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Chase Sapphire Preferred Increases Minimum Spending Requirement

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Nov. 17, 2014
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3 min read
Chase Sapphire Preferred Increases Minimum Spending Requirement
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Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here - Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

When it comes to credit cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred has been one of my go-to travel cards for years. The rewards are pretty generous, as you earn two Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on all travel and dining. The travel category includes everything from airfare to subways, and even tolls and parking. There are also 11 amazing travel partners that you can transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to and get huge value from if you know how to maximize them.

The current sign-up bonus for this card is still 40,000 Ultimate Rewards points, but now you must spend $4,000 in the first 3 months, whereas previously, it was only $3,000 in spending.

Chase was testing out a higher annual fee of $150 for this card on their site, however it looks like the fee will remain at $95, which is waived the first year, so I'm glad to see that the annual fee will not be increasing for this card.

Here are the card details on the Chase Sapphire Preferred:

  • Earn 40,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $500 in travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • Earn 5,000 bonus points after you add the first authorized user and make a purchase in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
  • No foreign transaction fees, plus Chip and Signature enabled for international travel.
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading frequent travel programs at full value – that means 1,000 Ultimate Rewards points equal 1,000 partner miles/points.
  • 24/7 direct access to dedicated customer service specialists
  • Introductory Annual Fee of $0 the first year, then $95

Overall, the Sapphire Preferred is still a top card for travelers, with tons of perks and valuable points, but with the recent changes there will be winners and losers. I’m hopeful that Chase will continue to strengthen the value proposition of this card and Ultimate Rewards program as a whole- adding more partners, such as Alaska Airlines, Chip + PIN capability, or even transfer bonuses.

For more info on the Sapphire Preferred, check out these posts:

Ways to Maximize Each Ultimate Rewards Partner
Sapphire Preferred vs. Arrival Plus for International Travel
Chase Sapphire Preferred Announces More Benefit Changes
Chase Sapphire Preferred First Friday – 3x Points on Dining