Travel Tips
Maximizing Travel Points
Last updated April 2026
How I use the Chase trifecta to fly more and spend less — without overcomplicating it.
I'm not a points-and-miles blogger. I don't spend hours optimizing every purchase or juggling fifteen different credit cards. But I do travel a lot, and I've figured out a system that works for me — one that's simple enough to actually stick with, and effective enough to get me free flights pretty regularly.
The short version: I use the Chase trifecta — the Sapphire Reserve, Freedom Unlimited, and Freedom Flex — and I funnel all my points into travel through the Chase portal. That's basically it. No spreadsheets, no complicated math. Just smart defaults and occasional free trips.
The Cards I Use
Chase Sapphire Reserve
This is my main card — the one that lives in my wallet. Yes, it has a $795 annual fee. Yes, it's still worth it. Here's why: you get a $300 travel credit every year (automatically applied to travel purchases), 8x points when booking through Chase Travel, 4x on flights and hotels booked directly, and when you redeem points through the Chase portal, they're worth 50% more.
But here's where it gets interesting — the 2025 refresh added a ton of new perks. You get up to $500 in annual credits for hotel stays through The Edit collection, $300 in dining credits at Sapphire Exclusive Tables restaurants, free Apple TV and Apple Music subscriptions, and even a $300 StubHub credit if you're into concerts and events. Plus there are new Chase Sapphire Lounges opening up (way nicer than Priority Pass lounges), and you still get Priority Pass access too.
When you stack up all the credits — $300 travel, $500 hotel, $300 dining, $288 Apple subscriptions — that's $1,388 in potential value before you even count the points. The effective annual fee can actually go negative if you use the benefits. You do have to make an effort to use them, but if you travel a few times a year, it pays for itself many times over.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
This is my "everything else" card. It earns 1.5x points on all purchases with no annual fee. I use it for groceries, gas, random Amazon orders — anything that doesn't fall into a bonus category. The points transfer to my Sapphire Reserve, so they get that 50% boost when I use them for travel. It's simple and it adds up faster than you'd think.
Chase Freedom Flex
This one has rotating 5x bonus categories that change every quarter — things like gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, or Amazon. When a category aligns with something I'm already spending on, I use this card. When it doesn't, I don't stress about it and just use the Freedom Unlimited. Again, no annual fee, and the points stack with the rest.
How I Actually Use Them
I don't overthink it. Here's my actual day-to-day:
- — Travel: Sapphire Reserve. Always. 8x points through Chase Travel (or 4x booking direct) plus the redemption bonus makes it unbeatable.
- — 5x quarterly categories: Freedom Flex if I remember. If I forget, it's not the end of the world.
- — Everything else: Freedom Unlimited. No thinking required. 1.5x on everything adds up over time.
- — Redemption: I book flights through the Chase travel portal. Points are worth 1.5 cents each with the Reserve, which is a solid rate without having to mess with transfer partners.
Does It Actually Work?
Here's a rough example. Say I spend $2,000 a month on credit cards — pretty normal when you include groceries, gas, dining out, travel, and random life stuff. With this setup, I'm earning somewhere around 4,000-5,000 points per month depending on where my spending falls (more if you book travel through Chase). That's 48,000-60,000 points a year.
With the 50% bonus on the Reserve, those points are worth $720-$900 when redeemed for travel through Chase. Now add in the credits: $300 travel, $500 hotel (if you use The Edit), $300 dining, $288 in Apple subscriptions. Even if you only use half of those benefits, you're getting way more value than the $795 annual fee.
And that's without any big sign-up bonuses. When I first got the Sapphire Reserve, the sign-up bonus alone was enough for a round-trip flight to Europe. If you're strategic about when you apply, that bonus can be a huge jumpstart.
A Few Things I've Learned
Pay your balance in full every month
I shouldn't have to say this, but none of this works if you're paying interest. The whole point of travel rewards is to get free stuff — not to go into debt for points. If you're carrying a balance, focus on paying that off before thinking about optimizing credit cards.
Don't chase bonuses at the expense of simplicity
Some people juggle a dozen cards to maximize every single purchase. More power to them. But I'd rather have a system I can maintain without thinking about it. The best rewards strategy is one you actually use — not the theoretically optimal one that's too complicated to keep up with.
The Chase portal is underrated
A lot of points enthusiasts push transferring to airline partners for better redemption rates. And yeah, sometimes you can get amazing value that way. But the Chase portal is simple, reliable, and gets you 1.5 cents per point with the Reserve. For most trips, that's good enough — and way less hassle than hunting for award availability.
Use the lounge access
The Reserve now gets you access to both Priority Pass lounges and the new Chase Sapphire Lounges (currently at Boston Logan and Hong Kong, with DFW and LAX coming soon). The Sapphire Lounges are a step up — think better food, nicer spaces, and you can bring two guests free. Priority Pass is still useful for airports without a Sapphire Lounge. Free food, drinks, comfortable seating — it makes long layovers almost enjoyable. Don't forget to download the apps and check which lounges are available at your airport.
Know your credits
The $300 travel credit is still automatic — flights, hotels, Uber, parking, it all counts. But the new credits require a bit more intention. The $500 hotel credit only works for 2+ night stays at Edit collection properties booked through Chase Travel. The $300 dining credit is for specific Sapphire Exclusive Tables restaurants on OpenTable. The StubHub and Peloton credits have their own rules too. I keep a note in my phone with all of them so I don't forget to use them before they expire.
Is This the Right Strategy for You?
If you travel at least a few times a year and put most of your spending on credit cards (and pay them off every month), this setup makes a lot of sense. The Sapphire Reserve $795 annual fee sounds high — and honestly, it is — but between all the credits, the lounge access, and the boosted redemption rate, it can pay for itself if you actually use the benefits. The key is being intentional about using the credits before they expire.
If you don't travel much or you're not ready for an annual fee, start with just the Freedom Unlimited. It's a solid card on its own, and you can always upgrade later when it makes sense.
The main thing is to have a system and actually use it. Points sitting in an account don't do anything. Book the trip.
This isn't the only way to do travel rewards, and it might not be the absolute optimal strategy. But it's simple, it works, and I don't have to think about it. That's worth a lot to me.
Use the points. Take the trip. That's the whole point.