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Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Bank of America Travel Rewards: Which should beginner travelers get?

Editor's Note

If you're jumping into the travel rewards game, picking which credit card to start with can be overwhelming. There are a lot of competitive options, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

In this guide, I will walk through two popular beginner travel credit cards — the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card . Both offer an entry point into earning travel rewards, but which is best for your wallet?

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Bank of America Travel Rewards comparison

Before we dive deeper into how these cards stack up against each other, let's run through a quick overview of each card's details.

*Point value is based on TPG calculations and is not provided or reviewed by the issuer.

Sapphire Preferred vs. BofA Travel Rewards welcome offer

The Chase Sapphire Preferred clearly has a superior bonus in terms of value. You'll receive 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, which is worth up to $1,200 according to TPG valuations .

By comparison, you'll only get 25,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days of account opening (a $250 value) from the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card .

However, something to keep in mind here is the spending requirements. While you must spend $4,000 in the first three months to earn the Chase Sapphire Preferred bonus, you'll only need to spend $1,000 in the first 90 days with the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card.

At the end of the day, the value of the bonus doesn't matter if you can't reasonably hit the spending requirements. For those with smaller budgets, the Bank of America Travel Rewards sign-up bonus might be the more attainable (and therefore more beneficial) option — though be sure to check out our guide on reaching minimum spending thresholds for tips on how to hit a higher requirement.

Winner : Sapphire Preferred.

Sapphire Preferred vs. BofA Travel Rewards benefits

Neither of these cards is a premium travel card , which means they offer comparatively few additional benefits.

That said, the Chase Sapphire Preferred stands ahead in this category, as it does offer cardholders at least one complimentary year of DashPass service, which gives you $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash food delivery and takeout purchases (must activate by Dec. 31, 2024).

You'll also get a $50 annual hotel statement credit for reservations booked through the Chase travel portal, plus a solid lineup of credit card protections , including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, primary car rental coverage, baggage delay insurance, trip delay reimbursement, travel and emergency assistance services, purchase protection and extended warranty protection.

On the other hand, the Bank of America Travel Rewards card is much more limited, though — like the Sapphire Preferred — it is a Visa Signature card, so that will provide some benefits .

Earning points on the Sapphire Preferred vs. BofA Travel Rewards

Once again, the Chase Sapphire Preferred comes out ahead in the earning department. You'll earn 3 points per dollar on dining and 2 points per dollar on travel purchases, plus 5 points per dollar on Lyft purchases (through March 2025).

On the other hand, the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card earns 1.5 points per dollar across all purchases. However, preferred cardholders can boost this earning rate significantly. If you are an existing Bank of America customer with enough money stashed away with the bank to qualify for the Preferred Rewards program , you can earn anywhere from 1.87 points per dollar to 2.62 points per dollar on all purchases.

Those who are Platinum Honors Preferred Rewards members (meaning you'll earn 2.62 points per dollar on all purchases) might end up getting more value from earning this higher flat rate across all purchases in the long term.

Winner: Sapphire Preferred.

Redeeming points on the Sapphire Preferred vs. BofA Travel Rewards

Another major difference between the two cards is the redemption options.

The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card earns fixed-value points, like cash back on eligible purchases. You can redeem your Bank of America Travel Rewards points at a value of 1 cent apiece as a statement credit to cover travel and dining purchases. Otherwise, you'll get 0.6 cents value from each point by requesting a check or deposit from the bank.

With the Sapphire Preferred, you can redeem your points at a 25% bonus for travel when you book through the Chase travel portal, plus you get many more options when transferring points (see below).

Transferring points on the Sapphire Preferred vs. BofA Travel Rewards

The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers a lot more flexibility in its redemption options. You can transfer points at a 1:1 rate to one of Chase's 14 valuable transfer partners . At a minimum, you can get a 1.25-cent value from your points through the Chase portal, but transferring to the right partner could get you even more value.

While there's something to be said about the simplicity of Bank of America's redemption process, Chase still takes the cake with more potential value and flexibility.

Should I get the Sapphire Preferred or BofA Travel Rewards?

On paper, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is certainly the more valuable credit card. It comes with a higher sign-up bonus, a more robust earning rate (unless you are one of the few who have over $100,000 in eligible Bank of America banking or investment accounts to qualify for Platinum Honors Preferred Rewards status), more value and flexibility in redemption options and more travel protections.

However, that doesn't automatically mean it's the better card for you .

