Latest news with #UltimateRewards
CNET
5 days ago
- Business
- CNET
I'm Breaking Up With My Chase Sapphire Preferred. Here's Why the Love Is Gone
Chase will offer 1.25% boosted redemption on travel through October 2027. Viva Tung/CNET The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card* has saved me a lot of money on flights and hotels over the years. It was even CNET's best travel card and one of my personal favorites. But not anymore. Sadly, Chase recently removed my beloved 25% boosted redemption rate when booking travel through Chase Travel℠. Chase's Ultimate Rewards portal lets you redeem your points for travel, gift cards, experiences and even shopping. Sometimes, my points added up to a free round-trip flight, which was a game-changer. Chase replaced it with a Points Boost program, which offers a higher per-point value than the 25% bonus. Here's the catch: It's only for specific flights and hotels, and the deals periodically change. If you book travel for any other non-boosted offer, you'll earn a measly 1 cent per point. And I'm not happy about it. I guess you could say it's good that other money-saving card benefits are sticking around, like the $50 hotel credit and the 10% anniversary bonus points. But if I'm using more points to book with the new rewards program, the card and Chase travel portal both feel a lot less valuable. This big change might persuade me to swap cards. Let's walk through the program and figure out if the Chase Sapphire Preferred is still worth it for you. What is Chase's new Points Boost program? The new Points Boost program went into effect last month. However, any points earned before Oct. 26, 2025, can be redeemed under the previous rewards program for the next two years. But any points earned after Oct. 26 will be valued at up to 1.5 cents per point on select flights and hotels, and up to 1.75 cents per point on premium flights. However, the boosted offers will change. That can mean good savings if you're booking a first-class flight or find a good deal on a hotel, but the promise of a flat 1.25-cent redemption value regardless of the day or form of travel was an easy way for me to secure value. I'm glad I'll have two years to use my points as I have been. Points redeemed during this time will qualify for the Points Boost program, too. That gives some time to compare the value and savings. Why I'm not excited about Chase's Points Boost Chase's Point Boost feels like gambling for a travel deal. You may spend more points for the same deal you could get for less. Here's how the math shakes out. If I book an economy round-trip flight from Charlotte to New York's LaGuardia airport, I'll spend $179 or 14,316 points booking through the Chase portal. But if those points were redeemed at only 1 cent, I'd need 17,900 points. If I'm lucky enough to score a Points Boost offer that lets me redeem points at 1.5 cents per point for the flight, I'll need fewer points: 11,933. But the big question is, Will the offer apply when I'm ready to book, since offers are limited and can change? Where once there was certainty in landing a good deal, it now feels like it's up to Chase's whims to decide when I can earn more value and when I'll miss out. The Chase Sapphire Reserve's new annual fee isn't worth it, either The Chase Sapphire Reserve®* is Chase's premium travel card, and though it may seem like the next best choice if you're not happy with the CSP's changes, think again. The Sapphire Reserve could be worthwhile if you use the myriad of perks and annual credits attached to its steep $795 annual fee, but the Points Boost changes will apply to the CSR, too. Seeing that I'll run into the same problem with my points, the card's benefits and annual fee don't make sense for my wallet. I'm not breaking up with Chase yet, but it's complicated Although I don't like the new Points Boost program, it's not all bad. For example, I like that Marriott is a Chase travel partner, and I'm a fan of the card's travel insurance perks. But I'm on the fence. So is my colleague Evan Zimmer, a CNET money editor who's covered credit cards for eight years. He typically uses the Chase portal to book flights and has been able to score some savings. But he's not certain of his future with the CSP. "I'll keep the card for the foreseeable future, but the redemption changes certainly are making me reconsider it," he said. "I'll probably wait to see if I notice a big difference in savings." I'll likely do the same, but in the meantime, I'm shopping for new cards that are a better fit for my wallet and have a better redemption value than what Chase will give me, like the Capital One Venture X and the American Express Gold Card.
