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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® and Chase Sapphire Reserve® are two of the most popular travel credit cards offered by…you guessed it: Chase. Which one is better for your travel needs?
Premium benefits
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
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Pros
- Welcome bonus
- Annual travel credit
- Airport lounge access
Cons
- Annual fee
- No intro APR
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a premium travel card with an impressive amount of additional benefits.
Powerful points
Chase Sapphire Preferred®
Apply at The Points Guy
Pros
- Welcome bonus
- Chase Ultimate Rewards® program
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Lacking in everyday rewards
- Annual fee
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the most enticing travel cards on the market, sporting a solid signup bonus and a universally accept rewards program.
When it comes to travel cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® and Chase Sapphire Reserve® credit cards are two of the best that Chase has to offer. We put them head to head to find out which one comes out on top as the travel card king.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Named the “Best Premium Travel Credit Card” for 2018 by MONEY® Magazine, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is still a contender for the title. Approved cardholders earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equivalent to $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Earn 3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit, 3X points on dining at restaurants, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
All cardholders get a $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year, access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select, and up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®.
| Rewards | 3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit | 2X points on travel and dining |
| 3X points on dining at restaurants | ||
| 1 point on all other purchases | 1 point on all other purchases | |
| Sign up bonus | 50,000 bonus points | 60,000 points |
| Fees | $450 annual fee | $95 annual fee |
| Interest Rate | 19.24% – 26.24% APR | 18.24% – 25.24% APR |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® powers up the points
Those who are looking to maximize their earning potential for travel will be happy with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card. It’s a credit card built solely for the purpose of travel and dials everything into making that experience better, from its signup bonus, its rewards categories, and its redemption options.
Signing up for the card will earn new cardholders 60,000 in bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Those points normally amount to around $500 in travel rewards, but you can take that up to $750 when you redeem through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® program. Their redemption program is well loved; Chase Sapphire Preferred was recently named the “Best Credit Card for Flexible Travel Redemption” by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance in June 2018, due to Chase’s lack of any blackout dates or travel restrictions.
After cashing in on one of the best signup bonuses in the industry, you’ll earn double the points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide and one point per dollar spent on all other purchases. When you’re ready to redeem those rewards, you’ll get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. There are no foreign transaction fees, but the card does come with a $95 annual fee, which is a small price to pay for frequent travelers.
Which one should you get?
Both of these cards offer easy to understand rewards programs with flexible redemption options that a host of different airlines participate in. For many, the best card will be completely dependent on which features matter the most to you and if the annual fee is justified.
Premium benefits
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
For those who want everything a travel card has to offer
Apply at The Points Guy
With an impressive welcome bonus and extra perks at the airport and TSA, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a great option for those looking for a wide range of benefits from their travel card.
Powerful points
Chase Sapphire Preferred®
For the travel hacker
Apply at The Points Guy
With its solid signup bonus and incredibly flexible rewards program, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best values on the market for travelers.