For starters, the Chase Sapphire Preferred comes with a $95 annual fee. While many will be able to easily offset that cost with the Chase Sapphire Preferred's earning rates and other benefits, beginners with small budgets may want to start with a no-annual-fee credit card like the Bank of America Travel Rewards card.

Something else to consider is that the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card is great for beginners who do not want to worry about maximizing redemption options or varied bonus categories. You're earning a flat rewards rate across every purchase, no matter what.

And then, those rewards can be redeemed at a fixed rate as a statement credit. It's simple and easy, which may appeal to beginners who feel overwhelmed at the idea of transfer partners and travel portal redemptions.

Bottom line

While both may be considered starter travel credit cards , each appeals to a different audience. For those who hope to build a robust travel credit card strategy and learn about how to maximize transfer partners and card pairings, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great starting place.

But if the thought of navigating transferring points to a specific airline and juggling different bonus categories and temporary perks makes you break out into hives, the simplicity of the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card makes it an excellent choice.

At the end of the day, it's all about deciding which type of travel credit card meets your specific wants and needs.

Official application link: Chase Sapphire Preferred

Official application link: Bank of America Travel Rewards

A dditional reporting by Madison Blancaflor.

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Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Sapphire Preferred: Sapphire Travels Better

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When you're left to choose between the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , your goals and lifestyle will determine the better option.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a well-suited candidate for those looking to pile up cash-back rewards for a $0 annual fee. It earns a modest 1.5% cash-back rate on all purchases and elevated rewards in categories like drugstores, restaurants and select travel.

But if you want to redeem your rewards toward travel, the $95 -annual-fee Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a better choice. Its travel perks and protections, lack of foreign transaction fees and strong sign-up bonus can take your vacation further. It offers 25% more value for your points when you book travel through Chase, and it unlocks the ability to transfer points to travel partners for potential outsized value.

Here’s how to decide whether to choose the Chase Freedom Unlimited® , the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — or both. (Spoiler alert: These cards make a perfect pair. )

» MORE: See NerdWallet’s best credit cards for travel 

At a glance

Why travelers will prefer the chase sapphire preferred® card  .

More perks and rewards toward travel 

The sign-up bonus on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card can offer more value toward a vacation than the sign-up bonus on the Chase Freedom Unlimited® . Points are also worth 25% more with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card when you redeem them for travel through the Chase portal. Plus, holding this card can unlock the ability to transfer your points to travel partners , which can yield even higher value. If you travel enough to make the most of the card’s perks, you’ll also be able to offset the cost of the $95 annual fee. 

The $50 annual credit on hotel stays purchased through Chase will get you more than halfway there and the ongoing rewards and bonus points on every account anniversary can potentially take care of the rest. If you're a frequent globe-trotter, you’ll also appreciate the savings that come with not having to pay foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad. 

» SEE: How to tell if a sign-up bonus is worth it

Travel benefits and protections 

You’ll want to make sure that your trip is protected if the unexpected derails your plans. With the Chase Freedom Unlimited® , you’ll only get trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and secondary rental car coverage . 

But the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card takes protections to the next level by offering trip cancellation and interruption insurance, primary rental car coverage, baggage delay insurance and trip delay reimbursement. 

» MORE: Trip cancellation insurance explained  

Though it's billed as a cash-back card, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® actually earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which can be redeemed for cash, gift cards or travel booked through Chase at a value of 1 cent per point.

Why the Chase Freedom Unlimited® could be more appealing for some

Travel perks at no cost 

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers plenty of perks for travel, but you’ll have to pay a $95 annual fee to get them. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® can offer an elevated rewards rate on travel booked through Chase and travel protections for a $0 annual fee. If you’re a less frequent traveler, you may appreciate the flexibility to earn rewards and protections for travel along with everyday spending categories.

A decent base rate on all purchases

When you’re not earning rewards in specific categories with the Chase Freedom Unlimited® , you’ll earn a decent 1.5x base rate on all other purchases. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , on the other hand, earns just 1x points on all purchases that aren't in boosted categories.

» MORE: See NerdWallet's best cash-back credit cards

Which card (or cards) should you get? 

If you appreciate having some travel perks for the occasional vacation, the duality of the Chase Freedom Unlimited® can offer some of the benefits of a travel credit card and an everyday credit card for a $0 annual fee. But, if you often travel internationally, you can’t beat the value you’ll get from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . The card’s long list of perks, travel protections and features easily make up for the $95 annual fee.

