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| Increased benefits and perks |
| by Brian Kelly |
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I can’t believe what I’m about to tell you, but I’m getting a credit card even when I’m not eligible for the increased sign-up bonus, which in this case is 100,000 points. (Yes, me. The Points Guy.) Why? Because the benefits have just gotten so much better that I need to have it in my wallet again.
I’m talking about the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and its current limited-time offer to earn 100,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first three months of account opening. TPG values this bonus at over $2,000 in our June 2026 valuations.
Now, you might be thinking something sounds off here, but I don’t use the term no-brainer lightly, and when I say this travel rewards card is a no-brainer, I mean it. There’s a reason it’s won TPG’s No. 1 Travel Rewards Card award eight years in a row (many reasons, actually).
While a few benefits went away in the recent refresh, I think Chase more than made up for it with what it added and didn’t raise the annual fee.
The perks and benefits
Chase added new earning bonus categories and increased statement credits that more than offset the already low $95 annual fee.
Now Chase did change the Hyatt transfer partner ratio from 1:1 to 4:3, but that’s not a huge deal for me because I get so much value from my Ultimate Rewards points by using Points Boost in the travel portal. (The transfer ratio for Hyatt did not change on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠.)
Earnings and redemptions
The addition of gas and vacation rentals at 3 points per dollar is huge. Plus, bookings made through Chase Travel℠ earn at a rate of 5 points per dollar, so it’s easy to earn points quickly.
I love using Points Boost for booking hotel stays because I can get 1.5 to 2.0 cents per point in value, but it’s still more than I can get booking through other travel portals. And, in some cases, up to 2.5 cents per point in value on a curated list of luxury hotels by using my premium Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠.
How this card fits in my wallet
I added the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business to my wallet last year because of its unlimited internet advertising spending cap, which is key to my business. I also currently have the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which I will downgrade to the Sapphire Preferred.
While I’m not eligible for the 100,000-point welcome bonus because I previously held the Sapphire Preferred when it first debuted, the combination of one Sapphire Reserve card plus the Sapphire Preferred card still gives me the benefits I love and access to booking The Edit hotels for elite-like perks when I travel.
Bottom line
I regularly audit the cards in my wallet and determine the best card mix for my current situation, including business and consumer cards.
The limited-time 100,000-point Chase Sapphire Preferred offer really is the offer of the year on TPG’s No. 1 recommended travel rewards card for its easy earning style, no-coupon-book mentality and low annual fee. It’s a card I recommend wholeheartedly to beginners and experts alike.
Have a great weekend,
BK
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| Photo Credit: JONNO RATTMAN. |
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