Benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred

You'll get higher-than-average redemption rates for travel, access to multiple travel partners and built-in travel protections.
Updated
Profile photo of Sara Rathner
Written by Sara Rathner
Senior Writer/Spokesperson
Profile photo of Erica Corbin
Edited by Erica Corbin
Assistant Assigning Editor
Fact Checked
Profile photo of Caitlin Mims
Co-written by Caitlin Mims
Content Management Specialist
benefits-chase-sapphire-preferred

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.

Ultra-premium travel rewards cards offer every perk imaginable to soften the blow of their sky-high annual fees. But sometimes you just want a reliable card that provides excellent benefits without the huge price tag.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card
NerdWallet rating 

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is as faithful a travel companion as your well-worn suitcase. In exchange for a $95 annual fee, it offers valuable rewards points, worldwide acceptance and travel protections that can help when that suitcase doesn’t make it to the baggage claim.

Here are the benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

Travel rewards

1. A generous sign-up bonus

The issuer phrases the sign-up bonus for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card like this: “Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

2. Bonus earnings on travel, dining, select streaming services and online grocery purchases

With the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you'll earn 3 points per dollar spent on dining out, select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs). You'll earn 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase and 2 points per dollar on all other travel. All other spending earns 1 point per dollar.

The travel category is very broad and includes:

  • Airline purchases.

  • Hotel stays.

  • Timeshares.

  • Rental cars.

  • Cruises.

  • Travel agencies and travel sites.

  • Campgrounds.

  • Trains.

  • Buses.

  • Taxis.

  • Limos.

  • Ferries.

  • Tolls.

  • Parking.

Also, through March 2025, you can earn 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft rides.

3. 10% point bonus each year

Each account anniversary, cardmembers will receive bonus points equaling 10% of total purchases that year. So if you spent $25,000, you'd earn an additional 2,500 bonus points.

Video preview image

4. A 25% boost when redeeming for travel via Chase

The perk that makes the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card such a favorite among travelers is the higher point redemption value when you cash in points for travel through Chase. Instead of the usual penny-per-point rate, you’ll get a value of 1.25 cents each for your points, which can really add up. That's an extra $25 for every $100 worth of points you redeem.

5. A $50 hotel credit

Cardholders can receive a $50 hotel credit each year on reservations booked through Chase. New cardholders will be able to use this credit immediately. Existing cardholders can use this credit after their next account anniversary.

6. Combine points from multiple cards

You can transfer points, for free, among any cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, including the Chase Freedom®, Chase Freedom Flex®, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. You can also transfer points to and from another cardholder in your household, making it possible to create a family pool of points. Not only do you boost your points-earning potential by using multiple cards in the Chase Ultimate Rewards® universe, but transferring points into your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card account allows you to redeem all points at that higher 1.25-cent rate, instead of the 1-cent rate you’d get with other Chase cards.

7. Transfer points to airline and hotel partners

If you want to book travel directly through an airline or hotel but need just a few thousand points more in your account to get that free flight or stay, you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® points earned through your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to 14 airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 point value. Transfer partners include:

  • Airlines: Aer Lingus, Air France/KLM, Air Canada, British Airways, Emirates, Iberia, JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, Southwest, United and Virgin Atlantic.

  • Hotels: Hyatt, IHG and Marriott Bonvoy.

8. Worldwide acceptance

As a Visa card with no foreign transaction fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card travels well.

Travel and shopping protections

9. Coverage if your trip is canceled or delayed

Get reimbursed up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses if your trip is interrupted by sickness, severe weather or other covered situations. If your travel is delayed by more than 12 hours, or the delay requires you to stay overnight, you’re covered up to $500 per ticket for expenses like meals and a hotel stay.

10. Baggage delay insurance

If your luggage is delayed more than six hours, you can get reimbursed up to $100 a day for five days to cover the cost of new toiletries and clothing.

11. Rental car coverage

Charge the entire car rental to your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and get primary insurance coverage for collision and theft in the U.S. and abroad. You must decline the rental company’s insurance to get this coverage.

12. Travel assistance

Get access to legal and medical referrals, or other help as needed if you’re facing an emergency while traveling. The referrals are free, but you’re on the hook for the cost of any services you use.

13. Purchase protections

New purchases are covered for up to 120 days in case of damage or theft, up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account (perfect for those times when your doorbell camera doesn’t scare package thieves away from your front porch). You’ll also get an extra year added onto the manufacturer’s warranty on eligible warranties of three years or less.

14. Customer service without the wait

There’s no annoying hold music and no need to yell “representative” at your phone over and over. Call the toll-free number on the back of your card and you’ll be connected to a real live human.

More about the card

New Card Spotlight

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

Travel

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Credit Card
NerdWallet Rating
4.5

Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip.

Read Full Review

Find the right credit card for you.

Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.

Get Started
Get more smart money moves – straight to your inbox
Sign up and we’ll send you Nerdy articles about the money topics that matter most to you along with other ways to help you get more from your money.