For even more value toward travel, consider adding both cards to your wallet. Use the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for the categories that are more rewarding with that card, and use the Chase Freedom Unlimited® for a base rate of 1.5 points per dollar spent for all other purchases.

Plus, you can move points earned from the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and make them more valuable: Either transfer those points to Sapphire travel partners or redeem them for travel through Chase at a 25% higher value. By pairing these cards, you'll earn more on your purchases and your points will be more valuable when you redeem them for travel.

» MORE: What is the "Chase trifecta"?

on Chase's website

1.5%-6.5% Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

$300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1%-5% Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Earn 5% on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.

$200 Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Travel Insurance – 10 Frequently Asked Questions [2024]

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Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Overview

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card remains one of the most popular travel rewards credit cards for numerous reasons. Alongside excellent earning rates and a fair amount of benefits that justify the $95 annual fee, the card also offers numerous shopping and travel insurance benefits.

If you’re like most people, you hear the word “insurance,” and your eyelids start feeling heavy. Let’s be honest: Insurance isn’t thrilling. The terminology can feel confusing, leaving you with many questions about what exactly the travel insurance on your Chase Sapphire Preferred card does and doesn’t cover.

You have questions, and we have answers. Here’s a simple look at your most common questions about travel insurance on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance . With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide
• $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Travel portal
• 6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
• Excellent travel and car rental insurance
• 10% annual bonus points
• No foreign transaction fees
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Before moving any further, let’s ensure you’re familiar with the long list of travel protections built into the Chase Sapphire Preferred card :

• Auto rental collision damage waiver
• Baggage delay insurance
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Travel accident insurance
• Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance
• Trip delay reimbursement

You’ll also enjoy several other cardholder benefits and protections beyond travel insurance :

• Extended warranty protection
• No foreign transaction fees
• Purchase protection
• Roadside dispatch
• Travel and emergency assistance

Some of the benefits seem more obvious than others. And, as with all insurance, there are always specific terms to understand, exclusions to mind, and coverage limits . Let’s clear some of those up.

1. What Flight Insurance Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Have?

When flying, you’ll have 2 types of insurance: travel accident insurance and trip cancellation and interruption insurance. Both types are in effect for trips for which you paid at least a portion of the cost with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card. Let’s look at each benefit.

Travel accident insurance applies to you and your immediate family members if one of you becomes permanently injured or dies while traveling. The cardholder benefit guide lists specific dollar amounts that you can be paid for specific injury types. The coverage is further divided into 2 categories: traveling on a common carrier and 24-hour coverage .

Coverage related to a common carrier covers both injuries and death resulting from your travel on a licensed air, land, or sea transport that regularly carries paying passengers . Think planes and ferries, for example. You’ll also be covered while at an airport, terminal, or station immediately before or after a trip, including courtesy transport to or from these places if provided as part of your trip. If your flight booking includes the airline picking you up from the hotel, this could be covered if all other conditions are met.

The 24-hour coverage applies around the clock and is valid on trips of up to 30 days. If you take a trip longer than this, coverage will end 1 minute after midnight on the 31st day, though it would come back into effect when you are in transportation to the airport for your flight home. If you drive yourself to the airport, coverage should resume once you are inside the airport .

This benefit reimburses you for the money you lose when a trip paid for (in whole or part) with your card is interrupted or canceled. Trip interruption is when you’ve started the trip and must end it early for a covered reason; trip cancellation applies to canceling a trip before it begins. The maximum benefit payout here is $10,000 per person and up to $20,000 per trip. Both the cardholder and immediate family members are covered.

Trip cancellation coverage begins when you make your first deposit toward the trip and ends when you depart on your scheduled departure date. Trip interruption starts on your scheduled departure date and ends on your scheduled return date. However, if these dates or times are adjusted for reasons beyond your or the carrier’s control, the benefit will adjust automatically .

What expenses are reimbursable? They include nonrefundable, prepaid travel expenses by a licensed supplier, such as a travel agency, hotel, shore excursion agency, etc. When canceling for a covered reason, you’re also covered for redeposit fees to get your airline miles back. Unfortunately, this benefit doesn’t cover lost money you paid for tickets to shows or theme parks, tee times at golf courses, museums, or other entrance fees unless they’re part of a tour package.

You’ll be covered for a few more situations with trip interruption coverage only . These include fees for returning a rental car early or to the nearest facility and up to $250 of expenses to transport you for necessary medical treatment. However, that doesn’t include medical transport (such as ambulances or medevac).

