For years, the unquestionable leaders of the premium card market were The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

That all changed when Capital One shook up the industry with its debut of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card in late 2021 — undercutting both of its rivals by offering competitive perks at a lower $395 annual fee (see rates and fees).

Perhaps you’re one of the many Sapphire Reserve cardmembers who has considered switching to the Venture X. Or maybe you’re on the hunt for your first premium travel rewards card.

Today, we’ll break down the card benefits and drawbacks below to help you decide whether the Capital One Venture X or the Chase Sapphire Reserve is better for you.

Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve comparison

*Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g., at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program, and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.

Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve welcome offer

The Venture X offers a lucrative welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.

Meanwhile, the Sapphire Reserve offers 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.

TPG values Chase Ultimate Rewards points slightly higher than Capital One miles due to its superior transfer partners — we estimate that Ultimate Rewards points are worth 2.05 cents apiece. In comparison, Capital One miles are worth 1.85 cents apiece.

According to these valuations, the Capital One Venture X‘s welcome bonus of 75,000 miles is worth about $1,388, while the Sapphire Reserve’s bonus of 60,000 points is worth $1,230.

Winner: Capital One Venture X. The higher-valued welcome bonus gives this card an edge.

Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire reserve benefits

Let’s talk about what makes these cards truly premium.

For starters, there’s a $300 annual credit on both cards. However, the Venture X’s credit is less flexible since you’ll have to book all travel on the Capital One travel portal in order to receive reimbursement. Meanwhile, the Sapphire Reserve will automatically reimburse for any purchases under the “travel” umbrella up to the $300 limit — and they don’t have to be booked directly with Chase. I have had tolls, parking meters, and subways in other countries reimbursed as part of Chase’s $300 travel credit.

Both cards offer Priority Pass membership for the cardholder and up to two guests. However, the Sapphire’s access includes Priority Pass restaurants and spas, whereas you’re limited to just lounges with the Venture X.

Both issuers are also getting into the lounge game themselves. Capital One Lounges are currently open at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Denver International Airport (DEN). The Venture X includes access for the primary cardholder as well as a number of authorized users.

Chase also has its own growing network of airport lounges, with locations currently open in Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), as well as a terrace in Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS).

Both cards also come with ancillary benefits that won’t necessarily move the needle for prospective applicants. Still, these perks are all worth taking advantage of if you decide to apply for either card. For the Sapphire Reserve, these include a complimentary 2-year Lyft Pink All Access membership (activate by Dec 31, 2024) and one year of complimentary Instacart+ (through Dec. 31, 2024) with a statement credit of up to $15 each month through July 2024.

With the Venture X, you’ll get a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus each year of card membership renewal.

Additionally, both cards are Visa Infinite cards and provide high-level travel and purchase protections.

Winner: Tie. While the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s $300 travel credit is much more flexible and offers two domestic Chase lounges, the Capital One Venture X comes with 10,000 bonus anniversary miles and access to three Capital One lounges within the U.S.

Earning rewards with the Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire reserve

The Venture X offers 10 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals and five miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Meanwhile, the Sapphire Reserve earns 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals and five points per dollar on flights booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.

According to our valuations, the Venture X offers an 18.5% return on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One’s portal, whereas the Sapphire Reserve offers a return of around 20% on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase’s portal.

While the Venture X offers simplicity, with 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases, the Sapphire Reserve offers higher returns by offering 3 points per dollar on all other travel (booked outside of Ultimate Rewards) and dining purchases.

Frequent travelers will likely earn more with the Sapphire Reserve’s bonus categories than they will with the Venture X’s flat-rate earning structure.

Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve. It offers bonus categories beyond travel portal bookings.

Redeeming rewards with the Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve

The most valuable redemption option with the Venture X and Sapphire Reserve is to transfer points to travel partners, but that’s not the only way to use your rewards on either card.

Capital One miles and Chase Ultimate Rewards can both be used for flat-rate redemptions on each respective issuer’s travel portal.

With the Sapphire Reserve, your points are worth 50% more toward any travel booked through the Ultimate Rewards portal, making your points worth 1.5 cents apiece. While this isn’t as rewarding as transferring your points to Chase’s transfer partners, this redemption option is useful if you have trouble finding award space.