CNET
7 days ago
- Business
- CNET
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Isn't the Card I Fell in Love With Anymore. Here's Why I'm Moving On
Chase will offer 1.25% boosted redemption on travel through October 2027. Viva Tung/CNET For a while, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card* was CNET's best travel card. And it's been a favorite in my wallet -- until now. Sadly, Chase recently removed my beloved 25% boosted redemption rate when booking travel through Chase Travel℠, which is why I applied for the card in the first place. Chase's Ultimate Rewards portal lets you redeem your points for travel, gift cards, experiences and even shopping. But I mainly redeem my points in the portal for flights and hotels. Chase replaced it with a Points Boost program, which offers a higher per-point value than the 25% bonus, but only for specific flights and hotels that can periodically change. If you redeem for any other, nonboosted, flight or hotel, you'll receive only 1 cent per point. While the other card benefits are sticking around, like the $50 hotel credit and the 10% anniversary bonus points, the new rewards program makes the card less valuable than it was with the previous 25% redemption bonus. I'm not thrilled about Points Boost. It might even push me to swap cards. Let's walk through the program and figure out if the Chase Sapphire Preferred is still worth it. What is Chase's Point Boost program? The new Points Boost program went into effect last month. However, any points earned before Oct. 26, 2025, can be redeemed under the previous rewards program for the next two years. But any points earned after Oct. 26 will be valued at up to 1.5 cents per point on select flights and hotels, and up to 1.75 cents per point on premium flights. However, the boosted offers will change. That can mean good savings if you're booking a first-class flight or find a good deal on a hotel, but the promise of a flat 1.25-cent redemption value regardless of the day or form of travel was an easy way for me to secure value. I'm glad I'll have two years to use my points as I have been. Points redeemed during this time will qualify for the Points Boost program, too. That gives some time to compare the value and savings. Why I'm not excited about Chase's Points Boost Chase's Point Boost feels like gambling for a travel deal. You may spend more points for the same deal you could get for less. Here's how the math shakes out. If I book an economy round-trip flight from Charlotte to New York's LaGuardia airport, I'll spend $179 or 14,316 points booking through the Chase portal. But if those points were redeemed at only 1 cent, I'd need 17,900 points. If I'm lucky enough to score a Points Boost offer that lets me redeem points at 1.5 cents per point for the flight, I'll need fewer points: 11,933. But the big question is, Will the offer apply when I'm ready to book, since offers are limited and can change? Where once there was certainty in landing a good deal, it now feels like it's up to Chase's whims to decide when I can earn more value and when I'll miss out. The Chase Sapphire Reserve's new annual fee doesn't make it worthwhile, either The Chase Sapphire Reserve®* is Chase's premium travel card, and though it may seem like the next best choice if you're not happy with the CSP's changes, think again. The Sapphire Reserve could be worthwhile if you use the myriad of perks and annual credits attached to its steep $795 annual fee, but the Points Boost changes will apply to the CSR, too. Seeing that I'll run into the same problem with my points, the card's benefits and annual fee don't make sense for my wallet. I'm not breaking up with Chase yet, but it's complicated Although I don't like the new Points Boost program, it's not all bad. For example, I like that Marriott is a Chase travel partner, and I'm a fan of the card's travel insurance perks. But I'm on the fence. So is my colleague Evan Zimmer, a CNET money editor who's covered credit cards for eight years. He typically uses the Chase portal to book flights and has been able to score some savings. But he's not certain of his future with the CSP. "I'll keep the card for the foreseeable future, but the redemption changes certainly are making me reconsider it," he said. "I'll probably wait to see if I notice a big difference in savings." I'll likely do the same, but in the meantime, I'm shopping for new cards that are a better fit for my wallet and have a better redemption value than what Chase will give me, like the Capital One Venture X and the American Express Gold Card.