What if you paid with Chase Ultimate Rewards points and are due a refund under these benefits? You’ll be reimbursed according to the value on your travel supplier’s confirmation receipt, assuming that’s listed. If there’s no trip value listed on the receipt after you paid with points, you’ll be reimbursed at a value of 1 cent per point.

Covered Reasons

Not every reason for canceling a trip or ending it early is covered under these benefits. Covered reasons include accidental death or injury, a sickness requiring hospitalization, severe weather, a named storm warning, a change in military orders, a subpoena or call to jury duty, your home being burglarized or becoming uninhabitable, your hotel becoming uninhabitable, a public transportation strike that makes you miss 20% of a trip or a scheduled tour departure, and more. Consult the Chase Sapphire Preferred card benefits guide to see if your specific cancellation or interruption reason is covered.

Trip cancellation insurance doesn’t cover everything. For example, changing your mind about a trip is not covered. If your plans are subject to change, you may want to purchase Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) travel insurance .

This part is a bit confusing, but yes. Chase’s benefits guide for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card states explicitly that cruise lines aren’t included in the definition of a “common carrier.” However, cruise lines are included in the definition of a “travel supplier.”

Why does this matter? Many of the trip cancellation and trip interruption benefits only apply to travel with a common carrier, which doesn’t include cruise lines. However, some benefits do apply to cruises . These include stolen luggage benefits or even canceling a trip if delays mean you’ll miss at least 20% of the trip or that you’ll miss the departure of your cruise ship.

The travel accident and injury benefits also apply while you’re cruising, but it’s worth noting that returning late to your cruise ship, only to find it’s left for the next island without you, isn’t a covered expense. You’ll be on your own for the costs of catching up to your ship.

There are 2 types of baggage protection here: coverage for delayed bags and coverage for lost, stolen, or damaged luggage. Baggage delay insurance covers up to $100 per day for up to 5 days when your bags are delayed by at least 6 hours, covering each additional 24 hours past that until the maximum of 5 days is reached. This benefit applies to you and your immediate family members when you pay for at least part of your trip with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card. You don’t need to be traveling with your immediate family members for them to be covered , as long as at least part of their trip was paid for with your card, which can be a nice perk if you book travel for relatives.

Coverage begins on the scheduled departure date and ends on the scheduled return date, though coverage adjusts automatically if there are changes outside your or the travel provider’s control. There’s also a list of non-covered items, such as medical devices, losses due to war/conflict, electronics, and cash equivalents. In case of baggage delay, you must report it to the travel provid er as soon as possible and keep receipts for necessary expenses you incur ; you’ll submit these for reimbursement afterward.

Lost luggage reimbursement is different; it covers lost, stolen, or damaged luggage during your trip. Both checked and carry-on bags are covered up to a maximum of $3,000 per person per trip. However, there’s a limit of $500 for jewelry, watches, and electronics.

There are some specifics to understand about this coverage, however. First, it doesn’t cover items you leave behind by accident . Second, coverage applies to you and immediate family members (even if you aren’t traveling with them) so long as you paid for at least part of the trip with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card. Coverage is available from the scheduled start to the scheduled end of your trip, but it is automatically adjusted if there are uncontrollable delays to either date.

Coverage applies to common carriers and cruise lines, and you must report the loss, theft, or damage within the timeframe specified by your travel provider. Then, the coverage on your Chase Sapphire Preferred card will cover any difference in the value of your monetary loss (after depreciation of the items) and the payment you receive from the travel provider . Thus, this is secondary coverage. It’s worth noting that documents, furs, tickets, and cash-like items aren’t covered.

Accidents can happen on any trip, from accidentally slipping on the wet deck of a cruise ship to spending nights in a hospital at a far-flung destination. Does your health insurance at home cover you when you head to Florida? What about South America? These are questions worth asking. If your medical coverage won’t be in effect, it’s worth considering medical travel insurance .

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card includes travel accident insurance for you and your immediate family members . It’s in effect if you pay at least part of the airfare for your trip with this card. You’ll receive varying maximum payouts depending on the type of injury (or death) encountered during your trip, and the maximum limit also depends on whether the accident occurs while traveling on a common carrier or at some other point during your trip . The 24-hour benefit provides maximum coverage of $100,000, increasing to $500,000 when traveling on a common carrier.

But how does this work in practice?

If more than 1 person is injured , the benefits administrator will pay no more than 2 times the maximum limit for each type of injury. That sum will be divided among all covered persons eligible for benefits payments.

