chase sapphire visa travel insurance

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Guide to chase sapphire® travel insurance.

Planning a vacation or honeymoon can be exciting. That excitement might include the worries that something unexpected could interrupt those plans. The following overview of Chase Sapphire travel protections may make your next trip less stressful if you are a cardmember.

How does Chase Sapphire travel protection work

Certain benefits that may give you peace of mind when using your card for travel are available to Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Preferred ® cardmembers:

• Travel and Emergency Assistance Services: If you run into a problem away from home, call the Benefit Administrator for legal and medical referrals or other travel and emergency assistance. (You will be responsible for the cost of any goods or services obtained.)
• Trip Delay Reimbursement: If your common carrier travel is delayed more than 12 hours (six hours for Sapphire Reserve) or requires an overnight stay, you and your family are covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500 per ticket.
• Trip Cancellation / Interruption Insurance: If your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours and hotels.
• Baggage Delay Insurance: Reimburses you for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing for baggage delays over six hours by passenger carrier up to $100 a day for 5 days.
• Lost Luggage Reimbursement: If you or an immediate family member check or carry-on luggage that is damaged or lost by the carrier, you're covered up to $3,000 per passenger.
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Decline the rental company's collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. For Sapphire Reserve cardmembers, coverage is primary and provides reimbursement up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage for rental cars in the U.S. and abroad. Sapphire Preferred Cardmembers can be reimbursed up to the actual cash value of the vehicle, but coverage excludes certain cars, such as high value and exotic vehicles.
• Travel Accident Insurance: When you pay for your air, bus, train or cruise transportation with your card, you are eligible to receive accidental death or dismemberment coverage of up to $500,000 ($1,000,000 for Sapphire Reserve).

Additional Benefits covered with Chase Sapphire Reserve travel insurance

Certain travel reimbursement, cancellation protection and emergency services are available to Chase Sapphire Reserve ® cardmembers on eligible travel booked with their credit card. Here’s some more information about the benefits offered with the card.

Emergency Evacuation and Transportation

If you or a member of your immediate family are injured or become sick during a trip far from home that results in an emergency evacuation, you can be covered for medical services and transportation up to $100,000.

Roadside Assistance

If you have a roadside emergency, you can call for a tow, jumpstart, tire change, locksmith or gas. You’re covered up to $50 per incident 4 times a year.

Emergency Medical and Dental Benefit

If you're 100 miles or more from home on a trip, you can be reimbursed up to $2,500 for medical expenses if you or your immediate family member become sick or injured.

If you have a Sapphire credit card, travel protection applies to plane tickets, rental cars and cruise line reservations booked using a Sapphire card or Ultimate Rewards ® points. You will be able to claim reimbursement for trip cancellations or interruptions, lost luggage, baggage that’s delayed or flight delays.

Whether it’s a long-awaited vacation or flying across the country to see family for the holidays, the Chase Sapphire family of cards offers benefits to give travelers more confidence in their plans.

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UNDERSTAND YOUR BENEFITS

Your Guide to Benefits has what you need to know about the travel and purchase protection benefits that come with your card* - what's covered, not covered, and how to file a claim.

* Certain restrictions, limitations, and exclusions apply.    Please see your Guide to Benefits for details.

Using Chase Trip Cancellation Coverage

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

As I mentioned on Friday, we had to cancel our planned trip to present at the Chicago Seminars at the last minute due to Baby S getting hit with her first virus and upper respiratory gunk. As with most airfare, our tickets were "non-refundable" and as such we would pretty much be out the $800+ for the three round trip tickets for my mom, my little one, and myself. There are many reasons I couldn't just fly by myself and leave the baby at home including I wouldn't be comfortable as the mom being away from my sick and not-quite-3 month old baby, but also the little stinker won't even take a bottle right now so I'm her sole food source.

Even if the money we spent on the airline tickets all went to waste, we had to stay home with Baby S so it was an easy call, but I would certainly prefer to recoup as much of that expense as possible. Thankfully I learned years ago to pay attention to which credit cards I use for airfare purchases so that I have built-in trip interruption and cancellation coverages for unexpected surprises without having to purchase separate trip insurance. This is important across the board, but when you have babies and little kids who inevitably will get numerous illness in their first few years it is virtually essential. Many Chase credit cards have similar protections, but the purposes of this post I will quote from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Benefit's Guide since it is a very good all around travel credit card that I think many of us have.

Details of Chase Trip Cancellation Insurance:

With the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Trip Cancellation Insurance will reimburse you or your immediate family members up to $5,000 for each covered trip if a covered loss prevents you from departing on your trip and results in cancellation of travel arrangements if you charged a "portion of the cost for the travel arrangements to your account". In this case the covered loss we are using is "Accidental Bodily Injury, Loss of Life, o r Sickness experienced by you, a Traveling Companion, or an Immediate Family Member of you or a Traveling Companion." Bolding mine.

It also says that if a physician has advised that making the covered trip is medically inadvisable, you must immediately notify the appropriate travel supplier that you are cancelling your travel arrangements. If you don't notify the supplier, the company's reimbursement will not exceed the cancellation penalties imposed during the period by the supplier and in effect forty-eight (48) hours immediately following your receipt of advice from your Physician that travel is not advisable.

So, we used the Chase credit card to purchase the airfare, we have a sick immediate family member, and we cancelled the flights right after learning she should not fly based on her doctor's advise. Check, check, check, and so far so good. I'm still in the middle of the claim process, but I wanted to share which documents the company has requested thus far in case you are faced with a similar situation. Most of the items requested are easily obtained and pretty common sense, but there are a few curve balls in the process that I wasn't totally expecting.

Documents Needed to Utilize Trip Cancellation Coverage:

• Confirmation of the non-refundable amounts for the unused Common Carrier tickets, and/or travel vouchers;
• Confirmation that the tickets were cancelled with the Common Carrier;
• Copy of the travel itinerary showing the passenger names and ticket cost;
• Confirmation of the reason for the trip cancellation; (Completed attached physician statement, confirmation of death of immediate family member or documentation confirming any other cause of loss);
• Please complete and return the Trip Cancellation claim form attached below;
• A copy of the cancellation or refund polices of the Common Carrier, Tour Operator, or Travel Supplier;
• A copy of the credit card statement which shows that the purchase of the Common Carrier ticket was charged to your credit card; (We must be able to see the first six digits of the credit card number and the pre-printed accountholder name and address. However, for security purposes we suggest that you block or remove the remaining digits of your card number.).

I had taken Baby S both to urgent care and to her pediatrician in the 24 hours before making the claim because I was worried about her and wanted her checked out by a physician, but since I knew I would probably need some sort of documentation of her illness I had her pediatrician write a brief note while I was there indicating the date, the illness, and that she cannot fly in her condition. I was hoping that would be sufficient documentation, but it seems there is a specific form that the physician needs to complete. I really hope what I have will suffice as I hate to go back to the doctor's office if I don't have to, but here are the sections on the form that the physician is asked to complete.

Physician's Form for Trip Cancellation Coverage:

Date of accident, injury or illness: ____/____/____ (MM/DD/YY)

Date of first treatment or onset: ____/____/____ (MM/DD/YY)

Please describe the nature of the patient's injuries or illness:

_____________________________________________________________________________

Was this a referral from another doctor? YES / NO

If yes, date of referral: ____/____/____ (MM/DD/YY)

Was the patient hospitalized? YES / NO

If yes, please list the names and location of all hospitals and all admission/discharge dates:

Hospital Name Location Adm. Date Dis. Date

__________________________ _____________________ ___________ __________

Was the patient recommended by you to curtail their trip/travel due to this condition?

If yes, travel restriction dates advised:

____/____/____ (MM/DD/YY) to ____/____/____ (MM/DD/YY)

Did this travel restriction affect any other family members or travel companions? YES / NO

If yes, why did family member/travel companion need to curtail their travel? _____________________________________________________________________________

Did the patient have any condition (including pregnancy) prior to trip booking that contributed to their present condition? YES / NO

If yes, please describe:__________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

For pregnancy: EDC: ____________________________

If yes, at what date did patient originally begin treatment with this previous condition: ___________________________________________________________________

If yes, was the patient's previous condition stable at least 60 days prior to booking the trip? YES / NO

Please describe: _________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Putting the Trip Cancellation Claim Together:

It will take a little time to put all this requested information together and send it back to the company, in this case a Claim Benefit Services operated by Broadspite, a Crawford Company. You can scan in the documents and upload them to a website or just mail them in the old fashioned way. I'm hopeful that all will go well and within a few weeks we will have a check for the value of the cancelled airfare since that amount is well under the covered maximum. I'll be sure to update when the process is over, or if I hit any unexpected road blocks in the process. Fingers crossed our little one is healthy in time for our next trip or we'll be working on yet another trip cancellation claim...