Meanwhile, the Venture X offers fixed-rate travel redemptions at just 1 cent per mile — and while this can be applied to any travel purchase you charge to the card, it’s still notably lower.

Both the Venture X and Sapphire Reserve also offer less lucrative redemption options, such as gift cards and cash back.

Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve. The fixed-value redemption option is 50% more lucrative.

Transferring rewards with the Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve

Transferring rewards to airline partners is the best way to maximize those hard-earned points and miles. Both airlines offer an impressive list of transfer partners that make redeeming rewards a no-brainer. With the Sapphire Reserve, you can transfer your Ultimate Rewards points at a simple 1:1 ratio. On the other hand, the Capital One miles program has partners that transfer at a 1:1 ratio for the most part, but there are a few exceptions that transfer at a less favorable ratio.

Chase offers 14 airline and hotel transfer partners, which include Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue and United MileagePlus, to name a few. Meanwhile, Capital One has 15-plus transfer partners, and some notable names include Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, Avianca LifeMiles, and Etihad Guest.

As a Sapphire Reserve cardholder, I have consistently transferred my points to transfer partners to redeem them for maximum value. I recently transferred points to Aeroplan to book a business-class flight for 70,000 miles on Lufthansa to fly home from Munich to Los Angeles.

Winner: Tie. Despite Capital One having more transfer partners, not all transfers occur at a 1:1 ratio.

Should I get the Capital One Venture X or Chase Sapphire Reserve?

If you value broader earning potential and a flexible travel credit, the Sapphire Reserve is a good choice. On the other hand, if you prefer paying a lower annual fee, and live in one of the cities whose airport has a Capital One Lounge, the Venture X (see rates and fees) is perfect.

If you truly want to maximize your points and miles, periodic transfer bonuses can offer lucrative opportunities for fantastic award redemptions. You can sometimes get significantly more value from your rewards by transferring them to a specific airline or hotel partner during one of these bonuses.

However, these are limited-time offers.

We’ve compiled the transfer bonuses for the major transferable rewards programs to make tracking these offers easier. Just note that transfer bonuses are sometimes targeted, so some may not be available.

American Express Membership Rewards current transfer bonuses

How to earn American Express Membership Rewards points

You’ll need Membership Rewards points to maximize Amex transfer bonuses. If you’re looking to earn Membership Rewards points, the following Amex cards could be useful additions to your wallet:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on your new card in your first six months of card membership. Terms apply.
• American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 in your first six months of card membership. Terms apply.
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card in the first three months of card membership. Terms apply.

Check the CardMatch tool to see if you’re targeted for an even higher welcome offer (subject to change at any time).

You can also earn extra Membership Rewards when enrolling in Amex Offers and shopping with Rakuten.

Based on TPG valuations, Membership Rewards points are worth 2 cents each, and our tests indicate that they transfer instantly to most programs.

Related: Redeeming American Express Membership Rewards points for maximum value

Chase Ultimate Rewards current transfer bonuses

How to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points

If you want to earn more Chase Ultimate Rewards points, the following cards could make good additions to your wallet:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

If you have one (or more) of the above cards, you can combine your Ultimate Rewards points in a single account. Then, you can effectively convert the cash-back earnings on the following cards into fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points:

• Chase Freedom Flex℠: Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
• Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Use your card for all your purchases, and at the end of your first year, Chase will automatically match all the cash back you earned. There is no limit to how much you can earn.
• Ink Business Cash® Credit Card: Earn a $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening.
• Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card: Earn a $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

According to TPG valuations, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 2.05 cents each when maximized with travel partners. Most Ultimate Rewards transfers will process instantly.

Related: How to maximize your Chase Ultimate Rewards points

Capital One miles

There are currently no transfer bonuses for Capital One miles.

How to earn Capital One miles

For a future transfer bonus, the following Capital One cards could make good additions to your wallet:

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Capital One Venture X Business: Earn 150,000 bonus miles when you spend $30,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Capital One Spark Miles for Business: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $4,500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

TPG’s valuations peg the value of Capital One miles at 1.85 cents each, and most transfers from Capital One will process instantly.

For more details, check out our guides to the Capital One transfer partners and how to transfer Capital One miles to airline partners.

Related: Tips and tricks to get maximum value from your Capital One miles

Citi ThankYou Rewards

There are currently no transfer bonuses for Citi ThankYou points.

