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Over the past decade, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is probably the most well-known and well-rounded travel rewards credit card out there. The landscape of credit cards is constantly changing. The card was even more lucrative in the year 2021.

In this post, I wanted to share eight reasons you should consider getting the Chase Sapphire Preferred, especially in light of the increased bonus available on this card. In no particular order.

Bonus of 80K Ultimate Rewards points

A welcome bonus of 80,000 Ultimate rewards points is offered by the Chase Sapphire Preferred. That bonus is a good one with a reasonable spending requirement. 80K Ultimate rewards points can be used for $1,000 worth of travel through the Chase Travel portal. You can get more value out of your points by transferring them to Ultimate rewards airline and hotel partners.

Chase points can be used toward all kinds of awesome travel

Reasonable $95 annual fee

We have seen a bit of annual fee inflation on credit cards. The Chase Sapphire Preferred continues to have a $95 annual fee, which is among the most reasonable for a premium card. When the card was improved last year, the fee didn't change at all.

Amazing 2-5x points bonus categories

The rewards structure of the Chase Sapphire Preferred has generous bonus categories.

  • 5x Ultimate Rewards points on travel booked through the Chase Travel portal
  • 3x Ultimate Rewards points on dining
  • 3x Ultimate Rewards points on online grocery stores (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
  • 3x Ultimate Rewards points on select streaming services
  • 2x Ultimate Rewards points on all other travel purchases
  • 1x Ultimate Rewards points on all other purchases

Points will rack up quickly if you maximize these bonus categories.

Earn 3x points on dining with the Sapphire Preferred

10% anniversary bonus points

10% anniversary bonus points are offered by The Chase. Every account anniversary year, you'll get bonus points for spending 10% of the amount on the card. If you spend $20,000 on the card in an anniversary year, you will earn 2000 bonus points.

This card is more rewarding than the Chase Reserve card for those purchases because you will earn over 3x Ultimate rewards points on dining.

Access to Chase Ultimate Rewards travel partners

The Chase rewards points are very flexible. Points can be redeemed for 1.25 cents each toward the cost of a travel purchase, but they can also be transferred to Chase's excellent collection of airline and hotel partners.

Transferring points to World of Hyatt for a redemption at a five star Park Hyatt, or to Air Canada Aeroplan for a first or business class award on a Star Alliance partner airline is a way to get outsized value.

You can get more than 1.25 cents of value per point when you use your rewards this way. You could redeem 35,000 to 45,000 points per night for a stay at the all-inclusive Ventana Big Sur, where a paid night would cost over $2,000. That is over four cents of value per point.

Redeem your Chase points at Alila Ventana Big Sur

Maximize no annual fee cards

The benefit of having a Chase card is not just the immediate rewards, but also the potential value of other cards that it unlocks. Four no annual fee cards you can get if you have the Sapphire Preferred will allow you to earn more Ultimate rewards points.

The cards include the following.

  • The Chase Freedom FlexSM (review), which offers 5x points in rotating quarterly categories, and 3x points on drugstores
  • The Chase Freedom Unlimited® (review), which offers 1.5x points on all purchases, making it one of the best cards for everyday spending
  • The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (review), which offers up to 5x points on office supply stores, internet, cable TV, mobile phones, and landlines, and up to 2x points on restaurants and gas stations
  • The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (review), which offers 1.5x points on all purchases

I have all four of these cards and they allow me to maximize my Ultimate rewards points.

Build a portfolio of Chase cards to maximize points

Amazing rental car & travel protection

CarRentals car coverage is one of the great perks of a premium credit card. We don't think about this because we hope that our travels will go smoothly, but that doesn't always happen. Another area where the Chase Sapphire Preferred shines is that. While you want to check your cardmember agreement for the terms, the card offers:

  • Primary collision damage waiver coverage on rental cars
  • Travel protection, including for flight delays and cancelations, as well as for delayed or lost baggage

When I was rear-ended in a car rental once, the rental car protection saved me over $10,000, and I have saved thousands of dollars with travel protection as well.

Rental car coverage can come in handy

You can get a $50 hotel credit on your account anniversary year. You can get up to a $50 statement credit when you book a hotel through the travel portal.

If you booked a $50 hotel, you could get $50 back. It will more than make up for half of the annual fee.

Receive a $50 annual hotel credit with the Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Preferred card is amazing. It has a reasonable annual fee, huge welcome bonus, generous return on spending, and fantastic perks, including travel coverage, which is a reason to apply now.

This card is worth getting if you are eligible. Whether you're brand new to the points world or a points veteran who doesn't have this card, that's true. Read my full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.