In case of death , the benefits administrator will give the money to your named beneficiary. If you haven’t named a beneficiary, the order of preference goes from a spouse or domestic partner to children, then parents, siblings, and finally, your estate. If you go missing and haven’t been found after a year, then this will trigger the “loss of life” benefit.

Coverage begins either when you reach the airport, station, or terminal for travel on a common carrier or when you enter courtesy transportation provided to take you to the point at which your trip begins, such as a train station or airport. If you didn’t buy your tickets in advance but are purchasing them when you arrive at the station, coverage begins once you make the payment for travel. Coverage ends after you leave the transportation vessel or exit the courtesy transportation provided afterward.

The 24-hour coverage functions a bit differently. It’s in effect around the clock for up to 30 days, starting from your scheduled departure for air travel. If your trip is longer than 30 days, coverage will pause 1 minute after midnight on the 31st day and resume when you reach the airport for a flight home or are in courtesy transportation to the airport for the flight home.

Obviously, there are exclusions. You aren’t covered if you’re a pilot or crew member on a flight, you get injured while committing a crime, you get injured while skydiving, your injury is self-inflicted, or you’re injured in a war.

Lastly, you may wonder how COVID-19 factors in . The benefits guide says this under covered losses: “Quarantine of you or your traveling companion imposed by a physician or a competent governmental authority having jurisdiction, due to health reasons.”

Thus, your illness could be covered if a doctor or government requires quarantine related to COVID-19. COVID-19 is generally covered under most travel insurance policies in the same way sicknesses are covered. However, not traveling to avoid COVID-19 risks isn’t covered. As the benefits guide says, “Your disinclination to travel, a country closing its borders, or a travel supplier canceling or changing travel arrangements due to an epidemic or pandemic.”

Hotels aren’t treated separately under the Chase Sapphire Preferred card travel insurance terms. If you must cancel or interrupt a trip for a covered reason, then your hotel cancellation fees can be covered. This would include situations like forfeiting a first night’s room cost for canceling your hotel booking at the last minute, assuming you couldn’t arrive for a covered reason, such as a travel delay or a last-minute injury that made you unable to travel.

While you won’t find the word “Airbnb” or even “vacation home” in the benefits guide, you will find a description that covers these types of rentals :

“Provider of Lodging – a hotel, inn, motel, bed and breakfast, or hostel; a Provider of Lodging includes non–commercial time shares, condominiums, or rentals of a private residence; such rental shall require a written contract between You and the property owner or management company, executed in advance of the commencement of the rental period …” Chase Sapphire Preferred card benefits guide.

So long as you’ve reserved your rental in advance and have a written contract — which Airbnb provides at the time of booking, courtesy of your confirmation details — your vacation home rental should count as a type of lodging. The contract must state the cancellation provisions, must not include a rental of more than 60 days, and your booking must be made directly with a licensed website or agent — not with the homeowner directly (unless that person is a licensed agent).

Airbnb is a covered lodging type, meaning your booking should qualify for trip interruption, trip cancellation, and trip delay coverage .

In short, yes. However, there are some exclusions. Since your personal auto insurance policy may not cover you abroad, it’s great to know that paying with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card and declining the rental company’s collision damage waiver can provide protection on your next rental .

You can be covered up to the actual cash value of most rental cars against theft or collision damage. Coverage can include administrative fees, loss-of-use charges, and even towing charges. Coverage applies to rentals up to 31 days and covers you plus any additional drivers listed on the rental contract .

You’ll need to use your card (or your points) to pay for the entire cost of the rental , and most vehicle types are covered by this primary insurance. However, coverage doesn’t apply to exotic or antique cars, high-value vehicles, cargo vehicles, motorcycles, RVs, or vans with seating for more than 9 people (including the driver). Note that Teslas qualify as high-value vehicles, so these aren’t covered .

The benefits guide doesn’t spell out any specific excluded countries . However, Visa typically excludes coverage in Israel, Jamaica, and Northern Ireland, plus you may not be able to use your card to pay for a rental (and thus coverage won’t be in effect) with U.S. Treasury Department monetary embargoes . These destinations include places where your credit cards won’t work, such as Cuba, Sudan, Syria, and North Korea.

Unfortunately, no. Because Turo and Zipcar rentals aren’t considered rentals from a rental car agency, most credit card rental car insurance doesn’t cover them .

To file a claim, you should first gather all of the documents related to your claim . These can include receipts, accident reports, police reports, photos, hospital records, or anything else pertinent to the type of claim you’re making.