How to earn Citi ThankYou Rewards points

These Citi credit cards could make useful additions to your wallet for earning Citi ThankYou points:

• Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees): Earn 60,000 ThankYou bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
• Citi Rewards+® Card (see rates and fees): Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 on purchases with your card within three months of account opening. Plus, earn a total of 5 ThankYou points on hotels, car rentals and attractions, excluding air travel, on the Citi Travel portal now through June 30, 2024. (Note: You must pair this card with a premium Citi ThankYou card to access a full-fledged, transferable ThankYou points account.)

Based on TPG’s valuations, Citi ThankYou points are worth about 1.8 cents each. However, note that some Citi transfers will not process instantly. So, factor in the transfer time if you’re trying to book an award with scarce availability.

Related: Is Citi ThankYou Rewards the most underappreciated and misunderstood program?

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy is not running any transfer bonuses at this time.

How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points

If you’re looking to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points, the following Marriott Bonvoy cards may be of interest:

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after using your card to spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after using your card to spend $5,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Earn three free night awards (each night valued at up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first three months of card membership. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Earn three free night awards after you use your new card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. Redemption level up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for each bonus free night award at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Earn 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after using your card to spend $1,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months from account opening.

TPG’s valuations peg the value of Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.84 cents each. Before transferring, review our tests of Marriott transfer times since some airlines take a few days (or even weeks) to receive the points.

Related: How to redeem points with the Marriott Bonvoy program

Should you transfer points?

We only recommend transferring points if you have a short-term plan to use them. After all, many programs have implemented devaluations over the last few years, so any speculative transfers could be a losing proposition.

Transfers are irreversible, and you don’t want to be stuck with thousands of points in a program you have little use for.

If you don’t have a specific redemption in mind but still want to earn miles, you’re likely better off earning rewards through credit card welcome bonuses and everyday spending.

Bottom line

When a transferable currency program offers a transfer bonus, running the numbers is important to see whether it is worthwhile.

Generally, you won’t want to transfer your points without a specific redemption in mind. After all, a large part of the value of transferable points comes from their flexibility — which you’ll give up the moment you convert them to a partner’s currency.

However, if you use the program frequently or plan to redeem soon, a transfer bonus can help you get more value from your points.

Did we miss any? Feel free to let us know by emailing tips@thepointsguy.com.

If you’re preparing for the ultimate points and miles redemption in 2024, a few select airlines still offer both domestic and international genuine first-class experiences.

The best part is that you can use your points and miles to book any of these luxurious first-class offerings. This article will explore various options for using your points and miles to secure amazing first-class tickets.

Emirates first class

Naturally, we must start with the most over-the-top first-class product in the sky: Emirates first class.

Emirates has an iconic first-class product. On its retrofitted 777-300ER aircraft, you’ll find its first-class product effectively gives you full room on the plane. There’s a huge lie-flat seat, a large entertainment screen and an en suite minibar with refreshments. Plus, you’ll be treated to delicious inflight food and excellent service.

The older A380 product that normally serves U.S. routes isn’t half-bad either and offers the same top-notch onboard service.

The airline started restricting first-class bookings to its own loyalty program, Emirates Skywards. The price for first class varies by route and booking type. But as an example, you can book New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Dubai International Airport (DXB) for as low as 165,500 miles one-way when booked as a part of a round-trip itinerary, plus taxes and fees.

Emirates also operates a fifth-freedom route between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Athens International Airport (ATH). Each seat will set you back at least 102,000 miles. Emirates also tacks on a hefty fuel surcharge on most tickets.

You can transfer your American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou and Marriott Bonvoy points to Emirates. If you’re under Chase’s 5/24 rule, your best bet is to apply for a Chase card with one of these heightened welcome bonuses:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

You can also book Emirates first-class awards with Air Canada Aeroplan, but award rates are astronomical.

Related: Getting my money’s worth in Emirates first class: Bottomless Champagne and endless caviar

ANA first class

ANA first class is one of the easier first-class products to book with points and miles.

The airline flies first class on most U.S. routes, including flights to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and JFK. On board, you’ll find a great product, hospitable service and excellent food and drink options. Watch for flights operating ANA’s new The Suite product — it’s truly a sight to behold.

