How to Maximize the 100,000-Point Bonus with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Have you ever had that nagging feeling like you’re leaving money on the table—especially when it comes to travel rewards? If so, you’re not alone. The current Chase Sapphire Preferred® offer of 100,000 bonus points has been turning heads, and for good reason. If used strategically, those points could unlock incredible travel opportunities that go way beyond their dollar value.

Whether you're a points-and-miles newbie or a seasoned travel hacker, here’s how to squeeze the maximum value out of this generous welcome offer.

How to Earn the 100,000 Bonus Points

It starts with a simple goal: spend $5,000 in the first three months of opening your Chase Sapphire Preferred card. Hit that mark, and boom—you’ve got 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards® points at your disposal.

What Are 100,000 Points Actually Worth?

At a minimum, those points are worth $1,000 when redeemed through the Chase Travel Portal. But here’s where it gets better: they’re actually worth $1,250 when used specifically for travel in the portal, thanks to the 25% redemption boost that comes with the Sapphire Preferred.

Everyday Perks You’ll Actually Use

Aside from the flashy signup bonus, the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers solid rewards on everyday spending:

• 5x points on travel booked through Chase Travel

• 3x points on dining, streaming services, and online groceries

• 2x points on other travel

• 1x on everything else

  
  

Plus, you get:

• A $50 annual hotel credit, for hotels booked on Chase portal.

• A 10% anniversary points bonus based on your spending

• A free DoorDash DashPass membership (if activated by end of 2027)

• Travel protections like rental car insurance and trip cancellation coverage

  
  

All that for a $95 annual fee, which can be easily offset by the perks above.

Best Ways to Use Your Bonus Points

Here are five powerful ways to redeem those points for maximum value:

1. Foolproof Free Travel via the Chase Travel Portal

The easiest way to use your points is through the Chase Travel Portal. With no blackout dates and a wide range of hotels and airlines, it’s perfect for beginners and offers guaranteed value—$1,250 worth of travel.

2. Affordable Trips to Europe with Flying Blue

Transfer your points to Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue program (1:1 ratio). They often offer promo rewards, with flights to Europe for as little as 17,000 miles one-way. Recently, you could book flights from Houston to Paris for just 18,750 miles. Taxes and fees run about $110 each way, but that’s a fraction of the cash price.

3. Luxury Hotel Stays with Hyatt

Hyatt is another 1:1 transfer partner and is widely considered the best bang-for-your-buck hotel program. High-end properties like Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo, which often cost over $1,000 a night, can be booked for just 40,000–45,000 points. That means your 100k points could snag two nights at an ultra-luxe property.

4. Island Escape to Hawaii

Transfer to Air Canada’s Aeroplan program to book flights to Hawaii on United Airlines. From the West Coast, redemptions can start at 15,000 points one-way, and from the East Coast around 25,000 points. That means you can book two round-trip flights to paradise with your bonus.

5. Flying Business Class to Japan

For those craving comfort, transfer your points to Virgin Atlantic to book business class on ANA (All Nippon Airways). Flights start at 52,500 points one-way from the West Coast, or 60,000 from the East Coast. That’s lie-flat seats to Japan for less than the cost of an economy ticket in cash. Watch out for taxes and fees though—they can add up on these redemptions.

What to Know Before Applying Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

A few important eligibility notes:

• 48-month rule: You’re not eligible for the bonus if you’ve received one on a Sapphire Preferred or Reserve in the past four years.

• 5/24 rule: If you’ve opened five or more credit cards from any bank in the last 24 months, Chase will likely deny your application.

• You can only hold one Sapphire card at a time. If you already have one, consider downgrading to a Freedom card before reapplying.

  
  

Final Thoughts

The Chase Sapphire Preferred’s 100,000-point bonus isn’t just a big number—it’s your ticket to real travel adventures, from luxurious hotel stays to international flights in business class. Whether you’re looking for convenience through the travel portal or planning more advanced redemptions via transfer partners, this card is a game-changer.

So what kind of trip will you book first? Let us know in the comments below—and happy travels!