Have you ever used built-in trip cancellation coverage from one of your credit cards? Do you pay attention to the coverages provided by your cards when booking trips?

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• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Full List of Travel Insurance Benefits for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card [2024]

Christine Krzyszton

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Table of Contents

Chase sapphire preferred card overview, car rental loss and damage insurance, trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, baggage insurance, roadside dispatch, travel accident insurance, travel and emergency assistance, no foreign transaction fees, filing a claim, how coverage compares, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card is a solid choice for your first travel rewards credit card. The card’s strengths include its ability to earn valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards Points on every purchase, the variety of redemption options it offers, and even its shopping benefits.

In addition to the key benefits of strong earning power and travel redemption flexibility, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card has your back with travel insurance coverage that offers peace of mind and potential savings during your journey.

If you travel frequently, chances are you’ve used a travel insurance coverage or benefit and realize the value of having this protection. It’s reasonable to expect that a travel rewards card you use to pay for your travel will have associated trip benefits. Unfortunately, credit card issuers have recently cut back on both travel and shopping benefits.

While some other cards are cutting back, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers prominent travel insurance coverage and benefits. Whether you currently have the card or are considering it, you’re sure to find this information useful when comparing travel rewards cards.

To put the Chase Sapphire Preferred card ‘s coverage into context, it’s important to have a little background. Below, you’ll find important card information like any welcome bonus and annual fee.

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance . With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel SM .
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel SM , 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel SM . For example, 75,000 points are worth $937.50 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC
• APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card shines at providing car rental insurance coverage when compared to other travel rewards cards.

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

Unlike most travel rewards cards, the coverage you receive with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is primary car insurance coverage compared to secondary, which means you do not have to file an insurance claim with your own auto insurance company first for coverage to be valid.

To activate the coverage on your card, simply reserve and pay for your rental car with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card , then decline the rental car agency’s collision damage waiver coverage.

The cardholder and any additional drivers you list on the rental agreement are covered.

Coverage You Can Expect:

• Damage to or theft of the rental car
• Loss of use charges imposed by the rental car company while the vehicle is being repaired
• Reasonable and customary towing charges

Conditions:

• Coverage is valid in most countries
• The rental period must not exceed or intend to exceed 31 consecutive days
• Coverage is primary

Exclusions:

• Exceptionally expensive, exotic, and antique vehicles are not covered
• Also excluded are open cargo bed vehicles, trucks, and recreational vehicles
• Motorcycles, mopeds, and motorbikes
• All limousines and vans that transport more than 9 people
• Losses due to off-road use of the rental vehicle
• Liability insurance coverage is not included

Bottom Line: According to the Insurance Information Institute , a car rental agency’s collision damage waiver coverage can cost $9 to $19 per day, even more depending on where you’re renting the vehicle. Having primary rental car insurance with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card could save you hundreds of dollars on a multi-week car rental. 

In addition to car rental insurance, one of the most valuable benefits to have on your travel rewards credit card is coverage when there’s a disruption during your travels.

Pay for your trip in full or in part with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card or Chase Ultimate Rewards points and receive up to $10,000 if a covered loss prevents you (or other covered persons) from traveling. The maximum benefit for each occurrence is $20,000 and $40,000 maximum per 12-month period.

Expenses covered include any non-refundable, prepaid transportation arrangements that were missed plus change fees.

The definition of who is covered for trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage is broad. The cardholder, spouse or domestic partner, and immediate family are eligible for coverage. Immediate family includes adopted or step-children, legal guardians/wards, siblings or siblings-in-law, parents or parents-in-law, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, and nieces or nephews.

The trip cannot exceed 60 days in duration and the destination must be more than 1 mile from home for coverage to be valid.

Covered events include:

• Accidental injury, loss of life, or illness experienced by the cardholder, immediate family, or traveling companion
• Severe weather
• Change of military orders
• Terrorist events or hijackings
• Jury duty or subpoena that cannot be postponed or waived
• Finding that your residence has become uninhabitable
• You have been quarantined

Hot Tip: If you pay for your immediate family’s trip with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card or Ultimate Rewards points , they are eligible for trip interruption and trip cancellation insurance coverage, even if you are not traveling with them. For more card options that come with trip cancellation insurance, check out our full guide to the best credit cards for trip cancellation and interruption insurance .

If your trip is significantly delayed, you may be stranded overnight and need to purchase necessities or incur other unexpected expenses such as lodging and additional meals.

Trip delay reimbursement pays up to $500 per ticket for covered expenses that are not paid for by the common carrier. The delay must be overnight or greater than 12 hours in duration.

When traveling on a common carrier, if your baggage is delayed more than 6 hours, you could receive up to $100 reimbursement per day , for up to 5 days, for incidentals purchased.

You can expect to be reimbursed for essential items such as:

• Cell phone charging cable (1)

Lost Luggage

If your luggage is lost or damaged, lost luggage coverage will pay to repair or replace the luggage plus the cost of personal items lost, up to $3,000 per person, per trip.

You must report the loss to the common carrier first as the Lost Luggage benefit is in excess of any payments you receive from that carrier.

If you’re stranded on the side of the road, lock your keys out of your car, or your car fails to start, you’ll find Roadside Dispatch a welcomed benefit. The coverage provides 24/7 roadside assistance that is just one call away.

Services You Can Expect:

• Changing your flat tire when you have an inflated spare
• Delivery of up to 5 gallons of fuel
• Jump starting
• Lockout service
• Standard towing up to 5 miles
• Standard winching

Service extras such as towing beyond 5 miles, the cost of a replacement key, or the cost of the actual fuel being delivered, are additional charges and the responsibility of the cardholder. However, you won’t pay more than the pre-determined flat rate fee of $69.95 for the initial service call, as it is set in advance.

It’s painful to think about something serious happening during your travels, but there are benefits available in case you’re faced with such a tragic event.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is one of a few cards to offer travel accident insurance . The cardholder and immediate family members are covered even if the cardholder is not traveling with the immediate family. The ticket must be paid for in full or partially with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card or Ultimate Rewards points.

Chase’s travel accident insurance is divided into 2 coverages:

• Common Carrier Travel Accident Benefit — Covers you while you are a passenger on any common carrier or at the airport, terminal, or station immediately before or after your trip.
• 24-Hour Travel Accident Benefit — Provides coverage as soon as you embark on your trip, during your qualifying trip, and until you return for accidental death, dismemberment, and loss of speech, sight, and hearing.

Coverage on the Common Carrier benefit is limited to up to $500,000 and $100,000 maximum on the 24-hour travel accident benefit. Only 1 benefit can apply per trip.

You’re just one call away from assistance or referral help anytime you need it 24/7. Calling the toll-free number when in the U.S. or the collect-call phone number on the back of your card when traveling out of the country is the fastest way to receive assistance.

In addition to you (the cardholder), your spouse or domestic partner and dependent children under 22 can also use the service.

Referral assistance is complimentary, but the cardholder is responsible for the actual goods or services provided .

• Emergency Message Service — Record and relay emergency messages to travelers
• Medical Referrals — Referral to an English-speaking medical practitioner to monitor your progress and serve as a patient liaison
• Legal Referrals — Referral to an English-speaking attorney, U.S. Consulate or embassy, and assistance with bail bond arrangements
• Emergency Transportation — Help with making arrangements for emergency transport to the nearest medical facility
• Emergency Ticket Replacement — Assistance replacing a lost ticket with your carrier
• Lost Luggage — Provides assistance filing a lost luggage claim or help with replacement items
• Translation Services — Assistance with local language translation services
• Prescription and Valuable Documents Replacement — Assistance getting prescriptions filled at a local pharmacy or locating and transporting valuable documents
• Pre-trip Assistance — Includes help finding an ATM, assistance with visas, health precautions, and other pre-trip information

You don’t want to be hit with 3% fees when using your card during international travels. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees,  which is thankfully true of many cards nowadays.

If you spent $4,000 abroad on a family vacation, the savings would equal $120.

