Jump to section Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Copy URL Email The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. When I opened the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees ) over two years ago, I had no idea how quickly it would become my go-to tool for earning travel rewards — or how much value I'd be able to unlock.
Since then, I've used it to book international flights, navigate unexpected travel hiccups and learn how to stretch points far more than I imagined when I first applied.
Whether you're new to earning travel rewards or recently picked up the card yourself, here are six beginner-friendly ways to make the most of the Sapphire Preferred.
Earning a welcome bonus is one of the easiest ways for beginners to kick-start their points and miles journey, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred gives new cardholders the chance to earn a meaningful amount of Chase Ultimate Rewards points after meeting the minimum spending requirement.
Because Chase Ultimate Rewards points hold strong value and offer flexible redemption options, that welcome bonus can stretch surprisingly far. A substantial stash of points can easily cover a domestic round-trip, multiple hotel nights or even part of an international itinerary.
Right now, new cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening — a strong offer that averages just under $1,670 in spending per month.
If you transfer those points to one of Chase's airline or hotel partners , the bonus is worth $1,538 (per TPG's September 2026 valuations ).
When I earned my 60,000-point welcome offer in 2024 (no longer available), I quickly built on it with everyday spending and ended up with 100,000 points in a few months, which was enough to cover a large portion of a three-week trip to Europe . Some of my redemptions included:
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One of the most exciting parts of starting your travel card journey with the Sapphire Preferred is watching your points transform into flights and hotel stays (more on that below). Making my first travel redemptions taught me just how powerful a single welcome bonus can be — especially when you're just starting out with points and miles .
Related: After more than 16 years, why the Chase Sapphire Preferred should still be your first rewards card
Another reason why the Chase Sapphire Preferred works so well for beginners is that it earns bonus points across many common travel and everyday spending categories:
As a new cardholder, the easiest way to build your points balance is simply to use the card for your everyday purchases . Categories like dining, gas and vacation rentals can make that especially easy if you frequently spend money in…