The best way to book this flight is using Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points. First-class awards to its Tokyo hubs start at just 72,500 points one-way from the West Coast and 85,000 from the East Coast. You can view round-trip pricing for all flights in the table below — you can book one-way tickets at half the cost.

To book, find award space using a Star Alliance search tool and call Virgin Atlantic to book your flight. Confirm award space over the phone before transferring points to Virgin Atlantic. Most transfers process instantly, so you don’t have to worry about losing award space.

You can transfer points to Virgin Atlantic from American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Rewards (to Virgin Red), Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou and Marriott Bonvoy.

Related: How to book a $20,000 ANA first-class ticket for just $34

Japan Airlines first class

Japan Airlines — commonly called JAL — is another major airline in Japan. It operates flights to a handful of U.S. cities and offers first-class flights to major cities like Chicago and New York. If you book it, you’ll be showered in luxury from the moment you enter the JAL first-class lounge.

One of the best ways to book JAL first class is with American AAdvantage. A one-way flight from the U.S. to Japan costs 80,000 miles plus nominal taxes and fees.

American Airlines miles are among the hardest miles to earn, but it’s not impossible. Your best bet is earning with an American cobranded credit card or transferring points from Bilt Rewards or Marriott Bonvoy to American.

Related: Best uses of American Airlines miles

Cathay Pacific first class

The Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific is a TPG favorite. It offers consistently fantastic service in all its cabins, but first class is truly amazing. Its first-class lounges in Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) are relaxing. The onboard service includes incredible food, Champagne, caviar and even its own custom-brewed beer.

You’ll find Cathay Pacific first class on select 777-operated routes from the U.S., including from JFK and LAX to Hong Kong.

Currently, you’ll get the best redemption value with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan as award tickets from the U.S. to Asia cost 70,000 miles one-way in first class. However, in March 2024, Alaska Airlines will follow a new distance-based award chart. Therefore, you may have better luck finding award space with Cathay Pacific Asia Miles.

One-way first-class tickets generally cost 110,000 miles from the West Coast and 125,000 from the East Coast to Hong Kong. Even though this is still a bookable redemption, Cathay Pacific has significantly reduced service to U.S. destinations, so it may be hard to find award space for the time being.

You can transfer Amex, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Marriott points to Asia Miles. To boost your Capital One balance, you can open a Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Right now, the Venture card offers 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

Related: The ultimate guide to Cathay Pacific first class

Singapore first class

Singapore Suites first class is one of the most well-known first-class products in the sky. The new Suites product features a single bed and seat, giving you a full bedroom. Plus, you’ll be treated to excellent food, drink and inflight service and access to first-class lounges at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN).

Singapore’s 777-300ER aircraft features a standard first-class product that’s still excellent. From the U.S., these planes operate routes from LAX to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT). As you’d expect, you can continue to Singapore if you’d like.

Singapore Airlines is a Star Alliance member but generally restricts premium-cabin award space to its KrisFlyer loyalty program. From the U.S., you’ll find the best pricing from New York to Frankfurt. This ticket costs 97,000 miles one-way, which is a pretty solid deal, considering paid flights are usually more than $5,000. You can continue to Singapore for more miles.

Although still bookable, we found no saver award availability on the JFK-to-FRA fifth-freedom route. Keep a close eye on Singapore awards and be flexible with your travel dates for your best shot at booking this incredible award ticket.

You can transfer Amex, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Marriott points to Singapore KrisFlyer. Here’s a look at the best American Express cards that can help you earn points with your everyday spending:

• American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first six months of account opening. Earn 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants, 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent), 3 points per dollar spent on airfare purchased directly from airlines or American Express Travel, and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases ($250 annual fee; see rates and fees).
• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in your first six months of card membership. Earn 5 points per dollar spent on airfare purchased directly from airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts, and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases ($695 annual fee; see rates and fees).

Related: Singapore Airlines resumes retrofitting A380s with new cabins, much-improved suite

Lufthansa first class

Even though it isn’t the most modern product, Lufthansa first class remains one of the best ways to fly between the U.S. and Europe.

You’ll generally get the best deal when booking with Avianca LifeMiles. You’ll pay 87,000 LifeMiles and minimal taxes and fees for a one-way flight from the U.S. to Europe in Lufthansa first class. This pricing is valid if you also choose to connect beyond a Lufthansa hub.

