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- Chase Ultimate Rewards are among the most useful credit card points for booking travel.
- Many people have cut back on travel during the pandemic, so Chase has come up with new ways for cardholders to use their points.
- Some of the best ways to redeem Chase points during quarantine are for things like groceries and home improvement purchases through the Pay Yourself Back tool.
- Read more stories from Business Insider’s “Credit cards in quarantine” series »
Chase Ultimate Rewards are some of the most versatile and useful travel points thanks to the ability to redeem them both directly for travel as well as to transfer them to over a dozen airline and hotel partners.
However, folks are traveling less due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and their spending habits have been drastically altered from before. In that light, some issuers, including Chase, have expanded the benefits available with certain cards to reflect people’s changing needs, and have made it possible for cardholders to redeem their Ultimate Rewards in exciting new ways.
That’s good news for existing customers, but also for those who were considering applying for a new credit card, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It is currently extending an all-time-high sign-up bonus of 80,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening — that’s 20,000 more points than usual.
Cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points
Regular APR
15.99%-22.99% Variable
- Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,000 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide, eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 80,000 points are worth $1,000 toward travel.
- Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on orders over $12 for a minimum of one year on qualifying food purchases with DashPass, DoorDash’s subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
- Earn 5X points on Lyft rides through March 2022. That’s 3X points in addition to the 2X points you already earn on travel.
Pros
- High sign-up bonus starts you off with lots of points
- Strong travel coverage
Cons
- Doesn’t offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit or any other statement credit benefits
Regular APR
16.99%-23.99% Variable
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year
- 3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit. 3X points on dining at restaurants & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. $0 foreign transaction fees.
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 50,000 points are worth $750 toward travel
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Read More: The best ways to use Chase points during quarantine