It’s prudent to think about the claim process even before you embark on your journey . Should you need to make a trip interruption, trip delay, or trip cancellation claim, the process will be much easier if you have gathered the information and documentation you need during the event versus after the fact.

Contact the plan administrator as soon as possible during or after the disruption for guidance and to file a claim. You may be expected to provide any of the following when submitting a claim for a trip interruption, trip cancellation, or trip delay :

• A completed and signed claim form
• Credit card statement with the last 4 digits of the card or receipts showing you paid for the trip with an eligible card or points
• A copy of your transportation ticket and itinerary
• Medical documents or a death certificate for health-related claims
• A statement from the carrier stating why the trip was interrupted, canceled, or delayed
• Receipts for purchases and food expense receipts over $50
• Copy of the carrier, tour company, or travel supplier’s cancellation or refund policy
• Any additional documentation requested by the benefit administrator

The documentation needed is not requested by Chase, but by the third-party claim administrator, therefore Chase statements validating your trip purchase are necessary. Knowing this upfront allows you to store your trip receipts in advance for easy access should you need them.

Hot Tip: Prior to your trip, contact the benefits administrator for clarification of trip coverage and to inquire about any special destination information you should know. You can also be proactive by reviewing the claim process before your trip to learn about any required documentation that would be needed in case of an event.

Other Credit Cards

Travel protection and insurance vary greatly by the credit card issuer and can change periodically. In general, here’s what you can expect in the way of travel protections by major issuers:

Chase issues credit cards including the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, Chase Sapphire Reserve ® , and Ink Business Preferred ® Credit Card offer the comprehensive collection of trip protections reviewed in this article. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card additionally offers emergency medical evacuation, $2,500 in emergency medical and dental coverage, and a shorter delay for trip delay coverage.

American Express

American Express offers secondary car rental insurance versus primary coverage, accident insurance, premium roadside assistance, a Global Assist Hotline, and baggage insurance. There is also emergency medical evacuation coverage that comes with The Platinum Card ® from American Express . The issuer does not offer trip interruption, cancellation, or delay coverage .

Capital One

You’ll find secondary car rental insurance, roadside dispatch, accident insurance, lost and delayed baggage, and emergency travel assistance on some Capital One cards.

Bank of America

Bank of America travel rewards cards generally do not offer trip protection or major travel benefits.

Hot Tip: For more details, check out our guide to the best credit cards for travel insurance .

Travel Insurance Policies

Travel protections, benefits, and insurance that come complimentary on credit cards are not designed to take the place of a comprehensive travel insurance policy.

A comprehensive travel insurance policy allows you to select the type of coverage you need and the coverage limits that match your level of risk, whether you’re protecting a significant financial outlay or the potential physical risks associated with the trip. You can also purchase a travel insurance policy that can cover one specific trip or many trips over a specific time period.

With that said, by taking a few minutes to read through the trip protections offered on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you may find enough coverage to satisfy your trip protection requirements for your next trip. As always, you should review the card benefit coverages carefully before you travel and purchase any needed travel insurance to fill in any gaps.

Bottom Line: The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers a high level of travel protection and insurance compared to other travel rewards credit cards. This level of coverage may be more than sufficient for your trip. 

Having travel insurance brings with it the peace of mind to enjoy your journey without worry of any significant financial expense should something go wrong.

To avoid a false sense of security, however, you’ll want to call the benefits administrator (using the number on the back of your card) to ensure you have the coverage you need.

For example, you may assume you have coverage for emergency evacuation on that mountain trek, but the Chase Sapphire Preferred card does not carry this coverage. If the protection is important to you, you’ll want to be aware (and purchase separate coverage) before you embark on your journey.

Additionally, you may want to confirm that the country in which you’re renting is one that is covered under Chase’s car rental collision damage waiver, although most are.

While the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers some of the best travel protection and insurance benefits of any travel rewards card, these benefits are not a substitute for comprehensive travel insurance.

If you’re spending thousands on a vacation for an entire family, booking an expensive cruise, or planning a trip with several forms of transportation involved, you may want to make sure that card-provided benefits provide protection at a level with which you’re comfortable.

If not, you should purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy.

All information and content provided by Upgraded Points is intended as general information and for educational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as medical advice or legal advice. For more information, see our  Medical & Legal Disclaimers .

The information regarding the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the chase sapphire preferred card worth it.

Yes. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers the best travel insurance protection of any major credit card, but that is just one of the strong benefits of having the card.

First, the annual fee is lower than other travel rewards cards that offer similar benefits. Additionally, you’ll earn valuable Ultimate Rewards points which can be redeemed for 25% more value when used for travel.

You can also transfer points to airline and hotel partners, receive a statement credit, or purchase gift cards.

Finally, you’ll find shopping benefits such as purchase protection and extended warranty for eligible purchased items.

Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred card have travel insurance?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has a long list of travel protections and insurance . You’ll find the all-important primary car rental insurance, trip interruption, trip cancellation, and trip delay insurance, which can be difficult to find on other travel rewards cards.

In addition, the card offers travel accident insurance, lost and delayed baggage coverage, roadside assistance, and travel and emergency assistance.

Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred card have lounge access?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card does not come with a complimentary lounge access benefit.

However, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers complimentary Priority Pass Select membership which affords the cardholder access to over 1,300 worldwide lounge properties.

If the Chase Sapphire Preferred card better than the Chase Sapphire Reserve card?

Both cards offer a comprehensive collection of travel protections and benefits.

However, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card is a premium travel rewards card that comes with premium travel rewards benefits including complimentary worldwide lounge access, travel statement credits, elevated earnings on travel and dining, and 50% more value when redeeming Ultimate Rewards points for travel.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card also comes with a much higher annual fee than the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

A good strategy, if you’re just starting out, is to start with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card with its lower annual fee.

If you then want more travel benefits, are comfortable paying a higher annual fee, and can utilize the travel benefits that come with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, it can be your subsequent move.

Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred card cover the Global Entry fee?

No. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card does not offer reimbursement for the Global Entry application or renewal fee.

Do the Chase travel benefits cover my trip if I use Ultimate Rewards points to pay?

Yes. You can purchase your trip in part or in full with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card, Ultimate Rewards points, or a combination of the two, and trip protections and benefits will still apply.

Be sure to check the benefits guide for details.

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About Christine Krzyszton

Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.

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Whether you're traveling domestically or abroad, going on a trip is an exciting way to see the world. But it can also be expensive, and the last thing you want is to end up losing your money if something goes wrong with your planned vacation.

The good news is, if you pay for your trip with your Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve ® , you should have coverage if your trip is cancelled or delayed or if you experience certain other losses along the way.

There are details you need to be aware of to take advantage of Chase Sapphire travel insurance, though, so it's important to read the fine print to make certain you're able to use this important cardholder benefit if something goes wrong. This complete guide to Chase Sapphire insurance will help you understand what you need to know.

What is travel insurance?

Quick look: chase sapphire travel insurance.

• Chase Sapphire Preferred travel insurance
• Chase Sapphire Reserve travel insurance

How to file a claim with Chase

Faqs about chase sapphire travel insurance, bottom line on chase travel insurance.

Travel insurance broadly refers to insurance that provides reimbursement when you suffer losses in conjunction with a trip. But lots of different things could go wrong when you’re traveling, so there are different kinds of insurance that cover different major and minor calamities. Although you can buy travel insurance through an agency or insurance company, many travel credit cards come with different types of travel insurance as an included benefit.

Some of the different types of travel insurance you may want when traveling include:

• Travel delay insurance : This covers you when your common carrier (cruise line, airline, tour operator, etc.) is delayed and you get stuck somewhere for a long time or you have to stay somewhere unexpected overnight.
• Trip cancellation insurance: If your trip is cancelled for a covered reason, such as severe weather, this insurance provides you reimbursement for non-refundable expenses.
• Baggage delay insurance: If your bags are delayed for a long time, this insurance covers costs you'll incur for essential purchases such as clean clothing and toiletries.
• Lost luggage insurance: If your baggage never shows up at all, you can get reimbursed for your lost luggage and the stuff inside it.
• Car rental insurance: Car rental insurance can cover you if your rental vehicle is lost, stolen, or damaged
• Roadside assistance: If you get stuck on the road, roadside assistance can come to your rescue and provide a tow, tire change, or other help.
• Travel accident insurance: If you get into an accident or die while on a trip, travel accident insurance can provide a payout to you or your loved ones.

