Chase for Beginners

The Set Up

Before we go over the pros and cons of Chase, let's first go through each of the main cards in this setup.

Pros

1. Low Annual Fee

The Chase Trifecta has an extreamly low Annual Fee at just $95 for the Sapphire Preferred, while the two Freedom Cards are 100% free. This is one of the lowest annual fee setups, Being lower then the cheapest personal AmEx card and tied with the Citi Strata Premier and Capital One Venture

2. Valuable Points

While Bilt has objectivly the most valuable points whith some of the best transfer partners. Chase shares many of these including Hyatt, United and Southwest and also Jetblue which Bilt does not have. Combined with Chase's much easier to learn points earning system and much more frequent and somtimes better transfer bonuses, Chase's point system is a really strong way to get tons of value.

3. Cashback is Always An Option (1 CPP)

While I always advise saving points for transfers above 1 CPP, when you are new and not fully used to points, having the option to cashout at 1 CPP is always a great peace of mind to know you arent losing any value over cashback as well as just having the flexibility. Sometimes it's better value to use cashback to buy points rather then transfer them, such as with IHG's 100% bonuses

4. Decent Sign Up Bonuses

While not the best in the game, the 75,000 point offer on the Sapphire and the 20,000 point offers on the Freedom cards are still solid and can get you some great redemptions on flights and even some Hyatt hotels. And if you have a business, the sign up bonuses on the Ink Cards can be used too.

5. You may already have one of these cards

Chase is the largest issuer of consumer credit cards in the US. Its very likley you already have a Freedom card in your wallet. FWI, if you have left over cashback, DON'T Redeem it, save it until you get your Sapphire or Ink Preferred and combine your points to transfer them

6.Rotaing 5x Category

While it is rotating, until Discover is fully intgrated into Capital One, the Freedom Flex is the only way to get 5x category with points

7. Combine with Business Cards

While this is true for Capital One and AmEx as well, Chase has some really good business cards that can also earn points that can help you with your points earning stratgey

The Ink cards even have their own trifecta that complements the personal one quiet well

Cons

1. No 2x Catch All

Chase is the only issuer with no way of having a base 2x catch all, this does limit your points earning potential a bit

2. No Gas or Grocery Category

While the ink cash does have 2x on gas, this is a catch all rate and far bellow the 3x or 4x of otther issuers. And besides the 5x the Freedom cards often offers as bonuses for the first year on gas and grocery, Chase has no permanent offer for in store grocery purchase unless your grocery store has an app that you pay through that codes as online grocery for the Sapphire.

3. No 3x Travel (Personal Side)

Unless you have an expensive Reserve card or Ink Preferred Business Card, your max on travel is 2x, once again the catch all at most other issuers.

4. 5/24

Bottom line, if you have gotten more then five credit cards from ANY issuer in the past 24 months, you won't get any Chase Card. Business cards including Ink cards do not count twoards this goal (besidesTD Business cards and C1 excluding Spark Plus and Venture X Business cards) but you still need to be under 5/24 to get one.

The Bottom Line

If you are new to credit cards and points and miles, for the seven reasons listed above, it's really hard to go wrong with Chase and it will get you tons of travel, even with the listed cons

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