Why do people like Chase Sapphire Preferred?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an excellent companion to other cards in the Chase Ultimate Rewards® family. That's because you can move points to this card from your other cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards®, potentially opening up more redemption options.



The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card remains one of the most popular travel credit cards in 2026 because it strikes an ideal balance between a low annual fee ($95) and high-value rewards. It is frequently recommended as the "best first travel card" for beginners due to its simplicity and flexibility. Cardholders earn 3X points on dining and 2X points on travel, and the points—known as Chase Ultimate Rewards—can be redeemed for 25% more value through the Chase Travel portal or transferred at a 1:1 ratio to powerful partners like United, Southwest, and Hyatt. Additionally, the card provides an annual $50 hotel credit for bookings through Chase, which effectively cuts the annual fee in half. Beyond the points, the card offers "peace of mind" benefits that are usually reserved for much more expensive cards, such as primary rental car insurance and trip cancellation/interruption coverage. This combination of "lifestyle rewards" and robust travel protections makes it a "keeper card" that provides value year after year without requiring complex optimization.

People Also Ask

So the 80,000 bonus points are worth $1,000 in travel booked through Chase and it's easy to use your points this way. You just log in to the Chase travel portal and search for flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises or activities. At checkout, you can pay with points, cash or a combination of the two.

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While there is no official score required, it is generally known that the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card requires a good credit score, which means 690 or higher. This is not a hard and fast rule, however, and those with credit scores lower than 690 could possibly get approved.

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Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred Offer Lounge Access? You may be surprised to learn that, no, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card does not provide any sort of lounge membership or complimentary one-time passes, not even to any of the Chase Sapphire Lounges.

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If your goal is to get or maintain a good credit score, two to three credit card accounts, in addition to other types of credit, are generally recommended. This combination may help you improve your credit mix. Lenders and creditors like to see a wide variety of credit types on your credit report.

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Our #1 recommended beginners rewards card featuring a 60,000-point signup bonus after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. This card comes with great benefits and earns valuable Ultimate Rewards points.

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If you want to use your Chase Ultimate Rewards® for cash back, the $0-annual fee Chase Freedom Flex? makes the most sense. If you want to use your points for travel, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a better choice for your wallet. But you don't necessarily have to choose one or the other.

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Although it has many travel benefits, the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card does not reimburse the TSA PreCheck application fee.

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You can book flights on pretty much any major airline directly through the Ultimate Rewards website. This option allows you to charge part of the flight to your card if you don't have enough points to cover the full fare. Transfer Points to a Travel Partner. Most of Chase's travel rewards partners are airlines.

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Chase transfer partners include Aer Lingus AerClub, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Emirates Skywards, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Iberia Plus, JetBlue TrueBlue, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, United MileagePlus, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, IHG One Rewards, ...

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In most cases, your application could be denied due to having a lower credit score or not having enough income. Call the Chase reconsideration line. If you think the stated reasons are inaccurate, you can call the Chase reconsideration line at (888) 609-7805.

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The new 80,000-point sign-up bonus represents the biggest welcome offer on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card in nearly two years. Chase briefly offered a sign-up bonus of 100,000 points in June 2021 before dropping back down to 60,000 points.

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® are both made out of metal.

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New Sapphire Preferred cardholders can earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus earn a $50 statement credit on grocery purchases within your first year after account opening.

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