Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Benefits & Perks Made Simple

When it comes to travel rewards credit cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card consistently ranks as one of the best options on the market.

With a reasonable annual fee, a robust earning structure and full access to Chase’s hotel and airline transfer partners, the Sapphire Preferred is designed for those who want to maximize their everyday spending for aspirational travel redemptions.

Here’s a full rundown of the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s benefits, as well as strategy tips to help you maximize your rewards for lucrative redemptions.

Travel Benefits That Set the Sapphire Preferred Apart

Travel is where the Chase Sapphire Preferred shines. While you won’t find premium perks like complimentary Priority Pass membership or access to airport lounges on the Sapphire Preferred card, you’ll benefit from robust earning rates, solid transfer partners and travel protection benefits.

Unlike certain credit cards that limit high rewards rates to a select few categories, the Chase Sapphire Preferred rewards both everyday purchases and travel-related expenses. So whether you’re hitting the skies or doing your weekly grocery shopping, you’ll always be earning points toward your next big redemption.

And when it comes time to redeem your points, you’ll benefit from the flexibility of Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

With Chase Ultimate Rewards, you can choose between straightforward cashback redemptions, boosted travel redemptions through Chase Travel℠ or transfers to a wide network of airline and hotel travel partners.

Additionally, the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers some of the most comprehensive travel insurance perks of any card, meaning you can rest assured that you’re protected against the unexpected on every trip.

You’ll enjoy all of these perks and rewards rates for just $95 per year, which is why the Chase Sapphire Preferred consistently ranks as our favorite beginner card. But make no mistake—this card can form the backbone of your rewards strategy for many years to come and is certainly not exclusive to beginners.

Earn 5X Points on Travel Booked Through Chase Travel℠

Booking travel through Chase Travel℠ is one of the most lucrative ways to rack up thousands of points.

When you use your Sapphire Preferred card to book flights, hotels, rental cars or activities directly through Chase Travel℠, you’ll earn 5X points per dollar spent (excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the annual $50 hotel credit).

Let’s say you book a $3,000 family vacation through the portal, including airfare, hotel and a rental car. That single purchase would earn you 15,000 points, worth up to $262.50 when redeemed for travel using a premium-cabin Points Boost offer through Chase Travel℠.

For frequent travelers who book a couple of trips each year, these bonus points can add up to thousands of dollars in value.

Earn 3X Points on Dining and Online Groceries

The Sapphire Preferred is a powerhouse when it comes to earning points on everyday expenses.

It earns 3X points per dollar spent on dining, which includes everything from restaurants to takeout and delivery services.

It also earns 3X points per dollar spent on online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs). This means that both your weekly grocery shop and your weekend dinner at a local restaurant contribute significantly to your rewards balance.

The average U.S. household spends about $3,933 on dining out and another $6,053 on groceries annually. If you charged those expenses to the Sapphire Preferred, you’d earn 29,958 points per year—enough for a round-trip economy award flight with Virgin Atlantic to Europe. Alternatively, you could redeem those points for up to $524 through Chase Travel℠ when using a Points Boost offer for premium-cabin travel.

Earn 3X Points on Streaming Services

For many of us, streaming subscriptions have become as essential as utility bills.

The Sapphire Preferred rewards you with 3X points per dollar spent on popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and Spotify.

The average U.S. household spends around $69 per month on streaming subscriptions. Over a year, that’s $828, which would generate 2,484 points.

While that might not sound game-changing on its own, it adds to your growing stash of Ultimate Rewards points and could tip the rewards balance in your favor come redemption time.

Earn 2X Points on Travel

Even if you don’t book through Chase Travel℠, you’ll still earn 2X points per dollar spent on all other travel purchases.

Chase defines “travel” generously, including purchases with the following merchants:

• Airlines
• Buses
• Campgrounds and operators of passenger trains
• Car rental agencies
• Cruise lines
• Discount travel sites
• Ferries
• Hotels
• Limousines
• Motels
• Parking lots and garages
• Taxis
• Timeshares
• Toll bridges and highways
• Travel agencies

This makes it easy to earn 2X points on a range of travel purchases in everyday life as well as when you’re on vacation.

Get Up to 25% More Value on Travel Redemptions

One of the standout features of the Sapphire Preferred card is the ability to boost the value of your points when redeeming through Chase Travel℠.

