Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Card Review: Benefits, Welcome Offer, and Is It Worth It?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card® Card has long been the go-to recommendation for anyone getting serious about points-and-miles — and after a significant June 2026 refresh, the case for it just got stronger for most cardholders. There are two specific things worth flagging before you apply. But the headline is: same $95 annual fee, meaningfully better card.

Learn here how to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

(All information about the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card was collected independently by Eye of the Flyer. It was neither provided nor reviewed by the card issuer.)

Current Welcome Offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on eligible purchases within three (3) months of being approved for card membership. (Learn here how to apply for this offer.)

Annual Fee: $95

Foreign Transaction Fees: $0

Table of Contents

• Points Earnings
• Credits & Benefits
• Travel Protections
• Ultimate Rewards & Transfer Partners
• Flight Plan

Points Earnings

The June 2026 refresh added two new 3X categories to an already solid earning lineup: gas and EV charging, and vacation homes (Airbnb, Vrbo, and similar platforms). Gas especially is a meaningful addition — it’s one of most cardholders’ largest monthly spending categories, and it was one of the more notable gaps at this price point.

What kind of points does the Sapphire Preferred earn? Ultimate Rewards points — one of the most flexible currencies in travel rewards. They can be redeemed through Chase Travel℠ (at elevated value via Points Boost on select bookings), transferred to airline and hotel loyalty programs, or converted to cashback. No minimum redemption threshold required.

Credits & Benefits

$100 Chase Travel Hotel Credit

Each account anniversary year, you’ll receive up to $100 in statement credits on prepaid hotel bookings through Chase Travel℠ — doubled from the previous $50 credit. One two-night stay effectively wipes out the card’s annual fee on its own.

$120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS Credit

New as of June 2026: a statement credit of up to $120 every four years toward the application fee for Global Entry ($120), TSA PreCheck ($85), or NEXUS ($50). This was one of the most frequently requested additions to the Sapphire Preferred lineup — and one of the clearer benefit gaps versus competing travel cards.

Complimentary Apple TV+

One year of complimentary Apple TV+ when activated through Chase by December 31, 2026. Existing cardholders are eligible; activation required.

DoorDash DashPass & Monthly Credits

Complimentary DashPass membership — $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash and Caviar orders — plus up to $10 per month in DoorDash credits toward groceries, daily essentials, and more. Activate DashPass by December 31, 2027.

Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection

Complimentary benefits at participating properties when booking through the collection, including:

• Daily breakfast for two
• A special property benefit worth up to $100 (resort credit, spa credit, etc., determined by each property)
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Room upgrade when available
• Early check-in and late checkout when available

Ennismore Hotel Benefits

Complimentary 4th night, late checkouts, and additional perks at Delano, Hyde, Mondrian, House of Originals, and SLS hotels worldwide.

Points Boost

Redeem Ultimate Rewards points at elevated value on select airfares and hotels through Chase Travel℠. Effective redemption value varies by booking; check Chase Travel℠ for current availability.

Travel Protections

The Sapphire Preferred has always punched above its weight on travel protections for a $95 card. The June 2026 refresh made the lineup even stronger with the addition of Emergency Evacuation and Transportation coverage.

• Emergency Evacuation and Transportation — Up to $100,000 in coverage if you or an immediate family member are injured or become ill during a trip and require emergency evacuation. New as of June 15, 2026.
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance — Up to $10,000 per covered traveler, $20,000 per trip for prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses if a trip is canceled or cut short by a covered reason.
• Trip Delay Reimbursement — Up to $500 per covered traveler for unreimbursed expenses (meals, lodging) when a trip is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay.
• Baggage Delay Insurance — Up to $100 per day for five days for essential purchases when checked baggage is delayed more than six hours by a passenger carrier.
• Lost Luggage Reimbursement — Up to $3,000 per covered traveler for checked or carry-on baggage that is lost, damaged, or stolen during a covered trip.
• Auto Rental Coverage — Primary coverage up to $60,000 for theft, damage, valid loss-of-use charges, and reasonable towing on most rental vehicles. Charge the full rental to the card and decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver. Excludes expensive/exotic vehicles; rentals must be 31 consecutive days or fewer. (New York residents: coverage is secondary to personal auto insurance inside the U.S.)
• Travel Accident Insurance — Up to $500,000 in accidental death or dismemberment coverage when you pay for air, bus, train, or cruise transportation with the card.
• Purchase Protection — Covers new purchases against damage or theft for 120 days, up to $500 per claim.
• Extended Warranty Protection — Extends a U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by one additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less.

To activate these protections, pay for travel with the Sapphire Preferred. Verify coverage limits and exclusions in the card’s benefits guide.

Ultimate Rewards & Transfer Partners

Ultimate Rewards is one of the strongest points currencies in travel rewards — 14 airline and hotel transfer partners, simple (mostly 1:1) transfer ratios, no expiration as long as your account is open, and the option to combine points across Chase cards. Transfer partners are where most serious travelers find the most value.

About That Hyatt Change

Airline Partners (1:1)

• Aer Lingus AerClub
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Air France/KLM Flying Blue
• Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards
• British Airways Avios
• Iberia Avios
• Japan Airlines (JAL) Mileage Bank
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
• United Airlines MileagePlus
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Hotel Partners

• IHG One Rewards (1:1)
• Marriott Bonvoy (1:1)
• World of Hyatt (4:3 for Sapphire Preferred — see note above; 1:1 for Sapphire Reserve)

Verify current transfer ratios and any active transfer bonuses at chase.com/ultimaterewards before moving points.

Flight Plan

The June 2026 refresh didn’t reinvent the Sapphire Preferred — it filled in the gaps. The Global Entry credit plugs a hole that competing cards have had covered for years. Gas and vacation home categories finally make the earning structure match how people actually spend. The hotel credit offsets the annual fee on a single stay. Same $95 price tag it’s had since 2009.

Apply if:

• You want flexible travel rewards without a high annual fee
• You spend on dining, travel, gas, EV charging, or vacation homes
• You’d use a $100 hotel credit at least once a year
• Travel protections matter to you and you don’t want to pay $795 to get them
• You want access to one of the most flexible points transfer ecosystems in travel rewards

Think twice if:

• Hyatt is central to your hotel strategy — the 4:3 transfer ratio is a real step back, and the Sapphire Reserve retains 1:1
• You want lounge access — the Preferred doesn’t include Priority Pass or Chase Sapphire Lounge access
• You’re already getting strong value from a premium travel card and the overlap isn’t worth the extra card
• The 10% anniversary bonus was meaningful to your points math — it’s gone as of October 2026

Learn here how to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card