One thing to note: Lufthansa only opens first-class award space to partners within 14 or 30 days of departure. You’ll have to book at the last minute if you don’t have Lufthansa Miles & More miles.

You can transfer Amex, Capital One, Chase, Bilt, Citi and Marriott points to LifeMiles. If you’re interested in earning Citi ThankYou points, the Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees) comes with a welcome offer of 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Citi Premier: Which mid-tier travel card is better?

British Airways first class

British Airways has first class on a number of its routes and has continued offering it throughout the pandemic. Some of these flights are operated by planes equipped with BA’s first-class seat that offers sliding doors — a huge step up from what was previously offered. It’s still not as luxurious as other first-class products on this list, but it’s a great way to fly transatlantic in luxury.

The best way to book BA first class is generally with Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. You’ll pay a similar number of miles as booking with AAdvantage miles or BA Avios, but you’ll pay fewer taxes and fees.

A British Airways first-class seat from Washington D.C.’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) will set you back 100,000 miles and between $200 and $350 in taxes. This is far cheaper than the $750-plus BA charges when booking with Avios.

Again, you can transfer Amex, Capital One, Bilt, Chase, Citi and Marriott points to Asia Miles.

Related: Still better than business class: A review of British Airways First on the 777 from London to Washington

American Airlines first class

American Airlines is the only U.S. airline that offers a true first-class product. You’ll find its Flagship First product on several international routes on four-cabin international flights and transcontinental routes like JFK to LAX and SFO. You can expect upgraded lounge access, seats and service in Flagship First.

You’ll generally want to book with AAdvantage to fly Flagship First.

Related: Flight review: American Airlines Flagship First from Dallas to Hong Kong on the 777-300ER

Etihad Airways first class

Finally, we have Etihad first class. The airline operates a true first-class cabin on its Boeing 787 and Airbus A380 aircraft fleet. You’ll find these on flights from the airline’s Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) hub to IAD. You can connect to many international destinations in Asia, Africa and the Middle East from AUH.

U.S.-based travelers have two good options for booking Etihad first class: American Airlines AAdvantage and Air Canada Aeroplan. Both loyalty programs offer significantly lower award costs than Etihad’s own loyalty program.

However, Etihad has been restricting partner first-class award space, so you might not find any options to redeem, especially with Aeroplan.

If you find award space, you’ll pay 115,000 American miles for a one-way flight from the U.S. to the Middle East in Etihad first class when you book with AAdvantage. On the other hand, you’ll pay 120,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points for a one-way first-class ticket from IAD to AUH when you book with Aeroplan.

If you don’t live near Washington, D.C. or New York, you can add connecting tickets with American’s and Air Canada’s network of airline partners. Since Aeroplan is a distance-based program, you could pay more points if you add a connecting ticket. AAdvantage will charge the same amount regardless of if you connect.

You can transfer Amex, Bilt, Capital One, Chase and Marriott points to Air Canada Aeroplan. You can also transfer Bilt and Marriott points to AAdvantage.

Related: The best way to book Etihad award flights with transferable points

Bottom line

International first class isn’t as common as it once was, but several airlines still offer it.

Though booking first-class tickets can set you back thousands of dollars, you can use your points and miles to score an excellent deal. This can make for a memorable (and more comfortable) international trip.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card overview

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the best-known travel rewards credit cards, featuring 5 points per dollar on travel booked through the Chase travel portal and Lyft purchases, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on everything else. These valuable points can be transferred to airline and hotel partners or redeemed directly for travel at a rate of 1.25 cents per point through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

At TPG, we always get asked an important question from beginner travelers looking to plan trips: Which travel credit card should you start with?

We almost universally recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. It earns one of our favorite rewards currencies. It offers lucrative perks. It features a low annual fee. In fact, many of us started our journey into points and miles with this card.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is designed for frequent and casual travelers. With a $95 annual fee, it’s not an expensive card, which makes it an especially good choice for beginners — although you may want to reconsider applying if you’re working on improving your credit score.

Typically, scores around the 730’s and higher qualify for the Sapphire Preferred although it’s not unheard of for someone with a credit score of 646 to also get approved. Just keep in mind that you need a generally good score in order to obtain approval.