CNN
17-07-2025
- Business
- CNN
Your guide to earning and redeeming points in the Chase Ultimate Rewards program
CNN Underscored reviews financial products based on their overall value. We may receive a commission through our affiliate partners if you apply and are approved for a product, but our reporting is always independent and objective. This may impact how links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit to learn more. All information about the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of the most valuable travel rewards programs out there. Ultimate Rewards points can be earned with an impressive lineup of credit cards and can be used in a variety of ways. They are especially valuable when transferred to one of the program's many transfer partners, which can help card holders unlock a huge variety of travel opportunities. You can use them to book flights, hotels and everything in between. If you're new to the world of travel rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards is a great program for beginners. The points are relatively simple to earn from a wide range of credit cards, and there are a lot of options for redeeming them. You can also earn large amounts of Ultimate Rewards points from the current offers on some Chase cards, which can earn up to 100,000 points if you meet a spending target within a given time. Here's everything you need to know about the Chase Ultimate Rewards program. You can earn Ultimate Rewards points in various ways. Firstly, Chase offers some of the most lucrative credit card bonuses, enabling you to quickly earn hundreds of thousands of points that can then be used toward travel. Then there are category bonuses, meaning your points earnings are elevated for spending in certain categories. For example, with some cards, you'll earn 3 points per dollar spent on dining purchases, as opposed to 1 point per dollar. You can also take advantage of a referral program and of shopping online via the Chase shopping portal, among other ways to maximize your points earning. Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points from Chase credit cards The best way to earn Ultimate Rewards points is with a Chase credit card. Chase issues personal and business cards, which are split, in turn, into cards that directly earn Ultimate Rewards points and cards that earn cash back. Chase has three credit cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points directly: the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. They offer relatively generous new card member bonuses and lucrative category bonuses, although they all carry annual fees. In the case of the Sapphire Reserve, the annual fee was just raised to a whopping $795, although the card offers benefits that can make it worthwhile for people who are able to utilize them. As mentioned, there are also a number of traditional cash-back credit cards in the Chase portfolio. For example, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns 3% to 5% cash back on select categories and 1.5% on all other purchases. Keep in mind that those cash-back cards do earn Ultimate Rewards points, which can be redeemed for cash back at a rate of 1 cent apiece. But if you also have a premium Ultimate Rewards card, like one of the three mentioned above, most Chase cash-back cards allow you to transfer points freely between accounts. That will give you the option to redeem them for travel instead of cash back or transfer them to Chase's many transfer partners, including airlines and hotels. By combining Chase cards in your wallet, you can maximize the Chase Ultimate Rewards points you earn. For example, you can opt for a trifecta including the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Freedom Flex cards. With the Sapphire Preferred, you're locking in a high new card member bonus and great continued rewards on travel spending, while the Freedom Unlimited and Freedom Flex offer many bonus categories to maximize your earnings. This approach requires keeping track of which cards you're using for each type of spending in your budget, but it pays off with a higher number of points in your account. Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points by adding an authorized user Adding an authorized user to your Chase card can help you earn even more rewards. While Chase doesn't currently offer bonus points just for adding an authorized user, it's still beneficial. For starters, you'll double your earning power since you have another person charging their expenses to your card. Authorized users can also help you meet spending requirements in order to earn a new card member bonus. Before adding someone to your account as an authorized user, however, make sure it makes sense for you; while you'll be able to add the Ultimate Rewards points from their purchases to your account, you're also the one ultimately responsible for footing the bill. Ensure you're adding only family and friends whom you trust. Above all, pay off your bill each month, so you aren't incurring interest charges that would negate the value of the points you earn. Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points by referring friends Referring friends for a credit card can be lucrative. Simply head to Chase's referral page and select the card to which you want to refer your friends, then follow the instructions to get a unique link you can share. If your friend applies via that link and is approved for a card, you'll earn bonus points. Chase typically offers anywhere between 10,000 to 20,000 Ultimate Rewards points for referrals, depending on the card. Referrals are capped to five a year, but you can still earn quite the chunk of points by referring your friends for a Chase card. Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points via Chase Dining Chase Dining is an exclusive program that offers up to 10x points at participating restaurants for Sapphire Reserve card holders. Simply book and pre-pay your reservation, or order takeout, to earn 10 points per dollar spent. That's an incredible return on your spending and the highest category bonus offered by any Ultimate Rewards card. Do note that as of Oct. 26, 2025, the Chase Dining portal will be retired and replaced by Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables, which offers a credit of up to $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of the program. That's divided into $150 in statement credits from January through June, and another $150 from July through December. Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points by shopping online The Chase shopping portal offers some of the most competitive earning rates at hundreds of online merchants. The next time you shop online, simply log in to your Chase account, navigate to Ultimate Rewards and search for the merchant you want to shop with. Click the merchant link provided by Chase and do your shopping as usual. You'll earn bonus points, depending on the merchant, in addition to the rewards from your credit card. After you've earned the points comes the fun part: redeeming them! Redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards points is as simple as you want to make it. You can use points for statement credits or Ultimate Rewards travel bookings, or you can get fancy and transfer them to one of Chase's 14 travel partners, including 11 airlines and three hotel chains. Transferring points will typically get you the most value, especially if you use them for luxury travel. Redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points by transferring to travel partners Transferring Ultimate Rewards to one of Chase's 14 travel partners will get you the most value. You can redeem them for stays at all-inclusive resorts, international business-class tickets, domestic flights and more. But keep in mind that not all airline and hotel loyalty programs are equal. Ultimately, you'll want to research which program will offer you the most in return, depending on what your travel plans are. Like with the American Express Membership Rewards® program, you'll need to link your Chase account with your account on the transfer partner's site. You'll also need to search for award availability with the airline or hotel of your choice before transferring any points. If you're interested in transferring your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to a travel partner, these are your 14 options, as well as the transfer rates: Aer Lingus AerClub: 1:1 Air Canada Aeroplan: 1:1 British Airways Executive Club: 1:1 Emirates Skywards: 1:1 Air France/KLM Flying Blue: 1:1 Iberia Plus: 1:1 IHG Rewards Club: 1:1 JetBlue TrueBlue: 1:1 Marriott Bonvoy: 1:1 Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer: 1:1 Southwest Rapid Rewards: 1:1 United MileagePlus: 1:1 Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: 1:1 World of Hyatt: 1:1 Chase also runs transfer promotions for certain airlines and hotels. During those transfer offers, you can get more points than the standard transfer rate listed above. Bonuses like these can increase the value of your points by enabling you to book sought-after award tickets for substantially less. By transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to partner airlines, you unlock the ability to travel for next to nothing; in most cases, when redeeming points and miles, you'll just have to pay the taxes and fees on a ticket. This opens the door to flying experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. Keep in mind that the most obvious airline choice may not always be your best option. Airlines typically have extensive alliance networks, allowing you to redeem points for partner airlines through their respective programs. For example, Delta Air Lines and Air France/KLM are both members of the SkyTeam alliance, meaning you can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Flying Blue — the European carriers' joint loyalty program — and redeem them for flights operated by Delta. If you want to go the route of transferring your Ultimate Rewards points to a travel partner, note that some options are better than others, particularly when it comes to award sweet spots. Some of those sweet spots include the following: British Airways: 20,000 British Airways Avios, plus taxes and fees, for a one-way economy-class ticket between the West Coast and Hawaii on