While most cards lock you into a 1 cent per point redemption value, the Sapphire Preferred offers 50% to 75% more value, depending on how you redeem your points. That means 100,000 points could be worth up to $1,750.

To unlock this value, you need to redeem your points using a Points Boost offer.

Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders can get up to 1.5 cents per point in value when using a Points Boost offer toward flight and hotel redemptions. And if you book premium-cabin tickets using a Points Boost offer, you can get up to 1.75 cents per point in value.

The tricky part is finding a Points Boost offer that aligns with your travel plans, as they’re exclusive to specific airlines and routes. If you can’t find a Points Boost offer, your points will be worth 1 cent apiece.

Transfer Partners Give You More Flexibility

If you want maximum value and flexibility, transferring your points to one of Chase’s 13 airline and hotel partners can deliver outsized value. Here’s a list of Chase transfer partners to whom you can transfer your rewards at a 1:1 ratio:

• Aer Lingus AerClub
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue
• British Airways Club
• Iberia Plus
• IHG One Rewards
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Marriott Bonvoy
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
• United Airlines MileagePlus
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
• World of Hyatt

Rewards programs such as Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and World of Hyatt offer lucrative opportunities for outsized-value redemptions.

The inclusion of domestic airline rewards partners such as United MileagePlus, JetBlue TrueBlue and Southwest Rapid Rewards also gives you the opportunity for lucrative domestic award travel.

You can also take advantage of Chase transfer bonuses to squeeze even more value out of your points.

By transferring your points to these partners, you can often get more than 2 cents per point in value, making it the most lucrative use of your Ultimate Rewards points.

Protection and Insurance for Peace of Mind

The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers some of the best credit card travel insurance, thanks to its built-in protections that can save you thousands of dollars when things go south. From trip cancellation insurance to rental car coverage, these Chase Sapphire Preferred perks ensure you’re not left footing the bill when the unexpected happens.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption Coverage

If your trip is cut short or canceled due to covered reasons such as severe weather, illness or jury duty, the Sapphire Preferred’s trip cancellation and interruption insurance kicks in.

You can be reimbursed for up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for non-refundable expenses, including airfare, hotels and tours.

For a family booking a $7,500 international vacation, that coverage could mean the difference between losing your investment and getting reimbursed if circumstances force you to cancel.

Primary Rental Car Insurance

Unlike many cards that offer only secondary rental car coverage—which kicks in after your personal insurance—the Sapphire Preferred provides primary rental car coverage.

That means if you decline the rental agency’s collision damage waiver and charge the rental to your card, Chase will cover theft or damage up to $60,000. This protection can save you hundreds on insurance add-ons and thousands if an accident occurs while traveling.

It also prevents your personal auto insurance premiums from increasing after an accident, as it’s a separate policy.

Keep in mind that for New York state residents, this auto rental coverage is secondary to your primary automobile insurance plan when in the U.S.

Baggage Delay Insurance

This benefit provides reimbursement of up to $100 per day for up to five days for essential purchases such as toiletries and clothing when your baggage is delayed for more than six hours.

This can be a lifesaver when bags are delayed, meaning you don’t have to go without your essential items.

Lost Luggage Reimbursement

If your checked or carry-on baggage is lost, damaged or stolen during a trip, the Sapphire Preferred provides reimbursement of up to $3,000 per covered traveler.

Keep in mind that New York state residents are limited to reimbursement of $2,000 per bag and $10,000 for all covered travelers per trip.

Trip Delay Reimbursement

If your common carrier travel is delayed for more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, the Sapphire Preferred covers you for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500 per covered traveler.

This can make up the difference when airlines fail to fully reimburse you for the extra expenses incurred due to a delay.

Travel Accident Insurance

When you charge your common carrier fare to your Sapphire Preferred card, you’re eligible to receive up to $500,000 in the event of accidental death or dismemberment.

Purchase Protection and Extended Warranty

The Sapphire Preferred also protects your everyday purchases.

Items bought with the Sapphire Preferred card are covered against damage or theft for up to 120 days, with a limit of $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.

Additionally, eligible purchases with manufacturer warranties of three years or less get an extra year of coverage automatically. That means if your laptop breaks after two and a half years, Chase could step in where the manufacturer’s warranty leaves off.

