Rob just got the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card—thanks to that incredible 100,000 point welcome bonus offer. The thing is, I already had the Sapphire Preferred, and there’s really no benefit to us both holding the same card that does the same thing especially because Rob and I can merge our Chase points.
So now I’m faced with a decision: what should I do with my Sapphire Preferred card? I’m not just going to let it sit there, and I definitely don’t need two of the same card in our household. I’ve narrowed it down to two options, both of which I think are strong depending on your goals.
Option 1: Upgrade to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®
I actually used to have the Reserve and downgraded it, but I’m seriously considering bringing it back. Why? A few reasons:
- Lounge Access: With the new Chase Sapphire Lounges open at my main airports, LaGuardia and JFK, I want to be able to check them out—and access is only granted with the Sapphire Reserve.
- Travel Earnings: I already spend a lot on travel. While our Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card earns 3x on travel, that’s capped at $150,000 per year—and Rob’s advertising spend for his law firm usually eats that up. So having a valuable multiplier on all personal travel year-round with the Reserve is a big plus.
- Redemption Value: With the Reserve, points are worth 1.5 cents each when redeemed through the Chase Travel Portal (vs. 1.25 cents with the Preferred). That can add up fast, especially when booking flights and hotels.
Between the travel earnings, lounge access, and better point redemptions, this feels like a strong upgrade for my situation.
Option 2: Downgrade to Another Chase Freedom Flex® Card
I already have a Freedom Flex card, but hear me out: there’s actually a good case for having two.
The Freedom Flex offers 5% back or 5x points per dollar when you have a higher Chase card like I do, on rotating quarterly categories, up to $1,500 in spend per quarter. That’s a potential 7,500 points every three months. But if it’s a category that’s easy for me to max out—like groceries, dining, or Amazon—I often hit the $1,500 limit early. With two Flex cards, I could double-dip: max one out, then use the second one to earn another 7,500 points in the same quarter.
This strategy costs me nothing in annual fees and gives me more flexibility to rack up points on everyday spending.
So What’s the Move?
I’m leaning pretty heavily toward upgrading to the Sapphire Reserve. It aligns with my travel habits and lets me take advantage of those Chase lounges (which I’ve been dying to check out). But I’m definitely keeping the Freedom Flex option in my back pocket, especially if I ever decide to cut down on fees or if my travel slows down.
Either way, I’m not keeping the Sapphire Preferred. It’s a solid card, but there’s no reason for us to have two—and Chase’s ecosystem is all about having the right mix of cards to earn and redeem effectively.
If you’ve found yourself in a similar situation—whether you’re maximizing travel spend or strategizing category bonuses—I’d love to hear what route you took.
The Points Mom’s Got IT!
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