The Chase Trifecta: Best Credit Card System for Maximizing Points and Free Flights

The Chase Trifecta is a 3-card system that helps you maximize the number of points you can earn with everyday spending. If your goal is to optimize points for travel, then this is the card system for you.

The 3-card system consists of the:

•  Chase Freedom Unlimited®
• Chase Freedom Flex®
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®

When you're ready to redeem points, transfer all the Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (1.5x) or the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (1.25x).

Chase Freedom Unlimited® 

Earn 1.5x points on all purchases with the Chase Freedom Unlimited. The Chase Freedom Unlimited should be your default card for all non-category spending where you don't earn more than 2-3x points. 

Although the card is marketed as cash back, it earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
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Spending Multipliers:

• Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase
• 5% unlimited cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
• 3% on drugstore purchases

What we like:  

• Redeem points for 1.25x in travel if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Redeem points for 1.5x in travel if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (making 1.5% really 2.25%)

What we hate:

• If you don't have the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you're only getting 1.5% back

Chase Freedom Flex®

Activate each quarter to earn 5x cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in that quarter's bonus categories. Important: Don't spend more than you usually would to maximize each quarter. It doesn't make sense to incur more expenses for 5x cash back. 

Although the card is marketed as cash back, it earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Spending Multipliers:

• Earn 5% cash back on rotating categories each quarter you activate, up to $1,500 in combined purchases
• 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
• 3% on drugstore purchases
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

What we like:

• Redeem points for 1.25x in travel if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (making 5% really 6.25%)
• Redeem points for 1.5x in travel if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (making 5% really 7.5%)

What we hate:

• Foreign transaction fees
• Secondary collision damage waiver

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®

You should get the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® based on your spending habits and goals. Use the calculator here to crunch the numbers to see which card is best for you.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Spending Multipliers:

• 5X total points on air travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ Immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.
• 3X on travel (after you earn $300 in travel credit)
• 3X on dining
• 1X on all other purchases

What we like:

• Up to $300 annual travel credit per membership year — includes transit, ride share, hotels, and airline tickets
• Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Fee Credit every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card.
• Priority Pass Select membership (airport lounge access), with unlimited guests
• Redeem points for 1.5x in travel through Ultimate Rewards
• Transfer points to travel partners for even more redemption value
• Primary collision damage waiver when you rent a car
• No foreign transaction fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Spending Multipliers:

• Earn 2X points on travel purchases including airfare, hotels, cruises, and rideshare
• 5X total points on all travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 3X points on dining purchases including fine dining, coffee shops, fast food restaurants, and eligible delivery services
• 3X points on select streaming services
• 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
• Earn 1X points on all other purchases

What we like:

• Redeem points for 1.25x in travel through Ultimate Rewards
• Primary collision damage waiver when you rent a car
• No foreign transaction fees

Not a traveler? 

Stick with a 2-card system to earn maximum cash back on everyday spending with the Chase Freedom Unlimited and the Chase Freedom Flex.