Due to Chase’s restrictions on credit card applications, the smartest way to establish a credit card strategy is to open a credit card from Chase and then switch to cards issued by other banks.
Such a limitation you may encounter is Chase’s 5/24 rule. This chase rule (which is not posted externally but is still very real) says that if you have opened five or more credit cards in the past 24 months, you will automatically reject the new card. This includes cards from other banks other than Chase.
If you are not familiar with the 5/24 rules, I highly recommend starting with this guide to see which cards are calculated and which cards affect.
The consequence of this rule (plus some of the best travel credit cards for chasing issues) is that those who are newbies travel rewards should start with Chase Cards before applying for other issuers’ cards.
Today, we’ll look at the best ways to use your five slots with Chase.
Which sapphire card is right for you?
The first thing to consider when building a multi-card strategy is which card will serve as your anchor. If you have to discard the rest, this is a card you will keep. It must be a card that offers powerful bonus categories, transfer points, and offers and benefits.
Chase offers two of the best anchor cards on the market, although you are only allowed to hold one at a time: the Chase SapphireReserve® (see Rates and Fees) and the Chase SapphirePreferred® card (see Prices and Fees).
If you are starting from scratch, in 99% of the cases we recommend sapphire preference or sapphire reserve as your first card. You can check out this guide to help you choose between a higher entry-level sapphire preference and a premium sapphire reserve, but here is a concise overview:
| card | Chase Sapphire’s preferred card | Chatong Sapphire Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $550 |
| Income rate |
|
|
| Welcome offer | Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 in your first three months of opening your account. | Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 in your first three months of opening your account. |
| Chasing the Point Value of Travel Redemption | 1.25 cents | 1.5 cents |
| credit | ||
| Lounge entry | N/A. | Club access to Sapphire Lounge and prioritize through membership |
| Other benefits | Free membership and credits with Doordash (activated by December 31, 2027) |
|
| Authorized user fees | $ 0 | $75 |
Related: Chase Sapphire’s preferred credit card review
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Free taste
Welcome quotes come and go, so you need a card that will give you good bonuses for functional day-to-day categories to keep these points down for the years to come. Chase offers two great cards in this category.
Although they are technically cash reserve cards, if you also hold a credit card such as Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, or Ink Business Prefinred® (see Rates and Fees) (see Rates and Fees) (see Rates and Fees) you can convert your rewards into a fully transferable ultimate reward points.
Chase FreedomFlex® (see Rates and Fees) and Chase FreedomUnlimited® (see Rates and Fees) have no annual fees, so you can stay open without paying anything and leverage the potential of all its revenue.
Freedom Infinity provides 1.5% of daily expenses in the long run without worrying. Freedom Flex’s first $1,500 spent on the Spinning Quarterly Bonus category (need to be activated).
The Free Resilience category rotates every quarter, but historically includes retailers such as gas stations; Internet, wired and telephone services; select streaming services; grocery stores; department stores; and restaurants.
You need to sign up for spin bonus revenue every quarter, but Chase (and TPG) will send you a lot of reminders. Additionally, Freedom Flex and Freedom Unlimited offer 5% refunds on Chase Travel’s travel purchases, 3% catering, 3% drugstores, and 1% other purchases.
Between the free and unlimited daily spending and the 5% bonus category of free elasticity, most people can include one or both of the cards in their rewards program.
Related: Credit Card Showdown: Chase Freedom Flex vs Chase Freedom Unlimited
The incredible value of ink business cards
Many people are in the early stages of building a credit card strategy, thinking they will not qualify for a small business card. Chase business cards do not count to your 5/24 total, but you must be less than 5/24 to get approval.
Although Chase is known to solicit documentation for your business activities (including but not limited to employee identification or billing proof that demonstrates business activities), if you have part-time or childcare services, selling products at eBay or Etsy or Etsy or other accompaniment activities, you may be surprised to find that you are eligible for a business credit card.
Don’t ignore Chase’s ink business credit card lineup or you may not be able to get it later. If there is any solution Get a Merc card and you might want one to round the perfect Chase Trifecta.
The annual fee for Ink Business Preferred is $95, and a 25% bonus is available when redeeming points through Chase Travel.
Cardholders can earn 3 points per dollar in the first 150,000 dollars of annual spending in the following categories: travel, transportation purchases, internet services, cable services, telephone services, and purchases through social media and search engines. Other purchases will generate 1 point per dollar.
For complete failures of all different ink business credit cards, make sure to check this guide.
Related: Commercial credit cards that are not calculated according to Chase’s 5/24 rule
Add an airline credit card
While your 5/24 slot machine top priority may be the ultimate rewards scorecard, Chase also offers many excellent mutual brand airline and hotel cards to choose from. If you have already obtained a sapphire card, a Chase Freedom Unlimited or a Freedom Flex, and a Merc or two, you should still have two or three spots left until 5/24. Next, you should check out Chase’s airline and hotel credit card lineup.
With an airline credit card, your first idea might be the airline you fly frequently. After all, credit card bonuses can help you earn Southwest Airlines’ companion pass.
However, airline mileage doesn’t necessarily have to do with the airline you are flying on your next holiday. While a credit card can help you get free check bags on your next flight, you can also use United Airlines Miles to fly on Lufthansa.
Which hotel card should you get?
You should also consider adding a hotel credit card to your wallet. While these cards are not usually a strong income from daily expenses, they can provide valuable benefits for your next hotel. These include benefits such as elite identity, free night awards and delayed checkout.
Many travelers prefer another hotel chain. However, if you’re starting from scratch, it’s worth reading these hotel plans guides to determine which might be the best for you:
Consider where you plan to travel and what hotels are there. Also, consider how these plans (and their associated credit cards) reward you with reward points, free nighttime awards, and elite status benefits based on your travel and spending habits.
Related: What to do after reaching 5/24
Bottom line
The Chase 5/24 rule may feel like a punitive limit at times, but it can help you narrow down the card field to pick from scratch first when you figure out your ideal wallet. You can mix and match bonus categories when appropriate, but remember that most people can only get one shot when applying for a chase card.
Therefore, you should choose a long-term guardian instead of wasting valuable wallet slots on rash applications.
Related: How to calculate your 5/24 station