Chase offers some of these insurance benefits, but there are differences in coverage when you compare the Sapphire Preferred vs. the Sapphire Reserve . This could impact which card you use to make a travel-related purchase or which card you apply for to begin with.

The table below shows some of the details about the travel insurance benefits on the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Sapphire Reserve cards.

Each of these different kinds of coverage come with limitations, restrictions, and qualifications that are important to be aware of if you're relying on the protections Chase is offering. Let's look at each type of coverage on each card in a little more detail.

Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card travel insurance

While the benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred cover a number of different aspects, the travel benefits are a big draw for most cardholders. Here's what you need to know about using your travel insurance benefits available on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

Trip delay reimbursement

This provides coverage for the cardholder, the cardholder's spouse or domestic partner, and the cardholder's dependent children ages 22 and under when the trip is paid for with the Chase card. This coverage applies if your trip is delayed more than 12 hours or an overnight stay is required due to a delay.

Coverage is limited to one delay per covered trip and delays are covered only if they are caused by a common carrier and are in a city away from the cardholder's home. The maximum of $500 in benefits can be spent on reasonable expenses for meals, lodging, toiletries, medication, and other personal items. To be considered for reimbursement, the cardmember must notify Chase within 60 days of the delay.

Trip cancellation insurance

Cancellation insurance covers the cardholder and immediate family members if a trip is interrupted on the way to the point of departure or after you've left. It also provides coverage if a trip has to be postponed for a covered reason and fees are incurred due to rescheduling.

Covered losses include severe weather; terrorist actions; jury duty; court subpoenas; or accidental bodily injury, death, or sickness of the cardholder, immediate family, or a traveling companion. The cardholder doesn't need to be traveling with family for them to be covered, but the trip must be paid for by the Chase card.

The benefit is limited to $10,000 per covered trip and $20,000 per occurrence and benefits paid can't exceed $40,000 over 12 months. So if a family of five goes on a $30,000 trip, the maximum coverage is still $20,000 even though each individual family member would theoretically be entitled to $10,000 in reimbursement.

The coverage is secondary to other travel insurance or reimbursement from others, so if your cruise line or travel insurance policy offers any reimbursement, you have to go through them first.

Baggage delay insurance

The cardholder, spouse or domestic partner, and immediate family members are covered if a common carrier delays luggage for six or more hours. This coverage provides up to $100 per day for a maximum of five days to pay for essentials such as clothes, toiletries, and one cell phone charging cable.

This insurance is secondary to other reimbursement or travel insurance coverage, so claims have to be made with those other providers first. To get reimbursement from Chase, you have to file your claim within 20 days of the delay.

Lost luggage insurance

Checked and carry-on baggage are both covered, along with personal property in your suitcases or bags. The cardholder and immediate family members are covered, even if the cardholder isn't traveling with the family members.

The insurance provides up to $3,000 per insured person on each covered trip; however, coverage for jewelry, watches, and electronics is limited to $500 per person and there's no coverage for loss of money or travelers checks or for losses resulting from a war.

Claims have to be made within 20 days of the occurrence and the loss must have been reported to the carrier in a timely manner. Coverage is secondary, which means you have to try to get reimbursed by any other primary travel insurance or by the occupancy provider (hotel, etc.) or common carrier first.

Car rental insurance

The Chase cardholder and additional drivers on the rental agreement are covered by this policy, which provides reimbursement for collision or theft for rental vehicles in the U.S. and abroad. Coverage is secondary in your own country when renting for personal reasons, so you have to make a claim on your other auto insurance first. This isn't required if you're renting abroad.

You're covered for up to the actual value of the rental car, but won't be covered if you're renting the car for more than 31 consecutive days. Chase also excludes expensive, exotic, and antique automobiles as well as trucks, recreational vehicles, and large vans.

Travel accident insurance

If you pay with your Chase card, you're covered for $500,000 in benefits for loss of life if you have an accident while on a common carrier. You'll also get a payout for dismemberment or a loss of speech, sight, and hearing. The amount you get will depend on your injuries. If you have an accident at any other time, your maximum coverage is $100,000 for loss of life and you get partial compensation for dismemberment up to $100,000, depending on what injuries you sustained.

The cardholder and immediate family members are covered even if the cardholder isn't traveling with them as long as the cardholder files a written claim within 20 days of the incident. But if multiple eligible people are hurt, coverage can't exceed twice the applicable benefit amount ($500,000 or $100,000) and the total amount will be divided up among the eligible injured people.

Emotional distress is not covered, nor are injuries or deaths sustained in the commission of illegal acts or when car racing, parachute jumping, or participating in sports activities where potential prizes are at stake.

Bottom line on Chase Sapphire Preferred travel insurance

The Chase Sapphire Preferred provides similar travel insurance benefits to the Sapphire Reserve, which we’ll discuss in detail next. But with the Sapphire Preferred, your trip delay insurance doesn't kick in until 12 hours have passed instead of six with the Reserve and your travel accident insurance offers $500,000 in coverage instead of $1 million. You also won't get roadside assistance, though you can use roadside dispatch if you pay for it.

On the plus side, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card comes with a much lower annual fee ($95) than the Sapphire Reserve ($550). The Sapphire Preferred card also offers plenty of other travel-related benefits, including 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠,  2X bonus points on other travel purchases, and a 25% points bonus when you redeem your rewards for travel through the Chase Travel℠ portal .

Overall, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great choice for frequent jetsetters who want to be protected in case of a problem on their trip.

Chase Sapphire Reserve ® travel insurance

The benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve are plentiful, and there’s no shortage of travel-related perks with this card. Here's what you need to know about using the travel insurance benefits you're provided with as a Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholder.

When your common carrier delays your trip for six or more hours or a delay requires an overnight stay, you'll get up to $500 in coverage per purchased ticket. Cardholders, their spouses or domestic partners, and dependent children under age 22 are all covered.

However, coverage is limited to one covered hazard per trip, and you won't be covered for prepaid expenses or for covered hazard delays you knew about before departing. You have just 60 days to provide notice after a covered delay and you'll be reimbursed for reasonable additional expenses only.

This coverage kicks in if you can't go on your trip before it starts due to a covered loss. The cardholder and immediate family are covered even if the cardholder doesn't go along on the trip with family.

The maximum payout is $10,000 for each covered trip and $20,000 for each covered incident, with an aggregate maximum payout of $40,000 over a 12-month period. This means if a three-person family goes on a trip that costs $10,000 each, they would be entitled to a maximum payment of $20,000 if the trip is cancelled for all of them for a covered reason, even though they'd be out $10,000 that wasn't reimbursed.

Claims have to be made within 20 days after the occurrence that causes the trip cancellation, and there must have been a covered reason for cancelling such as severe weather; jury duty or a subpoena that can't be postponed; or accidental injury or death of the cardmember, an immediate family member, or a traveling companion. Coverage is secondary to other travel insurance or reimbursement from the common carrier or occupancy provider.

The cardholder, spouse or domestic partner, and immediate family members get up to $100 per day in coverage when a common carrier delays a bag for more than six hours. This $100 can be used to purchase one cell phone charging cable, clothing, toiletries, and other essential personal care items.

The cardholder has to file a claim within 20 days of the loss and reimbursement from Chase comes only after exhausting other travel insurance or seeking funds from the common carrier.

The cardholder and immediate family can be reimbursed up to $3,000 per person per trip for checked bags or carry-ons that are lost by a common carrier. Claims have to be made on other travel insurance policies or with the carrier first, though, and coverage is limited to $500 per person per covered trip for jewelry, watches, and electronics.

The cardholder has to report the loss right away to the common carrier and to Chase within 20 days and no coverage is provided for travelers checks, money or security, or losses resulting from war.

This provides reimbursement for up to $75,000 in losses for the cardholder and additional drivers if a rental vehicle is in an accident or stolen. The reservation for the car rental can't exceed 31 consecutive days, and expensive or antique vehicles are excluded.

The insurance coverage is primary, so there's no need to file a claim with other insurance first, but the entire rental transaction has to be completed with Chase and you have to decline the rental company’s auto rental collision damage waiver or loss damage waiver.

Roadside assistance

The cardholder and anyone driving a vehicle the cardholder owns or leases is eligible for roadside assistance 24/7. Coverage includes battery charges, flat tire changes, fuel delivery, help if you're locked out, and towing.

You're covered for a maximum of $50 per service event and get a maximum of four service events annually. If you're in an off-road area or in a place not regularly traveled, you won't be covered.

