Chase
Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card
Premium travel rewards card earning 5x points on Chase Travel and 3x on dining, with $100 travel credit and TSA PreCheck fee credit.
Annual fee
$95
Top rate
5x flights
Welcome bonus
$1,500
Quick look
5x Chase Travel + Premium Perks
Earn rewards faster on travel bookings
4.0
out of 5
Rewards
Fees
Welcome bonus
Perks
Value
Overall score is a weighted average: Rewards 20% · Fees 20% · Welcome bonus 20% · Perks 20% · Value 20%.
Ideal for
Travelers who book via multiple airline and hotel brands, eat out frequently, and want a mid-tier card without the luxury add-ons (or cost) of the Reserve.
The verdict
The Sapphire Preferred is the closest thing to a consensus travel card: it earns 5x points on Chase Travel purchases and 3x on dining and gas, covers its $95 fee with a $100 hotel credit, and lets you transfer points to 13 airline and hotel programs for maximum flexibility. You won't get the premium perks of the Reserve (lounge access, concierge, $300 credit), and hotel earning at 2x lags the specialists—IHG Premier offers 26x. But for travelers who book diversely and want a card that justifies its fee without chasing category bonuses, this remains the most balanced play.
The 2026 refresh added 3x on gas and EV charging, doubled the hotel credit, and threw in a TSA PreCheck credit. But October's trimming of the 10% anniversary bonus and Hyatt transfer ratio stings—the card's long-term value tightens. Still, if you're not cycling between five cards per category, the Sapphire Preferred stays a clean default.
Pros
- 5x on Chase Travel bookings—the highest rate in a no-hassle format
- $100 annual hotel credit virtually wipes out the $95 fee
- TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit ($120 every four years) stacks the value math
- Transfer points to 13 airline and hotel partners for flexibility no flat-rate card offers
Cons
- 2x on hotels trails category specialists by a wide margin
- Perks (no lounge, no concierge) drop off sharply vs. the Reserve
- Anniversary bonus and Hyatt transfer ratio both trim in October 2026—shrinking long-term gains
Reward rates
| Category | Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | 5x | on Chase Travel |
| Dining & restaurants | 3x | on dining |
| Gas & EV charging | 3x | on gas stations, EV charging, and vacation homes at top brands |
| Streaming | 3x | on streaming services and online grocery |
| Hotels & car rentals | 2x | on all other travel |
| Everything else | 1x | on all other purchases |
The 5x on Chase Travel is genuine value—it's the highest rate in the catalog that you don't need to time or chase. Dining at 3x is solid but not exceptional (Amex Gold at 4x, several hotel cards at 6x+, eat your lunch). The 3x on gas and EV charging are category wins, but the 2x on hotels is the real gap—IHG Premier hits 26x at the same $99 fee. If hotels anchor your travel, you'll want a specialist. If you mix airlines, hotels, and pure cash travel, the Sapphire Preferred's flexibility covers more ground.
Fees and APR
Does it pay for itself?
The $95 fee is standard for this tier, but the $100 hotel credit through Chase Travel is load-bearing—it cuts the net cost to -$5, assuming you book at least one hotel night per year. TSA PreCheck or Global Entry ($120 every four years) pads the math further. The October 2026 trim to the anniversary bonus (10% of points earned in the prior year) erodes projected value by roughly $50–80 annually for heavy spenders. If the Reserve's lounge access and $300 credit are out of reach, the Sapphire Preferred justifies its fee. If you can swing it, the Reserve's math only worsens with these changes.
Welcome bonus
Is it worth chasing?
100,000 points after $5,000 spend in 3 months is attainable for most households and worth $1,000–1,500 in travel depending on transfer partner and program devaluation risk. Points to airline partners (especially IHG at 5,000 per night sometimes) can stretch the value further. It's a solid opener but not the largest in the catalog—Chase Sapphire Reserve offers 75,000, Southwest cards hit 80,000+, and premium Amex offers 150,000 on some products.
Similar cards
The Reserve adds lounge access, $300 annual credit, and 10x on Chase Travel—but costs $550. Pick Reserve if you fly business-class or value lounge access; stick Preferred if $300+ in perks won't materialize.
Citi's $95 alternative offers 10x on travel and dining combined, matching Sapphire's flexibility on points transfers. Nearly identical fee but tighter earning—Citi's better for diners, Sapphire better for flight-focused travelers.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the Reserve instead?
Only if you'll use the $300 annual credit (flights, hotels, rental cars) or frequently need lounge access. The Reserve's 10x rate on travel is higher, but you're paying $455 more in annual fees. For most people, that's a bad trade—the Preferred's 5x plus credits wins on total value.
Can I transfer my points to Hyatt?
Currently yes, at 1:1 (or better with promotions). But October 1, 2026, the ratio drops to 4:3, meaning 1,000 points = 750 Hyatt points. If Hyatt is your main game, lock in transfers before October or switch to a true Hyatt card.
Is the $100 hotel credit worth it?
Yes—if you book through Chase Travel portal at least once yearly. You'll recoup the fee and then some. If you always book directly with hotels or use a different portal, the credit may disappear. Check your travel habits first.
Who shouldn't get this card?
Skip it if you primarily stay at one hotel chain (Hyatt, IHG, Marriott)—their branded cards offer higher earning rates at the same fee. Also skip if you never take flights or vacations; the travel perks and earning bonuses won't justify $95/year.
What's the annual cost after credits?
The stated fee is $95. Subtract $100 hotel credit and you're at -$5 (the card effectively pays you). Add a TSA PreCheck credit every fourth year (~$30/year averaged), and the card costs you nearly nothing. The catch: October's trimming of the anniversary bonus removes ~$50–80 in projected value per year for heavy spenders.
Reviewed by YoungerFinance Editorial · Last updated August 11, 2026