Before applying, you should think about your credit score, trip plans, the Chase 5/24 regulations, etc
For a long time, those looking for travel credit cards have gravitated toward the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card, which caters to both novice and experienced users.
However, by the summer of 2021, the deck had been significantly improved. Chase offers 5x points, 3x dining points (including qualified deliveries, takeaways, and dining out-2x points), and 3x for some streaming services for any trips bought via Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Included points as one of the many new categories of rewards that have been added.
Because of this, it is one of the most incredible cards to carry about in your wallet while you’re on vacation, but it’s also an excellent alternative for spending when you get back home (especially ordering takeaways and movie streaming). To encourage habits of travelling)
People are drawn to this card for various reasons, including its comparatively cheap annual fee (only $ 95), a 25% bonus when redeeming travel points with Chase Ultimate Rewards®, and other, less enticing benefits, such as travel insurance. Simple and easy to grasp.
Those passionate about collecting points should take advantage of the card’s current welcome offer. When you establish an account, you will get 80,000 bonus points if you spend $4,000 during the first three months of having the account. You may redeem it for $1,000 with Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card may not be as popular as its more flashy sibling, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card, but it comes with a staggering annual fee of $550. Suppose the concept of a travel card that gives users access to various travel alternatives without obligating them to a specific hotel chain or airline brand appeals to you. In that case, you may reduce your impact on the environment by paying the yearly membership cost of $550. In this scenario, we suggest that you consider applying for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card.
But before we get to that, before you send in your application, here are seven things you should think about.
Your current credit rating
Certain people are not eligible to apply for a credit card, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card. For approval, there must be a sufficient amount of credit.
Before applying for this card, we suggest that you have a FICO score of at least 690. If you need to wait a little while and focus on improving your credit, this is a beautiful thing to consider.
The yearly cost of membership
Although it is not as pricey as the annual fee of a premium travel credit card. which can be as much as $500 or more, you will spend some money to have this card in your possession. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card includes a membership fee of $95 per year. This price is assessed annually.
Is it worthwhile to pay the $95 annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card? There are a few different justifications for making this decision, but you should go with the most apparent one. It refers to the benefit you get by redeeming incentives.
Suppose you use a Chase Sapphire Preferred® card. In that case, you have the opportunity to earn one point whenever you redeem points for a value of 1.25 cents per point via the Chase Ultimate Rewards® system.
Even if you use this card for things like travel and other purchases, you will still need to spend $1,520 on Chase Ultimate Rewards® to earn enough points to make up for your yearly membership.
Of course, this sum does not consider any of the additional advantages that come with the card, such as a credit of $50 per year for hotel stays that are paid for using Ultimate Rewards® (immediately for new cardholders, for existing cardholders). It Will still be valid after the next anniversary of the account).
However, if you don’t use the card often in the bonus area, utilizing a credit card that doesn’t charge an annual fee and specializes in travel rewards is our recommendation.
Your qualification to receive the new member incentive.
Chase has established a set of regulations that, if followed, will allow customers to qualify for their more significant welcome bonuses. On credit cards issued by Chase with the Sapphire brand, bonus point accumulation is limited to once every two years and eight months. This implies that you will have to wait to get bonus points on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card if you have done so within the last 48 months.
You won’t be eligible for the extra points if you currently hold the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card but decide to switch to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card in the future.
Your present Sapphire condition
Cardholders are only permitted to have one card with the Sapphire brand at any one time. Therefore, if you currently have a Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you won’t be able to apply for a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card until you either cancel your existing card or downgrade it to a card with no annual fee.
Having said that, taking No. 3 into consideration, there is no use in applying for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card if you can’t earn a sizeable welcome bonus. This indicates that you want to wait for forty-eight months before applying for the card.
Your spending plans
Before you apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you should consider how you intend to spend money over the following several months. Check that you will be able to fulfil the required minimum expenditure to really obtain the bonus points.
If you’re planning to do a lot of travelling or maybe just have some home improvement projects, it would be significantly more realistic to achieve within the set time frame than if you’re trying to conquer a no-spend month. For example, if you’re planning to do a lot of home improvement projects, it would be significantly more realistic to achieve within the set time frame.
Your spending should ideally be distributed throughout a significant portion of the card’s bonus categories. These items are:
• You’ll earn five times the standard number of points for any travel purchases made via Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
• 5x points on Lyft trips until March 2025 (this is in addition to the 2x points you currently receive on travel). This means that you will earn 10 points for each ride.
• Earn triple points on dining purchases, including those made via qualified delivery services, takeout establishments, and restaurants (previously 2x).
• a multiplier of three on points for some streaming services
• Triple points on all purchases made via an online grocery store (except Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).
However, use your card for purchases in categories that do not qualify for bonuses. You won’t get a poor bargain. You will receive one point for every dollar spent on anything else but stick around because it gets better. You will also get a bonus of anniversary points equal to 10% of the previous year’s total purchases on your account anniversary each year. This bonus is awarded on the anniversary of your account.
That translates into earning an additional 100 bonus points for every $1,000 spent. That is not a significant amount, but it is a lovely cherry on top, particularly if you are putting a significant amount of general spending on the card to satisfy the introductory offer’s requirements.
The total distance that you want to go
Before you apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you should think about how you often travel. This is still an odd moment to be travelling to tell you the truth.
Because of the card’s high earning rate on travel expenditures, which is one of its finest attributes, you should consider applying for it if you intend to travel quite a bit throughout this year.
On the other hand, striking a balance is not always easy. It could make more sense for you to apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card if you travel a significant amount, like, very frequently.
Although it comes with a higher annual fee, it also comes with a significantly higher earning rate, which is as follows: 10x total points on hotel stays and car rentals bought through Ultimate Rewards® and 5x total points on air travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®. Both of these bonuses are in addition to the standard earning rate.
In addition to this, additional travel perks include the following:
• A complimentary credit for TSA PreCheck, NEXUS, or Global Entry.
• Complimentary access to airport lounges, including Priority Pass lounges and lounges operated by Chase’s own brand of airport lounges (Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club).
• A travel credit of $300 per year.
• A point redemption incentive of up to 50% when making reservations via the Chase travel gateway
Carry out the necessary calculations based on your individual travel expenditures to determine which card’s point value offers the best overall value.
Even though the first-year annual fee is quite steep, you might discover that the Chase Sapphire Reserve® actually provides you with more value overall.
I am counting your Chase 5/24 cards.
This card will not be available to you if you do not fall within the parameters of Chase’s 5/24 rule, which is not published but is common knowledge. This indicates that your chances of being approved for a credit card are very low if you have opened five or more credit cards in the last twenty-four months (from any bank).
If you are thinking about applying for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Suppose you like travelling and are willing to pay an annual fee for a credit card. In that case, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card may be a good option for you to consider when looking for a travel credit card. Just make sure that everything is in order about your bonus eligibility, 5/24 count, and credit score before you try to claim it.
In addition to this, as a general rule, you should always make sure that you have a well-thought-out strategy for meeting the requirements of your spending bonus and making the most of the card’s continuous privileges.
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