Next, you can call the benefits administrator at 866-390-9735 or visit eclaimsline.com to submit online . Different claims have different required timelines. For example, auto claims must be filed within 100 days of the incident. However, you need to file within 90 days for baggage delays or losses, but you’re supposed to contact the benefits administrator within 20 days of these incidents to at least provide notice, even though you have 90 days to finish submitting the claim.

This question will be subjective, and different people will arrive at different conclusions. Travel insurance can be useful for the unexpected, but no 2 trips are equal. The best way to decide whether you need additional insurance beyond what the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers is to look at what it doesn’t cover.

Will you be skydiving? Do you have significant trip expenses related to Turo rentals or short connections that could cause domino effects if you miss a departure time? Are you renting an RV or going camping — types of travel not covered by the Chase Sapphire Preferred card?

If you have prepaid, nonrefundable expenses that wouldn’t be reimbursed by your credit card’s travel insurance in the event of delays or cancellations, getting a travel insurance policy that covers these could be a good idea and could provide peace of mind. That said, not every travel activity is covered by every travel insurance policy, so you want to make sure you choose a policy that covers your expenses for your particular trip .

If you look at your trip and decide that your flights, hotel plans, and simple plan of just relaxing at the beach will be covered by the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, then purchasing an extra policy probably isn’t necessary.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers numerous protections for purchases and trips. Insurance terms can feel confusing, but hopefully, the explanations of these policies should clarify what is and isn’t covered, as well as policy limits, in a way that helps you know whether the coverages are sufficient for your upcoming travels.

Want to learn more about what else this card offers beyond travel insurance? Consult our full Chase Sapphire Preferred card review .

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the chase sapphire preferred card have trip insurance.

Yes, it has several types of travel protections. Cardholders get rental car insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost and damaged luggage reimbursement, travel accident insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and trip delay reimbursement.

How to file a claim with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card travel insurance?

You can call the benefits administrator at 866-390-9735 or visit eclaimsline.com to submit online. Each claim type has different required documents and a different required submission timeline, so check your benefits guide for your specific claim type.

Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred card reimburse for travel cancellation?

Yes, you can be reimbursed for monetary losses of up to $10,000 per person and up to $20,000 per trip if you cancel for a covered reason. You’ll need to pay for at least part of your trip with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card, and the cancellation must be for a covered reason, such as death, injury, or being called to active military duty.

What insurance does Chase Sapphire Preferred card cover?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has several types of travel protections. Cardholders get rental car insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost and damaged luggage reimbursement, travel accident insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and trip delay reimbursement. Cardholders also get shopping insurance benefits, such as purchase protection and extended warranty protection, plus other benefits like roadside dispatch and travel and emergency assistance services (though these are pay-per-use benefits).

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About Ryan Smith

Ryan completed his goal of visiting every country in the world in December of 2023 and now plans to let his wife choose their destinations. Over the years, he’s written about award travel for publications including AwardWallet, The Points Guy, USA Today Blueprint, CNBC Select, Tripadvisor, and Forbes Advisor.

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Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel SM .

AT A GLANCE

Premium dining & travel rewards Earn 5x total points on travel purchased through Chase Travel SM , excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit. Earn 3x points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out. Earn 2x on other travel purchases.

21.49 Min. of (8.50+12.99) and 29.99 %– 28.49 Min. of (8.50+19.99) and 29.99 % variable APR. † Opens pricing and terms in new window

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60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel SM .

Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels (excluding The Edit℠) and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card review – The Points Guy

