How the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Can Boost Your Travel Reward

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If you love to travel, the Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Credit Card should be on your radar. This card is a favorite among travelers because of its fantastic travel rewards, point transfer flexibility and will maximize travel points.

Whether you’re booking flights, hotels, or experiences, Chase Sapphire Preferred rewards offer unbeatable value. You get an amazing deal without having to spend a crazy amount of money on your credit card every year.

I only use this card. I do not jump around from one travel card to another but leverage my Chase Sapphire Preferred ® points. The more you practice, the better you get.

In return for leveraging my Chase card, my son and I have been able to travel across the world during our vacation time on the small monetary amount I have available to plan vacations.

Most of my funding goes to travel sports. If you are a parent whose child does any type of travel sport, I’m sure you feel me here.

We have hit over 10 countries already and traveled all over the United States. Traveling the world is possible because I learned to maximize my credit card points. Here is how I did it below.

Key Features of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers great features, including a generous welcome bonus when you click here.

Right now, you can earn significant points (60,000 points) after spending a set amount in the first three months.

Currently, that set amount is $4000 which is equal to $1334 a month.

The card has an annual fee of $95. That’s lower than many premium travel cards, and you will make it back easily leveraging points.

Therefore, making Chase Sapphire Preferred Card a strong contender for those looking for excellent travel benefits without breaking the bank.

Earning Points with Chase Sapphire Preferred:

• 2x points on travel
• 3x points on dining
• 1x points on all other purchases
• 25% more value when redeeming points for travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards (I do not use this, and I’ll explain why)
• Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal for bonus points (this is a great perk and an excellent way to add up points fast)

How to Maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred Points

To get the most out of your Chase Sapphire Preferred ® points, it’s essential to earn as many as possible.

Maximize your reward by using the card for dining, travel, and bonus categories found in the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal. I will show you how to do this below.

Be strategic about how you redeem your points to get the highest value, especially by using transfer to partners for flights and hotel stays.

Stick to the travel partner network for optimal point transfers which I also explain below.

Here are some creative ways to maximize Chase Ultimate Rewards points for travel:

Chase Ultimate Rewards is not only an area where you can turn in points, but it is also a portal to receive bonus offers to get more points.

• Dining Out with Friends: Pay the bill with your Chase card at restaurants, then have friends Venmo you their share. You’ll earn triple points (3x) for dining.
• Special Offers through Chase Ultimate Rewards: Take advantage of Chase’s limited-time offers on shopping.
  • For example, like purchasing flowers, new electronics, or gifts. These purchases often earn bonus points.
  • Before I purchase anything, I sign into the chase ultimate rewards portal to see if I can buy it there first. I explain this step by step below.
• Using Lyft Instead of Uber: If you’re booking a ride, consider using Lyft instead of Uber. Sometimes, Chase offers bonus points for Lyft rides. Just make sure your Chase card is on the account. Check the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal for details.
• Grocery Shopping via Chase Ultimate Rewards: Order your weekly grocery list through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. You may earn extra points for purchasing essentials like food or household items.
  • I do this all the time. Best part, it cuts back on the unnecessary buys when you go shopping hungry.
• Book Flights and Hotel for Group Trips: If you’re planning a girls’ trip or guys’ vacation, offer to book the flights and hotel accommodations with your Chase card. You can earn points on the entire groups spend.
  • This is the only time I would pay for a hotel and flights through the chase portal. It maximizes my points and savings for my personal travels.
• Pay for Big Ticket Items: Purchase larger items, like a new phone or home appliance, through Chase Ultimate Rewards for points and possible promotional bonuses.
  • I check the portal once a month for this and if there is a promotion on something I know I will need in the next 6-12 months, I buy it. For example, new car tires, or my fridge was on the fritz, and I knew I would need a new one soon.
• Purchase Gift Cards for Upcoming Events: Buy gift card for events, concerts, or vacations through Chase’s partner retailers to earn extra points on purchases you’ll make anyways.

By getting strategic with how and where you spend, you can rapidly build your points balance and unlock valuable travel rewards.

How to Shop through Chase for Everyday Items:

1. Go to UltimateRewards.com and log into your Chase Ultimate Rewards account using your Chase Password.
2. Top of Page Select the tab that says ” Shopping & Experiences”
3. On the drop down tab of “Shopping & Experiences” select “Shop & earn bonus points”
4. Click on the store you want or click “All Stores” to see every store you can shop at in the Chase portal. We are going to click on “Nike” because it has 8 points per $1 spending right now and I know my son can use some new clothes and shoes for his birthday.
5. Once you click on Nike you will have to go through one or both of the pictures below where you click on ” Shop Now” or “Shop at Nike” which will link you to the Nike store just as if you would directly go to their website.
6. Shop and checkout like usual using your chase card and get 8 points for every dollar spent.

