6 Ways to Maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a Beginner (2025 Guide)
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!- The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the top beginner-friendly travel credit cards.
- You’ll earn strong rewards on travel and dining purchases—perfect for globetrotters and foodies alike.
- Points are worth more when you book travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- Valuable travel protections and transfer partners help maximize point value with minimal fuss.
- Learn the 6 ways to maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a beginner and set yourself up for smarter travel in 2025 and beyond.
Table of Contents
- Why Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a Beginner?
- 1. Hit the Welcome Bonus—and Use It Right
- 2. Book Travel Through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 3. Transfer Points to Best-in-Class Travel Partners
- 4. Stack Points on Travel and Dining Every Day
- 5. Use the Card’s Built-In Insurance Benefits
- 6. Add a Partner or Trusted Traveler as an Authorized User
- How to Plan This Trip the Smart Way
- HopStrip-Style Tips and Tools for This Trip
- FAQ: 6 Ways to Maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a Beginner
Why Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a Beginner?
If you’re just getting into points and miles, there’s no better launchpad than the Chase Sapphire Preferred. It hits a sweet spot: premium-enough to offer solid perks and earning power, but with a reasonable $95 annual fee and a user-friendly rewards program.
What makes it work so well for real travelers?
- 2x points on both travel and dining—two categories most travelers spend heavily on
- A valuable signup bonus (often 60,000+ points after meeting spending requirements)
- Access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, where points are worth 25% more
- The ability to transfer points to 14 top-tier loyalty partners like World of Hyatt or United MileagePlus
- Built-in travel protections like trip delay insurance and rental car coverage
These aren’t just bells and whistles—they’re practical benefits that travelers use frequently, especially on international trips or longer itineraries.
1. Hit the Welcome Bonus—and Use It Right
The ultimate starter move? Earning the card’s generous welcome bonus. As of late 2025, you can typically earn 60,000 to 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. That’s worth $750+ when booked through the Chase travel portal.
Use smart techniques to meet this spend quickly without buying random stuff:
- Prepay for upcoming hotel stays—search on Expedia or VRBO
- Buy gas cards or grocery store gift cards to spread purchases over time
- Pay utility or insurance bills (where providers accept credit card payments)
Pro tip: Once you earn that bonus, don’t waste it on low-value redemptions like gift cards or Amazon purchases. Either use them in the Chase Travel portal or transfer to a partner for maximum value.
2. Book Travel Through Chase Ultimate Rewards
When you redeem points directly through the Chase portal, your points get a 25% boost. That means 60,000 points are worth $750—not just $600.
You can book:
- Flights from hundreds of airlines
- Hotels (including boutique and chain brands)
- Car rentals, cruises, and even bucket-list tours
Use it for searching when planning trips to places like Europe, Southeast Asia, or national parks in the U.S. For example, you could use 20,000 points + cash to snag a round-trip flight to Mexico or a domestic hotel for 4–5 nights.
Consider pairing this with tools like Kiwi.com to compare cash prices before deciding whether to pay with points or cash.
3. Transfer Points to Best-in-Class Travel Partners
One of the most powerful features of the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the ability to transfer points at a 1:1 ratio to over a dozen travel loyalty programs. This lets you unlock high-value redemptions and luxury upgrades.
Popular Chase travel partners include:
- World of Hyatt: Excellent value for hotel stays (especially in Asia, Europe, and luxury U.S. properties)
- United MileagePlus: Great for saver-level flights within North America and worldwide
- Singapore KrisFlyer: Use points to book long-haul flights on Singapore Airlines
- Air Canada Aeroplan: Versatile for global Star Alliance bookings
Use this if you want to travel in business class, book aspirational hotels, or squeeze more value from your points than the standard Chase Travel portal can provide.
4. Stack Points on Travel and Dining Every Day
You’ll earn 2x points per dollar spent on:
- Travel (including airfare, hotels, rideshares, tolls, and public transport)
- Dining (cafés, restaurants, bars, and delivery services)
This means every meal abroad, Uber ride to the airport, or dinner date at home helps build your travel stash.
