Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Details on 2x Points Per Dollar on Travel
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
I've had the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for several months now and the portion of my total spend on the card keeps increasing. I've extolled the benefits of this card many times and I firmly believe this is the best overall travel card on the market right now - at least for the savvy points collector - especially with the current 50,000 point sign-up bonus after spending $4,000 in 3 months (with an additional 5,000 points after you add an additional user and make a purchase in the first 3 months).
I also love the fact that you earn two points per dollar on travel and dining, since as I've said before - that's basically all I do. However, it hit me the other day that I didn't know exactly what was included in "Travel" since it's a pretty broad category. Honestly, I thought it would just include airfare, hotel and rental car - but it actually includes much more. I asked my contact at Chase to clarify and she confirmed the 2x points on travel actually includes:
Airlines
Auto/truck/RV rental
Limos and taxis - including Uber
Lodging
Travel agencies
Railways
Tolls and bridges
Parking (lots, meters, garages)
Bus
Time shares
So honestly, this is much more than what we traditionally think of as travel. If you live in a city where you take taxis, the 2x points could add up quickly. The only things I don't put on my Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is airfare, because I get 4 points per dollar when booking through using my Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express and gas and groceries, which my Premier Rewards card gives 2x. Everything else will go on Sapphire, because I value Ultimate Rewards points and the instant 1:1 transfers to Continental, United, British Airways, Korean Air, Hyatt, Marriott, and Priority Club. Amex points are still valuable since they often run lucrative transfer bonuses, but if Chase ever matched them in that department, I'd shift even more spend away from Amex.
So yea, anytime you think something might qualify for travel, you might as well use your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card card. And if a charge doesn't post as you expect, I know many people have had success calling Chase (live phone reps always answer) and making a case for the bonus points. Heck, I just purchased my Oneworld Mega Do tickets with my Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card - can't hurt to try and get 2x points on that!
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.