Chase Just Announced a New Welcome Bonus Worth $900. Here’s How to Get It

Chase just announced another new credit card welcome bonus that can help summer travelers save money.

Just weeks after ending the whopping 80,000-point welcome bonus on its Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, Chase has another boosted welcome offer — this time on the premium Chase Sapphire Reserve travel card.

Now, you can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within three months of account opening, up from the card’s previous 50,000-point offer. That’s not quite as lucrative as the Sapphire Preferred bonus we saw earlier this spring. But thanks to the Sapphire Reserve card’s 1.5x boost on travel redemptions, you can get up to $900 in value from the new offer.

Here’s more about how to maximize the latest boosted bonus from Chase, and why we like the $550 Chase Sapphire Reserve card for frequent travelers:

How to Use the Chase Sapphire Reserve 60,000-Point Bonus

Even though the Sapphire Reserve’s welcome bonus is only increasing by 10,000 bonus points, you can get up to $900 in value, compared to the $750 the previous bonus was worth.

That’s because points earned with your Sapphire Reserve are worth 1.5 cents per point when you redeem them for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

To best maximize the card’s new 60,000-point welcome offer, first make sure the spending requirement is within your budget. You’ll need to spend $4,000 within three months of account opening, or about $1,333 per month. 

But also keep in mind this card’s steep annual fee. You’ll need to budget in that additional $550, which will likely be charged on your first statement after you open your account.

Once you’ve earned the bonus, the best way to use it is toward an upcoming trip. You’ll get the full $900 value of your bonus points by redeeming them for travel through Chase’s travel portal. 

Another great use of your points is transferring them to one of Chase’s several travel partners. Your points will transfer at a 1:1 ratio. But depending on your itinerary — when you book, your travel destination, and travel times — you may be able to get more than 1 cent per point value from the transfer, especially if your plans are flexible.

How to Maximize the Chase Sapphire Reserve

With a $550 annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Reserve isn’t for everyone, but we do think it’s one of the best travel credit cards available today.

That’s because frequent travelers can easily make up the cost of that fee and more with the card’s bonus rewards and added perks.

After you earn the 60,000-point welcome bonus, you can keep boosting your rewards balance with the following bonus categories:

• 10x points on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• 10x points on dining through Chase Dining
• 5x total points on air travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• 3x points on other travel and dining
• 1x points on every other purchase

In addition to rewards, you can earn a $300 annual travel credit (which appears as a reimbursement for eligible travel purchases on your statement), credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee, Priority Pass Select membership for airport lounge access, no foreign transaction fees, travel and purchase protections including primary auto rental coverage, and more.

Just remember, while these benefits can go a long way in adding value to your travel experiences, they’re generally only worth the cost if you use them and would have spent the money anyway. Before you apply, consider your previous travel spending and upcoming trips to make sure the Sapphire Reserve’s annual fee is worth the value you’ll get. 

If you travel only a couple times a year and want a travel credit card that’s less expensive, consider others on our best travel credit cards list with a lower annual fee but great benefits for your time at home and away, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, Capital One Venture Rewards Card, or American Express Gold Card.