Chase Gave You a Blank Check 📝 Here's How to Write Your Dream Trip 🛫
Chase didn’t just build credit cards—they built a rewards empire. From travel hacking to cash back and business perks, their ecosystem is designed to supercharge your spending if you know how to play the game.
Chase credit cards are among the most powerful tools in personal finance, travel hacking, and everyday spending. With a variety of cards spanning cash back, travel rewards, premium perks, and business needs, Chase has built a credit card ecosystem that not only offers value, but rewards users who play the game strategically.
This guide will walk you through the full landscape of Chase credit cards—from basics to advanced tactics—including card types, benefits, Chase’s Ultimate Rewards ecosystem, the 5/24 rule, maximizing value, and an in-depth look at ChaseTravel powered by Expedia.
Understanding the Chase Card Ecosystem
Chase credit cards are organized into a few broad categories:
Travel Rewards Cards
These cards earn Ultimate Rewards points and are often considered the most lucrative for value-seekers and globetrotters. Popular options include:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® – Mid-tier travel card with strong earning rates.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® – Premium travel card with lounge access and elevated redemptions.
- Ink Business Preferred® – A high-earning business card geared toward travel and advertising.
Cash Back Cards
These are simpler in structure, earning either fixed or rotating category cash back:
- Chase Freedom Unlimited® – 1.5% cash back on everything, plus bonus categories.
- Chase Freedom Flex® – 5% rotating categories plus 3% on dining and drugstores.
- Ink Business Cash® – 5% back on office supplies and telecom services.
No-Annual-Fee + Foundation Cards
Cards like the Freedom Unlimited and Freedom Flex are not only good standalone options but also strategic companions to Sapphire cards, allowing you to pool points and increase value.
Chase Ultimate Rewards: The Heart of It All
Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) is the crown jewel of Chase's ecosystem. These points are flexible and transferable, and if used properly, can unlock immense value.
How to Earn UR Points
Each card earns points differently. Some examples:
- Sapphire Preferred: 2x on travel and dining.
- Sapphire Reserve: 3x on travel and dining.
- Freedom Flex: 5% on rotating categories.
- Freedom Unlimited: 1.5% on all purchases.
Redemption Value: The 1.0 CPP vs 1.25 CPP vs 1.5 CPP Play
CPP = “Cents Per Point.” It determines how much value you get when redeeming your points.
The Baseline: 1.0 CPP
All Ultimate Rewards points are worth 1 cent per point (1.0 cpp) when redeemed for cash back or through basic redemption methods.
So, 10,000 points = $100.
Boost with Chase Sapphire Preferred: 1.25 CPP
If you hold the Sapphire Preferred, your points are worth 1.25 cents per point (1.25 cpp) when redeeming through ChaseTravel.
10,000 points = $125 worth of travel.
Maximize with Sapphire Reserve: 1.5 CPP
If you hold the Reserve, your points jump to 1.5 cents per point (1.5 cpp) in ChaseTravel.
10,000 points = $150 in value.
What is ChaseTravel? (Powered by Expedia)
ChaseTravel is Chase’s proprietary travel booking platform, now powered by Expedia. It's accessible via your Chase online account or app and allows you to book:
- Flights
- Hotels
- Rental Cars
- Experiences
When you use points to pay for bookings through ChaseTravel, the redemption value depends on which card you use:
| Card | Redemption Rate in ChaseTravel |
|---|---|
| Freedom/Ink Cash | 1.0 CPP |
| Sapphire Preferred | 1.25 CPP |
| Sapphire Reserve | 1.5 CPP |
ChaseTravel Benefits
- Access to Expedia inventory (hotels, flights, more)
- Points redemption + cash options
- No blackout dates
- Flexibility to mix points and dollars
Maximizing Chase Card Benefits: Strategy & Synergy
To really squeeze the value out of Chase’s system, you need to think about card synergy, stacking, and perks.
The Chase Trifecta Strategy
This popular combo lets users turbocharge earnings and redemptions:
- Sapphire Preferred or Reserve – To unlock elevated redemptions.
- Freedom Unlimited – For 1.5% back on non-bonus spend.
- Freedom Flex – For 5% rotating category spend.
By pooling points to your Sapphire card, you convert cash back to UR points that can be redeemed at higher value.
Business Card Synergy
Pairing a personal Sapphire card with an Ink card can be a powerful combo for business owners.
- Ink Business Preferred: Great for travel, shipping, and digital ad expenses.
- Ink Business Cash: 5% back on office supply stores and telecom.
Understanding the 5/24 Rule: The Chase Gatekeeper
Chase enforces an unofficial but widely accepted rule: if you’ve opened 5 or more credit cards (from any bank) in the past 24 months, you will almost certainly be denied a new Chase card.
What Counts?
- All personal credit cards (including store cards).
- Authorized user accounts sometimes count (but may be reconsidered).
What Doesn’t Count?
- Business cards from some issuers (including Chase business cards).
- Charge cards (e.g., certain Amex cards).
Best Chase Cards by Category
Best for Beginners
- Chase Freedom Unlimited: Easy-to-use cash back card with solid rewards.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred: Great starter travel card.
Best for Frequent Travelers
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Lounge access, 3x points on travel and dining, 1.5 CPP redemptions.
- Ink Business Preferred: High travel earn rate and a massive sign-up bonus.
Best for Businesses
- Ink Business Cash: 5% back on key business categories.
- Ink Business Unlimited: 1.5% flat-rate cash back.
Best for Everyday Spending
- Freedom Unlimited: 1.5% cash back across the board.
- Freedom Flex: 5% in rotating categories.
Final Thoughts
Chase doesn’t just offer credit cards—it offers a full ecosystem of value and rewards. Whether you're just dipping your toes into the world of points and miles or you're a seasoned optimizer crafting the perfect trifecta, there's a Chase strategy for you.
From the flexible power of their Ultimate Rewards, to the robust travel booking platform in ChaseTravel.com, to business card opportunities and hidden perks like DoorDash credits and Lyft partnerships—Chase stands alone as one of the most rewarding credit card issuers in the game.
If you're serious about travel rewards or simply want to earn more from your everyday purchases, mastering the Chase ecosystem is not just smart—it’s essential.
