I have been on the earth of factors and miles for a very long time, and I have been requested extra occasions than I can rely which rewards bank card vacationers ought to get first.
My reply is nearly at all times the identical: Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card (see charges and costs).
The Sapphire Most well-liked has been round for over 16 years, however that does not imply it’s stale. In actual fact, it simply acquired a refresh that made it an even stronger card to start out with whereas retaining a low $95 annual charge.
Plus, for a restricted time, the Sapphire Most well-liked is providing 100,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Are you able to consider something that has stored the identical value for over 16 years but added much more worth? As a result of I can not.
Getting began will be the largest, scariest step. So if that is the place you’re in your rewards journey journey, listed here are 5 the explanation why the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked continues to be the cardboard I most continuously advocate to my very own family and friends members.
Earn 100,000 helpful bonus factors shortly
I promise I am not beginning right here simply because there is a limited-time provide. However it will be foolish to start out anyplace else, as a result of rewards are solely enjoyable for those who even have factors to make use of.
And the quickest strategy to construct a significant factors steadiness is with a powerful welcome bonus. Proper now, for simply the third time ever, the Chase Sapphire
To earn that bonus, you’d must cost a median of $1,667 to the cardboard every month for 3 months, which can sound like rather a lot at first.
Reward your inbox with the TPG Day by day e-newsletter
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
By signing up, you’ll obtain newsletters and promotional content material and conform to our Phrases of Use and acknowledge the information practices in our Privateness Coverage. It’s possible you’ll unsubscribe at any time.
However do not forget that on a regular basis bills rely. Groceries, gasoline, cellphone payments, insurance coverage premiums, medical bills and even some utility funds can all enable you attain the spending requirement. These routine purchases can add up surprisingly shortly and unlock a welcome bonus that TPG values at greater than $2,000 based mostly on our June 2026 valuations.
Get award factors which can be simple to make use of
Let’s discuss what makes the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked particularly beginner-friendly: the easy-to-use factors.
Use the factors for as much as $1,500 in flights and motels through Chase Journey
There are two fundamental methods to make use of Chase Final Rewards factors for journey, and the best choice is reserving straight via Chase Journey℠.
If you know the way to e book a visit via Expedia or one other on-line journey company, you already know learn how to use Chase Journey. You’ll be able to seek for and e book flights, motels, rental automobiles and extra utilizing both money, factors or a mixture of each.
At a minimal, your factors are value 1 cent every towards journey booked this manner. Nonetheless, choose motels and flights and experiences qualify for Chase’s Factors Enhance characteristic, which may enhance the worth of your factors to as a lot as 1.5 cents every.
Which means the present 100,000-point welcome bonus may very well be value as much as $1,500 in journey booked via Chase Journey.
Or, stretch your factors even additional with switch companions
In the event you’re prepared to study just a few extra rewards redemption tips, you’ll be able to doubtlessly get much more worth by transferring your Chase factors to one in all Chase’s 14 airline or resort companions.
You’ll be able to switch factors to packages equivalent to United MileagePlus, JetBlue TrueBlue and Air France-KLM Flying Blue for flights, or World of Hyatt or Marriott Bonvoy for resort stays, to call just a few. Relying on the way you redeem them, 100,000 factors can go a surprisingly good distance — whether or not that is a number of home flights, just a few nights at a resort or perhaps a business-class flight to a different continent.
Admittedly, utilizing switch companions requires somewhat extra analysis than reserving via Chase Journey. However that is a part of what makes Chase Final Rewards factors so interesting: You’ll be able to preserve issues easy, or you’ll be able to unlock much more worth as your confidence and curiosity develop.
The present Chase switch companions are:
Aer Lingus AerClubAir Canada AeroplanAir France-KLM Flying BlueBritish Airways ClubEmirates SkywardsIHG One RewardsIberia ClubJetBlue TrueBlueMarriott BonvoySingapore KrisFlyerSouthwest Speedy RewardsUnited MileagePlusVirgin Atlantic Flying ClubWorld of Hyatt
Chase Final Rewards factors on the Sapphire Most well-liked switch to those companions at a 1:1 ratio (besides Hyatt, which is 4:3) however generally go larger with occasional switch bonuses.
Because of this 100,000 Chase Final Rewards factors may develop into the equal of 100,000 United miles, Aeroplan factors, Marriott factors and the record goes on. That is helpful flexibility slightly than being locked into incomes and redeeming with one loyalty program.
The annual charge is low, and it has numerous helpful perks
Premium journey rewards playing cards can completely be value their annual charges. However for somebody simply getting began, it is comprehensible to hesitate earlier than signing up for a card that prices $795 and even $895 per 12 months.
That is another excuse the Sapphire Most well-liked is such a compelling place to start out. Its annual charge is simply $95, but it nonetheless affords helpful journey perks and rewards that may simply justify that value.
Some perks can shortly greater than offset the annual charge.
