What the Chase Sapphire Preferred welcome bonus offers
The Chase Sapphire Preferred welcome bonus is currently 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening the account. Those points are worth at least $600 when redeemed for travel through Chase's travel portal, or you can transfer them to airline and hotel partners at rates that sometimes yield more value.
The bonus itself has no annual cost — you earn it just by meeting the spending requirement. However, the card carries a $95 annual fee that kicks in after your first year. This matters because the bonus alone does not cover that fee; you need to use the card's other benefits to make the annual cost worthwhile over time.
Chase changes the welcome bonus amount periodically, so the 60,000-point offer may differ when you explore. The spending requirement and timeline are also subject to change. Check the current offer on Chase's website before you explore, since the terms you see here may not match what is available to you.
Key Takeaways
- The welcome bonus of 60,000 points requires $4,000 in spending within three months and is worth at least $600 in travel value.
- You must pay the $95 annual fee starting in year two, so the card makes financial sense only if you use its travel benefits or earn enough ongoing rewards to offset the cost.
- Points can be redeemed through Chase's travel portal or transferred to airline and hotel partners, with transfer partners sometimes offering better value per point.
- The bonus offer changes over time, so you should verify the current terms on Chase's website before you explore.
How the spending requirement works
You have three months from the date you open the account to spend $4,000 and earn the bonus. This clock starts the day your account is approved, not the day you receive the card in the mail. If you open the account online, the three-month window begins when ready.
The $4,000 counts only purchases made with the card — not balance transfers, cash advances, or fees. Everyday spending like groceries, gas, and restaurants all count toward the requirement. If you spend $3,500 in the first three months, you will not receive the bonus; you must hit the full $4,000 to trigger the reward.
Many people meet this requirement through a combination of regular spending and a planned purchase they were going to make anyway — a flight, hotel stay, or home repair. Planning ahead for a large purchase you need to make can make the spending requirement easier to reach without changing your financial behavior.
Redeeming points for travel value
Once you earn the 60,000 points, you can redeem them in two main ways. The simplest is through Chase's travel portal, where you book flights, hotels, rental cars, and cruises directly. Each point is worth 1 cent, so 60,000 points equals $600 in travel bookings.
The second method is transferring points to Chase's airline and hotel partners, which include United, Southwest, American, Delta, Hyatt, and others. Transfer partners sometimes offer better value — for example, if you can book a flight worth $800 using 50,000 transferred points, you are getting 1.6 cents per point instead of 1 cent. However, transfer value varies by partner and by the specific booking, so you need to compare before you transfer.
Points do not expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing. You do not have to use them when ready after earning the bonus. This gives you time to plan a trip and find the redemption that offers the best value for your situation.
The annual fee and whether the card pays for itself
The $95 annual fee appears on your statement after your first year. You pay it every year you keep the card open. This is not a one-time cost tied to the welcome bonus — it is an ongoing expense of card membership.
The card includes benefits designed to offset this fee over time. You receive a $50 annual credit toward travel purchases made through Chase's travel portal, which cuts the net annual cost to $45. The card also earns 2 points per dollar on travel and dining, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases, so regular spending can generate rewards that add value beyond the welcome bonus.
Whether the card makes sense for you depends on your travel spending. If you spend heavily on travel and dining, the ongoing rewards plus the $50 travel credit can justify the $95 fee. If you rarely travel or dine out, the card becomes expensive to keep open after the first year, and you might close it after using the welcome bonus.
Comparing the welcome bonus to other travel cards
Other premium travel cards offer different welcome bonuses. The American Express Platinum Card offers 150,000 Membership Rewards points after $6,000 in spending, though it carries a $695 annual fee. The Capital One Venture X offers 75,000 miles after $4,000 in spending with a $395 annual fee. The Citi Premier Card offers 75,000 points after $4,000 in spending with a $95 annual fee.
The Sapphire Preferred bonus of 60,000 points is competitive but not the highest available. However, the card's lower annual fee and the $50 travel credit make the ongoing cost lower than some competitors. The best choice depends on your annual spending, which travel partners you prefer, and how much you value the card's other features.
If you are new to rewards cards or travel less frequently, a card with no annual fee might be a better starting point. The Sapphire Preferred is designed for people who travel regularly enough to justify the annual cost through the rewards they earn and the credits they receive.
Who should consider this card
The Sapphire Preferred makes the most sense for people who travel at least a few times per year and spend regularly on dining and entertainment. If you book your own flights and hotels rather than using a corporate travel program, the flexibility of Ultimate Rewards points and the ability to transfer to partners adds value.
You should also have good to excellent credit to be approved. Chase typically approves Sapphire Preferred applications from people with credit scores of 670 or higher, though approval is not may provide at any score. If your credit is still building, you might start with a card that has no annual fee and no high spending requirement.
The card is less useful if you travel infrequently, prefer a single airline, or rarely eat at restaurants. In those cases, a card with no annual fee or a card that earns bonus points in your specific category of spending would likely save you money.
Steps to take before you explore
First, verify the current welcome bonus offer on Chase's website. The bonus amount, spending requirement, and timeline can change, so what you see here may not match the offer available to you when you explore.
Second, check your credit report through AnnualCreditReport.com to make sure there are no errors that could hurt your approval odds. You can also check your credit score for free through many banks and credit card issuers.
Third, make sure you can meet the $4,000 spending requirement within three months without overspending or carrying a balance. If you cannot comfortably reach $4,000 in three months, you will not earn the bonus, and the annual fee will make the card expensive to keep.
Fourth, understand the annual fee and the $50 travel credit. Plan how you will use the card in year two and beyond so you know whether the ongoing rewards and credits will justify keeping it open.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get the welcome bonus if I have had a Chase Sapphire card before?
Chase has rules about how often you can earn a welcome bonus on the same card. Generally, you cannot earn a bonus on the Sapphire Preferred if you have received a bonus on any Sapphire card within the past 24 months. Check Chase's current rules before you explore, as these policies change.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your Ultimate Rewards points remain in your Chase account as long as you have at least one other Chase card open. If you close all your Chase cards, your points may be forfeited. Plan your card closures carefully if you have a large point balance you want to keep.
Do I have to use the points for travel?
No. You can redeem Ultimate Rewards points for cash back, gift cards, or merchandise through Chase's rewards portal. However, travel redemptions typically offer better value per point, so using them for travel usually makes more financial sense.
How long does it take to receive the bonus points?
Chase typically posts the welcome bonus to your account within one to two billing cycles after you meet the spending requirement. This usually means two to four weeks, but it can take longer. You can check your account online to see when the points appear.
Can I meet the spending requirement with someone else's purchases on my card?
Only purchases you make yourself count toward the spending requirement. Authorized user purchases may or may not count depending on how Chase processes them — check with Chase before you add an authorized user if you are counting on their spending to help you meet the requirement.