The cardholder and immediate family members get up to $1 million in coverage for accidents on a common carrier and $100,000 in coverage for other types of accidents on a trip. The $1 million is reserved for loss of life but a partial payout is available for dismemberment, loss of speech, loss of sight, or loss of hearing. The specific amount you'll receive depends on the nature of your injuries.

Chase doesn't provide payments for emotional trauma; dismemberment or death during a war; if you're hurt or killed during an illegal act or while on an aircraft not certified by or registered with the government; or if you get hurt racing cars, parachute jumping, or participating in competitive sports.

Bottom line on Chase Sapphire Reserve travel insurance

If you want coverage for shorter trip delays, need roadside assistance or want more travel accident insurance coverage, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is the ideal card for you.

The Sapphire Reserve also has a $550 annual fee, though. While you’ll earn 5X points on flights and 10X points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually; 3X points on other travel and dining & 1X points per dollar on all other purchases, and you’ll also enjoy a 50% redemption bonus when you redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards through the Chase travel portal, you'll want to make sure other cardholder perks — such as a $300 annual travel credit and statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees — make this card worth your while.

If you’re a regular traveler wanting to take advantage of the travel insurance protections this card offers, then the Chase Sapphire Reserve might be the best travel credit card to have in your wallet.

If you believe you have a valid claim under Chase's travel insurance, call 800-356-8955 to request a claim form. You can also submit a claim online at eclaimsonline.com .

To file your claim:

• Start by selecting the type of claim you wish to file
• Provide your personal details including your contact information
• Input details about your claim, including the type of loss you endured and the amount of financial damage you're seeking reimbursement for
• Be prepared to upload documentation such as receipts from expenses incurred; a statement from your common carrier detailing your delay or its refund or cancellation policy; a copy of your original tickets or receipts; and, if necessary, proof you filed a claim for reimbursement from your common carrier, auto insurer, or travel insurer
• Confirm the details and submit your claim

Chase may contact you to request that you provide additional details or documentation to support your claim.

Does Chase Sapphire cover missed flights?

Chase provides reimbursement for its list of covered losses only. Although you could potentially get some airfare costs covered if your airline delays your flight long enough that you miss your connection, you won't be covered by Chase if you simply get to the airport late and miss your flight.

Does Chase Sapphire travel insurance cover jury duty?

According to Chase, jury duty is a covered reason for cancelling your trip. So, your trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance provided by Chase should protect you from losses in the event that you are called to jury duty.

Does Chase travel insurance cover my immediate family members?

Chase travel insurance covers the cardholder as well as immediate family members such as spouses and dependent children, even if the cardholder isn't traveling with them.

What happens to my Chase Ultimate Rewards when I cancel a trip?

When you book travel through the Chase Travel℠ portal, it's just like booking through a travel agent. Your ability to cancel and get your travel rewards refunded depends on the policies of the hotel or airline you book with. But if you cancel for a reason covered by Chase, then your trip cancellation insurance will kick in and your Ultimate Rewards points will be refunded.

If you are a frequent traveler, both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve offer you important protections, whether you're renting a car or taking a train, bus, cruise, or plane. You’ll also have some protections even if you can't go on your trip at all because it's cancelled or delayed.

Although the travel insurance benefits differ slightly on each card, both can earn you valuable travel rewards, charge you no foreign transaction fees, and provide travel protections for many of the losses you're likely to encounter when you’re off adventuring. You just need to make sure to read the fine print and have one of these valuable rewards credit cards in your wallet.

Great for Flexible Travel Rewards

Chase sapphire preferred ® card.

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Current Offer

• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Rewards Rate

5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases

• 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 25% more value when redeeming rewards for travel through Chase Travel℠
• 10% anniversary point bonus each year
• $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through Chase Travel℠
• Premium travel protection benefits
• Has annual fee
• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 75,000 points are worth $937.50 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
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How to use the chase sapphire reserve travel credit, you can earn up to $300 annually with this flexible and easy-to-use benefit..

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is loaded with luxury perks like airport lounge access , travel protections and the ability to earn transferrable travel rewards — but it also has a hefty $550 annual fee. Thankfully, you can recoup over half of that fee thanks to the card's easy-to-redeem travel credits, which can provide up to $300 of value every year.

If you've ever been tempted to sign up for the Chase Sapphire Reserve, now could be an excellent time to give in. Thanks to a limited-time bonus offer, new card members can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months from account opening. This bonus is 25% higher than the standard offer, making one of the best travel credit cards even better.

How to maximize the Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit

How does the chase sapphire reserve travel credit work, what triggers the chase sapphire reserve travel credit, when does the chase sapphire reserve travel credit reset, alternate cards with travel credits, bottom line, chase sapphire reserve®.

Earn 5X total points on flights and 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3X points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025

Welcome bonus

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Regular APR

22.49% - 29.49% variable

Balance transfer fee

5%, minimum $5

Foreign transaction fee

Credit needed.

Terms apply.

Read our Chase Sapphire Reserve® review.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve's annual travel credit couldn't be any easier to get — simply use your card to make eligible travel purchases and the first $300 lands in your account as statement credits. Unlike many other cards with a similar benefit, you don't have to make these purchases through a specific site or rewards portal to earn the credit.

This card offers a generous return on travel spending, however, the first $300 in travel purchases won't earn points. Frankly, this is a small sacrifice for the opportunity to be reimbursed for over half of the card's annual fee. According to the card's terms, the statement credit will be posted to your account the same day as the eligible travel purchase posts.

Airfare and hotel bookings are just the beginning of what transactions qualify for this credit. These are some of the purchase categories that should count toward your $300 annual credit:

• Car rental agencies
• Cruise lines
• Travel agencies
• Discount travel sites
• Campgrounds
• Toll bridges and highways
• Parking lots and garages

Whether a purchase triggers the travel credit depends on how the merchant codes the transaction. While this shouldn't be a common issue, it's possible certain travel services purchased as part of a packaged offer may not qualify for the credit.

You can add authorized users to your Sapphire Reserve account for $75 per person each year, and authorized user purchases will trigger the credit. However, there is still only a single travel credit per account, not per card. So if the primary accountholder spends $300 in travel on their card and an authorized user spends $300 in travel, only the first $300 in combined travel purchases will be reimbursed.

The Sapphire Reserve's travel credit resets every card member year — not the calendar year. If you want to know how much of your credit you've used, you can call the number on the back of your card or find the information easily online on your Chase Ultimate Rewards® account page.

The Platinum Card® from American Express is a leader when it comes to offering cardholders travel credits. However, the Amex Platinum's credits can require enrollment or activation, which puts a barrier between you and your credits that doesn't exist with the Sapphire Reserve. That said, you can earn well over $1,000 back every year with this card for purchases that include airline fees, digital entertainment, hotels, CLEAR membership and much more. Terms apply.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, 1X points on all other eligible purchases

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Needed

Excellent/Good

See rates and fees , terms apply.

Read our The Platinum Card® from American Express review .

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card has a higher annual credit and lower annual fee compared to the Sapphire Reserve. Every year, cardholders can take advantage of up to $325 in dining and travel credits, which covers all but $75 of this card's $400 annual fee. If you have the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve card , it would be difficult not to fully use this credit every year.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card

5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked through the Altitude Rewards Center; 3X points on every $1 on eligible travel and mobile wallet spending

Earn 50,000 bonus points (worth about $750 in travel) after spending $4,500 within the first 90 days of account opening

22.24% to 29.24% (Variable)

3% of the amount of each transfer, with a $5 minimum

See  rates and fees , terms apply.

Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox.  Sign up here .

The Chase Sapphire Reserve has loads of luxury benefits and a pricey $550 annual fee to go along with these perks. However, it has an easy-to-use annual travel credit that allows card members to earn up to $300 back every card anniversary year for eligible travel purchases.

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For rates and fees of the Platinum Card® from American Express, click here .

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6 reasons why the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the perfect card for the average traveler

A t TPG, we love the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . It was the first travel rewards credit card for many of us and remains one of the cards we can't live without .

We love that it earns versatile Chase Ultimate Rewards points and has our backs if something goes wrong while we're traveling. It's perfect for the average traveler who takes one or two big trips a year and wants travel benefits but doesn't need the extras that come with a more premium travel card.

While many of us have upgraded to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® as our travel habits have evolved, the Chase Sapphire Preferred continues to be one of the top cards we recommend to beginners and anyone looking for a solid set of travel benefits.

