Premium Travel Cards
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The crown jewel of Chase's lineup offers premium benefits for frequent travelers:
- 3x points on travel and dining
- $300 annual travel credit
- 50% more value when redeeming through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Priority Pass™ Select membership
- TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry credit
- $550 annual fee
Chase Sapphire Preferred®
A more accessible travel card with a modest $95 annual fee:
- Sign-Up Bonus: 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in first 3 months
- 2x points on travel and dining
- 25% more value when redeeming through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- No foreign transaction fees
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
- Primary rental car insurance
Cash Back Options
Chase Freedom Flex℠
Perfect for maximizing rotating rewards with no annual fee:
- $200 bonus after spending $500 in first 3 months
- 5% cash back on quarterly rotating categories (up to $1,500)
- 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 3% on dining and drugstores
- 1% on all other purchases
Visit Chase's Freedom category calendar to view current bonus categories.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Ideal for simplicity seekers:
- Additional 1.5% on everything (up to $20,000 spent in first year)
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- 3% on dining and drugstores
- 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- $0 annual fee
- 0% intro APR for 15 months
Business Credit Cards
Ink Business Preferred®
Designed for small business owners who:
- Travel frequently
- Advertise online
- Ship products
- Use phone services
Earn 3x points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in these categories annually.
The Ultimate Rewards® Ecosystem
One of Chase's biggest advantages is the ability to combine points across cards. For maximum value, consider pairing cards:
Pro Tip: Combine the Freedom Flex℠ or Freedom Unlimited® with a Sapphire card to transfer points to travel partners like United Airlines, Hyatt, and Southwest.
How to Choose
Consider these factors when selecting a Chase credit card:
- Annual fee tolerance
- Travel frequency
- Spending patterns
- Reward preferences
Application Requirements
Most Chase cards require:
- Good to excellent credit (typically 670+)
- Compliance with the 5/24 rule (fewer than 5 new credit cards in 24 months)
Bottom Line
- Best for Luxury Travel: Sapphire Reserve®
- Best for Occasional Travel: Sapphire Preferred®
- Best for Cash Back: Freedom Flex℠
- Best for Simplicity: Freedom Unlimited®
- Best for Business: Ink Business Preferred®
Remember to check Chase's current offers for the latest sign-up bonuses and terms, as these can significantly impact the initial value proposition of each card.