American Airlines. Iberia Plus: 34,000 Iberia Avios, plus taxes and fees, for a one-way business-class ticket between the East Coast and Europe. World of Hyatt: 21,000 World of Hyatt points for an off-peak free night at the all-inclusive Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta. Air France/KLM Flying Blue: 60,000 Flying Blue miles, plus taxes and fees, for a one-way ticket in business class from the East Coast to Europe. In general, you'll get the most value out of your Chase Ultimate Rewards points by transferring them to airline partners. But that may not always make sense for all card holders — and it's not your only option. Redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points via Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel If you want a hassle-free way to redeem your points for travel at a higher value than a statement credit (more on that below), then Ultimate Rewards Travel is the way to go. Currently, Sapphire Reserve card holders get 1.5 cents in value per point on Ultimate Rewards bookings, while Sapphire Preferred card holders get 1.25 cents. For the traditional cash-back cards, such as the Freedom Unlimited and the Freedom Flex, Ultimate Rewards points can be redeemed for 1 cent per point in value. This is being replaced, however, by a feature called Points Boost, which lets card holders redeem points for select travel bookings at a value of 1.5 to 2 cents per point, depending on the card. Existing card holders can redeem points earned until Oct. 26, 2025 at the current rates — those in effect before the introduction of Points Boost — until Oct. 26, 2027. Redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards via Chase Experiences Chase card holders can also redeem points for experiences, such as sports events or concerts. The redemption rate is lower, just 1 cent per point, but if it saves you money on an expensive pair of concert tickets, then it might be worthwhile. Head to the Chase Experiences portal to check out what's available. Redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for a fixed value Fixed redemptions aren't the best use of Ultimate Rewards points, offering about 0.75 to 1 cent per point in value. Considering that frequent-flyer website The Points Guy values Chase points at 2.05 cents apiece, that's far less than what they can be worth. However, fixed-value redemptions can be interesting in certain circumstances. For example, through a feature called Chase Pay Yourself Back, points are worth 1 cent each, with an exception: The holders of select Chase cards get 1.25 cents per point on purchases in some categories, which change quarterly. Log in to your Chase account or Chase mobile app, go to Chase Ultimate Rewards and select the Pay Yourself Back redemption option to see if your card is eligible for those elevated Pay Yourself Back rates. Chase card holders can also redeem points for merchant gift cards at around 1 cent each. The worst redemption value is using Shop with Amazon, which gives you just 0.75 cents per point, which is why we do not recommend using credit card points to shop with Amazon. Generally speaking, if you're looking to get the most value out of your Chase Ultimate Rewards points, redeeming for a fixed value is the worst option. But every card holder's goals for their points will be different, and even redeeming at 1 cent per point will save you cash. How much Ultimate Rewards points are worth depends on how you elect to redeem them. Generally, they're worth about 1 to 2 cents apiece. You'll get at least 1 cent per point when redeeming for statement credits and gift card redemptions. If you redeem your points through Chase Travel℠, they're worth 1.25 to 1.5 cents each, depending on which credit card you have. Where you can get the most value from your Ultimate Rewards points is with transfer partners. By electing to redeem your points this way, you can get well over 2 cents per point in value. Much like Amex Membership Rewards points, Citi ThankYou points and Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are so valuable because of how versatile they are. To extract the most value from them, you can transfer them to one of 14 airline and hotel partners for a luxurious experience that might otherwise be out of budget. At the opposite end, if you're looking to just save on your next statement, you can redeem them for a fixed value of 1 cent. This flexibility is part of why having Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be so rewarding. The following FAQs have been answered by CNN Underscored senior money editor and credit card expert Alberto Riva. How much are Chase Ultimate Rewards points worth? How much are Chase Ultimate Rewards points worth? The value of Chase Ultimate Rewards depends on how you redeem them. They can be worth well above 2 cents per point when transferred to partners such as airlines and hotel chains to book travel, or they can be worth as little as 0.7 cents per point when used for Amazon purchases. What is the best use for Chase Ultimate Rewards points? What is the best use for Chase Ultimate Rewards points? The best use of your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points