Chase has brought back its best-ever 100,000-point welcome bonus for the Chase Sapphire Preferred for a limited time. Eligible new cardholders can earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months, alongside updated card be
By the time you’re done planning a flight, the “best deal” usually feels like it has already passed. This time, Chase is putting the timing back on your side: the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card’s best-ever 100,000-point welcome offer is back for a limited time.
For new cardholders, the terms are straightforward. You can earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. The size of the offer is what makes people sit up—this limited-time bonus is 25. 000 points higher than the standard offer the card has shown in recent months. Based on The Points Guy’s June 2026 valuations. 100. 000 Chase points are valued at over $2. 000 when maximized with Chase’s transfer partners.
The offer is rare for a reason: the Chase Sapphire Preferred was first introduced in 2009, and the 100k welcome bonus offer has appeared only three times in the 17 years since its launch—first in 2021, then in 2025, and now again in 2026.
The annual fee is still $95, and that’s part of the shock. The Sapphire Preferred carries a modest $95 annual fee yet awards Chase Ultimate Rewards points. which The Points Guy values at roughly $2. 050 for 100. 000 points based on its valuations—thanks to the variety of high-value ways to redeem them. If you prefer not to juggle transfers. the points can also be used through Chase Travel℠ at a fixed value of 1 cent per point (at least $1. 000 toward travel booked that way). and potentially up to $1. 500 via Points Boost.
Eligibility is where travelers start worrying about timing. You generally can’t earn the Sapphire Preferred’s bonus if you’ve previously received a welcome bonus on the Sapphire Preferred. Chase may also consider factors such as your overall card history and the number of cards you’ve opened or closed recently.
There’s also Chase’s 5/24 rule: applicants who have opened 5 or more cards in the past 24 months are likely to be denied. But a key detail has changed how some people plan their strategy. Even if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees). you can still be eligible for the Chase Sapphire Preferred due to a relatively recent change.
The bigger question for most travelers isn’t just whether they qualify—it’s what the points can unlock. Chase points plug into both its own redemption options and a roster of transfer partners, including United MileagePlus, Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, and World of Hyatt.
With those transfer partners, the payoff can be dramatic. The Points Guy points to examples such as flying to Europe in business class: booking via United Airlines on United MileagePlus or Air Canada Aeroplan from around 80. 000 miles (plus taxes and fees) each way. or through Air France or KLM starting at 60. 000 Flying Blue miles (plus taxes and fees). The offer can also cover multiple domestic economy trips. with guidance that you could take six to ten domestic flights by booking via United. Aeroplan. or Flying Blue to fly on United or Delta Air Lines.
For hotel lovers, there’s World of Hyatt. The points can support Hyatt stays starting at 15. 000 Hyatt points for properties such as the Hyatt Place Moab or Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress near Disney World. with higher-end options beginning at 25. 000 World of Hyatt points. including the Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa.
Of course. this is where the story turns slightly tense: the card’s recent refresh is valuable. but it also includes changes that affect how you stretch your points. Just a few days ago. Chase announced updates for the Chase Sapphire Preferred. including an increase in the annual hotel credit. new 3 points per dollar bonus categories. and a transfer ratio change to Hyatt.
The transfer ratio to Hyatt is changing from 1:1 to 4:3. The Numbers matter. If you want to book a 15. 000-point hotel within the World of Hyatt ecosystem. you would now need to transfer 20. 000 Chase points if you’re a new cardholder. Cardholders prior to June 15, 2026 have access to the 1:1 transfer rate until Oct. 1, 2026.
That shift makes some Hyatt redemptions more expensive than before. Still, Chase Ultimate Rewards points remain flexible thanks to the airline and hotel transfer partners—meaning travelers have other routes when it comes time to book.
The update isn’t only about transfers. The Sapphire Preferred now includes an annual hotel credit increased from $50 to $100 for reservations booked through Chase Travel. and it adds a new statement credit: Global Entry. TSA PreCheck. or NEXUS credit that provides one statement credit of up to $120 every four years when the application fee is charged to the card.
It also adds new ways to earn. You can now earn 3 points per dollar on gas, EV charging and vacation home rentals booked on Airbnb, Vrbo, Plum Guide, HomeAway, Homestay.com and Vacasa.
And the protections have expanded too. The card now offers emergency evacuation and transportation coverage.
In the end. the pitch is simple: a limited-time 100. 000-point welcome bonus sitting on top of updated travel benefits and a $95 annual fee. For people who don’t plan to use Hyatt transfers—or for those who also have the Chase Sapphire Reserve maintaining the 1:1 transfer ratio—the Sapphire Preferred “has never been better. ” The Points Guy says.
With the offer’s track record—appearing only briefly before disappearing again—the message that lands is urgency. There’s no guarantee Chase will keep this limited-time offer around for very long. But if you’re eligible and ready to put $5. 000 in spending through the first three months from account opening. the window is open.
To learn more, read The Points Guy’s full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Chase Sapphire Preferred 100 000 bonus points Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners United MileagePlus Air Canada Aeroplan Flying Blue World of Hyatt Global Entry credit TSA PreCheck credit NEXUS credit Points Boost Chase Travel
So it’s 100k points but do you actually get cash back or nah?
They always say “best-ever” but it’s only if you spend $5k in 3 months… like most people already can’t just do that without messing up their budget. Still, the transfer partners thing sounds like a scam unless you know what you’re doing.
Wait, I thought 2026 is already later, so why is the offer “returns” like it left forever? Also the article says 25,000 points higher than standard but then it’s like “valued at over $2,000” which depends on flights??? That’s basically marketing math. I don’t trust it.
My buddy got Chase points like this and then they changed the rules like a week later. Not saying it will happen, but “limited time” usually means fine print. Also $5,000 in 3 months is easy for some people but if you miss it you get nothing right? And aren’t points the same as miles? I’m lost. Chase is pushy with these bonuses.