Here's why we consider the Sapphire Preferred the best card for the average traveler.

Low annual fee

The Chase Sapphire Preferred charges a $95 annual fee, which is far more reasonable than what you'll pay for a more premium travel card . While the trade-off is fewer perks, most average travelers won't use perks like lounge access or airline fee credits enough to warrant the higher fees that accompany them.

To fully offset the card's yearly cost, you'll need to earn at least $95 in rewards every year. TPG values Ultimate Rewards points at 2.05 cents each. With the card's bonus categories that allow you to earn 3 points per dollar on dining and 2 points per dollar on travel spending, you'll easily make up the annual fee by spending $200 per month on travel and/or dining.

You may be skeptical of annual fees if you're new to credit card rewards. But when you have a strong card with a manageable fee, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred, it's easy to make up the difference so that you aren't actually paying anything out of pocket for the card each year.

Related: Why you'll want to pay the $95 annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Preferred

Valuable sign-up bonus

New cardholders can earn a limited-time 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. While spending $4,000 in just three months may sound like a hard task for some budgets, there are plenty of ways you can meet the minimum spend requirement to unlock the sign-up bonus.

According to TPG valuations, that sign-up bonus is worth a whopping $1,538 in travel rewards. With 75,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points at your disposal, this card opens up a ton of redemption options.

Related: Best ways to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points

Solid earning

The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns Chase Ultimate Rewards , some of the most versatile points available.

The sign-up bonus gives you a great start toward earning the points necessary for your next vacation, but it isn't the only way to earn points. You'll earn 3 points per dollar on all dining and 2 points per dollar on travel purchases.

And Chase's dining and travel categories are incredibly broad. Many issuers restrict dining purchases to just standard restaurants and maybe fast food, but Chase also includes bars, breweries, university dining halls, vending machines and even some restaurant delivery services such as DoorDash and Seamless.

The travel category is also quite generous , including typical travel purchases like hotels and airfare alongside timeshares, campgrounds, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, and operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages.

Related: How to maximize your earning with the Chase Sapphire Preferred

Great redemptions

In addition to flexibility in what earns bonus rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers flexibility in how you can redeem your points.

TPG values Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 2.05 cents each because Chase has many valuable travel partners that give you access to all three major airline alliances and three different hotel brands (IHG, Marriott and Hyatt). Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer to each of its partners at a 1:1 ratio and many of these transfers process almost instantly . Transferring your points to airline partners is instrumental to fly business or first class internationally.

The Chase Ultimate Rewards program also offers real value to average travelers through Chase Travel℠. Most people who only travel once or twice a year will not want to spend hours on end combing through potential redemptions with transfer partners. And while sites like TPG can help make that process easier by walking you through potential redemption options and publishing deal alerts when our team comes across them, most average travelers will be most comfortable booking through a portal that aggregates redemption offers across airlines and hotels.

With the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you can redeem points for 1.25 cents each when booking through the portal for travel. This redemption rate is generally a good deal if you're booking economy awards or standard room rates. Another bonus to booking airfare, especially through the portal, is that airlines consider your redemption cash, meaning your points will also cover any taxes and fees associated with your flight. And you'll earn any frequent flyer miles that you would on a standard paid flight.

While you most likely won't earn elite night credits when booking hotels through the portal, average travelers generally aren't staying with the same hotel chain often enough to hit valuable elite status tiers. This means you're not really losing out on anything by choosing to book through the portal with points rather than directly through the hotel if you happen to find a better deal through Chase.

Related: Redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards for maximum value

Helpful travel benefits

The Chase Sapphire Preferred may not come with lounge access or hundreds of dollars in travel credits, but that doesn't mean it lacks valuable benefits.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred has some of the best travel protections of any mid-tier credit card on the market. You'll get $500 per ticket in trip delay insurance , $10,000 in trip cancellation insurance , baggage delay insurance and up to $3,000 per person in lost luggage reimbursement. The card also comes with primary rental car insurance — a rarity for any card — let alone a mid-tier card.

Sapphire Preferred cardholders also get at least one complimentary year of DashPass after enrolling, normally $96 annually, which waives delivery fees at eligible restaurants and discounts service fees on orders over $12. This benefit alone knocks out the cost of the annual fee. Must enroll by Dec. 31.

Finally, the card offers Visa Signature benefits (including access to the Visa Signature Concierge Service ) and no foreign transaction fees .

Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred benefits you might not know about

A great sibling

Most average travelers probably don't have 19 credit cards in their wallet, which means the cards you have need to make an impact. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is easily paired with Chase cash back cards to help you maximize your earning potential across spending categories — without adding hundreds of dollars in annual fees to your plate.

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited® cash-back cards technically earn points but don't allow you to transfer your points or receive 1.25 cents per point via Chase Travel. However, you can move the points you earn from either of these cards to the Chase Sapphire Preferred to take advantage of transfer partners or the increased portal redemption rate.

The Chase Freedom Flex has rotating quarterly bonus categories that earn 5% cash back (5 points per dollar) on the first eligible $1,500 you spend each quarter you activate, while the Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5% cash back (1.5 points per dollar) on all purchases. Both cards also earn 5 points per dollar on travel booked through Chase Travel and 3 points per dollar on dining at restaurants and drugstores. Neither card has an annual fee.

While earning 2 points per dollar on travel and 3 points per dollar on dining purchases with the Sapphire Preferred is great, it's even better when you can pair it with a card that earns bonus rewards on other spending categories.

Related: Chase Freedom Flex vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited

Bottom line

The points and miles world isn't just for those who travel for work or spend all of their free time on the road. With the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the average traveler can earn valuable points that can turn into flights and/or hotel stays for a much-deserved vacation. Having the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great first step to exploring the world through award travel.

Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card with a current offer of 75,000 Ultimate Rewards points when you spend $4,000 in the first three months from account opening.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Credit Cards

Why the Chase Ink Business Unlimited is part of my core credit card setup

Eric Rosenberg

Julie Sherrier

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Grace Pilling

Published 6:43 a.m. UTC May 14, 2024

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In my quest to travel as much as I can for the lowest possible cost, I focus heavily on earning points in the ultra-valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards® program . To earn Chase points, I use a combination of personal and business credit cards from Chase , enabling me to earn the maximum possible points on each purchase.

For business spending, I use the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card and the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card . These cards both offer points I can combine with my personal Chase travel cards to redeem for free and discounted flights and hotels, among other redemption options. 

Here’s a closer look at why the Chase Ink Business Unlimited credit card is part of my core credit card setup and how it fits into my larger miles-and-points-earning strategy.

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Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Welcome bonus.

Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Regular APR

Credit score.

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

Editor’s take

• No annual fee.
• Introductory purchase APR period.
• Generous welcome bonus.
• High balance transfer fee.
• Charges foreign transaction fees.
• Few additional benefits.

Card details

• Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
• Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
• No Annual Fee
• Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
• Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
• Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
• With Zero Liability you won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
• 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
• Member FDIC

Why Chase Ink Business Unlimited?

As an accounting-minded business owner, I know how important it is to keep and track my personal and business expenses separately. I have dedicated business cards for business spending and use personal cards for my family’s spending needs. The majority of my business purchases are made with the Chase Ink Business Unlimited card.

The Ink Business Unlimited offers an unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases. This is worth the same as 1.5 points per $1 spent when converting to Ultimate Rewards points, and there’s no annual fee. While I can earn a little more in certain categories with my Ink Business Cash card, the return on spending I get from Ink Business Unlimited is tough to beat, particularly with no annual fee.

The Ink Business Unlimited also sports benefits well beyond that of the average card. While I wish it also had return protection for the occasional bad purchase, it does come with these purchase and travel protections:

• Purchase protection for new purchases: If a purchase is damaged or stolen in the first 120 days, I can recover up to $10,000 per claim up to $50,000 over the lifetime of the account.
• Extended warranty coverage: For eligible purchases, the card offers the same benefits as the original manufacturer’s warranty for an additional year.
• Primary auto rental damage collision waiver: I can skip expensive rental car company insurance at the checkout counter knowing my credit card will cover the cost of an accident.

You can expect better benefits when using a card with an annual fee, such as the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card * The information for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. . But for a card with no annual fee, the Ink Business Unlimited has a decent set of protections.

Other Chase cards in my wallet

In pursuit of Chase points, I also have these cards in my wallet or safely tucked away in my home office.