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the best-known travel rewards credit cards , featuring 5 points per dollar on travel booked through the Chase travel portal and Lyft purchases, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on everything else. These valuable points can be transferred to airline and hotel partners or redeemed directly for travel at a rate of 1.25 cents per point through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Card rating*: ????½ At TPG, we always get asked an important question from beginner travelers looking to plan trips: Which travel credit card should you start with? We almost universally recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card . It earns one of our favorite rewards currencies. It offers lucrative perks. It features a low annual fee. In fact, many of us started our journey into points and miles with the Chase Sapphire Preferred. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is designed for frequent and casual travelers. With a $95 annual fee, it's not an expensive card, which makes it an especially good choice for beginners. The card is currently offering a sign-up bonus of 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Here's what you need to know about the Chase Sapphire Preferred and why it's one of the best cards out there . Ready to get the card? Apply here for the Chase Sapphire Preferred With the Chase Sapphire Preferred , you'll earn a sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, enough to take you just about anywhere in the world you want to go. This haul of points is worth a minimum of $750 when redeemed for travel through the Chase portal, but if you maximize Chase's transfer partners, TPG's valuations peg the full value of the bonus at $1,200. Related: How to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards for maximum value The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a simple earning structure that is easy to maximize : Related: Why you'll want to pay the $95 annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Preferred When you're ready to redeem the points you've earned with the Chase Sapphire Preferred , you'll understand why the card shines. You can use your points to purchase airfare, reserve hotel rooms and even rent a car through Chase Travel — all at a fixed rate of 1.25 cents per point. That means you don't need to worry about blackout dates or finding award space; you'll always have the option to book travel using your points. As long as there's a seat for sale on the flight you want, or a hotel room available to reserve with cash, you can pay for it with your points. Just note that hotel reservations booked through third-party sites (including Chase Travel) typically won't earn points or count toward elite status qualification. It's possible to receive more than 1.25 cents per point in value by transferring rewards to Chase 14 airline and hotel partners . Some of the best Chase transfer partners include Hyatt , United , British Airways and Singapore Airlines for fancy hotels or plane seats. If you want to use the points from your Sapphire Preferred at a fixed value for something other than travel, consider Chase's Pay Yourself Back option . Cardholders can use points for a value of 1.25 cents apiece to cover donations to select charities (through Dec. 31, 2023) or a value of 1 cent per point for gas station and grocery purchases (through Sept. 30, 2023). Related: How to donate points and miles to help Ukraine In addition to the sign-up bonus, there are many appealing perks on the Sapphire Preferred. You'll receive a $50 statement credit on hotel stays purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal upon opening the card and each following cardmember anniversary. It's automatically applied to your account each year when you make an eligible charge. Note that the $50 credit does not earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Related: How to use the new $50 hotel credit on the Chase Sapphire Preferred Another change Chase added to the card is a 10% anniversary points bonus . Cardholders will receive a 10% bonus based on their total spending during the account anniversary year at a rate of 1 point for each $10 spent. For example, if you spent $100,000 on your Sapphire Preferred during your cardmember year, you'll receive 10,000 bonus points at the end of the year. Note that this 10% is calculated on the dollars you spent rather than the points you earned. You won't receive additional points by leveraging the card's bonus categories. The Chase Sapphire Preferred also includes at least one year of complimentary DashPass membership with DoorDash, which gives you free delivery and reduced service fees on eligible purchases (activate by Dec. 31, 2024). There is a cost associated with using food delivery services such as DoorDash, but this can be a valuable benefit if you already use the service. This card is an ideal choice to pay for travel bookings such as car rentals, cruises, plane tickets and hotels because of the comprehensive travel and purchase protections it affords. Among them, cardholders can expect the following: You can read more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred shopping and travel benefits here . Related: 7 Chase Sapphire Preferred benefits you might not know about Many worthwhile mid-tier travel credit cards exist, but only a few can go toe-to-toe with the Sapphire Preferred. If trying to decide, think about which one's earning formula suits your spending habit and which one's transfer partners you're more likely to maximize. For additional options, check out our full list of the best starter credit cards . The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. Read more: Chase Sapphire showdown: Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve If you're ready to move beyond cash-back or fixed-value travel rewards credit cards, there is no better place to start than with the Chase Sapphire Preferred . After its debut over a decade ago, it's still regarded as one of the best rewards credit cards . It earns some of the most valuable points and is flexible enough to meet the travel rewards needs of practically every points and miles skill level. It also comes with a low enough price tag for many to be able to give it a try. The Chase Sapphire Preferred continues to represent a solid value proposition for a wide swath of the public. So long as you're using the card frequently enough to get more than $95 in value from the rewards earned and benefits utilized, this card is definitely worth the annual cost. Apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred with an 60,000-point bonus. For rates and fees of the Amex Green Card, please click here . Additional reporting by Emily Thompson, Ryan Wilcox, Chris Dong, Stella Shon, Jennifer Yellin, Joseph Hostetler and Eric Rosen. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Better Together: How to combine Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for maximum travel rewards

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If credit cards were food, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card cards would definitely be peanut butter and jelly, respectively.

That’s because both cards start out perfectly solid on their own. Even if you never knew how to combine their powers, you’d be very happy using both on a daily basis. But once you discover how to make a PB & J sandwich, there’s no going back. You’ve discovered a treat that’s sweet, protein-rich and gives you an excellent excuse to eat Wonder Bread. 

It’s the same thing with the Sapphire and the Freedom Flex–combine them, and you’re in for a tasty treat that you wish you’d discovered sooner.