depends on your goals. If you want to use them for travel, you have a vast array of choices at your disposal. For example, you can use them for long-haul flights in business class or for stays at luxury hotels. If you're looking to save cash, you can use them to offset all or some of your credit card statement — or you can choose several other options for your points. Flexibility is one of the main features of Chase Ultimate Rewards. How do you maximize the value of Chase Ultimate Rewards points? How do you maximize the value of Chase Ultimate Rewards points? The way to extract the most value from Chase Ultimate Rewards points is to transfer them to one of Chase's 14 transfer partners, which include 11 airlines and three hotel chains. Especially during periods when Chase offers a transfer bonus, this can get you well over 2 cents per point in value. CNN Underscored's team of expert editors and contributors carefully reviews credit cards, travel rewards and loyalty programs to help readers navigate changes and make informed financial decisions. Senior money editor and credit card expert Alberto Riva, who holds five Chase credit cards, has been collecting Ultimate Rewards points since 2017 and has redeemed them many times for numerous flights in business class across the Atlantic. For this article, he applied his years of industry knowledge and personal experience to ensure every detail is accurate and actionable. Our recommendations are grounded in real-world value, not hype, and backed by thorough analysis, expert insight and a commitment to clarity and transparency. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Forbes
23-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How To Book An Epic Trip With The Chase Sapphire Reserve
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. If you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve® in your wallet, you probably don't need any prodding to start daydreaming. This made-for-travel credit card is practically begging to be taken on an epic vacation. I should know: I've been earning and redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards® for 12 years, and the revamped Sapphire Reserve will make taking your trip up a notch even easier. Here's the world-class trip I would book that's currently living in my head rent-free. Earning Ultimate Rewards To Fund Your Adventure First things first—if you want to book an unforgettable trip with points, you'll need to earn a sizable balance before you can book anything. The Chase Sapphire Reserve makes this easy, with an exciting welcome offer of 100,000 bonus points, plus a $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. You'll also earn points for all your daily spending, with remarkable multipliers on travel expenses in particular. Earn 8 points per dollar on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠, 4 points per dollar on flights and hotels booked direct, 3 points per dollar dining worldwide and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. Pro Tip Use the Sapphire Reserve for everything travel-related, but you can earn points even faster by pairing it with other Ultimate Rewards credit cards that highlight other spending categories. For example, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns a minimum of 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases (among other rewards) with no annual fee, making it a great complement to the Sapphire Reserve. Piecing Together An Epic Trip To Europe Let's imagine a 10-day vacation to Europe, starting in Prague, stopping in Saxon Switzerland National Park and ending in Berlin. This represents a trip I would actually take and how I'd use the Sapphire Reserve to elevate my experience. Flying in business class can transform air travel from a necessary evil to part of the fun. Thankfully, the Sapphire Reserve has more than 10 airline partners, so you can transfer points at a 1:1 ratio to lock in an award flight instead of paying cash. I searched for options to Prague in October—my favorite time of year to travel to Europe because the crowds have died down but the weather's still good. I quickly found an assortment of one-stop options on Star Alliance airlines to this city I've been meaning to visit for years. But a nonstop flight on Delta caught my eye for its time savings: It was bookable with 76,000 Air France/KLM Flying Blue miles, an Ultimate Rewards transfer partner. Coming home, I specifically looked for flights from another city to add some variety to my trip. This time, I chose a connecting itinerary since it was more cost-effective. To balance both convenience and price, I opted for a transatlantic flight operated by Swiss International Air Lines. It cost 70,000 Air Canada Aeroplan miles and about $190 in taxes and fees per person, but with an Ultimate Rewards transfer bonus , I needed only 59,000 points. Business class flights typically include airport lounge access with your ticket. However, on trips when you don't have lounge access provided, you'll be happy to know the Sapphire Reserve includes lounge access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club network, over 1,300 Priority Pass locations and select Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafes when flying Star Alliance. Pro Tip Another great way to make your airport experience smoother is to apply for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck before traveling. The Sapphire Reserve even includes a credit toward application fees once every four years (to coincide with membership renewal timelines). World of Hyatt is known for being one of Chase Ultimate Rewards' most popular transfer partners, and it lives up to its reputation on this trip, too. The Lindner Hotel Prague Castle, a category 2 JdV by Hyatt hotel, costs as few as 6,500 points per night in October. That's a stellar price for a hotel with a prime location in the historic center. At that rate, you can afford to transfer points from Chase to stay several nights. While many travelers stick to cities when visiting Europe, I love to add in national parks. So for my second stop of the trip, I planned a few nights on the Czech Republic and German border, in an area known as Bohemian Switzerland on the Czech side and Saxon Switzerland in Germany. I very rarely see chain hotels (and therefore award nights) in small, rural towns. No problem: When you book travel directly, you can be reimbursed up to $300 per year from the Chase Sapphire Reserve's annual travel credit. Just pay with your credit card and the statement credit is applied automatically. For the final stop of the trip, I planned a few nights in Berlin, a city I've been dying to get back to. I'm normally easy to please when booking hotels, but if there's ever a time to splurge on a nicer property, it's at the end of the trip when some extra rest and relaxation may be called for. The Edit by Chase Travel, a curated collection of upscale hotels, is an awesome way to book these finer stays. Booking these hotels qualifies you for VIP treatment, including: Complimentary daily breakfast for two $100 property credit (usually valid toward dining, spa or other property amenities) Early check-in, when available Late checkout, when available Room upgrades, when available Free Wi-Fi And, with the Sapphire Reserve, card members can earn up to $500 per year in statement credits for bookings made with The Edit. That's on top of the perks provided directly by the hotel and is an easy way to subsidize a good chunk of your hotel bill. Pro Tip Another way to get extra value from your Sapphire Reserve is to redeem Ultimate Rewards points for reservations made in Chase Travel. Although most redemptions are only valued at 1 cent per point, some options labeled 'Points Boost' can stretch your points up to double that. Everyone likes a comfortable flight and hotel, but for me, travel is all about what you see and do while you're there. I usually have a good grip on what activities and restaurants I want to include, but you can also get custom planning help through the Reserve Travel Advisors benefit on your card. This service can help you piece things together and design an itinerary that fits your interests. The Sapphire Reserve makes it effortless to pay for everything along the way, too. There are no foreign transaction fees, and Visa cards are widely accepted worldwide, so you can feel confident that you'll have a reliable, affordable way to pay regardless of which country you're visiting. And tours booked ahead of time through Chase Travel earn a bountiful 8 points per dollar spent, helping you rebuild your rewards balance for the next trip. Pro Tip Check for opportunities to earn other statement credits while traveling, too. The Sapphire Reserve offers up to $300 in credits for qualifying StubHub purchases, like tickets to concerts and sporting events. You can also earn up to $300 per year toward dining purchases with Sapphire Reserve Tables. The Chase Sapphire Reserve also layers on robust built-in travel protections that can reimburse you if troubles arise during your trip: Trip cancellation/interruption insurance : Up to $10,000 per person, $20,000 per trip and $40,000 per year for prepaid, nonrefundable expenses. : Up to $10,000 per person, $20,000 per trip and $40,000 per year for prepaid, nonrefundable expenses. Trip delay reimbursement : Covers reasonable expenses up to $500 per person on delays of six hours or more (or if an overnight stay is required). : Covers reasonable expenses up to $500 per person on delays of six hours or more (or if an overnight stay is required). Baggage delay reimbursement : Up to $100 per day for a maximum of five days toward essential items when bags are delayed six hours or more. : Up to $100 per day for a maximum of five days toward essential items when bags are delayed six hours or more. Lost or damaged luggage reimbursement : Checked and carry-on baggage are each covered up to $3,000 for loss or damage incurred by a common carrier. : Checked and carry-on baggage are each covered up to $3,000 for loss or damage incurred by a common carrier. Medical evacuation insurance : Up to $100,000 for medical services and transportation if medically necessary emergency evacuation is required. : Up to $100,000 for medical services and transportation if medically necessary emergency evacuation is required. Travel