Ink Business Cash

The Ink Business Cash card gives me 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year, 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year, and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

While I stick with the Ink Business Unlimited for the “everything else” categories, I pull out the Ink Business Cash for office supplies, my internet bill and business meals, among other purchases to earn the elevated rewards rates.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

While I’m not sure I’m going to keep this one for much longer — I’m considering downgrading back to the more affordable Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card is my go-to for personal restaurant and travel purchases. With this card, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 1.5 cents each when redeeming for travel through Chase, including the points I combine from other Chase cash-back or Ultimate Rewards cards.

The Sapphire Reserve offers 5 points per $1 on flights and 10 points per $1 on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠ after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points per $1 on other travel and dining and 1 point per $1 on other purchases. Plus I get a statement credit for the first $300 in travel purchases I make with the card each year. It’s loaded with a ton of valuable benefits and credits, including airport lounge access through Priority Pass (enrollment required) and a limited number of Chase Sapphire lounges. But at $550 per year, I’m considering saving the money by switching to its lower-cost sibling card.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is my “everything else” card for personal purchases. It’s basically the personal version of the Ink Business Unlimited card, offering the same flat-rate back everywhere. I can easily convert these into Chase Ultimate Rewards points to redeem for a boosted rate with my Sapphire Reserve card.

With no annual fee, there’s no extra cost to carry this card in addition to my favorite Chase Sapphire card. I make just about every purchase outside of the boosted categories from the Chase Sapphire Reserve and rotating bonus categories from the next card on the list with this credit card.

Chase Freedom Flex℠ * The information for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

I’ve had the Chase Freedom Flex℠ * The information for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. for years (I actually got it before its new name, when it was just called the Chase Freedom card). With this card, I earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in categories that rotate quarterly (requires activation), 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on dining and drugstores and 1% cash back on all other purchases. As of this writing, the current quarterly categories are Amazon.com, restaurants and hotels booked directly with the hotel.

There’s no annual fee, so I plan on keeping this one indefinitely. Even if I don’t use it at all some calendar quarters, I come out ahead when using it for the elevated cash-back categories when I would shop there anyway. The biggest hassle is that you have to click a link in an email to activate the bonus categories every quarter.

Other Chase cards I consider

Two other cards regularly show up on my consideration list for earning Chase rewards. Those are the premium business rewards cards, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card * The information for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. and the Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card * The information for the Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. . Both require an annual fee, however, and my very small business doesn’t spend enough per year for me to justify the upgrade.

If your business spends more than mine, here are the biggest perks of those alternatives to Chase Ink Business Unlimited.

• Ink Business Preferred: With this card, you’ll earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. But with a $95 annual fee, you need to spend a lot in those categories for the card to pay off.
• Ink Business Premier: With this card, you’ll earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 2.5% cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more, and 2% cash back on all other purchases. But with a higher $195 annual fee, I would again have to spend more on my business for the card to be worthwhile.

Making the most of Chase Ultimate Rewards

While I like some of the luxury travel benefits offered by The Platinum Card® from American Express , my favorite travel rewards points come from Chase. As long as you can manage them well, there’s no rule against having multiple Chase cash-back and Ultimate Rewards cards. After all, I have five myself. Just keep in mind the unofficial Chase 5/24 rule , which limits how many cards you can apply for with any issuer in a given time period.

When combining points across all my Chase accounts, I have access to free or discounted travel to nearly anywhere on earth. That’s a huge draw, and the combination of cards is ideal for my family’s travel goals.

*The information for the Chase Freedom Flex℠, Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Eric Rosenberg is a financial writer, speaker, and consultant based in Ventura, California. He is an expert in topics including banking, credit cards, investing, cryptocurrency, insurance, real estate, and business finance. He has professional experience as a bank manager and nearly a decade in corporate finance and accounting. His work has appeared in many online publications, including Business Insider, Nerdwallet, Investopedia, and U.S. News & World Report.

Julie Stephen Sherrier is a personal finance writer and editor based in Austin, TX. She is the former senior managing editor for LendingTree, responsible for all credit card and credit health content. Before joining LendingTree, Julie spent more than a decade as the managing editor and then editorial director at Bankrate and CreditCards.com. She also served as an adjunct journalism instructor at the University of Texas at Austin.

Grace Pilling is a deputy editor for credit cards at USA TODAY Blueprint. She believes credit cards are the ultimate choose-your-own-adventure tools of the financial world and gets excited about helping people discover the best credit card strategy for their unique goals. Prior to joining Blueprint, Grace worked on and led personal finance teams at Bankrate, CreditCards.com, MoneyUnder30 and MoneyGeek. She has a bachelor’s degree in English and writing and a diploma in editing and publishing.

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The Guide to Chase Sapphire Preferred Lounge Access

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a midlevel travel credit card with some solid benefits and points-earning potential, along with a $95 annual fee.

But does the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card get you into airport lounges? The short answer is no.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card does not include any type of Priority Pass membership or regular entrance into Chase Sapphire Lounges or other airline-specific clubs.

If you want to stay within the Chase family of cards and you’re looking for lounge access, you’ll need the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card instead.

But don’t write off getting the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . It still has some good benefits.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card includes one complimentary lounge visit, with strings attached

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card holders are allowed one complimentary access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club annually, if they have a Priority Pass membership that they’ve purchased separately.

Priority Pass members can then buy additional passes to the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club for $75 a pop, if they are available.

Otherwise, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card does not inherently include airport lounge access.

What to do instead

Purchase lounge membership.

Cardholders can pay out-of-pocket for a membership to a qualifying airline lounge program, including:

Priority Pass for $99-$469 annually, depending on your membership tier.

Delta Sky Club for $695 or 69,500 miles per year.

American Airlines’ Admirals Club individual annual memberships cost between $750-$850, depending on your elite status level.

United Club for $550-$650, or 75,000 miles to 85,000 miles. Prices are also dependent on your elite status level. Membership is included for United Club℠ Infinite Card holders.

Cardholders can also buy day passes at eligible lounges.

Purchasing Priority Pass or an airline-branded lounge membership does not qualify as a travel category expense on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , so you will not earn 2x points.

Upgrade your card to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®

If you want included lounge access in the Sapphire family of cards, you’ll need to upgrade to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card .

» See how these two cards compare

Because the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a premium card, the annual fee is higher at $550 (and $75 for each authorized user), but many additional benefits help offset the cost.

First, there is the $300 annual travel credit that reimburses you for travel purchases.

Then there are the increased points bonuses in certain spending categories:

5x points on flights purchased through the Chase's travel portal .

10x points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase's portal.

3x points on dining.

A 50% increased value when redeeming points through the portal.

Lounge access is included as part of the Priority Pass Select membership; Chase Sapphire Lounges are included as well. Currently, there are lounges in Boston, Hong Kong and at New York’s LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International airports. More clubs are on the way.

» Learn more: How Chase Sapphire Reserve lounge access works

The card also includes:

$100 in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck or Nexus fee every four years. 

Two-year Lyft Pink All Access membership.

A DoorDash subscription.

One year of complimentary Instacart+.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

An overview of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is $95 with no additional fee for authorized users.

Spending on the card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, flexible points you can redeem for travel or other things like cash back or purchases.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns 1 point per dollar on most purchases, but there are ways to earn additional points.

2x points on travel purchases or 5x points on purchases made through Chase's travel portal.

3x points on online grocery shopping.

3x points on select streaming services.

You can then use those points in several ways, including transferring them to partners or redeeming them through Chase's travel portal.

For redemptions in Chase's portal, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card holders get 25% more value per point than they would if they didn’t have the card.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also includes several travel insurance benefits:

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance.

Baggage delay insurance.

Trip delay reimbursement.

Primary car rental collision damage waiver.

Services for travel and emergency assistance.

» Learn more: Chase Ultimate Rewards®: How the program works

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card lounge access, recapped

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card does not include any airport lounge benefits as a perk of having the card, but it does have other travel benefits for a $95 annual fee.

If lounge access is your goal and you think you will get enough out of this benefit and others to justify the higher annual fee of $550, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card may be your best bet.

on Chase's website

$550 plus $75 for each authorized user.

• 5 points per $1 on travel booked through Chase.

• 3 points per $1 on dining (including eligible delivery services and takeout), select streaming services and online grocery purchases (not including Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).

• 2 points per $1 on other travel.

• 1 point per $1 on other purchases.

• 10 points per $1 on Chase Dining, hotel stays and car rentals purchased through Chase.

