The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) was one of the first rewards cards I ever got, and it remains a staple in my wallet. For years, I’ve used it to earn valuable transferable points on travel, dining and groceries.
If you just got your Chase Sapphire Preferred, there are a few things I’d do immediately. Some take less than a minute, and together they’ll help you earn more points, activate valuable benefits and avoid forgetting perks you’ll wish you’d used later.
Make it your default travel card, including vacation homes
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the card to use for travel purchases.
First, it earns 3 points per dollar spent on vacation homes at these top brands: Airbnb, Vrbo, Plum Guide, HomeAway, Homestay.com and Vacasa. TPG credit cards writer Stephanie Stevens has stayed in over 60 Airbnbs, so this earning rate makes the Sapphire Preferred one of her go-to travel cards.
Plus, the Sapphire Preferred earns at least 2 points per dollar spent on all travel purchases. Chase defines travel very broadly, so it covers everything from airlines, hotels and timeshares to car rentals, cruises, travel agencies and campgrounds. It also includes more day-to-day transportation, such as buses, tolls and parking.
It also comes with built-in travel protections, such as trip cancellation insurance and lost luggage reimbursement.
If you have any subscriptions that fall into this category, like a toll pass or monthly parking fees, set your new Sapphire Preferred as your default payment method.
The same goes for your rental car accounts, allowing you to take advantage of the card’s primary rental car coverage.
Plus, Lyft offers special benefits (through September 30, 2027) to Sapphire Preferred cardholders, so be sure to add your card to your Lyft account.
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Related: Frequent Uber or Lyft user? These are the best credit cards for you
Activate your statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus
The Chase Sapphire Preferred provides a statement credit of up to $120 every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus application fees.
If you haven’t enrolled in one of these programs yet, you’ll want to do so soon after getting your Sapphire Preferred.
Don’t wait until your next trip.
All you have to do is use your card for the application fees, and the statement credit will appear on your account.
We generally recommend going for Global Entry to maximize this credit, since it includes TSA PreCheck.
And, if you already have Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, you can use this credit to pay the application fees for a loved one.
Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred statement credits: What they are and how to use them
Book a hotel stay
Your Chase Sapphire Preferred gives you access to Chase Travel℠, the issuer’s online travel portal. You’ll earn 5 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on things like hotels and car rentals booked through the portal, which is a return of over 10% based on TPG’s August 2026 valuations.
Additionally, you receive a $100 hotel credit for hotel stays made through Chase Travel upon account opening and at each account anniversary.
No enrollment is required. Just use your card to book one or more hotel stays through Chase Travel; eligible purchases will automatically trigger the credit.
You can apply this credit to save $100 on a longer stay, use it toward a couple of very inexpensive stays (if you can find hotels for that cheap) or have it practically cover a full stay. TPG credit cards writer Augusta Stone paid just $35 for a one-night staycation in the Atlanta area with this credit.
I’ve found this credit very handy for short stays at boutique and independent hotels; I’m using this year’s credit for a weekend trip to a friend’s wedding.
Related: Best ways to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for hotel stays
Add your card to delivery apps and dining programs
While the Chase Sapphire Preferred may be billed as a travel card, it’s also a standout card for dining. It earns 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, dining out and online grocery orders (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs).
Plus, thanks to Chase’s partnership with DoorDash, Sapphire Preferred cardholders can enroll to receive a complimentary DashPass membership for at least a year (activate by December 31, 2027).
I love this perk because I can save money on every order with DashPass — without paying the $96 annual DashPass fee.
As soon as you have your Sapphire Preferred Card in hand (or get a virtual card number), set it as the default payment method on your DoorDash account and activate your complimentary DashPass membership. You should also add it to other takeout and delivery services and your online grocery accounts to maximize rewards on these purchases.
And if you participate in any dining rewards programs, be sure to add your Sapphire Preferred to these accounts. I love double-dipping on rewards this way — I can stack earning Chase points and airline or hotel points at the same time.
Related: Best dining credit cards
Set it to pay for your streaming services — and activate Apple TV
A lesser-known perk of the Chase Sapphire Preferred is that it earns 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on select streaming services.
As a result, you’ll want to set your new card as your default payment method for subscriptions with services such as Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, Peacock and Spotify. You can see which merchants qualify for bonus points at Chase’s rewards category page.
Plus, you’ll want to activate your one-year complimentary Apple TV subscription. This subscription costs either $12.99 per month or $90 per year. Just be sure you activate it by Dec. 31.
Related: Credit cards that save you money on streaming subscriptions
Link your loyalty accounts
With the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you can often get maximum value by redeeming your Ultimate Rewards points with one of Chase’s airline and hotel partners.
Most Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers happen almost instantly, but they can take longer if your partner loyalty account is relatively new.
That’s why we recommend registering for loyalty accounts with Chase’s partners and linking them to your Chase account now — even if you don’t plan to transfer points anytime soon.
For instance, since my home airport is a hub for United Airlines and Southwest Airlines, I knew I would eventually use these transfer partners. I clicked through Chase’s site to transfer points and linked my loyalty account numbers. Now my account says “Enrolled,” meaning I’m ready to transfer to these airlines.
Related: Why transferable points and miles are worth more than other rewards
Add an authorized user
Having an authorized user on your Sapphire Preferred account lets you earn points faster — and thus reach the welcome bonus sooner.
Your authorized user’s purchases will count toward your welcome bonus, but being an authorized user won’t preclude them from earning a welcome bonus on their own Sapphire Preferred in the future.
Spouses and partners are obvious candidates for authorized users, but they’re not the only ones to consider. TPG staffers have added parents and trusted friends as authorized users to reach welcome bonuses faster, and adding your child as an authorized user is a great way to help them build credit.
Just remember that when you add an authorized user, you’re responsible for paying off any purchases they make on their card.
Related: The credit cards with the greatest value for authorized users
Bottom line
There’s a reason why the Chase Sapphire Preferred remains a TPG favorite year after year. In short, it’s an excellent earner with tons of perks and a reasonable annual fee.
It’s also one of those cards that’s easy to start using, but surprisingly easy to underuse.
Taking a few minutes to activate your benefits, update your payment methods and link your loyalty accounts can help you earn more points and avoid overlooking perks you’ve already paid for through the annual fee.
To ensure you nab those bonus points as part of the welcome offer, check out our tips for earning a welcome bonus.
To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred benefits you might not know about
