There’s no question that the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of my all-around favorite credit cards.
Before the Chase Sapphire Reserve launched, I used the Sapphire Preferred for years to cover most of my purchases — thanks to the 2 points per dollar earned on all travel and 3 points per dollar dining, two broad categories that cover far more than just the obvious restaurants and hotels.
Those fully transferable points are incredibly valuable, with all sorts of redemption options. Add in the current sign-up bonus — 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening — and it’s easily one of the best travel credit cards out there, especially for beginners to points and miles.
If you just got your Chase Sapphire Preferred, make sure you take these steps so that you’re maximizing your card and its points from day one.
Consider adding an authorized user
Having an authorized user on your Sapphire Preferred account lets you earn points faster and makes it easier to hit the card’s spending threshold to earn the current sign-up bonus. It can also enable you to transfer the points to one of Chase’s 11 airline or three hotel partner programs in the name of one household member who is also an authorized user on your card.
It takes less than a minute to add an authorized user online.
Related: Adding your kids as authorized users to your credit cards
Add your card to takeout and delivery apps
Adding the Chase Sapphire Preferred to delivery services such as Seamless and Grubhub will maximize your point-earning ability since you get 3 points per dollar on all dining purchases.
Of course, if you have other cards that earn extra points for dining at restaurants, such as the American Express® Gold Card (4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants), you may want to use those cards instead. Regardless, add your card to dining rewards programs to earn bonus points for eating at restaurants.
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And you definitely don’t want to forget DoorDash. When you add your Sapphire Preferred to your DoorDash account, you’ll activate your complimentary membership to DashPass. This will allow you to enjoy $0 delivery and reduced service fees on eligible orders, and the benefit will run through Dec. 31, 2024.
Related: The best credit cards for dining out, taking out and ordering in
Set the card as your default for future travel
When you pay for travel with the Sapphire Preferred, you’ll earn 2 points for every dollar spent, even on expenses such as tolls and monthly parking. Based on TPG’s valuations, this equals a 4% return on spending. If you book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar spent, equivalent to a 10% return.
When taking a Lyft ride charged to your Sapphire Preferred, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar until March 2025.
Chase defines travel very broadly:
“Merchants in the travel category include airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds and operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages.”
This means that you’ll earn 2 points per dollar spent by using the Sapphire Preferred for any of these items.
Not only that, but the card comes with some built-in travel protections that make it a really smart choice when booking your next flight, car rental or other prepaid travel expense.
Update your rental car profile
Adding your Chase Sapphire Preferred information to your various rental car profiles lets you take advantage of the card’s primary rental car coverage, giving you valuable peace of mind when traveling. Plus, car rentals count as travel and thus earn 2 points per dollar, so you’ll get double points and enhanced protections.
As summer trips approach and millions of travelers take to the roads, this is an increasingly important step to take.
Related: Best credit cards for rental car coverage
Complete the Chase quartet
When the time is right for you to get your next card, adding the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, Chase Freedom Flex and/or Chase Freedom Unlimited to your wallet will allow you to build up your Ultimate Rewards balance even faster.
For example, with the Ink Business Preferred, you can earn 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent each account anniversary on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable, phone services and advertising purchases made with social media sites.
Meanwhile, the Freedom Unlimited offers 1.5% cash back on purchases, but that cash back comes in the form of Ultimate Rewards points that can be combined with the ones from your Sapphire Preferred card and transferred to valuable airline and hotel partners.
Finally, the rotating quarterly categories on the Chase Freedom Flex let you earn 5 points per dollar with specific types of merchants, on up to $1,500 in spending per quarter.
Remember Chase’s 5/24 rule, under which Chase won’t approve your application for additional credit cards if you’ve opened five or more credit cards (from any bank) in the last two years. As a result, make sure you sign up for these cards before adding others to your portfolio.
Related: Maximize your wallet with the perfect quartet of Chase cards
Bottom line
Even after 14 years, we still love the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a great card with an annual fee under $100, and we think you will, too. With an 80,000-point welcome bonus, it’s a great time to give the card a try.
Follow the steps above to ensure you earn as many points and statement credits as possible. When you get the card, your hard work can definitely pay off with some epic award trips available just around the corner.
Official application link: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card with an 80,000-point bonus.
Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox.
