Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the card I recommend to almost everyone who’s just getting started with points and miles — and honestly, it’s one I think most travelers should hold onto forever.

Here’s why I love it: the annual fee is just $95, but the travel protections alone are worth more than that. We’re talking trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay coverage, and primary rental car insurance — benefits you typically only see on cards with $400+ annual fees. For a $95 card, that’s remarkable.

The points are also some of the most flexible in the game. You can redeem through Chase Travel℠ for straightforward bookings, or transfer to 14 airline and hotel partners. We personally keep this card open specifically for the ability to transfer points to Hyatt — though it’s worth knowing that as of June 15, 2026, the transfer ratio to Hyatt dropped from 1:1 to 4:3 for Sapphire Preferred cardholders. It’s still a valuable transfer partner and one of the best in the game, but if maximizing Hyatt transfers is your primary goal, the Sapphire Reserve maintains its 1:1 ratio.

If you’re new to this hobby, this is the card I’d put in your hand first. It’s simple, valuable, and it opens the door to a world of nearly free travel.

The standard public offer on the Chase Sapphire Preferred has historically been 60,000–75,000 points. As of June 15, 2026, the card is carrying its highest ever public offer of 100,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months — and this is the offer I’d recommend acting on if you’ve been on the fence.
One important thing to know: Chase has updated the terms so that this welcome offer can only be earned once per lifetime on the Sapphire Preferred. That means timing matters — and right now, with the highest offer we’ve ever seen publicly available, this is a strong window to apply.

The good news is that Chase recently changed their policy to allow you to hold both the Sapphire Preferred and the Sapphire Reserve at the same time, which opens up some interesting options for maximizing your Chase points.

One additional change to be aware of: the 10% Anniversary Bonus — which previously awarded bonus points equal to 10% of your annual spend on the card — has been retired for new cardholders as of June 15, 2026. If you already hold the card, you’ll receive your final anniversary bonus before the benefit fully sunsets on October 1, 2026.

My advice: don’t wait on this one. The 100,000 point offer is not guaranteed to stick around, and since this bonus can only be earned once, you want to make sure you’re applying at the best possible moment. That moment is now.