You’ve probably seen the blue metal card. It’s everywhere. From the person ahead of you at the airport coffee shop to your friend who just booked a "free" trip to Tokyo. Honestly, it’s easy to get cynical about credit card hype. But the Chase Sapphire Preferred isn’t just some flash in the pan; it’s basically the gold standard for anyone who wants to travel without actually paying for it.
I’ll be real with you: the credit card world changed a lot in 2025. Annual fees across the industry spiked, and "point inflation" made some rewards feel like Monopoly money. Yet, here we are in 2026, and the Preferred is still the one I tell my sister to get. It’s the $95 card that punches like a heavyweight.
The Math Nobody Talks About
Most people look at the 60,000 or 75,000 point sign-up bonuses and think, "Cool, that's a few hundred bucks." They’re wrong. If you’re just using those points for cash back, you’re essentially leaving money on the table. In 2026, the real magic of the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the transferability.
Chase lets you move your points 1:1 to partners like World of Hyatt, United, and Southwest. I recently saw a Hyatt stay in Maui that cost 30,000 points but would have been $1,100 in cash. That’s nearly 4 cents per point. Suddenly, that sign-up bonus isn’t worth $750—it’s worth three grand.
But it’s not just about the big vacations.
The card earns:
- 5x points on travel booked through Chase Travel.
- 3x on dining (yes, including that late-night DoorDash order).
- 3x on online groceries and select streaming.
- 2x on all other travel.
It’s a workhorse for everyday life. You’re earning points while watching Netflix and eating tacos. That’s the dream, right?
Why the 2025 "Points Boost" Update Matters
Last year, Chase shook things up by introducing the "Points Boost" feature. Before that, your points were worth a flat 1.25 cents each in the portal. Now, with the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you can get up to 1.5 cents or even 1.75 cents on select "Boosted" flights and hotels.
It makes the portal actually worth checking. Usually, "pro" travelers tell you to avoid portals like the plague. They’re right—usually. But if you see a Boosted flight that gets you 1.75 cents per point without having to find "award availability" on an airline’s crappy website? Take it. It’s a massive win for people who don’t want to spend four hours on Reddit figuring out how to book a Lufthansa flight through a Singapore Airlines account.
The "Secret" Insurance You’re Ignoring
We need to talk about the insurance. Nobody cares about trip cancellation insurance until their flight to London gets cancelled because of a "named storm" and they’re stuck with a $2,000 non-refundable hotel bill.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred provides primary rental car insurance. This is huge. Most cards offer secondary insurance, which means you have to file with your own car insurance first (and watch your premiums skyrocket). With the Preferred, you decline the rental company’s overpriced coverage, and Chase covers the theft or damage. It saves me at least $20 a day every time I rent a car.
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Also, the trip delay reimbursement is a lifesaver. If your flight is delayed by 12+ hours or requires an overnight stay, Chase will reimburse you up to $500 per ticket for "reasonable" expenses. That’s your hotel, your dinner, and your toothbrush.
The Reserve vs. Preferred Debate
Look, I get it. The Chase Sapphire Reserve is shiny. It has lounge access. But it also has a $795 annual fee in 2026. Unless you’re living in an airport lounge, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred gives you the same 1:1 transfer partners for $700 less. It’s the smarter choice for 90% of people. You still get the $50 annual hotel credit (if you book through Chase), which basically brings your effective annual fee down to $45.
I’ve seen people complain that the Preferred doesn’t have a TSA PreCheck credit. Okay, fine. But you can buy TSA PreCheck for $78 for five years. Don't pay an extra $700 a year just to get a $78 credit. The math just doesn't work.
Real Talk: The Downsides
It's not all sunshine and free flights. The Chase Sapphire Preferred has some quirks.
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- The 5/24 Rule: If you’ve opened five or more credit cards (from any bank) in the last 24 months, Chase will almost certainly decline you. They’re strict.
- The "Online" Grocery Catch: The 3x multiplier only works for online grocery orders. If you walk into a Kroger or a Publix and swipe your card, you’re only getting 1x. It’s annoying. You have to use the app or do curbside pickup to get those extra points.
- No Lounge Access: If you’re a frequent flyer who needs a quiet place to work and free hummus, this card won’t get you into the Sapphire Lounges.
How to Actually Use This Card in 2026
Stop hoarding your points. Seriously. Points don't earn interest; they only lose value as airlines devalue their programs.
The best strategy right now? Use the Chase Sapphire Preferred for your daily dining and travel, then move those points to Hyatt. Hyatt is the last bastion of high-value points. While Marriott and Hilton have gone "dynamic" (meaning a basic room can cost 100k points), Hyatt still has a fixed award chart.
Also, keep an eye on the "Shop through Chase" portal. Sometimes they’ll offer 10x points for buying things at stores you already shop at, like Sephora or Nike. It’s the easiest way to top off your balance for a big trip.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your "5/24" status: Before applying, count how many cards you've opened in the last two years.
- Set up your "trifecta": If you already have the Preferred, pair it with the Freedom Unlimited. Use the Freedom for everything else to earn 1.5% back, then move those points to your Sapphire account to unlock the transfer partners.
- Download the Hyatt app: Create an account now so it's ready when you're ready to transfer.
- Review your streaming subs: Ensure your Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify are billed to the Preferred to snag that 3x multiplier.