Chase Trifecta: Three Сards That Maximize Your Spending Benefits
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The term “Chase Trifecta” is familiar to many savvy credit card users. It refers to a strategy that combines three strategic Chase credit cards to optimize the collection and earning of Ultimate Rewards points. This combination not only increases travel rewards but significantly enhances the overall value of point redemption, allowing you to maximize your rewards across various spending categories.
The Essence of the Chase Trifecta Strategy
Essentially, this method encompasses:
- A premium travel rewards card,
- A category-specific credit card
- A general-purpose card for everything else.
This powerful combination enables you to cover all aspects of spending with your Chase credit cards, while providing flexibility to maximize your rewards and earn points tailored to your financial habits and travel preferences.
The Travel Rewards Card – Chase Sapphire Preferred
Begin with your primary travel rewards credit card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Acting as the cornerstone of your Chase Trifecta, this card facilitates the earning of substantial points on travel purchases, offers point transfers to various airline and hotel partners, and frequently includes valuable benefits such as rental car insurance or even exclusive lounge access.
With the Sapphire Preferred card, you earn 5x points on travel purchases through Chase, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases. Plus, its $95 annual fee is offset by attractive incentives like a $50 annual hotel credit and bonus points offer. Notably, when redeeming points through the Chase travel portal, you can maximize their value at 1.25 cents each, providing greater redemption value for travel purposes.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $95 |
| Limited-Time Offer | Up to $1,050 in Chase Trave value. |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months (worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel) + up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel. |
| Ongoing Rewards | – 5 points per $1 on all travel via Chase Travel.- 3 points per $1 on dining (incl. delivery/takeout), streaming, and online grocery (excludes Target/Walmart/wholesale).- 2 points per $1 on travel not via Chase.- 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.- Through March 2025: 5 points per $1 on eligible Peloton purchases (max 25,000 points) and Lyft. |
| Bonus Categories Details | Travel purchases booked through Chase are eligible for 5x points; travel not booked through Chase earns 2x points. Dining and streaming services earn 3x points. |
| Interest Rate (APR) | 20.99% – 27.99% Variable APR |
| Foreign Transaction Fees | None |
| Anniversary Bonus | 10% bonus points based on total purchases made in the previous year. |
| Travel Booking Boost | Points redeemed for travel via the Chase portal are worth 25% more (1.25 cents per point). |
| Additional Benefits | – $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through Chase.- Primary rental car coverage.- 1:1 transfer partners for airlines and hotels. |
| Transfer Partners | Airlines: Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air France-KLM, British Airways, Emirates, Iberia, JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, Southwest, United, Virgin Atlantic.Hotels: Hyatt, InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott. |
| Effective Rewards Rates | 3.75 cents per dollar on dining, streaming, and Chase Travel bookings due to 25% boost when redeeming points via Chase Travel. |
| Notable Features | Versatile rewards and a valuable sign-up bonus make it ideal for travelers. Unique point transfer partners and primary rental coverage add extra value. |
The Category-Specific Bonus Card – Chase Freedom Flex
Next, to boost point accumulation in various spending categories, opt for the versatile Chase Freedom Flex. This credit card offers 5% rewards (translating to 5x points when paired with a travel card) on revolving quarterly categories such as restaurants, groceries, and gas, allowing you to maximize your earning potential in everyday purchases.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Sign-Up Bonus | Earn $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. |
| Ongoing Rewards | – 5% Cash Back: On up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate.- 5% Cash Back: On Chase Travel purchases.- 3% Cash Back: On dining (including eligible delivery services) and drugstore purchases.- 1% Cash Back: On all other purchases. |
| Quarterly Bonus Categories | Chase offers rotating categories each quarter where you can earn 5% back. Examples of past categories include gas stations, grocery stores, and online shopping. |
| Interest Rate (APR) | 20.99%-29.74% Variable APR |
| Foreign Transaction Fees | 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars |
| Additional Benefits | – Cell phone protection (when paying your bill with the card).- Purchase protection.- Extended warranty protection.- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance.- Auto rental collision damage waiver (secondary). |
| Travel Booking Benefits | Earn 5% on Chase Travel purchases, redeemable through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. |
| Redemption Options | Cash back as a statement credit, direct deposit, gift cards, travel, or pay with points through Amazon. |
| Pros | – No annual fee.- Rotating 5% categories with opportunities for high cash back.- Flexible redemption options through Chase Ultimate Rewards.- Additional benefits like cell phone protection and purchase protection. |
| Cons | – 5% of categories require activation each quarter.- Foreign transaction fee applies.- Quarterly limit on bonus category earnings. |
Points accumulated from this card can be transferred to your Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, maximizing their value through Ultimate Rewards transfer options. By booking travel through the Chase travel portal, you can redeem points at a value of 1.25 cents each. Additionally, points can be transferred to partnered loyalty programs at a 1:1 ratio, facilitating even broader travel benefits and flexible redemption options.
