Summer is just around the corner. Chase recently added welcome bonuses to two of its premium travel credit cards that can help you finance your next vacation.
If you open a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card and spend $4,000 in purchases within three months, you can earn a welcome bonus of 75,000 points.
“This is a great bonus for a good card,” said Jason Steele, a credit card expert and member of CNET’s expert review board. “It’s not the highest bonus ever, but it’s better than the standard bonus on any credit card you’d expect to get for travel rewards.”
The standard welcome bonus for these cards is 60,000 points, and we’re not sure when this offer will expire. But history tells us it won’t last long. If you’re not sure if these cards are right for you, here’s what you need to know.
What is the welcome bonus for Chase’s new travel card?
Starting now, if you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of opening a Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve card, you’ll earn 75,000 points. That means you’ll need to spend at least $1,334 per month to earn the bonus.
That’s a 15,000-point increase over Chase’s usual 60,000-point bonus for the same spending requirement and time frame.
“While we’ve seen slightly better offers from CSP in the past, there’s no guarantee it will come back again, or when it will, if it does,” said Mark Reese, credit card expert and member of CNET Money’s expert review board. With summer vacation just around the corner, this is a great opportunity to save hundreds of dollars on an upcoming trip.
To get this bonus, you can use your credit card to pay your bills to get your bonus faster. Or, if you have a big purchase coming up that you’ve saved for, like a home renovation or a trip, you might get a bonus.
Don’t overspend to get a credit card welcome bonus. If you can’t pay off your balance in full each month, the interest you accrue will quickly negate the value of any bonus you receive. If you can’t easily spend $1,334 per month, it’s not worth trying to get this bonus.
About Chase’s Premium Travel Card
The Sapphire Preferred is already our top travel credit card. In addition to the welcome bonus, these two popular travel cards have some useful perks for booking flights or road trips. Before you apply, make a plan for how you’ll use the card.
“Both cards offer excellent travel insurance and purchase protection benefits,” Steele said. “CSR even pays for roadside assistance and emergency evacuation coverage. Both cards offer primary auto coverage, as well as trip delay and trip cancellation coverage.”
But there are also big differences between the two, like annual fees, cardholder points, and rewards rates — which can make a big difference in the long run. Here’s a quick rundown of the two cards and a comparison to help you decide which one is best for you.
CNET’s Choice
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
9/10 CNET Rating CNET rates credit cards by comparing them to similar competitor offers. Each card is individually evaluated using a formula that reflects contemporary market standards and expectations. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards
Introductory Offer75,000 Bonus Points Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Earn over $900 in bonus points when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Annual fee $95
Annual interest rate 21.49% – 28.49% Variable
Introduction to Purchase APRN/A
Recommended Credit Credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s creditworthiness and can provide guidance regarding account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product. Good – Excellent
Rewards RateEarn 1x – 5x on travel purchases through Chase Travel℠ 5x; 3x on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery stores; 2x on all other travel purchases; 1x on all other purchases.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
8/10 CNET Rating CNET rates credit cards by comparing them to similar competitor offers. Each card is individually evaluated using a formula that reflects contemporary market standards and expectations. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards
Introductory Offer75,000 Bonus Points Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Earn $1,125 in travel credit when you check out through Chase Travel℠.
Annual fee: $550
Annual interest rate 22.49% – 29.49% Variable
Introduction to Purchase APRN/A
Recommended Credit Credit scores are used to indicate an applicant’s creditworthiness and can provide guidance regarding account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product. Excellent
Rewards Rate1x – 10x Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 5x total points on flights purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3x points on other travel and dining; and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Read more: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve Card: Which is better?
How do I use my new 75,000 bonus points?
This enhanced welcome bonus could help you score free flights, hotel stays, or other travel accommodations for your late summer trip if you claim the bonus before the three-month period is up.
If you redeem your travel rewards using Chase Travel℠, you’ll redeem Sapphire Preferred points at a higher rate of 1.25 cents per point and Sapphire Reserve points at 1.5 cents per point. That means it could be worth $937 to $1,125.
In addition to the Chase portal, you can redeem points at higher rates at Chase’s travel partners.
You can also use points for other purchases, gift cards, and statement credits, but they’ll be of lesser value.
Read more: 6 reasons why the Chase Sapphire should be your next credit card
Am I eligible for the new Chase welcome offer?
Chase travel cards generally require good to excellent credit — so a FICO score of 670 or higher is required. There are a few other factors that can disqualify you:
- You cannot be a current Sapphire cardholder.
- You cannot have received a Chase Sapphire bonus in the past two years.
- You must not exceed Chase’s 5/24 rule, which means you have not applied for five cards from any issuer in the past 24 months.
If you’re not sure, it’s best to call Chase’s customer service line at 1-800-432-3117 to ask questions and get help.
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