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Sapphire preferred or more cash back?

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Anonymous
Not applicable

Sapphire preferred or more cash back?

Hey everyone Smiley Happy

Im considering a new card. I've currently got an Uber card in the SD and carry around my Freedom Flex and Quicksilver. I like cash back cards! Lol Anyways, lately I've considered a travel card somewhat, but I'm unfamiliar with a lot of their perks. I know the Sapphire Preferred is doing 100,000 pts right now and they've emailed me that I'm prequalified or whatever 3 times in the past month. I'm honestly tempted to get the card, but I'm not sure I would not be better served getting something else. 

I've applied for a card once a year since graduating basically. I'm gonna tentatively pay my student loans in full when the interest comes due on them again in September if they don't extend it. I'm trying to have some credit accounts in place to replace those student loans in the future! My fico scores are around 800, no baddies, newest account is close to a year, and my avg account age is 4 years with <1% utilization. I'm feeling good about getting approved for something. 

Anyways, what you guys' take on the sapphire preferred? I know the SUB is great right now, but I'm almost tempted to get the Hyatt card or the Amazon card instead. 

 

My main concerns with a card are that I want an app that makes paying it easy and I want the card to give me something back. Hence my use of the QS and the Freedom flex lol The sapphire reward structure makes it seem like I wouldn't use it for anything other than booking hotels (since I have the freedom already) unless I'm missing something. 

Owen

Message 1 of 7
6 REPLIES 6
unsungivy
Valued Contributor

Re: Sapphire preferred or more cash back?

If you have Freedom Flex, the CSP will work well with it. You can use the rewards that you earn with the Freedom Flex via the CSP and get 1.25 out of each point, rather than just 1. Don't forget that they now have the "Pay Yourself Back" feature for the same rate, to get expanded value for purchase categories that they have available (such as groceries or home improvement).

 

The Amazon card is great, and I use mine heavily, but despite being Chase is does not use the same reward structure, and is it's own ecosystem.

 

I can't speak to the Hyatt one, but I guess that depends on how much you actually use Hyatt hotels on a regular basis, and if you travel heavily enough to justify focusing on a specific brand rather than a generic overall travel card (and remember the Travel category is VERY broad for Chase, it includes parking and tolls, for example.)

AU - Sock - On my
Biz - Debit Cards -
Message 2 of 7
TSlop
Valued Contributor

Re: Sapphire preferred or more cash back?

I can certainly tell you paying it is easy if you already have the CFF. Your account is ready to go, and it'll pop right up there right after you are approved. It's pretty easy to see all your Chase cards and to manage them accordingly.

 

Only you can decide if it is a good fit for you, though. It is more of a travel card, so you'd have to look at the travel protections/perks and see if you like them. My favorite is the primary rental car coverage, which covers the AF after 4 rental days. I also like the ability to use travel partners, such as Hyatt. You could use those 100k SUB points for $1,000 credit, for booking travel in the UR portal, or, in this example, transferring to Hyatt and getting a nice hotel stay.

 

I personally think it is good to get at this 100k SUB, and then see how it is for the first year. As you mentioned, you'll probably only use it for travel purchases right now, since the CFF gets 3x dining. However, it is rumored to get revamped next month. It may get 3x dining and online groceries, so you could then switch over dining to it. The rumored revamp may give you enough value to keep the card open.


Message 3 of 7
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Sapphire preferred or more cash back?

Take the CSP and think of it as cashback card. If, after the first year, you're still unsure about diving into the travel game, you can downgrade it to the FU and SD it to avoid the AF.  Hyatt and Amazon are both great cards if you are committed to those brands and would get more value than the $1,000 (minimum) SUB from the CSP.

Message 4 of 7
NRB525
Super Contributor

Re: Sapphire preferred or more cash back?

Chase is offering you $1,000, less the first year AF, to try out their CSP card. 

Don't overthink it. The purpose of these SUB offerings is to get the card in your hand, so you can test drive and really understand how it works for you. Even two years is easy with that size SUB.  

And if you really get into it, after the first year you can upgrade to the CSR and get some better travel benefits, higher earn rates.  

Message 5 of 7
Citylights18
Valued Contributor

Re: Sapphire preferred or more cash back?

CSP is a no brainer especially since there is a leaked plan that it will be upgrading to a 3x dining card in August (actually 3.3 with anniversary bonus).

 

It will maximize your Freedom Flex points and allow you to move them to transfer partners.

 

Tough to go wrong with this one.

Official travel point totals as of 10/21/24 (1,358,177 Total Points)
Chase Ultimate Rewards 696,884 | IHG One Rewards 144,957 | Hilton Honors 144,521 | AMEX Membership Rewards 102,729 | World of Hyatt 76,095 | Marriott Bonvoy 65,343 | Citi Thank You 38,153 | Choice Rewards 32,460 | United MileagePlus 13,316 | British Airways Avios 12,333 | Jet Blue TrueBlue 11,780 | Wells Fargo Rewards 2,858 | Southwest Rapid Rewards 2,447 | NASA Platinum Rewards 1,883 | AA Advantage 1,744 | Navy Federal Rewards 1,087 | Delta Sky Miles 175 | Virgin Atlantic Virgin Points 100 | Lowes Business Rewards 7,102 ($71.02) | Amazon Rewards 2,200 ($4.75) | Discover CB 10 ($0.10)
Message 6 of 7
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Sapphire preferred or more cash back?


@Citylights18 wrote:

CSP is a no brainer especially since there is a leaked plan that it will be upgrading to a 3x dining card in August (actually 3.3 with anniversary bonus).

 

 


3.1 I think

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