How to Earn $1,250 in Travel With the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Ryan Tronier
·5 min read

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Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Slickdeals may receive compensation from Chase.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is currently offering an impressive 100,000 bonus points for new cardholders who spend $4,000 with their new credit cards during the first three months of account opening. This sign-up bonus is worth $1,250 in travel expenses when booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Eligible travel expenses include flights, hotels, rental cards, public transit and even parking and tolls.

If you’re new to credit card rewards travel, the Chase Sapphire Preferred might be a great place to start. The card has a low $95 annual fee and offers some great rewards that can easily help offset this cost.

How to Earn the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Bonus

When you open a new Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, you’ll earn 100,000 bonus points once you spend $4,000 in the first three months. Those points translate to a $1,250 travel reward when you redeem them through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program and potentially even more when you transfer your points to any of Chase’s airline and hotel partners.

Additionally, new cardholders also earn up to $50 in statement credits towards grocery store purchases within your first year of account opening.

One caveat: You’ll only receive the new cardmember bonus if you don’t already have a Chase Sapphire card and haven’t received a new cardmember bonus for any Sapphire card in the past 48 months.

If you’re not sure whether you’ve ever received a bonus from a Sapphire card in the past, just follow Slickdealer kobedaman24’s advice and “check your point balance in your Chase statements. When it spiked up 50K, that’s when.”

Chase Sapphire Preferred Rewards Rate and Benefits

In addition to the limited-time bonus offer, the Chase Sapphire Preferred also offers accelerated earnings for travel and dining purchases. You’ll earn 2x points for every dollar spent on travel and dining at restaurants, eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out. You’ll also earn 1x point per dollar spent on all other purchases worldwide.

Additionally, Chase Sapphire Preferred features some of the best travel and purchase protections available.

Point Redemption and Point Transfer

Kiplinger calls the Chase Sapphire Preferred card the best credit card for flexible travel redemptions, and it’s easy to see why. Cardholders can use their points for travel, redeem them for cash or gift cards or transfer them at a 1:1 ratio to various hotel and airline loyalty programs.

Here are a few examples of ways you could redeem your points:

  • Transfer to an airline partner. When you transfer your Chase Ultimate Reward points to an airline partner, you might be able to squeeze some extra value out of your sign-up bonus.

  • Transfer to a hotel partner. In addition to airline partners, Chase currently has hotel partners that allow you to transfer Ultimate Reward points at a 1:1 ratio.

  • Use the Chase Portal. As a Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholder, you can redeem your Ultimate Reward Points through the Chase Portal and receive 25% more value. Essentially, each point is worth 1.25 points when you redeem them through the issuer’s portal.

Travel Protections

This travel rewards card offers valuable benefits, including trip cancellation, trip interruption and baggage and trip delay protections.

  • Trip Cancellation: This policy covers you for up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for cancellation of a trip for a covered reason such as injuries or sickness of the traveler or an immediate family member, as well as severe weather, military orders or jury duty.

  • Trip Interruption: This policy also covers you for up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip when your trip is interrupted for a covered reason.

  • Baggage Delay: This benefit can reimburse you for up to $100 per day for up to five days when your luggage is delayed for at least six hours.

  • Rental Car Insurance: This benefit covers your rental car for collision damage or theft, so long as you decline the optional insurance and pay for the rental with your card.

Purchase Protections

When shopping online or in-person, the Chase Sapphire Preferred includes purchase protection for damage or theft up to 120 days and an automatic extended manufacturer’s warranty where applicable.

  • Purchase Protection: Your purchases made with your card are covered for theft and accidental damage for 120 days from the date of purchase. The limit is $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.

  • Extended Manufacturer’s Warranty: This coverage offers you an additional year on your manufacturer’s warranty, up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.

Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Right For You?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is definitely a smart card to consider if you love traveling, as reward points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel-related expenses like airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises. This card is also a good choice if you’re searching for a large sign-up bonus and plan to make big purchases over the next few months.

That being said, its high APR makes it less than ideal if you know you’ll carry a balance. It also may not be the best option for people who rarely travel, or for people who don’t want to pay an annual fee. Compare the Sapphire Preferred with a few other popular travel credit cards to determine which is the right fit for you.

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While we work hard on our research, we do not always provide a complete listing of all available offers from credit-card companies and banks. And because offers can change, we cannot guarantee that our information will always be up to date, so we encourage you to verify all the terms and conditions of any financial product before you apply.