Matt Moffitt is a contributing editor and expert in getting the most out of credit cards and points (he carries at least 25 cards in his wallet at any given time). Originally from Sydney, Australia, he won the Green Card Lottery and lived in Austin, Texas for 10 years before relocating to Spain in 2025.
June 21, 2026 • 8 min read
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Quick summary
A popular travel rewards card recently refreshed its benefits, offering a straightforward suite of credits and perks.
Key features include an annual hotel credit, a statement credit for Trusted Traveler Program applications, complimentary streaming service access and food delivery membership benefits.
The hotel credit is easy to use and can offset the card's modest annual fee, while other perks require simple one-time enrollments or periodic activation.
The card appeals to those seeking valuable travel and lifestyle benefits without the complexity of tracking numerous credits.
What to consider
The annual hotel credit applies only to bookings made through the issuer's travel portal and does not require enrollment.
Trusted Traveler Program credits are available once every four years and can be used for yourself or others.
Monthly food delivery discounts require activation and must be used in a single transaction, with unused value forfeited each month.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed breakdown of which benefits are easiest to use and strategies for maximizing each perk.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Following the Sapphire Preferred's recent refresh, I decided to product change one of my no-annual-fee Chase cards to the Sapphire Preferred. Although I’m not eligible for a welcome bonus (because I previously earned one on a Sapphire Preferred account that has since been closed), the decision was surprisingly easy.
No enrollment is required. Just use your card to book one or more hotel stays through Chase Travel; eligible purchases will automatically trigger the credit.
Unlike many travel credits that reset Jan. 1, this benefit follows your cardholder year. That annual period begins when you open your account and renews each year after your account anniversary.
Nobu Hotel Marbella in Spain. CHARLY SIMON PHOTOGRAPHY/HYATT
One important detail to note is that only the first $100 in hotel purchases each account anniversary year that qualify for the statement credit won’t earn rewards points. Any eligible spending beyond the first $100 will continue to earn 5 points per dollar when booked through Chase Travel.
For me, this is easily the most valuable benefit on the card. The annual hotel credit alone more than offsets the card’s $95 annual fee, making the math incredibly straightforward.
The Sapphire Preferred includes a statement credit of up to $120 every four years when you use your card to pay for a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus application fee.
To receive the credit, simply charge the application fee to your Sapphire Preferred Card. The statement credit will automatically appear on your account.
If you’re deciding between TSA PreCheck and Global Entry, I’d generally recommend applying for Global Entry. It includes TSA PreCheck benefits, and the statement credit covers the full application fee.
SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
Even if you already have Global Entry, you can still use the credit to pay for a friend or family member’s application and receive the reimbursement.
Since the benefit is only available once every four years, it isn’t something you’ll use annually. Still, it’s an easy way to save money on one of the most useful Trusted Traveler Programs available.
Eligible Sapphire Preferred Card holders can receive at least 12 months of complimentary Apple TV.
To activate the benefit, you’ll need to enroll through your Chase account by Dec. 31.
If you’re already paying for Apple TV, this benefit can provide meaningful value with very little effort. Enrollment is a one-time process, making it one of the easiest perks on the card to maximize.
CHASE
It’s worth noting that this benefit only includes Apple TV and not Apple Music. Cardholders looking for broader Apple-related benefits may find more value with the (see rates and fees).
DoorDash DashPass membership
The Sapphire Preferred includes at least 12 months of complimentary DoorDash DashPass (when activated by Dec. 31, 2029).
DashPass provides benefits such as reduced delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible DoorDash orders.
OSCAR WONG/GETTY IMAGES
To activate the benefit, add your Sapphire Preferred as your default payment method in DoorDash and complete the enrollment process.
Authorized users on your account are also eligible for DashPass benefits.
If you order from DoorDash even occasionally, DashPass can quickly provide real-world value. Since activation only takes a few minutes, this is another benefit that’s easy to take advantage of.
DoorDash nonrestaurant discount
Once you’ve activated your DoorDash DashPass membership, you’ll also receive a $10 discount each calendar month on one qualifying nonrestaurant DoorDash order.
Eligible purchases can include grocery, convenience and retail orders through DoorDash.
To receive the discount, you’ll need to pay with the same Sapphire Preferred Card that you used to enroll in DashPass.
The discount must be used in a single transaction. If you don’t use the full $10 value, the remaining amount is forfeited; unused monthly discounts also do not roll over.
DOORDASH
Among the Sapphire Preferred’s benefits, this is the one that requires the most effort. You’ll need to remember to use it each month, and you’ll need to place an eligible nonrestaurant order through DoorDash to get value from it.
That said, cardholders who already use DoorDash for grocery or convenience store purchases may find this benefit surprisingly easy to maximize.
Which Chase Sapphire Preferred benefit is easiest to use?
Not all card benefits require the same amount of effort. In my view, the 's perks rank as follows, from easiest to most complicated:
$100 annual Chase Travel hotel credit
Complimentary Apple TV subscription
Complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/Nexus credit
Monthly DoorDash nonrestaurant discount
The hotel credit stands out because no activation is required and it can single-handedly offset the card’s annual fee.
JACOBLUND/GETTY IMAGES
The Apple TV and DashPass benefits require only a one-time enrollment, while the Global Entry credit is straightforward but only available once every four years.
The monthly DoorDash discount can provide solid value, but it requires the most effort.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred doesn’t offer as many credits as some premium travel cards, but that’s part of its appeal.
The card’s $100 annual Chase Travel hotel credit alone can more than offset its $95 annual fee. Add in a complimentary Apple TV subscription, a DashPass membership, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/Nexus credit and monthly DoorDash savings, and many cardholders will come out well ahead.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred proves that a card doesn’t need dozens of complicated credits to deliver meaningful value. For many cardholders, the annual hotel credit alone can justify keeping the card year after year — everything else is simply icing on the cake.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