For instance, there’s now a $100 annual Chase Journey resort credit score that may greater than offset the $95 annual charge for those who use it. Cardholders also can obtain an software charge credit score value as much as $120 for International Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus as soon as each 4 years.
Extra Sapphire Most well-liked advantages embrace:
Complimentary Apple TV and Apple Music subscriptions for one 12 months (enrollment required via Chase Advantages & Rewards by Dec. 31, 2026)Robust journey protections, together with journey cancellation and interruption insurance coverage, journey delay reimbursement, and emergency evacuation and transportation coverageComplimentary DoorDash DashPass membership (activation required via Dec. 31, 2027)As much as $10 in month-to-month DoorDash credit for eligible nonrestaurant orders via Dec. 31, 2027
The Sapphire Most well-liked strikes a candy spot by delivering significant journey and different advantages and not using a yearly dedication to a pricier premium card.
Associated: The 8 greatest bank cards with annual charges beneath $100
Earn factors shortly
An amazing welcome bonus just like the one accessible now can get you began, however the most effective rewards playing cards proceed delivering worth lengthy after you’ve got earned that preliminary pile of factors.
That is one other space the place the Sapphire Most well-liked shines.
The cardboard affords robust incomes charges throughout quite a lot of on a regular basis spending classes — a few of which even rival or outperform playing cards with a lot larger annual charges.
5 factors per greenback spent on journey booked via Chase Travel5 factors per greenback spent on Lyft rides (via Sept. 30, 2027)5 factors per greenback spent on eligible Peloton tools and accent purchases over $150 (via Dec. 31, 2027)3 factors per greenback spent on dining3 factors per greenback spent on gasoline purchases and electrical car charging3 factors per greenback spent on choose streaming services3 factors per greenback spent on on-line grocery retailer purchases (excludes Goal, Walmart and wholesale golf equipment)3 factors per greenback spent on trip properties at manufacturers equivalent to: Airbnb, Vrbo, Plum Information, HomeAway, Homestay.com and Vacasa2 factors per greenback spent on all different travel1 level per greenback spent on every little thing else
What I particularly admire is that the classes are broad sufficient to seize how many individuals actually spend their cash. For instance, journey contains every little thing from airplane tickets and motels to subway passes and even some parking garages. Eating contains every little thing from high-end eating places to quick meals and DoorDash supply providers.
Since these factors are value 2.05 cents every (in response to TPG’s June 2026 valuations), you’re getting anyplace from 2.05 to 10.25 cents in worth per greenback charged to the cardboard, relying on the class you are spending in.
Associated: The ability of the Chase Trifecta: Sapphire Reserve, Ink Most well-liked and Freedom Limitless
It is simpler to get permitted when you find yourself newer to rewards playing cards
Final however not least, there is a sensible purpose to start out with the Sapphire Most well-liked. In brief, Chase makes it simpler to get Chase-issued bank cards earlier than you get too far into your rewards bank card journey.
Chase has an unwritten however well-documented rule that it usually will not difficulty a brand new bank card account after getting opened 5 or extra card accounts throughout all banks within the final 24 months. Informally, this is called the Chase 5/24 rule.
That appears simple sufficient if you’re used to solely getting a brand new bank card as soon as each few years, at most. Nonetheless, when you get into bank card rewards, it may be simple to make use of up these slots as you get an airline card, a resort card, and so on.
I’ve seen loads of vacationers understand they need a Chase card after they’ve already stuffed up these 5 slots and are pressured to attend earlier than they’ll qualify.
Associated: Here is who’s eligible for a Chase Sapphire Most well-liked
Due to this restriction, it is sensible to start out by getting a Chase card, just like the Sapphire Most well-liked, as one in all your first playing cards earlier than you run right into a wall with opening new Chase accounts for a while.
Associated: One of the best methods to fill your 5/24 slots
Backside line
When family and friends ask me the place to start out with incomes factors and miles of their on a regular basis lives, my reply is nearly at all times the identical.
The Chase Sapphire Most well-liked is straightforward to make use of, versatile and rewarding. It earns helpful factors, affords cardholders a number of methods to redeem them, comes with helpful journey perks and — importantly — nonetheless prices simply $95 per 12 months. I can not consider a lot much less that prices the identical because it did 16 years in the past.
And it definitely would not harm that proper now it’s providing its highest-ever bonus of 100,000 factors after assembly the spending requirement.
However even outdoors the large bonus, my recommendation could be the identical. In my expertise, the largest mistake folks make with journey rewards is considering they should do tons of analysis simply to get began. The reality is, you needn’t know every little thing on Day 1. You simply want to start out incomes factors with a card that is versatile, reasonably priced and rewarding.
The Chase Sapphire Most well-liked is strictly that. And 16 years after its debut, it stays one of many easiest entry factors into the world of factors and miles.
To study extra, learn our full evaluation of the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked.
Restricted-time provide: Earn 100,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening with the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card.
