👍 The Good Stuff
- ✅ Huge Bonus: 60k points is easy money.
- ✅ Transfer Partners: Move points to Hyatt or United.
- ✅ Insurance: Great rental car coverage included.
- ✅ Dining Multiplier: 3x points on dining, streaming, and online groceries.
👎 The Bad Stuff
- ❌ Annual Fee: Costs $95/year (not free).
- ❌ Slow Earn: Only 1x points on random purchases.
- ❌ Approval: You need a "Good" to "Excellent" credit score.
The Deep Dive
If you are looking to get into the travel points game, this is where you start. The Chase Sapphire Preferred (CSP) is legendary for a reason: it’s flexible.
How much are the points actually worth?
Chase advertises the bonus as $600 cash. Do not redeem them for cash. That is a rookie mistake.
If you use the Chase Travel portal, they are worth $750. If you transfer them to Hyatt for a hotel stay, they could be worth $1,200+.
Who is this card for?
- Travelers who want free flights but don’t want a $500 annual fee card.
- People who spend a lot on dining (3x points).
- Anyone who rents cars (the primary insurance saves you ~$15/day).
Who should skip it?
If you never travel, get the Citi Double Cash instead. Paying $95 for travel points you won’t use is just donating money to Chase.