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The #1 card for traveling with points
There are a lot of cards out there but the #1 foundational card for points travel is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
NOTE: The 100K offer has expired but the current offer is still worth it! Read on to see more about the card and to understand why it’s valuable!
When getting going with points travel, it can be really hard to know which card makes the most sense to start with.
There are so many resources online, so much marketing out there and a lot of people VERY convinced that the card they have is the best card.
That’s why it’s really important to hone in on a source that you trust to get as much of your points info as possible. I am so humbled and honored to be that source for many of you.
And with all that said, you’d be hard pressed to find a single points site that doesn’t recommend this card as one of the best places to start - which makes this card pretty unique.
There are a few reasons this offer is special and some reasons why this card is so great — all of which I’ll break down for you here.
If you’re ready to make moves, please click here! The button on that page will take you to a catch-all for some of my various affiliate links for personal cards and this card should be the very first one.
I really appreciate your support in using it!
Why this is a special offer:
The 100,000 point bonus. The typical welcome bonus for this card is 60K points but currently, for a limited time, that bonus is now 100K points! This is massive and hasn’t been seen in years.
You’re eligible for the welcome bonus every 4 years. This means that if you already have this card, and you earned the bonus more than four years ago (important! It’s by the date you earned the bonus, not date you opened the card!), you’ll be eligible to get the welcome bonus again. There is a strategy to do this which I will detail below!
Why this card is so popular for folks who want to travel with points:
It earns transferable points. These are points that can be transferred directly to hotels and airlines to book travel directly. It’s a fantastic way to get exceptional value out of your points and the key to a smart redemption strategy (aka the best way to use your points!).
$50 annual statement credit on hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel℠
Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance
No foreign transaction fees (I always take this card on trips!)
Earn 3x on every dollar spent on Dining, take out and online groceries 🙌 (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
Earn 2x per dollar on travel
Primary car insurance for auto rentals
Extended purchase protection and warranty protection
One of the transfer partners is Hyatt which has my very favorite redemption structure for points stays.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred can make other Chase rewards points even more valuable by allowing you to combine all of your Ultimate Rewards points onto the Sapphire Preferred and then transfer them out to hotels and airlines. Without this card, or one of the business versions of this card, the option to transfer points to airlines and hotels will not be available to you.
You should be eligible for this card if:
You don’t currently have the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
You haven’t opened more than 5 personal cards from ANY bank in the last 24 months
You have never earned a bonus on this card in the past
What 100K points can potentially get you:
Nearly a round trip fare on Emirates business class from the US to Milan or Athens (105K points!)
4 round trip fares on Virgin for a family of four (booked as one ways because…have we met?)
5+ nights at a hotel in Mexico City
Multiple nights at an all inclusive resort in the Caribbean
2 premium economy seats to Paris
If you still hold a Sapphire, here are the steps to take
Call Chase and ask if you can downgrade your Sapphire to a card with no annual fee such as the “original Chase Freedom® legacy card” that earns Ultimate Rewards. If they are not sure which card you’re referring to, never be afraid to hang up and call again to speak with a different representative. This is a card you can only get through a downgrade.
If you downgrade your card, you will not lose your credit history or credit limit so it will not impact your credit score like it will if you close your card.
After two weeks or whenever the statement closes, you can refer to this post and apply again, hopefully snagging this higher offer!
Note that in the interim, unless you have the business version of the Preferred or another member of your household has the Sapphire, you won’t be able to transfer your points out until you’re approved for the new Sapphire.
FAQ
What if I already have the Chase Sapphire Reserve, am I eligible for this card?
Only if it's been more than a year since you opened the card and you downgrade first. You cannot have both of the cards at the same time.
What if I am already an authorized user on this card?
You should be good to go to apply!
I applied recently for this card and it’s still in review. Will I get 100K points?
You will get the offer available to you when you applied, so in theory no. However, sending a secure message to the bank and asking them to match this offer has proven to be successful in the past for many. It’s always worth a try!
I applied recently for this card and it was approved. I AM SO BUMMED!
If you recently applied for this card, you may be able to try the above tip. Secure message and see if they’ll match the current offer. You never know!
Should I call the bank and see if I am eligible for this offer?
There is no need! Read all of the above info and you’ll know the answer :)
I feel like I already have enough cards - is it really worth getting this one?
Yes, yes and yes. It’s the foundational card and so helpful for points travel. 100K points is SO MANY POINTS. It’s a great time to get this card if you’re eligible for it. If you’re concerned about how this might affect your credit, read this post here. If you’re not sure how to keep things organized so you don’t miss a payment? My suggestion is to keep a spreadsheet of your cards and due dates, annual fees etc and always set every card to auto pay.
Which link should I use when I’m ready to go for it?
Using my affiliate links is the best way to support Brooklyn Family Travelers and doesn’t cost you a thing :) As a mom and small business owner, I can’t thank you all enough for using my links whenever you’re ready to go for a new card. Thank you 🙏
Ready to go for this offer? Click the button below to head to the Brooklyn Family Travelers website where you can click the “favorite cards” button to get to a catch-all for some of my favorite cards — and this card should be the very first one.
I really appreciate your support in using my link if you decide to go for it!
Have any questions about this offer? Want to see how this fits in with your overall card and points strategy? Want the link sent right to you (happy to send!):
Same question :)
Hooray! I've been waiting for an extra juicy Chase Sapphire bonus to apply for this card again. I downgraded to the Freedom several months ago to prepare for this exact type of good news.
Do you know if there's an easy way to check when you last received the bonus? I don't recall how long I had the Sapphire before I downgraded. It's probably been 4 years but I need to double check.