when i open Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (See Rates & Fees) A year ago, I had no idea how quickly it would become my go-to tool for earning travel rewards, or how much value I would be able to unlock immediately.
Since then, I’ve used it to book international flights, solve unexpected travel problems, and learn how to extend points far beyond what I imagined when I first applied.
Whether you’re new to earning travel rewards or recently got the card yourself, here are six beginner-friendly ways to get the most out of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
RELATED: 15 years later, why the Chase Sapphire Preferred should still be your first rewards card
Use your welcome bonus to help pay for your next trip
Earning a welcome bonus is one of the easiest ways for beginners to start their points and miles journey, Chase Sapphire Preferred Gives new cardholders the opportunity to earn tons of Chase Ultimate Rewards points after meeting minimum spend requirements.
Because Chase Ultimate Rewards points offer strong value and offer flexible redemption options, welcome bonuses can stretch surprisingly far. A large number of points can easily pay for domestic round-trip travel, multiple nights of hotel stays, and even some international itineraries.
Currently, new card members can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first three months – the average monthly purchase is just under $1,670, which is a great deal.
If you transfer those points to one of Chase’s airline or hotel partners, the bonus would be worth about $1,538, according to TPG’s December 2025 valuation.
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When I got the 60,000-point welcome offer in 2024 (no longer available), I quickly accumulated points through everyday purchases and within a few months earned 100,000 points, which was enough to cover most of a three-week trip to Europe. Some of my redemptions include:
- Earn 15,000 points on nonstop flights from Washington, D.C. to Paris with Air France
- Earn 8,000 points on a direct SWISS flight from Zurich to Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Stay for three nights at IHG Hotel Indigo Florence Italy and earn 49,500 points
One of the most exciting parts of starting your travel card journey with Sapphire Preferred is seeing your points convert into flights and hotel stays. That first travel redemption showed me just how powerful a welcome bonus can be—especially when you start your points and miles journey.
Related: How I turned 100,000 Chase points into a multi-country trip in Europe
Use this card for daily purchases and continue to earn points
another reason is Chase Sapphire Preferred What makes it so effective for beginners is its simple, high-value income structure that covers the categories most people spend on a daily basis.
Some of its key yields include:
- Earn 5 points per $1 spent on travel booked through Chase Travel℠ (excluding purchases qualifying for the $50 hotel credit)
- Earn 5 points per $1 spent on Lyft purchases (through September 2027)
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery shopping
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on all other travel not booked through Chase Travel
- Earn 1 point per USD 1 on every other purchase
As a new cardholder, the easiest way to build a points balance is to use the card for everyday purchases.
In my first six months with the card, I made almost every purchase with it and saw my points balance grow rapidly – all from transactions I would have made anyway.
It’s a good reminder that you don’t need a complicated strategy or a wallet full of cards to maximize value. While you learn how the system works, consistently placing your regular spending on a strong card can be enough to build a meaningful points balance.
Related: I thought I would barely use my Sapphire Preferred Card, then it became one of my Preferred Cards
Take advantage of the card’s built-in travel protection
one of the Chase Sapphire PreferredThe most underrated benefit is its travel protection kit, which can save you hundreds of dollars if something goes wrong while traveling. These include primary rental car insurance, trip delay reimbursement, and baggage delay insurance—benefits that many first-timers don’t realize they have.
I learned firsthand the value of these protections after a minor accident in my rental car.
This is something you never think would happen, but because I paid my rentals with Sapphire Preferred, I knew that card’s primary rental car insurance would take care of any damage. In the end, I didn’t need to use this perk because I wasn’t wrong, but the peace of mind at the moment was a perk in itself.
Another standout feature of the card is trip delay reimbursement. If your flight is delayed by a qualifying number of hours or stays overnight, you can get reimbursed for basic expenses like meals and accommodations, greatly reducing the stress of an unexpectedly long travel day.
For a card with a modest $95 annual fee, these protections offer great value, especially when you’re traveling internationally, renting a car, or just want a little more security while you’re away from home.
