Best Chase Travel Credit Cards
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Are you a traveler looking for the best Chase credit card offer? Chase has a variety of different credit cards that are great for travel, including many co-branded options. However, there are just two consumer cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards®, a transferable point currency you can use to purchase travel, gift cards or get cash back.
Let’s take a look at the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, including each card’s welcome offers, unique benefits and annual fees.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Card feature | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Chase Sapphire Reserve® |
---|---|---|
Annual fee | $95. | $550 plus $75 for each authorized user. |
Earning rate on travel purchases | 5x total points on travel purchased through the Chase's travel portal. 2x on other travel purchases. | 10x total points on hotels and car rentals and 5x points on flights through Chase's travel portal. 3x on other travel purchases. |
Earning rate on dining | 3x points. | 10x total points on Chase Dining purchases through Chase and 3x points on all other dining. |
Other bonus categories | 3x points on online grocery purchases and select streaming services. 5x total points on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025. | 10x total points on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025. |
Anniversary point bonus | 10% of your total purchases in the previous year. | N/A. |
Point redemption rate through Chase's travel portal | 1.25 cents per point. | 1.5 cents per point. |
Travel credits | $50 in statement credits toward hotel stays purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. | $300 annual travel credit. |
Other travel perks | N/A. | Priority Pass Select. Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application statement credit every four years. Access to The Edit by Chase properties. Complimentary Lyft Pink membership for two years. |
Travel insurance | Yes. | Yes. |
Foreign transaction fees | None. | None. |
Other perks | Complimentary DashPass for at least one year through Dec. 31, 2027. | Complimentary DashPass for at least one year through Dec. 31, 2027. |
As you can see, the earning rate and benefits that these cards offer vary significantly. Let’s compare in detail the similarities and differences between these two cards.
Comparing the two Chase Sapphire credit cards
Welcome bonus
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card is currently featuring the following welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, meanwhile, offers the following: Get up to $1,050 in Chase Travel℠ value. Earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. That’s worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel. Plus, get up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel purchases within your first year.
Currently, the two cards have the same welcome bonus. However, Chase periodically offers even higher welcome bonuses — keep an eye out for these, as they’re typically valid for a limited time only.
» Learn more: Is it worth keeping the Chase Sapphire Reserve?
Annual fee
The difference in annual fee between these two cards is significant. As Chase’s most expensive card, you’ll pay $550 per year for the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
You will, however, receive a $300 travel credit each year on a wide variety of travel purchases. This drops your net out of pocket cost to $250.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is much less expensive; you’ll pay just $95 in annual fees for the card. It also comes with a $50 annual hotel credit if you book through Chase's travel portal, making your net cost just $45.
Redeeming Chase points
Both of these cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® that can be redeemed in a variety of ways. If you’re looking to transfer your points to one of Chase’s hotel or airline partners, you’ll always receive a 1:1 transfer ratio. This means that one Chase point becomes one hotel or airline point.
However, the value of your Chase point changes when you choose to redeem them for travel within the portal.
If you hold the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card, your points are worth 50% more, at 1.5 cents each. However, those with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card will only be able to redeem their points for a value of 1.25 cents each, or 25% more.
Perks that are the same
No foreign transaction fees.
Neither of these cards will charge you for using them overseas.
Travel insurance.
Both of these cards offer several different kinds of travel insurance, including primary rental car insurance.
Benefits unique to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
If you’re looking for a high-end travel credit card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes with plenty of perks to improve your travel experience.
$300 travel credit
One of the most generous travel credits offered by high-end cards, this comes in the form of a statement credit. In order to redeem it, you’ll simply need to charge eligible travel purchases to your card; you’ll then be reimbursed up to $300.
» Learn more: How does the Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit work?
Priority Pass Select membership
Priority Pass is a collection of more than 1,300 airport experiences, including lounges. Those who hold the Chase Sapphire Reserve® can take advantage of a membership that also provides access for two guests. Note that Priority Pass restaurants are no longer excluded with this benefit.
The Edit by Chase
The Edit by Chase (formerly the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection) offers cardholders elite-like benefits at a variety of high-end hotels. Perks you can expect include late check out, property credits and room upgrades.
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/Nexus credit
Like many credit cards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes with a credit towards Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership. In this case, you could also opt to use the credit for Nexus application fees, which can help speed your crossings to and from Canada.
Lyft Pink membership
Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders receive a free two year membership to Lyft Pink All Access. Perks of the membership include 10% of Lux rides, cancellation fee forgiveness, free Grubhub+, free unlimited 45-minute classic bike rides, free unlimited electric bike and scooter unlocks as well as discounted rates, and much more.
Benefits unique to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
$50 annual hotel credit
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card comes with just one perk that is wholly unique: a $50 annual hotel credit. This benefit applies to accommodations booked through Chase's travel portal.
Bonus points in select categories
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns 3 points per $1 on online grocery purchases and select streaming services. So if you're spending a lot in these categories, this is a good card to have.
10% anniversary point bonus
On each account anniversary, you will earn a 10% point bonus on all your spending in the prior year. So if you've spent $50,000 on the card, you'll receive a 5,000 point bonus.
» Learn more: The best Chase Sapphire Preferred benefits
What are Chase’s hotel and airline transfer partners?
Chase has a total of 14 hotel and airline partners to which you can transfer points:
All of these partners transfer points at a 1:1 ratio.
» Learn more: Chase Sapphire Preferred versus Sapphire Reserve
Final thoughts on the best Chase travel credit card offer
Although Chase offers a variety of credit cards, just two consumer cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. One of these options, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, charges a high annual fee in exchange for top-tier benefits like airport lounge access, an annual travel credit and access to The Edit by Chase Travel℠.
The other, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, comes at a more modest cost with equally modest benefits. While your earnings will still be strong, there is just one additional perk available to cardholders: a $50 annual hotel credit.
While both cards are excellent options for those looking to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards®, the card that’s right for you will depend on your own personal travel needs.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024:
Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
on Chase's website
1x-5x
Points60,000 Points + $300 Travel Credit
on Chase's website
1.5%-5%
CashbackUp to $300
2x-5x
Miles75,000
Miles