The card is currently offering a sign-up bonus of 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Here’s what you need to know about the Chase Sapphire Preferred and why it’s one of the best cards out there.

Ready to get the card? Apply here for the Chase Sapphire Preferred

Chase Sapphire Preferred welcome offer

With the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you’ll earn a sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, enough to take you just about anywhere in the world you want to go.

 

This haul of points is worth a minimum of $750 when redeemed for travel through the Chase portal, but you can maximize value by utilizing Chase’s transfer partners. TPG values Chase Ultimate Rewards at 2.05 cents per point which pegs the full value of the bonus at $1,230.

Related: How to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards for maximum value

Earning points With the Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a simple earning structure that is easy to maximize:

• 5 points per dollar on travel booked through the Chase travel portal
• 5 points per dollar on Lyft purchases (through March 2025)
• 5 points per dollar on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $150 or more (through March 2025, with a limit of 25,000 bonus points)
• 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases (excludes Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
• 2 points per dollar on all travel not booked through the Chase travel portal
• 1 point per dollar on everything else

Related: Why you’ll want to pay the $95 annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Preferred

Redeeming points With the Chase Sapphire Preferred

When you’re ready to redeem the points you’ve earned with the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you’ll understand why the card shines.

Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal

You can use your points to purchase airfare, reserve hotel rooms and even rent a car through Chase Travel — all at a fixed rate of 1.25 cents per point. That means you don’t need to worry about blackout dates or finding award space; you’ll always have the option to book travel using your points. As long as there’s a seat for sale on the flight you want, or a hotel room available to reserve with cash, you can pay for it with your points.

Just note that hotel reservations booked through third-party sites (including Chase Travel) typically won’t earn points or count toward elite status qualification.

Transfer to Chase travel partners

It’s possible to receive more than 1.25 cents per point in value by transferring rewards to Chase’s 14 airline and hotel partners. Some of the best Chase transfer partners include Hyatt, United, British Airways and Singapore Airlines for luxury hotels and plane seats.

Utilizing these transfer partners can net you phenomenal value. Chase frequently runs transfer bonus promotions where you can get up to 30% more points or miles when you transfer Ultimate Rewards to a transfer partner. I was able to snag a last-minute premium economy ticket from New York to Amsterdam using Flying Blue for just 20,500 Ultimate Rewards points using a transfer promotion.

Pay Yourself Back

If you want to use the points from your Sapphire Preferred at a fixed value for something other than travel, consider Chase’s Pay Yourself Back option. This feature can only be used to cover donations to select charities (through Dec. 31. 2023) at a value of 1.25 cents per point.

Related: How to donate points and miles to help Ukraine

Chase Sapphire Preferred benefits

In addition to the sign-up bonus, there are many appealing perks to being a Sapphire Preferred cardholder.

$50 annual hotel credit

You’ll receive a $50 statement credit on hotel stays purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal upon opening the card and on each cardmember anniversary. It’s automatically applied to your account each year when you make an eligible charge. Note that the $50 credit does not earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Related: How to use the new $50 hotel credit on the Chase Sapphire Preferred

10% annual points bonus

Another change Chase added to the card is a 10% anniversary points bonus. Cardholders will receive a 10% bonus based on their total spending during the account anniversary year at a rate of 1 point for each $10 spent. For example, if you spent $100,000 on your Sapphire Preferred during your cardmember year, you’ll receive 10,000 bonus points at the end of the year.

Note that this 10% is calculated on the dollars you spent rather than the points you earned. You won’t receive additional points by leveraging the card’s bonus categories.

DoorDash

The Chase Sapphire Preferred also includes at least one year of complimentary DashPass membership with DoorDash, which gives you free delivery and reduced service fees on eligible purchases (activate by Dec. 31, 2024). There is a cost associated with using food delivery services such as DoorDash, but this can be a valuable benefit if you already use the service.

Instacart+

The Chase Sapphire Preferred includes six months of Instacart+ and a $15 statement credit quarterly on qualifying Instacart purchases. You must enroll for this benefit by Jul. 31, 2024 at the Instacart website.

Related: Instacart+ members get a free Peacock subscription

GoPuff

The Sapphire Preferred includes a $10 statement credit when you make $10 in qualifying purchases. No enrollment is required. It is important to note that this credit ends Dec. 31, 2023 so act fast before the year ends to use it. GoPuff is good for having snacks, beverages, household essentials and toiletries delivered to you with a minimal fee.

