The fastest way to accumulate travel rewards points is by opening new credit cards and spending enough in the first few months of opening the card to earn the opening bonus. If you’ve already opened 5 new credit lines (credit cards, lines of credit, in-store credit, etc.) within the last 24 months, then Chase will not approve you for a new card even if you otherwise qualify for it.
After you’ve earned the opening bonus on a particular card, use it primarily for the ongoing bonus categories (restaurants, gas stations, etc.).
I’ve provided referral links and summaries of the current offers (as of the date of publication) for each of the cards below. Several of the links work for more than one card. If you use these links and are approved for the card(s), then I earn some points, too. Thanks!
For any credit card strategy to work for you, you need to pay off the card(s) in full each month. If you don’t, you’ll be paying more in interest to the credit card issuer than the benefits that they’re providing with the card.
Ultimate Rewards cards – If you have any of the first four of these cards (Sapphire Reserve, Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve for Business, or Ink Business Preferred), then you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to any of Chase’s 14 travel partners (United, Southwest, Air Canada, etc.), even if you earned the points on a different card.
- Sapphire Reserve – 100k bonus points after spending $6k in first three months, $795 annual fee, 8x on travel purchased through Chase portal, 4x on travel directly with airlines/hotels, 3x points on restaurants, Sapphire Lounge and Priority Pass Lounge access included, IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite Status included, $300 annual travel credit, $500 annual The Edit credit, Global Entry/TSA Precheck credit, bunch of other credits
- Sapphire Preferred – 100k bonus points after spending $5k in the first three months, $95 annual fee, 5x on travel purchased through Chase portal and Lyft rides and Peloton equipment, 3x points on restaurants and vacation rentals, 2x on other travel, $50 annual travel credit, a few other credits
- Sapphire Reserve for Business – 200k bonus points after spending $30k in first six months, $795 annual fee, 8x on travel purchased through Chase portal, 5x on Lyft, 4x on travel directly with airlines/hotels, 3x points on social media and search engine advertising, Sapphire Lounge and Priority Pass Lounge access included, IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite Status included, $300 annual travel credit, $500 annual The Edit credit, $250 select hotel credit, $200 Google Workspace credit, Global Entry/TSA Precheck credit, bunch of other credits
- Ink Business Preferred – 100k bonus points after spending $8k in first three months, $95 annual fee, 5x points on Lyft, 3x on shipping, travel, social media advertising, and internet/phone/cable services
- Ink Business Unlimited – 100k bonus points after spending $8k in the first three months, no annual fee, 5x points on Lyft, 1.5x points on all other purchases
- Ink Business Cash – 100k bonus points after spending $8k in the first six months, no annual fee, 5x points on internet/phone/cable services, office supply store purchases, 2x points on gas stations and restaurants
- Chase Freedom Unlimited – 20k bonus points after spending $500 in the first three months, no annual fee, 5x points on travel purchased through Chase portal, 3x on restaurants and drugstores, 1.5x points on all other purchases
- Chase Freedom Flex – 20k bonus points after spending $500 in the first three months, no annual fee, 5x points on travel purchased through Chase portal and on rotating categories each quarter, 3x on restaurants and drugstores, 1x points on all other purchases
United MileagePlus cards – holding one or more of these cards unlocks award availability for booking with points that is not available to those who don’t hold a card or have elite status with United. MileagePlus cards (and miles) are generally not considered as valuable as Ultimate Rewards points, so only get one or more of these if you already have the Ultimate Rewards card(s) you want and are planning to book something on United (or are booking through United on one of its Star Alliance partners).
- United Business – 100k bonus MileagePlus points after spending $5k in the first three months, $150 annual fee, 5k bonus miles each card anniversary, 2 United Club passes each year, first checked bag free, 2x miles on United purchases and gas stations and restaurants and office supply stores, various credits available
- United Club Business – 100k bonus MileagePlus points after spending $5k in first three months, $695 annual fee, 5k bonus miles each card anniversary, includes United Club membership for accessing United Club lounges with a guest, Premier Access for priority check in and boarding and baggage, first and second checked bags free, 2x miles on United purchases, 5x miles on hotels prepaid directly through Renowned Hotels and Resorts, 1.5x miles on all other purchases, various credits available
- United Gateway – 30k bonus MileagePlus points after spending $1k in the first three months, no annual fee, 2x miles on United purchases and gas stations and other travel
- United Explorer – 50k bonus MileagePlus points after spending $3k in first three months, $150 annual fee waived for first year, 2 United Club passes each year, first checked bag free, 3x miles on United purchases, 2x on restaurants and other travel, Global Entry/TSA Precheck credit, various credits available
- United Quest – 60k bonus MileagePlus points after spending $4k in the first three months, $350 annual fee, first and second checked bags free, 4x miles on United purchases, 5x miles on hotels prepaid directly through Renowned Hotels and Resorts, 2x miles on other travel and restaurants and select streaming services, various credits available
- United Club – 80k bonus MileagePlus points after spending $5k in first three months, $695 annual fee, 5k bonus miles each card anniversary, includes United Club membership for accessing United Club lounges with a guest, Premier Access for priority check in and boarding and baggage, first and second checked bags free, 5x miles on United purchases and hotels prepaid directly through Renowned Hotels and Resorts, 2x miles on other travel and restaurants, various credits available
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