• 5 points per $1 on air travel purchased through Chase.

• 3 points per $1 on other travel and dining not booked with Chase.

Points worth 25% more when redeemed for travel booked through Chase.

Points worth 50% more when redeemed for travel booked through Chase.

10% of your total purchases in the previous year.

$50 in statement credits toward hotel stays purchased through Chase's travel portal.

$300 annual travel credit.

Travel protections, including auto rental collision damage waiver and baggage delay insurance.

No foreign transaction fees.

Priority Pass Select lounge access.

Statement credit for Global Entry , TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application fee every four years.

Access to Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection .

Complimentary Lyft Pink membership for two years.

Complimentary DashPass for at least one year through Dec. 31, 2024.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

On a similar note...

Personal Finance

Chase instacart mastercard review 2024.

Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn a commission from our partners’ links. This content is created independently from TIME’s editorial staff. Learn more about it.

Do you prefer to delegate your supermarket shopping trip to someone else? Whether you have your groceries delivered to your front door or pick them up curbside, you’ll end up paying extra for the privilege.

This is why many people steer clear of services such as Instacart. However, the card_name can mitigate the cost—at least for the first year. It’s not your normal cash back credit card.

Instacart Mastercard®

Time’s take.

The no-annual-fee card_name offers decent real-world savings to Instacart customers during the first cardmember year, thanks to its free Instacart+ membership and cash bonus intro offers. After that, though, the card’s Instacart benefits are limited to its rewards rate. Unless you spend a significant amount of money through Instacart, there are other rewards credit cards that will better serve your goals.

Chase Instacart Mastercard: Pros and cons

• Competitive welcome bonus
• No annual fee
• Exceptional rewards rate for Instacart purchases
• Bonus spending categories are niche
• Rewards are not transferable

Who is the card for?

The card_name is for people who prefer to have someone else do their grocery shopping. Perhaps you find great value in the time you don’t need to spend traveling from store to store, or save money by avoiding impulse purchases that inevitably occur as you wander the aisles. You might have small children or others to care for at home—or have physical difficulty navigating the shopping process.

Whatever your reason for using card_name , if you spend a lot through this service, this is definitely the most rewarding card for those purchases.

Of course, you must live in an area that is served by Instacart. As obvious as that sounds, a number of people don’t, especially those in smaller towns and rural areas.

Finally, applications for the card_name are restricted by the Chase “5/24 rule,” which dictates that those who have opened five or more credit cards in the last 24 months (excluding most small-business credit cards) will not be approved for this card.

Welcome bonus

The card_name offers a welcome bonus similar to those offered by other no-annual-fee cash back credit cards. The difference is that only those who use Instacart consistently will manage to squeeze the full value from it.

You’ll receive a $100 Instacart credit to use for future orders and a complimentary year of Instacart+ membership (worth $99 annually) immediately upon account opening. This makes it one of the few rewards credit cards that doesn’t require you to meet a minimum spending requirement to unlock its intro offer.

Instacart+ comes with benefits such as free delivery on purchases of $35 or more, lower service fees, and a 5% credit when you elect to pick up instead of requesting a delivery. It’s certainly worth having if you regularly make purchases through Instacart. Just note that once your free year ends, you’ll automatically be enrolled for a paid subscription unless you cancel it.

Earning rewards

The card_name is a cash back credit card. You’ll earn rewards at the following rate.

• 5% cash back for Instacart.com and Instacart app purchases.
• 5% cash back for travel reserved through the Chase Travel Center.
• 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations, and select streaming services.
• 1% cash back for all other eligible purchases.

As you can see, the reward for Instacart spending is generous. The ability to earn uncapped 5% cash back on anything is unusual, especially for a common expense such as groceries. Note that the money you’ll likely pay in driver tips and various fees may take a big bite out of those earnings.

Redeeming rewards

To redeem your cash back, you can request a direct deposit or statement credit at any time. You can redeem as little at a time as you want.

Alternatively, you can use your rewards to book travel or pay your Instacart bill. Both of these are bad ideas for one reason: They are the spending categories in which you earn the most cash back with the card_name . By redeeming cash back to offset these purchases, your credit card won’t be charged for them, and you won’t earn 5% cash back on them.

Instead, you should simply buy your travel and Instacart purchases normally. You can then request a statement credit in the amount of your bill. This way you’ll earn rewards and still get your travel and groceries for free.

The fine print

The card_name does not charge an annual fee, but you will pay other common credit card fees, including:

• A purchase/balance transfer annual percentage rate (APR) of 20.24% to 28.99% variable.
• A cash advance APR of 29.99%.
• A balance transfer fee of $5 or 5% of the transferred amount, whichever is greater.
• A cash advance fee of $10 or 5% of the transaction, whichever is greater.
• A late or returned payment fee of up to $40.

One bright spot is that you won’t pay a foreign transaction fee with the card_name , so it’s a good card to use when traveling abroad.

Additional hidden perks

You’ll receive the following perks automatically when you use your card for payment.

Travel insurance

Though it is not considered a “travel” credit card, the card_name comes with a healthy list of travel protections. Here’s what you’ll get.

• Rental car insurance . If you decline the rental agency’s collision damage waiver (CDW) and use your card to pay for your rental car, you’ll get automatic coverage for theft or damage. Coverage is secondary in the U.S., so it’ll cover whatever your personal insurance does not.
• Baggage delay insurance . When your bag is delayed by the common carrier by more than six hours, you are entitled to up to $100 per day (for a maximum of three days) for reasonable expenses, such as clothing and toiletries.
• Travel accident insurance . You have up to $500,000 in coverage in the event of dismemberment or loss of life during your trip.
• Lost luggage reimbursement . You’ll receive up to $3,000 in coverage if the common carrier loses or damages your carry-on or checked bags.

You also get travel and emergency assistance services in the form of a telephone hotline. It can help you with problems such as a lost passport and give you legal and medical referrals. Just note that any services beyond simple information (an emergency flight home, for example) will cost you.

Finally, the card comes with roadside assistance similar to AAA, though you’ll have to pay for most services. Still, if you need to be towed or jump-started, or a tire needs changing, help is an easy phone call away.

Purchase coverages

Again, card_name is good for more than just groceries. All sorts of merchants appear on the platform, including electronics and sporting goods stores, home improvement outlets, and more. Eligible purchases will be covered by the following:

• Purchase protection . Eligible items are covered for theft and damage up to 120 days after the purchase date. You can receive up to $500 per claim (there’s a maximum of $50,000 per account).
• Extended warranty protection . Eligible U.S. manufacturer’s warranties lasting three years or less will be extended for an additional year.

What could be improved

The card_name does little to serve its ferociously loyal Instacart fanbase after the first year. In fact, the single Instacart-specific benefit that members will get is a 5% return rate via Instacart.com or in the app.

The card_name could do more by offering various cardholder discounts or providing some way to achieve a free Instacart+ membership after meeting a yearly spending threshold.

An alternate enhancement would be to increase the card’s 1% base earning rate. There are many no-annual-fee credit cards that offer a minimum of 1.5% on all purchases. Increasing the card's lowest return would put it in the running for one of the best cash back credit cards in existence.

Alternatives

Bottom line.

If you’re an Instacart addict, the card_name is a fine option. You’ll earn 5% on groceries (one of the biggest monthly expenses) and other items purchased through the platform. With a solid intro offer of $100 in Instacart credit and a one-year Instacart+ membership, you’re bound to save a lot in the first year.

You’ll also receive unlimited 5% cash back for Instacart purchases. This perk can turn the myriad fees and tips associated with delivery services into a palatable prospect. However, you’ll have to pay for your Instacart membership after the first year, and the card’s 1% base earning rate on non-Instacart purchases is low compared with comparable cards.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is the instacart mastercard.

The Instacart Mastercard is a credit card that focuses on rewarding you for your Instacart purchases. It also comes with a variety of travel and purchase protections.

Is the Instacart Mastercard hard to get?

No, though there are a couple of caveats. First, those without a FICO credit score rated “good” or better (670 and above, according to myFICO ) should improve their score before applying. Second, the card abides by the Chase “5/24” rule, which stipulates that if you’ve opened five or more credit cards from any bank in the past 24 months (excluding most small- business cards), you won’t be approved.

Can I use the Instacart Mastercard anywhere?

Yes. It can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted.

What bank issues the Instacart Mastercard?

J.P. Morgan Chase issues the Instacart Mastercard.

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