Travel protections

This card is an ideal choice to pay for travel bookings such as car rentals, cruises, plane tickets and hotels because of the comprehensive travel and purchase protections it affords. Among them, cardholders can expect the following:

• Primary rental car coverage
• Trip delay insurance
• Trip cancellation insurance
• Baggage delay insurance
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Purchase protection
• Extended warranty protection

You can read more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred shopping and travel benefits here.

Related: 7 Chase Sapphire Preferred benefits you might not know about

Which cards compete with the Chase Sapphire Preferred?

Many worthwhile mid-tier travel credit cards exist, but only a few can go toe-to-toe with the Sapphire Preferred. If trying to decide, think about which one’s earning power suits your spending habits and which one’s transfer partners you’re more likely to maximize.

• If you prefer Capital One: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) is your best bet. The card offers 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, plus a welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. For more information, read our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
• If you prefer American Express: The American Express® Green Card offers a high earning rate on travel, restaurants and transit. Annual Clear Plus and LoungeBuddy credits offset its $150 annual fee. Plus, Amex has more transfer partners than Chase and offers more transfer bonuses throughout the year. For more information, read our full review of the American Express Green Card.
• If you want perks with a specific airline or hotel chain: Another option would be a cobranded card with a specific airline or hotel program. These aren’t nearly as flexible as the Sapphire Preferred. Still, those perks may be useful if you’re flying predominantly with one airline or frequently staying at properties under a specific hotel umbrella. For additional options, check out our full list of airline and hotel cards.

For additional options, check out our full list of the best starter credit cards.

The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Read more: Chase Sapphire showdown: Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve

Bottom line

If you’re ready to move beyond cash-back or fixed-value travel rewards credit cards, there is no better place to start than with the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

After its debut over a decade ago, it’s still regarded as one of the best rewards credit cards. It earns some of the most valuable points and is flexible enough to meet the reward needs of frequent and newbie travelers alike. It also features an annual fee that makes it accessible for most budgets.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred continues to represent a solid value proposition across different categories, especially as a travel rewards credit card. As long you’re using the card frequently enough to get more than $95 in value from it, this card is definitely worth the annual cost.

Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred

If you’re planning a vacation in Disneyland or Walt Disney World Resort, you might want a credit card that offers flexible points you can use to book the trip. Alternatively, you might want one that offers great in-park rewards.

Rewards credit cards such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Disney Premier Visa Card are solid options in either case. But which makes the most sense for your wallet? And which is the better option if you’re saving up for your next Disney excursion?

Let’s compare the two cards and see who comes out on top.

Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Disney Premier Visa comparison

Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Disney Premier Visa welcome offer

With the Venture Rewards, you’ll earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

This is worth $750 if used for a fixed value toward travel, but if you redeem through one of Capital One’s airline and hotel transfer partners, you can ramp up those rewards to about 1.85 cents per mile, giving you a bonus worth $1,388 based on TPG’s valuations.

With the Disney Premier Visa, you’ll earn a straightforward bonus of $300 after spending $1,000 in the first three months of account opening. Keep in mind that Chase has a strict 5/24 rule that covers who may be eligible for credit cards. Based on this, you may not qualify for a new Chase card with a sign-up bonus if you’ve opened five or more credit cards from any issuer in the past 24 months.

Winner: Capital One Venture Rewards. Its offer, worth $1,338 based on TPG valuations, beats out a meager $300 statement credit, in spite of the Disney Premier Visa’s lower annual fee and spending requirement.

Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Disney Premier Visa benefits

As a Visa Signature credit card, the Capital One Venture Rewards offers lost luggage reimbursement, secondary auto rental coverage, and concierge service, plus access to exclusive shows and events. Like many top-tier rewards cards, it also offers extended warranty protection and purchase security.

Another worthwhile benefit is the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit (up to $100) once every four years. Plus, you’ll enjoy no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees), so if you’re going to Disneyland Paris, this could be the card to carry.