Pictures below showing the steps of how it will look going through the process to shop through Chase:

Step 2 & 3: The Drop down tab is pictured below. Select the highlighted area that says “Shop & Earn”

Going into step 4 is pictured below.

Choose your store you want to shop at.

Or, to see the full selection of stores, you can select “view all stores” and it will give you to an alphabetized store list that will show points per dollar at each store.

When we select Nike, we are going to get one or both screens pictured below, depending on where you first clicked.

Go through all screens confirming you want to shop at this store.

After clicking through the confirmations, you will be brought to the official shopping site.

Shop the site as usual and check out using your chase card.

Do this with every purchase you possibly can make through the chase portal. It takes a few extra seconds to add life changing points redeemable for travel opportunities.

Travel Benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred

This card comes with several travel benefits. Enjoy peace of mind with travel protections like trip cancellation and lost luggage reimbursement.

There are no foreign transaction fees, making it perfect for international travel. Plus, you’ll get purchase protection and extended warranties on many travel-related purchases.

In addition to its core benefits, the Chase Sapphire Preferred ® offers several other perks. For example, you can earn 5x points on travel booked through the Chase portal. This is when I would use it for booking group trips for a girls or guys getaway.

You’ll also have access to travel concierge services, which can help plan trips and make reservations. Some offers may even include no annual fee for the first year, depending on current promotions.

Point Redemption for Travel

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® gives you great options for point redemption. I do not do this. I leverage my points by transferring them and I’ll explain that below.

But you can book flights, hotels, and car rentals through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

When you do, you’ll get 25% more value on your points. For example, 10,000 points can be worth $124 when booking travel through the portal.

Redeeming Point for Maximum Value: Transferring Points to Airline Miles and Hotel Points

One of the standout features of the Chase Sapphire Preferred ® is its ability to transfer points to over 14 airline and hotel partners.

This is how I personally maximize my points for travel.

Partners include major airlines like United, British Airways, and Southwest. Hotel Chains like Marriott, Hyatt, and IHG are also part of the program.

This flexibility allows you to maximize point value.

For example, you can transfer points for a free flight, or a hotel stay at a fraction of the cost.

Transferring points often results in better value than redeeming them for travel directly through Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.

For instance, transferring points to airline partners for an international flight might give you more value than booking the same flight directly through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Keep an eye on promotions or special offers with partners to further maximize your points (e.g. increased transfer bonuses). I encourage you to sign up for their newsletters.

Tips to Maximize Your Travel Rewards

Use Points for Travel Upgrades

If you’re looking to enhance your travel experience, you can also use your points to upgrade flights or hotels. Points can be used for:

• Flight upgrades: for example from economy to business class
• Luxury hotel stays: for example upgrading to a premium suite.

Transferring points to hotel or airline partners for upgrades often gives you much more value compared to booking standard travel options.

Consider Point Transfer Timing

If you want to maximize your points, keep an eye on when to transfer them to partners. For example:

• Airlines: You can often transfer points to an airline to take advantage of special award flights or promotions with minimal blackout dates
• Hotels: Hotel points are ideal for staying in luxury properties or using for free nights.

Signing up for newsletters will give you the inside scoop of when promotions are happening.

Flexibility of Points Transfer

Another huge advantage is the flexibility of points transfers.

There are no blackout dates, meaning you can use your points anytime.

You can book flights, or hotel stays with a variety of partners, giving you freedom to choose the best deal.

Whether you want upgrades, luxury stays, or discounted airfare, this flexibility helps you meet your travel goals.

Comparing the Chase Sapphire Preferred with Other Travel Cards

When compared to other travel cards like the American Express Gold Card or Capital One Venture, the Chase Sapphire Preferred stands out for its point transfer flexibility.

While other cards may offer strong rewards in certain categories, none offer the same ease of transferring points to so many travel partners which is the best way to maximize your return on points.

What about the Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card?

Choose the Chase Sapphire Reserve if:

• You travel frequently and want more premium benefits like lounge access and higher point redemptions through the Chase Portal
• You’re willing to pay the higher annual fee for the $300 travel credit and more comprehensive travel insurance
• You value a higher earing rate (3x points on travel)

If you’re a frequent traveler and can take advantage of the premium features, the Reserve offers a lot of value despite its high annual fee.

Otherwise, the Preferred is a solid choice with lower costs and excellent rewards for those who don’t need all the luxury perks.

Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Right for you?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card is perfect for frequent travelers.

It offers flexible point transfers, valuable travel protections, and the ability to redeem points for flights, hotels, and more.

If you’re looking to maximize your travel rewards, this card is an excellent choice.

Apply now and start earning valuable travel rewards that will take your next trip further!

Have you used the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for your travels? Share your experience in the comments below! Whether it’s about earning points, booking flights, or dining perks—you might inspire someone else’s next adventure. Got questions? I’d love to help—drop them below!