Chase's travel card lineup rewards you for flights, hotels, and everyday purchases, but the card you pick depends on what you actually spend money on

Chase offers several travel credit cards, each built around a different spending pattern. The Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve are their premium cards — they earn points on all purchases and let you transfer those points to airline and hotel partners. The Chase United card, Chase Southwest card, and Chase IHG card are co-branded with specific airlines or hotel chains and reward you most heavily when you book with that partner. There are also business versions of most of these cards.

The real difference between them is not which one is "best" — it is which one matches how you travel. Someone who flies United every month gets more value from a United card. Someone who stays in different hotel chains and flies different airlines gets more from a Sapphire card. Someone who rarely travels but wants points for everyday spending might not need a travel card at all.

Key Takeaways

  • Chase Sapphire cards earn points on all purchases and let you move those points to dozens of airline and hotel partners, giving you flexibility if you don't stick with one airline.
  • Co-branded cards like Chase United, Southwest, and IHG earn the most points when you book directly with that partner, but earn less on other spending.
  • Annual fees range from $0 to $550 depending on the card, and the higher-fee cards come with credits that offset part of the cost if you use them.
  • Sign-up bonuses typically require you to spend a set amount in the first few months, and the bonus points are usually worth more than the annual fee in the first year.
  • Points can be redeemed for flights and hotels through the card's travel portal, transferred to partner programs, or used for cash back, though the value varies by redemption method.

The Sapphire cards: flexibility over loyalty to one airline

The Chase Sapphire Preferred costs $95 per year and earns 2 points per dollar on travel and dining, 1 point per dollar on everything else. The Chase Sapphire Reserve costs $550 per year and earns 3 points per dollar on travel and dining, 1 point per dollar on everything else. Both let you transfer points to over 40 airline and hotel partners at a 1-to-1 ratio, meaning 10,000 points can become 10,000 airline miles if you choose.

The Reserve card comes with a $300 annual travel credit that covers flights, hotels, rental cars, and some other travel costs — you get a statement credit when you charge these things to the card. It also includes a $120 annual dining credit at participating restaurants. If you use both credits, the $550 fee becomes $130 out of pocket. The Preferred card has no credits.

The choice between them depends on whether you spend enough on travel and dining to make the Reserve's higher annual fee worth it. Chase publishes no official breakeven point, but the math is roughly this: if you spend $10,000 or more per year on travel and dining combined, the Reserve's extra point per dollar usually covers the fee difference. If you spend less, the Preferred is probably the better deal.

Co-branded cards: maximum rewards with one airline or hotel

Chase's co-branded cards are built around loyalty to a single partner. The Chase United card earns 2 points per dollar on United purchases and dining, 1 point per dollar on everything else. The Chase Southwest card earns 2 points per dollar on Southwest purchases and dining, 1 point per dollar on everything else. The Chase IHG card earns 10 points per dollar at IHG hotels, 2 points per dollar on dining and travel, 1 point per dollar on everything else.

Each of these cards comes with an annual fee — typically $69 to $95 — but also includes a free night certificate or anniversary bonus that can offset the cost if you use it. The United card, for example, gives you an annual United Club Pass, which costs $100 to $150 if you bought it separately. The Southwest card gives you a free flight (up to 25,000 points) every year you renew. The IHG card gives you a free night at certain IHG properties.

These cards make the most sense if you fly one airline regularly or stay at one hotel chain consistently. If you book with that partner at least a few times per year, the annual bonus usually covers the fee. If you don't, you are paying for a benefit you do not use.

How sign-up bonuses work and what they are worth

Every Chase travel card offers a sign-up bonus — typically 50,000 to 100,000 points if you spend a certain amount in the first three months. The Sapphire Preferred might offer 60,000 points after you spend $4,000. The Reserve might offer 75,000 points after you spend $5,000. A co-branded card might offer 50,000 points after you spend $3,000.

The bonus is the main reason to open a travel card in the first year. A 60,000-point bonus on the Sapphire Preferred is worth roughly $600 to $900 depending on how you redeem it — that easily covers the $95 annual fee and gives you extra value. The catch is that you have to meet the spending requirement, which means either charging that much naturally or timing a large purchase (a car repair, a home improvement project) to hit the threshold.

After the first year, you pay the annual fee every year you keep the card. Some people close the card after the first year to avoid the fee, then reopen it later to get another bonus. Chase's rules on this vary — they may not let you get another bonus if you have received one in the past 24 months — so check their current terms before you plan to do this.

