Just like car manufacturers will use the same platforms to build a sedan, a wagon and a sports car, credit card issuers love offering different versions of the same cards.
But while you might not clog your driveway with each version of your favorite car, it’s much easier to populate your wallet with different credit cards that earn the same kind of reward points.
Chase offers multiple reward credit cards in its Freedom, Sapphire and Ink card families. While each card is ideal for a specific use, using three in tandem with one another -- a strategy known as the Chase Trifecta -- could help you get even more out of each card.
What is a credit card trifecta?
A credit card trifecta is a strategy for using the strengths of three credit cards to earn more rewards than by using just one.
For example, some credit card issuers have entry-level rewards cards that offer points redeemable only for cash back, at a low per-point value. But you can combine the entry-level card’s points with a premium travel rewards card.
This allows you to pool your points while taking advantage of the premium card’s more lucrative reward redemption options -- you can typically transfer points to airline and hotel partners at a much higher per-point value.
Also, different cards offer different levels of rewards for certain types of purchases. One card could offer 1.5x or 2x on all purchases -- so you’d earn 1.5 to 2 times the points for each qualifying dollar spent -- while another could offer 5x on select purchases and just 1x on all others.
Using the right card for the right purchase can earn more points than with a single card.
You could also include a small business card with your trifecta, allowing you to combine the points you earn from your company purchases with those you earn from your personal expenses.
Why should you consider using multiple credit cards from the same issuer?
If the points you earn are worth 1 cent each, you’re limiting the value you can receive from your rewards credit card.
For example, by itself, the Chase Freedom Flex℠* and Chase Freedom Unlimited® earn points worth only 1 cent each. But adding a premium rewards card, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, to your wallet allows you to pool your credit card rewards and then transfer them to airline miles or hotel points rewards programs.
When you redeem those miles or points for high-value flights, or the hotel points for award night stays, your rewards could be worth far more than if you just redeemed them for other options like cash back, merchandise or gift cards.
When you strategically use the card that offers the most points for each purchase, the total points you earn can be far greater than what you could have earned with a single card.
Trifecta-eligible Chase Ultimate Rewards credit cards
Chase offers three families of cards that reward you with points in their Ultimate Rewards program.
The Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve are their travel rewards cards. These cards allow you to transfer your rewards to airline miles and hotel points. The Chase Freedom Flex and Freedom Unlimited are marketed as cash-back credit cards, but you can combine your rewards with the points you earn from your Sapphire cards.
Chase also offers Ink for Business cards, including the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
Like the Freedom cards, the Ink Cash and Ink Unlimited cards are marketed as cash-back cards, but the points you earn from them can be combined with the points from your Chase Sapphire cards. The Ink Preferred is the premium small business card, which offers rewards that can be transferred to airline miles or hotel points.
How these cards can work together
There are several possible versions of the Chase Trifecta, including:
- Both Freedom cards and one Sapphire
- One Freedom card, one Sapphire and one Ink
- Two Ink cards and a Freedom
- Two Ink cards and a Sapphire
The key is to make sure that at least one card has an annual fee, which are the cards that allow you to transfer rewards to airline and hotel partners. This includes the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve and Ink Business Preferred.
From there, you can add two other, no-annual-fee cards to earn more points on different purchases than with just a Sapphire Card. This can be the Freedom Unlimited and the Freedom Flex or one Freedom card and one Ink card.
Tips to get the most out of your Chase trifecta
You’ll want to use your Freedom Unlimited or Ink Unlimited for most purchases, as you’ll earn 1.5% cash back on everything. You can also use your Freedom Unlimited or Freedom Flex for your dining and drugstore purchases, where they earn 3% cash back. And if you have the Ink Cash, you can use it to earn 5% cash back (on up to $25,000 in purchases annually, then 1%) at office supply stores and for paying for Internet, telephone and cable or satellite television service.
You should always use your Sapphire cards for travel, as you’ll earn 2x points from the Sapphire Preferred and 3x points from your Sapphire Reserve.
Chase considers many purchases as part of its travel category, including public transit, parking and tolls. The Sapphire cards also offer excellent travel insurance benefits when you use them to pay for your reservations. Also, the Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve cards have no foreign transaction fees, so you’ll want to use these for your international purchases.
When redeeming your points, you should avoid booking reservations directly through Chase Travel, as you can often do better by transferring your rewards to airline miles or hotel points.
Chase Travel will offer only Sapphire Preferred cardholders 1.25 cents in value per point redeemed (thanks to a 25% redemption bonus for travel through Chase Travel℠), but Sapphire Reserve cardholders receive 1.5 cents (with a 50% redemption bonus).
In contrast, World of Hyatt points are often worth about 2 cents each according to The Points Guy when redeemed for hotel stays during peak periods. Divide the cost of the hotel stay by the number of points required to book to figure out how much your points or miles will be worth. Choose whichever option is most rewarding, whether that’s by transferring your points or booking with Chase.
Pros and cons of using a trifecta strategy
The trifecta strategy can be one of the best ways to earn the most points from all of your purchases, but there are downsides too:
Pros
Ability to earn more points on purchases by strategically using cards based on bonus categories
Cover more purchases with rewards
Utilize airline and hotel point transfers with cards that normally wouldn’t be able to
Combining cards can help you earn more points and provide more card perks
Cons
Requires multiple applications, and therefore multiple hard credit checks
Requires at least one card that charges an annual fee
To reach three welcome bonuses would take a lot of spending
More rewards to keep track of
What credit scores do you need to use a Chase trifecta?
You typically need good to excellent credit to qualify for the Chase Freedom cards. A FICO score of 670-739 is considered good, a score of 740-799 is considered very good, and over 800 is considered excellent. The Sapphire Preferred generally requires good to excellent credit, while the Sapphire Reserve card generally requires excellent credit.
Other trifecta options
You can optimize the rewards you earn from other card issuers by carrying card pairs or trifectas.
Many American Express cards offer points in their Membership Rewards program. By combining multiple cards, you can optimize the points you earn from each purchase, while enjoying exclusive benefits to each card.
For example, you could have The Platinum Card® from American Express* to earn 5x points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year) and enjoy airport business lounge access.
You could complement that with the American Express® Gold Card* that offers 4x points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x). You can complete the trifecta by adding an Amex small business card to your wallet. Keep in mind that both the Platinum Card and Gold Card charge annual fees, so make sure your rewards can cover the cost of the annual fees.
Other card issuers with multiple credit cards that earn the same kind of rewards points include Citi, Capital One and Wells Fargo.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more
The bottom line
Each credit card you have is like a tool to do a job, and every job is much easier when you have the best tools necessary for the task at hand. Using the Chase Trifecta strategy lets you earn the most points possible while also being able to redeem them for the highest value so long as you can use them all responsibly.
*All information about the Chase Freedom Flex , the American Express® Gold Card, and The Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
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