Chase Sapphire Preferred - 2026 Full Benefits Breakdown
** updated 12/18/2025
Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the Ultimate Travel Credit Card for Beginners
If you’re new to travel hacking and looking for the perfect first credit card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the one to beat. It offers a killer combination of generous rewards, flexible redemption options, and top-tier travel protections—all for a modest annual fee. In this guide, I’ll break down why this card is a must-have for beginners, the full list of benefits, and how to maximize its value by transferring points to Chase’s travel partners.
Current Welcome Offer
As of now, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is offering a welcome bonus of 75,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months.
Welcome offers can change over time, so it’s always worth checking the current terms before applying.
Chase Sapphire Preferred: Benefits Breakdown
The Chase Sapphire Preferred isn’t just another travel credit card… it’s widely considered the best starter card for travel rewards. Here’s a look at why:
Generous Sign-Up Bonus
New cardholders can typically earn 75,000+ Chase Ultimate Rewards points after meeting the minimum spending requirement (usually $5,000 in the first three months). That’s worth at least $750 when redeemed through the Chase travel portal, but it can be worth even more if you transfer to partners (which we’ll cover in a bit). The welcome bonus can go as high as 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points.
Earning Points: Category Bonuses
The Chase Sapphire Preferred rewards you for everyday spending, making it easy to rack up points. Here’s how the earning structure works:
5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
3X points on dining, streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart and Target)
2X points on all other travel purchases
1X point per dollar on everything else
Earning rates and categories can change, so it’s always a good idea to review the current terms before applying.
Points Boost Eligibility When Booking Through Chase Travel
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is eligible for Points Boost offers when booking through Chase Travel. Depending on the booking and current offers available, this can allow you to get more than 1 cent per point toward travel booked through the portal.
In practice, this means your points may be worth more than their base value when used for certain flights, hotels, or experiences through Chase Travel. Available Points Boost rates can vary, so the value you receive depends on the specific booking at the time of redemption.
Annual $50 Hotel Credit
The Chase Sapphire Preferred also includes a $50 annual hotel credit when you book a hotel stay through Chase Travel. This credit can help offset part of the annual fee, but it does require booking through the Chase portal to use it.
10% Anniversary Points Bonus
Every account anniversary, you’ll receive a 10% points bonus based on your total purchases from the previous year. For example, if you spent $25,000 on the card, you’ll get an extra 2,500 points just for being a loyal cardholder.
DoorDash DashPass Membership & Monthly Credits
As a Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholder, you get complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership for at least one year. This provides $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders. Additionally, you receive a $10 monthly DoorDash credit, adding up to $120 in savings per year.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
If you travel internationally, this is a must-have feature. You won’t be hit with those annoying 3% foreign transaction fees that many other cards charge.
Primary Rental Car Insurance
Unlike many other credit cards that only offer secondary coverage, the Chase Sapphire Preferred provides primary car rental insurance when you pay for your rental with the card and decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver.
Trip Delay & Cancellation Insurance
This card has some of the best travel protections in the industry:
Trip Delay Insurance: Covers up to $500 per ticket for delays of 12+ hours or overnight stays.
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance: Get reimbursed up to $10,000 per person (max $20,000 per trip) for prepaid, nonrefundable expenses.
Baggage Delay Insurance: Covers up to $100 per day for delayed bags (up to 5 days).
Why This is the Best Credit Card for Beginners
Many credit cards can be overwhelming for travel hacking newbies, but the Chase Sapphire Preferred is perfect for getting started. Here’s why:
Low Annual Fee with High Value
At just $95 per year, the Sapphire Preferred delivers exceptional value. The $50 hotel credit alone already cuts that in half, and the additional benefits make it a no-brainer for beginners.
Flexible Redemption Options
One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is getting stuck with points that are hard to use. Chase Ultimate Rewards points are extremely flexible—you can redeem them for travel through Chase, transfer them to partners, use them for cashback, or even cover purchases on Amazon.
A Perfect First Card Before Moving to the Chase Trifecta
The Sapphire Preferred sets you up for bigger travel hacking strategies. Once you’re comfortable, you can add other Chase cards like the Chase Freedom Unlimited or Chase Freedom Flex to maximize category bonuses and pool all points into your Sapphire Preferred for more value.
Maximizing Points: Transferring to Chase Travel Partners
If you want to get the highest value for your points, transferring to Chase’s travel partners is the way to go. Instead of redeeming at 1 cent per point through Chase, you can transfer and get up to 2+ cents per point in value!
Full List of Chase Transfer Partners (1:1 Ratio)
Airline Partners:
Aer Lingus AerClub
Air Canada Aeroplan
British Airways Executive Club
Flying Blue (Air France/KLM)
Iberia Plus
JetBlue TrueBlue
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
Southwest Rapid Rewards
United MileagePlus
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Hotel Partners:
Hyatt World of Hyatt (arguably the best value transfer option!)
IHG One Rewards
Marriott Bonvoy
Chase transfer partners can change over time, so I always recommend double-checking the current partner list before planning a specific redemption.
Some of The Best Ways to Use Chase Transfer Partners
Hyatt: By far the best hotel transfer partner, offering rooms for as low as 5,000 points per night.
Air Canada Aeroplan: Great for booking Star Alliance flights, often at lower redemption rates than United.
British Airways Avios: Ideal for short-haul flights on American Airlines or for flying to Europe on Iberia.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: Great for Delta flights at a fraction of the cost.
Air France Flying Blue: Great for family travel with 25% discount on children’s award tickets
Who the Chase Sapphire Preferred Is Best For?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a strong option if you want a flexible travel rewards card with a manageable annual fee and points that are easy to earn and easy to use.
It works especially well as a first travel credit card or as a foundation card for a longer-term points strategy. It may not be the best fit if you’re looking for luxury perks like airport lounge access or prefer a completely no-annual-fee setup.
If you’re serious about traveling more for less, this is the card to get. Click below to start your application.
You can also see how this card compares to others on my Best Travel Credit Card Offers page.
Check out my YouTube video: Chase Sapphire Preferred: The BEST Credit Card for Beginner Travel Hackers!