Tip for everyday earners: Set up recurring monthly travel or food subscriptions (like meal kits, Amtrak, or public transit cards) with the card. They’ll help build points steadily without extra spending.
5. Use the Card’s Built-In Insurance Benefits
Travel disruptions happen. One way to protect yourself without paying extra? Let the Sapphire Preferred do the work for you.
Perks include:
- Trip Delay Reimbursement (If your flight is delayed 12+ hours, get up to $500 for hotels/meals)
- Primary Car Rental Coverage (No need to buy the rental company’s insurance in most countries)
- Baggage Delay Coverage (Up to $100/day for essentials if your luggage is delayed)
For international or multi-leg trips, these perks are invaluable—and something most basic cards don’t offer.
6. Add a Partner or Trusted Traveler as an Authorized User
Authorized users don’t incur an extra fee, and their spending helps you earn points faster. If you’re traveling as a couple or with family, it’s a no-brainer. You stay in control of payments but get the added benefit of their dining, travel, and daily purchases feeding your points pool.
Combine this with shared trip planning to boost overall value—on flights, hotels, or even shared airport transfers like Kiwitaxi.
How to Plan This Trip the Smart Way
- Compare flight deals with a search engine like Kiwi to check cash prices before booking with points.
- Use the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal to book mid-range hotels or domestic flights when they offer good value.
- Transfer points to Hyatt or a trusted airline partner for luxury bookings (think 5-star hotels in Tokyo or business class to Europe).
- Track your progress toward the welcome bonus during the first 3 months—automate large bills if needed.
- Always book travel with your Chase card to activate built-in insurance perks.
- Redeem points wisely—avoid poor-value options like merchandise or bill credits unless absolutely necessary.
HopStrip-Style Tips and Tools for This Trip
At HopStrip, we believe in travel that’s planned smart—but also fun and spontaneous. Here’s how to think like a HopStrip pro with your Chase Sapphire Preferred:
- Combine destinations on one itinerary using point redemptions (e.g., split a Eurotrip between Lisbon and Paris by using transfer partners separately for outbound and return)—a classic points-move.
- Upgrade your travel gear using points bonuses: instead of gifts, redirect the value from points toward flights or stays, and cover your trip with travel insurance if you’re going abroad.
- Book flexible hotels via the Chase portal first, then hunt around for any deals on Expedia or Klook Hotel Deals.
FAQ: 6 Ways to Maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a Beginner
Q: How do Chase Ultimate Rewards points compare to cash back?
A: When redeeming through the portal, each point is worth 1.25 cents—more than many cash-back cards. They also offer outsized value when transferred to travel partners.
Q: Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred good for international travel?
A: Absolutely. It has no foreign transaction fees, strong travel protections, and earns bonus points on travel bookings—including overseas.
Q: Can I use points to cover part of a flight or hotel?
A: Yes. In the Chase Travel portal, you can pay partially with points and cover the rest with your card. This gives you flexibility if you’re a few thousand points short.
Q: Are Chase transfer partners worth using as a beginner?
A: Definitely—especially if you’re booking international flights or luxury hotels. Start with Hyatt, United, or Air Canada for user-friendly redemptions.
Q: What’s the biggest mistake beginners make?
A: Redeeming points for cash or Amazon purchases. These typically reduce point value by 30–40%. Always aim for travel redemptions instead.
Conclusion
Mastering the ins and outs of your travel credit card pays off—literally. These 6 ways to maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a beginner are built for real travelers, whether you’re chasing sunsets in Bali, train-hopping in Europe, or plotting your first post-pandemic bucket list trip.
With Chase’s high-value point system, transferable travel partners, and built-in protection perks, the Sapphire Preferred is more than just a credit card—it’s a passport to adventure. Use your welcome bonus wisely, earn daily with dining and travel, and book strategically through Chase tools or trusted partners.
Looking to plan your next great escape around this card? Start by checking cheap flight routes or locking in your first-night stay using flexible hotel options.
Now that you know how to maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a beginner, the world isn’t far away—it’s just a few smart swipes closer.