Annual fees and what you get for them

Chase travel cards have annual fees ranging from $0 (some co-branded cards have no fee) to $550 (the Sapphire Reserve). The fee is charged to your account once per year, usually on your card anniversary. You pay it whether you use the card or not.

Higher-fee cards come with credits and perks that reduce the true cost. The Sapphire Reserve's $300 travel credit and $120 dining credit bring the real annual cost down to $130 if you use both. The United card's $100 Club Pass benefit reduces its $95 fee to nearly nothing. The IHG card's free night certificate can be worth $100 to $300 depending on which hotel you use it at.

The question to ask yourself is straightforward: will I use these credits and perks? If you never eat at the restaurants covered by the dining credit, or you never take flights that may have access to for the travel credit, the card is costing you full price. If you use them regularly, the card pays for itself.

Earning and redeeming points

Points are earned every time you use the card. A $100 dinner on the Sapphire Preferred earns 2 points (because dining is a 2x category). A $100 flight earns 2 points. A $100 grocery purchase earns 1 point. Points accumulate in your account and never expire as long as the account stays open.

You can redeem points in several ways. Through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, you can book flights, hotels, and rental cars directly and pay with points. You can transfer points to airline and hotel partners at a 1-to-1 ratio (Sapphire cards only). You can redeem points for cash back at a lower rate — usually 1 point equals $0.01, so 10,000 points equals $100. Some cards let you redeem points for merchandise or experiences, though these are usually the worst value.

The value of a point varies by how you use it. A point transferred to an airline partner might be worth $0.01 to $0.02 depending on the flight. A point redeemed through the Chase portal might be worth $0.01 to $0.015. A point redeemed for cash back is worth exactly $0.01. This is why transfer partners matter — if you can move your points to an airline and book a flight that would cost $1,500 for 75,000 points, each point is worth $0.02.

Comparing Chase travel cards to other issuers

Chase is not the only bank offering travel cards. American Express, Capital One, Citi, and others all have travel cards with their own earning rates, annual fees, and partner networks. The choice between Chase and another issuer depends on which airlines and hotels you use, which earning categories matter most to you, and which credits and perks align with your actual spending.

Chase's main advantage is the size and flexibility of its transfer partner network — the Sapphire cards can move points to dozens of partners, which gives you options if your travel plans change. American Express's Platinum card has a smaller partner list but includes more travel perks like airport lounge access. Capital One's cards have no transfer partners but offer straightforward cash back, which some people prefer.

The best card for you is the one that rewards the categories you spend the most in and includes perks you will actually use. If you spend heavily on flights and hotels, a travel card makes sense. If you spend most of your money on groceries and gas, a cash back card might be better. If you travel rarely, the annual fee might not be worth it at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use my Chase travel card for flights and hotels to get value?

No. The Sapphire cards earn points on all purchases — groceries, gas, restaurants, everything. You earn points fastest on travel and dining, but you earn points on regular spending too. Even if you never book a flight, you can accumulate points and redeem them for cash back or transfer them to partners later.

What happens to my points if I close the card?

Your points stay in your Chase Ultimate Rewards account as long as you have at least one other Chase card that earns Ultimate Rewards points. If you close all your Chase rewards cards, your points are forfeited. This is why some people keep an old card open even after the annual fee kicks in — to preserve their points balance.

Can I get a sign-up bonus more than once?

Chase limits sign-up bonuses based on when you last received one. You typically cannot get another bonus on the same card within 24 months of your last bonus, and you may not be able to get a bonus on a different Chase card if you have received a bonus on any Chase card recently. Check Chase's current rules before you explore.

Are travel cards worth it if I only take one or two trips per year?

It depends on the annual fee and the sign-up bonus. If you get a 60,000-point sign-up bonus worth $600 to $900 and the annual fee is $95, you come out ahead in year one even if you take no trips. In year two, you need to earn enough points through regular spending to cover the fee. If you spend $10,000 per year on the card, you will earn enough points to justify keeping it.

Can I use my points for something other than travel?

Yes. You can redeem points for cash back, merchandise, gift cards, or experiences depending on the card. Cash back is usually the lowest value — 1 point equals $0.01. Merchandise and experiences vary widely in value. Travel redemptions through the portal or transfer partners usually offer the best value per point.