But what exactly is the “PB & J” of Chase rewards? Well, get your favorite white bread ready and let’s find out.

First, a little explanation of benefits…

Before I share the “recipe” to Chase’s PB & J, here’s a quick overview of both cards to provide some context.

Chase Freedom Flex - 5X rotating rewards

Here are the key highlights of Chase's peanut butter, the Freedom Flex card. 

• 5% cash back on activated bonus category purchases each quarter (up to $1,500 in purchases, then 1%) , with the categories for Q2 2024 including Amazon.com, hotels and restaurants. 
• 0% intro balance transfer APR for 15 months (intro balance transfer fee: $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days) on both purchases and balance transfers. 
• $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases within your first three months . 
• $0 annual fee

For more detail, check out our full review of the Chase Freedom Flex .

Chase Sapphire Preferred - a grab bag of travel perks 

In a similar vein, here’s a quick breakdown of Chase’s homemade grape jam, the ever-popular Sapphire Preferred card: 

• 2x points on travel purchases , plus 3x points on dining, 3x points on select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ and 1x points on other purchases. 
• 25% travel redemption bonus when you redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards points through Chase Travel (e.g. redeem 10,000 points, get $125 in value). 
• 60,000-point welcome bonus after spending $4,000 within three months. 
• $50 annual statement credit good towards a hotel booked through Chase Travel. 
• $95 annual fee

To learn more, check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred . 

Circling back to our “recipe,” notice how Chase is quick to point out that your 60,000-point welcome bonus is worth $750 in travel redemption–all thanks to that handy 25% redemption bonus. And if you think about it, that means the points you earn with the card are worth 1.25X towards travel, too. 

So in reality, as long as you’re redeeming points through Chase Travel, your rewards chart really looks like this: 

• 5X > 6.25X on travel booked through Chase Travel
• 3X > 3.75X on dining/online groceries/streaming
• 2X > 2.5X on general travel
• 1X > 1.25X on everything else

Those are some mighty impressive earnings rates, lending even more value to the CSP as a travel companion. 

But here’s the crazy thing: that 25% bonus multiplier applies to every Chase Ultimate Rewards point you earn, regardless of which card you earn it with . 

Here’s how it all works. 

Here’s how your Chase Sapphire Preferred account lets you earn 6.25X with your Freedom Flex card

In our Chase Ultimate Rewards guide we outline all of the dozen-ish ways you can redeem your hard-earned Chase points. From trips to back massages to cash back, there’s hardly a bad option. 

But perhaps the most underrated option is the Combine points feature. 

Combine points allows you to move Chase Ultimate Rewards points from one Chase card to another–meaning you can earn points with one card–and spend them with another. Another that has, say a 25% points multiplier on points redeemed for travel…

As you can see, the option only applies to Chase rewards cards that generate Chase Ultimate Rewards points. So the Prime Visa and the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card cards, for example, won’t appear here–but your Freedom and Sapphire cards will. 

Unlike a bank transfer, combining Chase Ultimate Rewards points is free and instantaneous. Plus, you can always move the points back if you wish (although I’ve never found a reason to move points from a Sapphire card back to a Freedom card).

Then, as soon as you’ve combined all of your Chase Ultimate Rewards points into your Sapphire account, you can go spend them at Chase Travel where you’ll get an extra 25% in value: 

This trick also works with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card where you’ll get 50% extra value (provided you’re cool with the card’s $550 annual fee). 

Now, while I heartily recommend this trick to most travelers I meet–especially if they already have both cards–you should know that it still comes with three big caveats. 

PB & Js aren’t perfect, and neither is this trick

Though delicious, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches aren’t perfect. They’re high in fat, sugar and carbohydrates, and unlike the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, they don’t travel especially well. 

In a similar vein, here are the caveats to the “PB & J of Chase cards”: 

• The Chase Sapphire Preferred card charges a $95 annual fee and requires a 670+ FICO score to apply. 
• With the Chase Freedom Flex, you can only earn 5% cash back on activated bonus category purchases each quarter (up to $1,500 in purchases, then 1%) (generating 7,500 Chase Ultimate Rewards points worth $93.75). 
• Hotel rooms booked using points typically don't generate any additional rewards or allow you to utilize your status benefits. 

But if you’re OK with these caveats, I hope you enjoy this simple recipe for tastier travel rewards. 

And for more tips to help you get off the ground–quite literally–check out our Beginner’s guide to travel rewards .

Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com