The Catch-All Card – Chase Freedom Unlimited
For expenditures outside specific bonus categories, the Chase Freedom Unlimited serves as an efficient catch-all card, earning 1.5x points on all purchases. This unlimited earning potential makes it a highly efficient choice for any expenses not covered by existing bonus categories—whether that’s utility payments or spur-of-the-moment coffee purchases. You can trust that every purchase with your Freedom Unlimited card contributes to your travel reward goals and helps maximize your points accumulation.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Sign-up Bonus | Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything (up to $20,000 spent in the first year) – worth up to $300 cash back! (Offer available through NerdWallet; may differ if applying directly with Chase or elsewhere.) |
| Rewards | – 5% on travel booked through Chase- 3% at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services- 3% on drugstore purchases- 5% on Lyft services through March 31, 2025- 1.5% on all else |
| Interest Rate | 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then 19.99%-28.74% Variable APR |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 3% |
| DashPass Benefit | Free DashPass for three months if enrolled by Jan. 31, 2025; discounts for the following nine months. After Feb. 1, 2025, get six months free. Includes up to $10 credit each quarter on certain orders. Terms apply. |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards® Points | – Points worth 1 cent per point when redeemed for cash back- Gift cards at 1 cent per point- Travel booked through Chase at 1 cent per point- Amazon purchases at 0.8 cents per point |
| Additional Benefits | Pairs well with other Chase Ultimate Rewards® cards for maximizing rewards. |
Advanced Travel Credit Card Strategies
For those eager to elevate their travel rewards, integrating business credit cards into their strategy is an effective method. The Chase Ink Business Preferred card provides 3x points on numerous business-related spending categories, including shipping, advertising, and travel. Moreover, substantial welcome bonuses are commonplace—sometimes reaching up to 120,000 points following considerable spending, making it one of the best business credit cards for earning points quickly.
It’s important to note that non-full-time businesses may still be eligible for business credit cards due to side activities such as dog-walking or selling items online. These business credit cards present an opportunity to amass more points without affecting personal card eligibility. However, bear in mind the Chase 5/24 rule when applying to ensure your application is considered.
This suggested card combination effectively addresses diverse spending categories, maximizing your Ultimate Rewards redemption value when using the Chase travel portal with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, yielding a 25% increase in points value.
To accelerate earning the 60,000 bonus points through the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, strategically align your credit card applications with large purchases, such as acquiring a new appliance or undertaking significant home renovations. By maximizing your spending in these categories, you can quickly reach the minimum spending requirement to unlock the bonus and maximize your points earning potential.
Before adopting this strategy, evaluate your options thoroughly. Certain cards, like the American Express Gold Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, serve as excellent alternatives for travel rewards. Or, for elevated rewards on general purchases, consider the Wells Fargo Active Cash card offering 2% cash back.
Conclusion
Rather than being swayed by credit card promotional tactics, examine your actual financial habits by reviewing your banking and credit card records to identify your genuine spending patterns. Establish a clear budget plan. Select credit cards that provide optimal benefits based on your actual expenditures.
Chase particularly rewards engaged customers who utilize Chase partner promotional offers and consistently maximize quarterly bonus categories. For those who don’t frequently travel, investing in the Amex or Chase trifecta systems offers minimal value. It’s essential to assess your travel desires and capabilities realistically.
Prior to implementing this approach, thoroughly consider all available alternatives.
What is the Point of the Chase Trifecta?
The Chase Trifecta is a strategic approach to credit card rewards that combines three complementary Chase credit cards. The points earned by all three cards can be combined and redeemed at a higher value through the rewards card, creating a comprehensive rewards strategy that is more valuable than using each card individually.
Typically, the Chase Trifecta includes:
- A premium travel rewards card (like Chase Sapphire Preferred) that serves as the foundation and allows you to redeem points at higher values (1.25 cents per point) through the Chase travel portal.
- A category-specific card (like Chase Freedom Flex) that offers 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories.
- A "catch-all" card (like Chase Freedom Unlimited) that earns 1.5% on all purchases that don't fall into bonus categories.