Related: Chase Sapphire Rental Car Insurance: What’s Covered and How to File a Claim
Transfer points to travel partners for higher value redemptions
One of the most powerful features Chase Sapphire Preferred Ability to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio to more than a dozen airline and hotel partners, including United MileagePlus, World of Hyatt, Air France-KLM Flying Blue and British Airways Club.
With each Ultimate Rewards point currently worth 2.05 cents based on TPG’s December 2025 valuation, these transfers are typically where beginners unlock the highest value.
Transferring points can be intimidating at first—the first time I transferred, I hung over the “confirm” button longer than I’d like to admit—but the process is surprisingly simple. Once you do that, take advantage of the opportunity for flights and hotel stays, which would cost much more if you paid cash.
Transfer bonuses make this perk even better. For example, I recently took advantage of the Chase Air France-KLM Flying Blue 25% bonus, which meant I only had to transfer 15,000 Ultimate Rewards points to purchase an overseas flight that required 18,750 Flying Blue miles.
Moments like this highlight how far your perspective can go when you know how to take advantage of the right opportunities.
If you’re new to Sapphire Preferred membership, think of transfers as a next step skill – you don’t need to master it right away, but it can be incredibly rewarding as you become more confident in your points.
Related: How to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United MileagePlus
Booking travel made easy with Chase Travel
If you’re not ready to transfer points (or just don’t want to), the Chase Travel portal is one of the most beginner-friendly ways to use rewards. as a Chase Sapphire Preferred Card holders, you have access to Chase’s Points Add-On feature, which increases the value of your points when booking through the portal.
Through Points Plus, Sapphire Priority cardholders can redeem Ultimate Rewards points for up to 1.5 cents per person on select hotels and flights, and up to 1.75 cents per person for premium cabin flights on select airlines, all without having to know the airline or hotel transfer partner.
I recently spent three nights at a Hotel Indigo Florence, Italy using Chase’s points-adding feature—a booking that cost nearly $800 in cash. By using Chase Travel, I was able to book accommodations for over 49,000 points plus fees, getting solid value without the hassle of transferring points.
While transferring points can sometimes unlock higher value, the Chase Travel portal remains the most straightforward way to earn reliable, predictable points returns, especially for beginners or anyone who wants simplicity.
RELATED: I’m a Sapphire Preferred Card Holder: Here’s My Chase Travel Points-Boosting Strategy
Use perks to realize everyday value
In addition to the well-known travel advantages, Chase Sapphire Preferred It also comes with daily benefits that add real value even if you don’t travel often.
These benefits can help offset the annual fee and give beginners more reasons to keep the card in their wallet. Key benefits include:
- DoorDash Advantages
- Exclusive access to Chase offers
- Shopping and dining promotions
One of my personal favorite (and most used) perks is the free DoorDash DashPass membership, which is available through Chase’s partners through December 31, 2027 (depending on your activation date). Since DashPass typically costs $9.99 per month (or $96 per year), this offer itself covers the card’s $95 annual fee.
DashPass gives you $0 delivery and discounted service fees on qualifying orders over $12, plus 5% back in DoorDash points on qualifying pickup orders. Add to that the card’s 3 points per $1 spent, and you’re building up daily value: You save money while earning points that you can later redeem for travel.
When you combine these benefits with the card’s strong earn rate and solid travel protection, it’s easy to see why the Chase Sapphire Preferred remains one of the best entry-level travel cards for beginners.
Related: Your complete guide to Chase and DoorDash
bottom line
this Chase Sapphire Preferred Stands out as one of the best travel cards for beginners because it’s easy to use from day one, offers instant value, and offers the flexibility to unlock more as you learn about the world of points and miles.
Start with the basics, use them for everyday spending, explore the Chase Travel portal and take advantage of built-in benefits, then move into points transfer and more advanced strategies when you’re ready.
A year after opening the card, I’m still finding new ways to maximize it. For beginners, that’s what makes the Chase Sapphire Preferred a smart and reliable place to start.
To learn more, check out our full review of Sapphire Top Picks.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
