If you’re already a Chase cardholder, you know how valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be. Whether you’re booking flights, staying at luxury hotels, or transferring to travel partners for maximum value, these points are a gateway to incredible travel experiences. And while opening new cards and earning a big fat welcome bonus is always going to be the fastest and most efficient way to earn points, it’s not always possible to open another Chase card. Perhaps you’re over 5/24 or you’re in between welcome offers and want to focus on earning points on the cards you already have. That’s totally possible if you’re strategic! Here are a few of the ways we continue earning Chase points without opening another card.
1. Shop Through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal
Chase’s shopping portal offers bonus points for purchases at hundreds of popular retailers, from electronics to fashion to home goods. When you shop through the portal, you can earn anywhere from 2x to 10x points per dollar spent.
How to Use It:
- Log in to your Chase account and navigate to the Ultimate Rewards section by clicking on your credit card account, then “Redeem” next to your Ultimate Rewards balance.
- At the top of the screen click on “Shopping and Experiences.”
- Click on “Shop and earn bonus points.”
- Browse retailers and click through to their websites to complete your purchase.
Pro Tips: Stack this with other Chase offers or coupon codes for even more savings. You can also check cashbackmonitor.com to quickly see how many points are being offered for a particular retailer.
2. Maximize Bonus Categories
Many Chase cards offer bonus points on specific categories of spending. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, for example, earns 3x points on dining and 2x points on travel. The Chase Freedom Flex® offers 5x points on rotating categories, which change every quarter plus 3x points at restaurants and drug stores.
How to Maximize:
- Review your card’s rewards structure.
- Adjust your spending habits to align with bonus categories (e.g., use your Chase Sapphire Preferred card for dining or travel).
- Enroll in and maximize the Chase Freedom Flex’s quarterly categories to ensure you’re earning 5x points.
Example: If the Chase Freedom Flex’s bonus category is groceries this quarter, be sure to use that card for grocery purchases to maximize your rewards. Quarterly bonuses on this card are maxed out at $1500 per quarter.
3. Add an Authorized User
By adding a trusted family member or friend as an authorized user, you can earn points on their purchases. This is especially effective for households where multiple people share expenses. We added our Chase Freedom Unlimited® to our teenager’s apple wallet so that when he needs to make a purchase he is still earning us at least 1.5 points per dollar.
How to Do It:
- Log in to your Chase account and navigate to the “Manage Authorized Users” section.
- Add the user’s details and wait for their card to arrive.
Things to Keep in Mind:
- You’re responsible for the charges made by an authorized user, so only add someone you trust.
4. Refer a Friend
Chase offers referral bonuses when someone applies for a card using your referral link and is approved. These bonuses can range from 5,000 to 20,000 points per referral, depending on the card. (See this page for current referral bonuses). Referral bonuses on Chase business cards are the most lucrative which is just one more reason to add Chase business cards to your wallet if you haven’t already done so.
How to Refer:
- Visit the Chase Refer-a-Friend page or log in to your account.
- Generate your unique referral link by inputting your last name, zip code, and the last 4 digits of your card.
- Share the link via email, text, or social media.
Limit: Most Chase cards cap the number of referral points you can earn annually, so check your card’s terms.
5. Activate Chase Bonuses
Chase Bonuses are targeted promotions that provide bonus points for spending at specific merchant types. These offers change regularly and can include dining, shopping, or travel-related purchases.
How to Redeem:
- Head to this page.
- Enter your last name, zip code, and the last 4 digits of your Chase credit card.
- Use your card at the specified merchant to earn rewards.
Tip: These offers change often. Check back regularly to see what is currently being offered on your cards.
Final Thoughts
Earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points doesn’t have to stop once you’ve opened your ideal set of credit cards. By taking advantage of these strategies, you can continue building your points balance for your next dream trip. Whether it’s shopping through the portal, maximizing bonus categories, or sharing expenses with an authorized user, there’s always a way to keep your points journey moving forward.
The biggest boost to your points balance will always come from hitting a new welcome bonus. So if you’re in the market for a new card, be sure to check out my favorite offers page.
