What Chase offers in travel cards, and how they differ

Chase makes four main travel credit cards: the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the Chase Ink Business Preferred, and the Chase United Club Infinite Card. The first two are personal cards; the third is for business owners; the fourth is co-branded with United Airlines. They differ in annual fee, earning rates, and what perks come with the card itself — not in how the points work once you have them.

All four cards earn points on travel and dining purchases. The Sapphire cards let you transfer points to airline and hotel partners, or redeem them for cash back at a fixed rate. The United card earns miles specifically for United flights and partner airlines. The Ink Business Preferred works the same way as the Sapphire cards but targets self-employed people and small business owners.

The real choice comes down to three things: whether you want a card with an annual fee (and what perks justify it), whether you fly one airline often enough to benefit from co-branded miles, and whether you need a business card or a personal one.

Key Takeaways

  • The Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee and earns 2 points per dollar on travel and dining; the Sapphire Reserve costs $550 annually but includes travel credits and higher earning rates.
  • Both Sapphire cards let you transfer points to 15+ airline and hotel partners, or redeem them for cash back at 1 cent per point.
  • The Ink Business Preferred works like the Sapphire Preferred but is designed for business owners and has no annual fee in the first year.
  • The United Club Infinite Card earns United miles and includes United Club passes, but ties your rewards to one airline.
  • Your choice depends on whether you value annual perks enough to pay the fee, and whether you concentrate your flying with one airline or spread it across many.

Chase Sapphire Preferred: Lower fee, flexible points

The Sapphire Preferred charges a $95 annual fee and earns 2 points per dollar on travel purchases (flights, hotels, rental cars, taxis, trains) and dining. You earn 1 point per dollar on everything else. The card includes trip cancellation insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and emergency medical and dental coverage abroad — benefits that matter if you travel internationally or take expensive trips.

The main draw is flexibility. You can transfer points to 15+ airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio, meaning 10,000 points becomes 10,000 airline miles. Or you can redeem points for cash back at 1 cent per point — so 10,000 points equals $100. This matters because some redemptions are worth more than 1 cent per point (a $500 flight booked with 40,000 points is worth 1.25 cents per point), while others are worth less. You choose based on what you find.

The card does not include travel credits or lounge access. If you spend less than $10,000 a year on travel and dining combined, the annual fee may cost more than the value you get back.

Chase Sapphire Reserve: Premium perks and higher earning

The Sapphire Reserve costs $550 per year but includes $300 in annual travel credits (airfare, hotels, rental cars, taxis, trains, parking, tolls), $100 in dining credits at participating restaurants, and complimentary access to Priority Pass Select lounges at over 1,400 airports worldwide. If you use the travel and dining credits, the net cost drops to $150 annually.

The card earns 3 points per dollar on travel and dining, compared to 2 points on the Preferred. On $20,000 in annual travel and dining spending, that extra point per dollar adds up to 20,000 additional points — worth $200 to $250 in value depending on how you redeem. The card also includes the same transfer partners and redemption flexibility as the Preferred.

The Reserve makes sense if you travel frequently, dine out regularly, or value lounge access. If you travel once or twice a year and rarely eat at restaurants, the credits and lounge access may sit unused.

Chase Ink Business Preferred: No first-year fee for business owners

The Ink Business Preferred is structured like the Sapphire Preferred but designed for sole proprietors, freelancers, and small business owners. It earns 3 points per dollar on the first $25,000 in combined travel and dining purchases each year (then 1 point per dollar after), and 1 point per dollar on everything else. There is no annual fee for the first year; after that, it costs $95.

The card includes the same transfer partners and redemption options as the Sapphire cards. The higher earning rate on the first $25,000 in travel and dining (3 points instead of 2) makes it more valuable than the Sapphire Preferred if you hit that spending threshold, even accounting for the annual fee in year two and beyond.

You need a business tax ID or EIN to open this card, though Chase also accepts a Social Security number if you operate as a sole proprietor. The card reports to business credit bureaus, not personal credit bureaus, so it does not affect your personal credit score in the same way.

Chase United Club Infinite Card: For frequent United flyers

The United Club Infinite Card earns United miles instead of transferable points. It charges a $650 annual fee and includes two United Club passes per year, $100 in annual United purchases credit, and a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year. The card earns 2 miles per dollar on United purchases and dining, and 1 mile per dollar on everything else.

This card makes sense only if you fly United regularly and value the Club passes. United miles are worth less than flexible points because you can only use them on United and its partners — you cannot transfer them to other airlines or redeem them for cash. If you split your flying across multiple airlines, the Sapphire cards give you more flexibility and better value.

The $100 United purchases credit (for flights, seat upgrades, baggage fees) and the two Club passes can offset some of the annual fee, but only if you use them. If you fly United once or twice a year, this card is not worth the cost.

How to compare these cards to your actual spending

Start with your travel and dining spending over the past year. Add it up. If it is under $5,000 annually, none of these cards make financial sense — the annual fees cost more than the rewards value. If it is $5,000 to $15,000 annually, the Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred (if you have a business) is likely the better choice. If it is over $15,000 and you value lounge access or travel credits, the Sapphire Reserve may be worth the higher fee.

Next, think about how you book travel. If you always book directly with one airline and rarely shop around, a co-branded card like the United card might work. If you compare prices across airlines and book with whoever is cheapest, the Sapphire cards' flexibility is worth more to you.

Finally, consider the perks you will actually use. Travel insurance, lounge access, and dining credits only matter if you use them. If you never eat at restaurants or never travel internationally, those perks add no value to you personally, even though they are listed on the card's benefits page.

What happens to your points if you close the card

Your points do not disappear if you close the card. They stay in your Chase account as long as you have at least one other Chase card open. If you close all your Chase cards, you have a grace period (usually 30 days) to transfer or redeem your points before they are forfeited. This matters if you are thinking about canceling a card after the first year to avoid the annual fee — you can transfer your points to a no-fee card before you close it.

Some people open a card for the sign-up bonus, earn the bonus, then downgrade to a no-fee Chase card (like the Chase Freedom Unlimited) to keep the account open without paying the annual fee. This preserves your points and your account history with Chase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use the travel credits on the Sapphire Reserve, or do they expire?

The $300 travel credit and $100 dining credit reset every calendar year, so they do not expire as long as you keep the card open. If you do not use them in a given year, you lose that year's credit — it does not roll over. The credit applies automatically when you book travel or dine at participating restaurants.

Can I transfer Chase points to any airline, or only certain ones?

The Sapphire cards transfer to 15+ airline and hotel partners, including American, Delta, Southwest, United, Hyatt, Marriott, and others. You cannot transfer to airlines outside that list. If your preferred airline is not a partner, you can redeem points for cash back instead at 1 cent per point.

What is the sign-up bonus on these cards?

Sign-up bonuses change frequently and vary based on current promotions. Chase typically offers 50,000 to 75,000 points on the Sapphire cards and 75,000 to 100,000 miles on the United card, but these amounts shift. Check Chase's website directly for the current offer before you open an account.

Do I need good credit to get approved for a Chase travel card?

Chase generally requires a credit score of 670 or higher, though approval is not may provide at any score. The Sapphire Reserve and United Club Infinite, which have higher annual fees, may have stricter approval standards than the Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred.

Can I have more than one of these cards at the same time?

Yes. Many people hold both the Sapphire Preferred and the Ink Business Preferred, or the Sapphire Preferred and the United card, to earn rewards on different types of spending. Chase does limit how many cards you can open in a set time period, but holding multiple cards is allowed.