In our previous post, we talked about how Chase Ultimate Rewards points offer the most value of any rewards programs. Fortunately, there are many options for earning UR points.
The first and most lucrative options for almost all rewards programs including Chase Ultimate Rewards are credit card sign-up bonuses. Chase offers six credit card products, three personal and three business, which allow you to earn UR points.
Note that some cards state that they offer UR points while others offer cash back. In reality, all points offer points as long as you have one of the following three cards active: Chase Ink Plus, Chase Ink Bold, Chase Sapphire Preferred. Chase allows you to combine points between any of your cards. To be able to transfer points 1:1 to one of the ten travel partner programs so you aren’t restricted to cash-back or other low-value redemption options, you need to transfer points to one of the three cards listed previously. I combine all points on my Chase Sapphire Preferred card because I choose to keep this card every year. Although there is an annual fee, the flexibility and value of UR points makes it more than worth paying for!
Business
- 50,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 within the first three months of account opening
- Earn 5X points per $1 on the first $50,000 spent annually at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet and cable TV services
- Earn 2X points per $1 on the first $50,000 spent annually at gas stations and for hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel
- Earn 1x points per $1 on everything else
- First year annual fee of $0, $95 thereafter
Chase Ink Bold
- 50,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 within the first three months of account opening
- Earn 5X points per $1 on the first $50,000 spent annually at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet and cable TV services
- Earn 2X points per $1 on the first $50,000 spent annually at gas stations and for hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel
- Earn 1x points per $1 on everything else
- First year annual fee of $0, $95 thereafter
- Charge card: no interest charges as you pay balance in full each month
- $200 cash back (20,000 points) after spending $3,000 within the first three months of account opening
- Earn 5% (5x points) cash back on the first $25,000 spent annually at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet and cable TV services.
- Earn 2% (2x points) cash back on the first $25,000 spent annually at gas stations and restaurants.
- Earn 1% (1x points)cash back on all other purchases—with no limit to the amount you can earn.
- No annual fee
Personal
- 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 within the first three months of account opening
- Earn 2X points per $1 on travel and dining
- Earn 1x points per $1 on everything else
- 7% annual point dividend
- First year annual fee of $0, $95 thereafter
Chase Sapphire Preferred
- 10,000 bonus points after spending $500 within the first three months of account opening
- Earn 2X points per $1 on dining
- Earn 1x points per $1 on everything else
- No annual fee
- $100 cash back (10,000 points) after spending $500 within the first three months of account opening
- 5% Cash Back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases between January 1 and March 31, 2014 at gas stations, movie theaters and Starbucks® stores
- 5% categories on new categories every 3 months like gas stations, restaurants and Amazon.com
- Unlimited 1% Cash Back on all other purchases
- No annual fee
Chase Freedom
Another easy way to earn UR points is through the Chase Ultimate Rewards shopping portal. Refer to this post on how to earn miles fast on normal, everyday shopping! Some merchants offer very lucrative bonuses when shopping through this portal even sometimes greater than 10x!