✈ Best 1st Card for Points, Is Clear Plus Membership Worth It? & More Daily News From TPG ✈

August 12, 2023

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The best 1st card

by Summer Hull, Senior director of content

It’s the time of year for new beginnings and routines — back to school (hallelujah!), turning the page to fall, etc.

If all that back-to-routine inspiration means now is the time for you to get serious about making your money work for you and getting that first rewards credit card, we’re here to help.

I’ve been at the points and miles game for about 20 years, and the card I recommend over and over again to those wanting to get started in a rewards-earning lifestyle is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

It’s a slam-dunk place to start; it has a reasonable annual fee and earns rewards that are easy to use, too. You can book travel via Chase’s Ultimate Rewards portal — or, even better, you can transfer the points to popular travel programs such as United MileagePlus, World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, Southwest Rapid Rewards and more. This gives you many options when the time comes to cash in your points and make your dream trip a reality.

Points add up quickly, with 60,000 bonus points awarded after you get the card and spend $4,000 in the first three months of card membership. You’ll also rack up points in some bonus categories, like 3 points per dollar on dining and 2 points per dollar on travel.

An underrated perk these days is that the Sapphire Preferred Card will even have your back covering some unexpected eligible expenses if you use it to pay for your trip. So if dreaded flight cancellations and long delays come to ruin your fun — even when it’s a “weather-related” cause — you’ll be covered.

If you get the card now and work on earning that sign-up bonus, then 2024 can become the year that you take that first big rewards trip.

Spoiler alert: If you already have the Sapphire Preferred, or you just want to peek ahead in the points and miles playbook, here’s the card we recommend getting next.

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Photo Credit: SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY.

TOGETHER WITH

“Go Beyond the Flight” with Delta Vacations. Discover elevated vacation experiences designed for SkyMiles members. Plus, earn and use miles on more than just your flight. Terms apply.

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The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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