Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred remains the top travel rewards credit card year after year
Every year, the TPG Awards honor excellence in credit cards, loyalty programs and travel. Please click here to read more about our winner selection process and methodology for the 2024 TPG Awards.
Chase has snagged the award for Best Travel Rewards Credit Card for the seventh year in a row.
A consensus favorite among TPG staffers, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) is again taking home the title of Best Travel Rewards Credit Card. That's thanks to its low annual fee, ability to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, an excellent roster of transfer partners, ease of use and generous travel benefits and protections.
The Sapphire Preferred was my first travel rewards credit card, getting me into the world of points and miles. This card is great for beginners and experts alike and will continue to be in my wallet for years to come.
Let's explore why the Chase Sapphire Preferred is named the top travel rewards card year after year.
Great for beginners
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the little sibling of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees), a premium travel rewards card with a $795 annual fee. The Sapphire Reserve has more benefits and perks than the Sapphire Preferred, but the Sapphire Preferred wins on simplicity and ease of use.
Additionally, if you're new to the world of points and miles, the welcome offer on the Chase Sapphire Preferred can jump-start your journey with a nice stash of what we consider the most valuable rewards currency (along with Bilt Rewards Points).
New applicants can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 within the first three months of account opening. Based on TPG's April 2025 valuations, this welcome offer is worth $1,538.
Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve: Should you go mid-tier or premium?
Low annual fee
The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a modest $95 annual fee that is comparable to that of its mid-tier travel rewards card competitors.
While you won't get perks like lounge access or travel statement credits, you will get a solid card with excellent earnings rates and useful perks. This annual fee is much more reasonable for those just getting into the world of credit cards with annual fees or those looking to upgrade from a no-annual-fee card to a mid-tier card.
The card also comes with a straightforward annual $50 statement credit for any hotel booked through Chase Travel℠ . If you utilize this credit, the effective annual fee drops to only $45.
Related: The complete guide to credit card annual fees
Valuable bonus categories
While many travel rewards cards have multiple bonus categories, the Sapphire Preferred outshines most. That's because the bonus categories are broad, there are no spending caps and purchases made abroad are eligible for bonus points. The card earns flexible rewards in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
The Sapphire Preferred earns:
- 5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase Travel
- 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft rides (through Sept. 2027)
- 5 points per dollar spent on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $150 or more (with a limit of 25,000 bonus points through Dec. 2027)
- 3 points per dollar spent on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases (excludes Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
- 2 points per dollar spent on all other travel not booked through the Chase Travel portal (travel is broadly defined by Chase and includes things such as parking, tolls, ferries and campgrounds)
- 1 point per dollar spent on everything else
These are some of the best earnings rates on the market. While there are a few other cards with higher earnings rates in certain categories, these cards usually carry higher annual fees or are limited by spending caps in select bonus categories.
Whether you're a beginner or an expert, these bonus categories can help you maximize your earnings and get you closer to your next trip.
Related: 6 reasons why the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the perfect card for the average traveler
Flexible redemptions and transfers
The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns Ultimate Rewards points that can be redeemed in several ways.
Points can be redeemed for travel booked through the Chase Travel portal at a value of up to 1.75 cents per point (depending on the specific redemption; see your rewards program agreement for full details), a statement credit at 1 cent per point (at times higher if you use Chase's Pay Yourself Back feature) or gift cards at 1 cent per point.
You can also redeem points by transferring them to partners, our favorite redemption option. Based on TPG's April 2025 valuations, Ultimate Rewards points are worth 2.05 cents each through this redemption route.
Chase has a roster of 14 transfer partners, including 11 airline and three hotel partners. Transferring and redeeming points is relatively easy, making this useful for beginners. Many transfer partners have incredible sweet spot redemptions where you can get outsize value for your points.
My three favorite Chase transfer partners are Air Canada Aeroplan, Southwest Rapid Rewards and World of Hyatt. The latter has gotten me outstanding hotel redemptions worldwide at properties like the Grand Hyatt Barcelona, where I routinely get up to 4 cents per point in value.
Related: When and how to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt
Travel protections and perks
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is loaded with various travel protections and insurances that alone could help justify the annual fee. These include:
- Baggage delay insurance
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Primary rental car coverage
- Purchase protection and extended warranty protection
- Trip cancellation insurance
- Trip delay insurance
Even if you travel only once or twice a year, these protections can add peace of mind your travel plans go awry. Additionally, the purchase and extended warranty protection can be beneficial for large purchases.
Bottom line
It's clear why TPG staffers (both beginners and experts ourselves) often recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred. With its valuable earnings rates, useful protections and benefits, access to transfer partners and low annual fee, the Sapphire Preferred is worthy of taking the crown home again as the Best Travel Rewards Credit Card.
To learn more about the card, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
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| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees