Rewards factors are at present price 2.05 cents every, in accordance with TPG’s December 2025 valuations, these transfers are sometimes the place inexperienced persons unlock the very best worth.
Transferring factors can really feel intimidating at first — I hovered over the “affirm” button longer than I care to confess on my first switch — however the course of is surprisingly easy. And when you do it, the door opens to flights and lodge nights that might price considerably extra should you paid money.
Transfer bonuses make this perk even higher. For instance, I just lately took benefit of a 25% Chase to Air France-KLM Flying Blue bonus, which meant I solely wanted to switch 15,000 Final Rewards factors for an abroad flight that required 18,750 Flying Blue miles.
Moments like that spotlight simply how far your factors can go when you know the way to make the most of the precise alternatives.
In the event you’re new to the Sapphire Most popular, consider transfers as a next-step talent — one thing you don’t must grasp instantly however one which turns into extremely rewarding as you develop extra assured together with your factors.
Associated: How to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United MileagePlus
Ebook journey by way of Chase Journey for simplicity
In the event you’re not fairly able to switch factors (or simply favor to not), the Chase Travel portal is likely one of the most beginner-friendly methods to make use of your rewards. As a Chase Sapphire Preferred Card holder, you’ve got entry to Chase’s Points Boost feature, which will increase the worth of your factors when reserving by way of the portal.
With Factors Enhance, Sapphire Most popular Card holders can redeem their Final Rewards factors on choose accommodations and flights at as much as 1.5 cents apiece and premium cabin flights on choose airways at as much as 1.75 cents apiece, all while not having to be taught airline or lodge switch companions.
I just lately used Chase’s Factors Enhance characteristic for a three-night keep at Resort Indigo Florence in Italy — a reserving that might have price almost $800 in money. Through the use of Chase Journey, I used to be capable of e-book the keep for simply over 49,000 factors plus charges, getting strong worth with out the effort of transferring factors.
Whereas transferring points can typically unlock even increased worth, the Chase Journey portal stays essentially the most easy option to get dependable, predictable returns in your factors, particularly for inexperienced persons or anybody who desires to maintain issues easy.
Associated: I’m a Sapphire Preferred Card holder: Here’s my Chase Travel Points Boost strategy
Use further perks for on a regular basis worth
Past its well-known journey advantages, the Chase Sapphire Preferred additionally comes with on a regular basis perks that add actual worth, even should you’re not touring continuously.
These advantages may help offset the annual charge and provides inexperienced persons extra causes to maintain the cardboard on the entrance of their pockets. Key perks embody:
- DoorDash advantages
- Unique entry to Chase Offers
- Purchasing and eating promotions
Certainly one of my private favourite (and most used) perks is the complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership, legitimate by way of Chase’s partnership till Dec. 31, 2027 (relying in your activation date). Since DashPass usually prices $9.99 per 30 days (or $96 yearly), this profit covers the cardboard’s $95 annual charge by itself.
DashPass will get you $0 supply charges and diminished service charges on eligible orders over $12, plus 5% again in DoorDash credit on eligible pickup orders. Pair that with the cardboard’s 3 factors per greenback spent on eating, and also you’re stacking on a regular basis worth: You save on charges whereas incomes factors you’ll be able to later redeem for journey.
Whenever you mix these perks with the cardboard’s sturdy incomes charges and dependable journey protections, it’s simple to see why the Chase Sapphire Most popular stays one of many best starter travel cards for beginners.
Associated: Your complete guide to Chase and DoorDash
Backside line
The Chase Sapphire Preferred stands out as among the best newbie journey playing cards as a result of it’s simple to make use of from Day 1, delivers speedy worth and gives the pliability to unlock much more as you be taught the world of factors and miles.
Begin with the fundamentals by utilizing it for on a regular basis spending, exploring the Chase Journey portal and making the most of built-in perks, and transfer into level transfers and extra superior methods if you’re prepared.
A 12 months after opening the cardboard, I’m nonetheless discovering new methods to maximise it. For inexperienced persons, that’s precisely what makes the Chase Sapphire Most popular such a sensible and dependable place to start out.
To be taught extra, try our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
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