accident insurance : Up to $1 million in the event of death or dismemberment while a passenger is on a common carrier. : Up to $1 million in the event of death or dismemberment while a passenger is on a common carrier. Emergency medical and dental benefit : Secondary coverage up to $2,500 for emergency medical or dental treatment, subject to a $50 deductible. : Secondary coverage up to $2,500 for emergency medical or dental treatment, subject to a $50 deductible. Auto rental coverage: Primary insurance provides reimbursement of up to $75,000 for damages caused by theft or collision. The Chase Sapphire Reserve can unlock travel experiences you otherwise might not be willing to splurge on through its generous rewards program and long list of credits and perks. Once you're familiar with your Sapphire Reserve benefits , you can strategically leverage them to design the trip you want—all without breaking the bank.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Earn up to 200,000 points with the updated Sapphire Reserve and new Sapphire Reserve for Business cards
Chase is offering elevated welcome offers on its Sapphire Reserve cards, including the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the brand new Sapphire Reserve for Business: Chase Sapphire Reserve: Receive 100,000 points and a $500 Chase Travel credit after spending $5,000 in the first three months. Sapphire Reserve for Business: Earn 200,000 points after spending $30,000 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. These huge sign-up bonuses follow Chase's announcement of massive updates to its flagship premium travel credit card, the Sapphire Reserve. The Sapphire Reserve updates include a slew of new features and benefits, as well as an annual fee increase to $795. Read more about the new Chase Sapphire card eligibility requirements to see if you qualify for a Chase Sapphire welcome bonus. We calculate the value of Chase Ultimate Rewards points to be about 2.05 cents per point. That means 100,000 Chase points would be worth about $2,050 and 200,000 points would be worth about $4,100. Keep in mind that you can redeem Chase points for a number of different things, but these values are based on redeeming your points for travel. Specifically, you can often get the best value from Chase points by transferring them to certain travel partners, such as World of Hyatt or Air Canada Aeroplan, for high-value redemptions. You can transfer Chase points to your World of Hyatt account and redeem them toward Hyatt stays. A standard night at a Category 1 Hyatt hotel costs between 3,500 to 6,500 points. In the example above, you can stay 20 nights at the Hyatt Place Los Cabos — which is minutes from the beach and offers free breakfast — for less than 100,000 points. That's an excellent way to spend a few weeks if you have the time to spare and like Los Cabos. It's also a great way to work toward earning or maintaining World of Hyatt elite status. You can often get great redemption value by transferring Chase points to certain airline partners and booking premium (first or business class) flights. You should have a specific redemption already in mind, on hold if possible, before transferring your points to a partner, since you can't transfer them back. In the example above, you can book a business class flight with Emirates from New York (JFK) to Milan (MXP) for 87,000 miles plus $101.50 in taxes and fees. The cash price for this flight is $5,778, which gives you a redemption value of about a whopping 6.5 cents per point. You can also get excellent redemption value by redeeming your points toward luxurious hotel stays. For example, this one-night stay at the Park Hyatt Vienna costs $1,005.69 or 30,000 points. Redeeming your points on this stay would give you a value of about 3.4 cents per point, which is well above updated Chase Sapphire Reserve is chock-full of benefits, including loads of new credits that can help offset the increased annual fee. If the credits align with your travel habits and preferences, you should be able to get more than enough value to make the card worth it. If the credits seem too complicated to use, consider other travel credit cards with more straightforward benefits. The Sapphire Reserve for Business makes sense if you can leverage its rewards and benefits for full value as a small business owner. Part of having a premium travel card is traveling enough to use perks like airport lounge access and Lyft credits. With the business card, you also have access to business-related credits from ZipRecruiter and Google Workspace. If you're not sure whether you can get value from these credits, you might want to consider a different business credit card. The Sapphire Reserve cards only make sense if you're willing to pay a hefty annual fee. If you're not, consider no-annual-fee credit cards or other travel cards with lower annual fees. These cards have plenty of valuable benefits, but they aren't always the easiest to use, especially with complicated credits. Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to the Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank's website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