All the perks and benefits offered with the Disney Premier Visa are Disney-centric, including access to special events at Disney resorts and retail stores as well as special Broadway perks when you purchase premium tickets to Disney musicals “The Lion King,” “Aladdin” and “Frozen” on Broadway. You’ll also get a 10% discount on shopping and dining at select locations at Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts, as well as on select purchases at shopDisney.com.

Winner: Disney Premier Visa. It wins if you’re looking to make the most of your Disney vacation, but it probably shouldn’t be the only travel rewards card in your wallet.

Earning rewards on the Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Disney Premier Visa

The Venture Rewards offers 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles on all other purchases. These earnings may not be as high as other travel rewards credit cards, but it’s not bad for a card with a $95 annual fee (see rates and fees).

With the Disney Premier Visa, you’ll earn 5% back on card purchases made directly at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com or ESPNPlus.com. You’ll get 2% back at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and for purchases at most Disney locations. You’ll then earn 1% back on every other qualifying purchase, every day.

These earnings take the form of a Disney Rewards Redemption Card that you can spend at Disney resorts, on Disney merchandise and for movie tickets from AMC Theaters.

Winner: Capital One Venture Rewards. It offers a greater return and more redemption options than the Disney Premier.

Redeeming rewards on the Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Disney Premier Visa

The Disney Visa is extremely limited in redemption options, while Venture Rewards offers all the flexibility of other top-tier travel rewards cards.

With the Venture Rewards, you can get the most value from your miles by transferring them to any of Capital One’s hotel and airline partners. You can also redeem your miles for travel at a flat rate of one cent per mile as a statement credit to cover travel expenses or by booking through Capital One Travel. Alternatively, you can redeem your miles for gift cards or cash back for a lower redemption rate.

With the Disney Premier Visa, you’ll receive your rewards in the form of a Disney Rewards Redemption card. You can use your rewards for purchases at Disney stores, Disney resorts and cruise lines, and on AMC Theaters movie tickets. This makes redeeming your rewards easy and straightforward since reward values don’t change, but you’ll never get a value higher than 1 cent per point.

You also have the option to redeem Disney dollars as a statement credit for purchases made directly with an airline in $50 increments. Still, this is a much more limited option to use your rewards for travel than you’ll have with the Venture Rewards.

Winner: Capital One Venture Rewards wins out here, too, with more flexibility and a better return.

Related: Ultimate guide to Walt Disney World Resort

Transferring rewards on the Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Disney Premier Visa

While the Disney Premier Visa offers no transfer options, the Venture Rewards allows you to maximize your miles by transferring them to any of  Capital One’s 15-plus airline or hotel transfer partners, including Air Canada Aeroplan, Iberia Plus and Choice Privileges.

This option can get you significantly more value from your Capital One miles, which is why Capital One miles are valued at 1.85 cents apiece by TPG.

Here’s a recent example from TPG director of content Nick Ewen:

I was searching for a hotel room in Park City for a ski trip over President’s Day Weekend, and prices were really high. But then, I stumbled across a Wyndham Rewards property close to downtown that had the option of booking a two-bedroom suite for just 30,000 points per night. I transferred 90,000 Capital One miles to my Wyndham account to book a three-night stay that would’ve set me back over $2,100 dollars.

That’s just one way that your Capital One miles can save you money when transferred to a travel partner.

Winner: The Venture Rewards wins again with plenty of options to transfer your rewards.

Should I get the Capital One Venture Rewards or Disney Premier Visa?

Hands down, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a better all-around travel credit card than the Disney Premier Visa, since it offers much more flexibility in how you use your rewards. If you’re planning a Disney vacation, however, and want access to special events as well as discounts on purchases, it might pay to get the Disney Premier Visa, especially if you can utilize the bonus categories and 10% off Disney merchandise purchases.

Bottom line

The Venture Rewards offers much more overall value for general travel, while the Disney Premier is a more specialized card that’s best for Disney loyalists. They’re not exactly in the same lane as card offerings, but for most consumers the question of which is more valuable is clear.

Don’t forget, though, that you can always get both cards to fully maximize your savings — both at Disney World and wherever else your travels may take you.

For additional details, see our full reviews of the Capital One Venture Rewards and the Disney Premier Visa.

Learn more: Capital One Venture Rewards

Apply here: Disney Premier Visa

Related credit card guides

• Best rewards credit cards
• Best airline credit cards
• Best hotel credit cards
• Best cash back credit cards
• Best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.