Everyday Extras You Might Not Expect

While the Sapphire Preferred is best known for travel benefits, it also comes with several lesser-known perks that add daily value.

These extras can help you save money and earn more points, increasing the card’s value.

Annual $50 Chase Travel℠ Hotel Credit

You’ll receive an annual $50 credit toward hotel stays booked through Chase Travel℠ each year. If you can maximize this credit, you’ll effectively cut the annual fee in half.

Anniversary Bonus

Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders benefit from an anniversary bonus equivalent to 10% of their total annual expenditure. That means if you charged $40,000 to your card within the last anniversary year, you’d receive a 4,000-point bonus.

This is a solid perk that beefs up your Ultimate Rewards balance in proportion to the amount you charge to your card.

DoorDash Benefits for Food Delivery

Sapphire Preferred cardholders receive complimentary DashPass benefits from DoorDash when they activate the card by Dec. 31, 2027. This benefit is worth $120 in annual value—effectively offsetting the card’s annual fee from the get-go.

DashPass waives delivery fees and reduces service fees on orders from participating restaurants. For a household that orders takeout twice a week, this could save hundreds annually in reduced fees, all while earning 3X points on dining.

Enrolled members will also receive up to $120 in credits per year, issued in $10 monthly promos, toward eligible orders (through Dec. 31, 2027).

Earn 5X Points on Peloton Purchases

Fitness enthusiasts can take advantage of a limited-time offer to earn 5X points on eligible Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150, through December 31, 2027.

This is an easy way to get fit and earn more points toward travel in the process.

How Can You Maximize Lyft Rewards?

The Sapphire Preferred offers boosted rewards on Lyft rides. When you link your card to your Lyft account, you’ll earn 5X points per dollar spent through Sep. 30, 2027.

For a commuter who spends $200 a month on Lyft rides, that’s 12,000 points a year—enough for a domestic return ticket on Southwest or a one-way ticket on United.

Are There Any Shopping Perks Worth Noting?

Cardholders occasionally receive exclusive shopping discounts and early access to select events through Chase Offers.

While these aren’t the primary reason to hold the Sapphire Preferred, they can be a nice bonus.

What Other Everyday Benefits Should You Know About?

The Sapphire Preferred charges no foreign transaction fees, making it an ideal card for international travel.

If you travel abroad frequently, these savings can add up.

Making the Most of Your Sapphire Preferred

Earning rewards is one thing—maximizing them is another.

To get the best value from the Sapphire Preferred, you should pursue a strategy that aligns your spending with the card’s bonus categories, redemption opportunities and protections.

How Do You Combine Benefits for Maximum Value?

You can reap significant value from the Sapphire Preferred when stacking its benefits.

Imagine booking a $5,000 trip through Chase Travel℠. You’d earn 25,000 points from the 5X multiplier, enjoy built-in trip cancellation and interruption, trip delay, and baggage delay and loss insurance, and receive elevated redemption rates when using those points for future travel redemptions. That spending will also contribute to your anniversary points boost, equivalent to 10% of your total anniversary year expenditure.

On top of that, you should prioritize charging your everyday travel, dining and grocery expenses to the card, enabling you to earn thousands of extra points on unavoidable recurring expenses.

The potential to stack benefits doesn’t stop there. By pairing the Sapphire Preferred with the Chase Freedom Unlimited® as part of a two-card combo strategy, you can benefit from a baseline rewards rate of 1.5X points, for no extra annual fees.

You can pool your points across accounts, channeling non-category spending onto the Freedom Unlimited while still redeeming your points through the Sapphire Preferred to access its travel partners and elevate redemption rates.

This way, you get the best of both worlds, maximizing rewards without increasing the total amount of fees you pay.

Final Tips for Getting the Best Value

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is best for travelers who want a strong balance of everyday rewards, valuable travel redemptions and comprehensive protections—all for a modest annual fee.

To get the most out of the card, you should review the card’s benefits annually, keep track of points earned and plan redemptions strategically to maximize the value of your points.

Whether you’re a frequent flyer looking to unlock premium-cabin experiences through transfer partners or a casual traveler who simply wants flexibility, the Sapphire Preferred adapts to your needs. This makes the Chase Sapphire Preferred not only our favorite beginner card, but equally one for the long-haul.