Summer is right around the corner. And the recently elevated welcome bonus Chase is offering on its two premium travel credit cards could help fund your next vacation.
You can earn a 75,000-point welcome bonus if you open a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® and spend $4,000 within three months.
“This is a strong bonus on an excellent card,” said Jason Steele, a credit card expert and CNET Expert Review Board member. “It’s not the highest ever, but it’s better than the standard offer on cards that should be in the wallets of anyone who wants to earn 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. Here’s what to know if you’re on the fence about whether either of these cards are right for you.
How much is Chase’s new travel card welcome bonus?
Starting now, if you spend $4,000 on qualifying purchases within the first three months of opening a Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve card, you’ll receive 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 from Chase’s typical 60,000 bonus with the same spending requirement and timeframe.
“While we’ve seen slightly higher offers on the CSP in the past, there’s never a guarantee those will return, or if they do, when that will happen,” said Mark Reese, a credit card expert and member of the CNET Money Expert Review Board. With summer vacation around the corner, this is a great opportunity to save hundreds on an upcoming trip.
To earn this bonus, you can pay your bills with your credit card to reach the bonus faster. Or you may be able to earn the bonus if you have a big purchase coming up that you already have the money set aside for, such as home renovations or travel.
Never overspend to earn a credit card welcome bonus. If you’re not able to pay off your balance in full each month, the interest you accrue could quickly wipe out any value you earn in rewards. If you can’t comfortably spend $1,334 per month, it’s not worth trying for this bonus.
About Chase’s premium travel cards
The Sapphire Preferred is already our top travel credit card pick. Beyond the welcome bonus, these two popular travel cards have some useful perks for booking a flight or taking a road trip. Have a plan in place for how you want to use the card before applying.
“Both of these cards have excellent travel insurance and purchase protection benefits,” Steele said. “The CSR even has paid roadside assistance and emergency evacuation coverage. Both have primary automobile insurance, along with trip delay and trip cancellation coverage.”
But there are big differences, such as the annual fee, cardholder credits and rewards rates -- which can all make a big difference in the long run. Here’s a quick look at both cards and a comparison to help you determine which one is best for you.
- Intro Offer
-
75,000 bonus points Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
- Annual fee
- $95
- APR
- 21.49% – 28.49% Variable
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1x – 5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.; 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries.; 2x on all other travel purchases.; 1x on all other purchases.
- Intro Offer
-
75,000 bonus points Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
- Annual fee
- $550
- APR
- 22.49% – 29.49% Variable
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1x – 10x Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠.; Earn 5x total points on flights through Chase Travel℠.; Earn 3x points on other travel and dining.; Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Read more: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve: Which Is Better?
How can I redeem the new 75,000-point bonus?
This boosted welcome bonus could help you earn a free flight, hotel stay or other travel accommodations just in time for an end-of-summer trip -- if you earn the bonus before the three-month period ends.
If you redeem the rewards for travel using Chase Travel℠, you’ll redeem points at a boosted rate of 1.25 cents per point with the Sapphire Preferred and 1.5 cents per point with the Sapphire Reserve. That means it could be worth $937 to $1,125.
Beyond the Chase portal, you may also be able to redeem your points at an even higher rate with Chase’s travel partners.
You can also redeem the points toward other purchases, gift cards and statement credits but at a lesser value.
Read more: 6 Reasons the Chase Sapphire Preferred Should Be Your Next Credit Card
Do I qualify for the new Chase welcome offer?
Chase’s travel cards usually require good to excellent credit -- so a FICO score of 670 or higher. There are also a few other factors that would disqualify you:
- You cannot be a current Sapphire cardholder.
- You cannot have earned a Chase Sapphire bonus in the past two years.
- You must not have exceeded Chase’s 5/24 rule, which means you cannot have applied for five cards within the past 24 months from any issuer.
If you’re unsure, it’s best to call Chase’s customer service line at 1-800-432-3117 for questions and assistance.
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