| Card |
Bonus |
Spend |
Spend Term |
Ann. Fee |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred |
50,000 UR |
$4,000 |
3 mos. |
$95 |
One of the industry’s best and most versatile credit cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card comes with a plethora of benefits and is a great introductory card for those just getting into churning. Often referred to by its initials, the current offer for the CSP is 50,000 Ultimate Rewards (UR) when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months. Additionally, you can earn another 5,000 UR when you add an authorized user and make a purchase with that second card in the first 3 months. The $95 annual fee is waived for the first year too, and there are no foreign transaction fees. Another great benefit of the card is that it earns 2x points on travel and restaurant purchases, so if you’re someone who likes to travel and or eat out a lot this is a fantastic card to have!
Lastly, and arguably most importantly, is the versatility of Chase Ultimate Rewards. They can be transferred at a ratio of 1:1 to numerous frequent flyer and hotel reward programs including United MileagePlus, British Airways Avios, Korean Airlines, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, Virgin Atlantic, Hyatt Gold Passport, IHG Rewards Club, Marriott Rewards, and Ritz-Carlton. Only have 50,000 United miles? Well now you can transfer your newly acquired 55,000 UR to United for a grand total of 105,000 United miles – more than enough to fly anywhere in the world on Star Alliance round trip in economy! Transfers are generally instantaneous and really accentuate the value of Ultimate Rewards.
| Card | Bonus | Spend | Spend In | Ann. Fee |
| Chase Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier | 40,000 RR | $2,000 | 3 mos. | $99 |
The Chase Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier credit card is a fantastic card for those who travel (or want to travel) throughout the US and anywhere Southwest flies (now to Mexico, Belize, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and elsewhere). The current offer for new applicants is 40,000 Rapid Rewards (aka Southwest miles) when you spend $2,000 in the first 3 months. Additionally, you’ll earn 6,000 miles after your first anniversary of being a cardholder. The annual fee of $99 is not waived (and charged on your first statement), but the card has no foreign transaction fees.
While Southwest miles can’t be transferred to other programs or airlines, the 40,000 + 2,000 miles you’ll earn with the card do count toward earning the Southwest Companion Pass. As we’ve explained here, the Companion Pass (CP) is one of the most valuable benefits in churning, especially if you often travel with a close friend, significant other, or spouse. After you earn 110,000 Southwest miles in a calendar year you’ll receive the Companion Pass which gives you a free companion ticket every time you book a ticket, whether with miles or cash. Oh and did I mention it lasts for the rest of the calendar year in which you earn the pass plus the entire subsequent year? Get both the Premier and Plus in January 2018, reach 110,000 miles, and you’ll have the CP for the rest of 2018 and all of 2019!