Chase Makes 100K Bonus Points Offer Far More Attainable

Chase Makes 100K Bonus Points Offer Far More Attainable - Lower Spending Thresholds Introduced

Chase has made its coveted 100,000 point bonus offer more accessible by lowering the spending requirements. This is great news for those hoping to earn a mountain of points without breaking the bank. In the past, you'd need to spend $15,000 in the first three months to trigger the full 100k bonus. For a lot of cardholders, that high spending threshold made earning the full bonus difficult if not impossible.

Now Chase has rolled out lower thresholds, some as low as $4,000 in three months. That's much more reasonable for the average person to achieve through regular spending. While Chase has offered lower spending offers before, this current batch seems to be wider spread across more of its premium cards.

For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred now has a 60,000 point bonus for spending just $4,000 in three months. That alone is worth around $750 when redeemed through the Chase Travel Portal. Even better, the Sapphire Reserve now offers 100,000 points for spending $4,000 in three months. That's potentially $1,500 in travel you can earn quickly without going overboard on spending.

The Ink Business Preferred also joined the party with 100,000 points for $5,000 spend in three months. Same goes for the United Quest Card. Meanwhile, the Ritz Carlton card still requires $5,000 spending for its 100K bonus.

The bottom line is more Chase cards now feature lower spending barriers to earn the full intro bonus. If those spending thresholds were holding you back before, now's the time to jump on these increased offers.

Chase Makes 100K Bonus Points Offer Far More Attainable - New Welcome Bonus Structure Announced

Chase has overhauled the welcome bonus structure on many of its premium travel credit cards. This shakeup makes it easier than ever to earn piles of valuable points and miles. Chase has lowered the spending requirements and raised the bonuses on cards like the Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, Ink Business Preferred, and United Quest Card.

For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred now offers 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. This is down from the previous minimum spending requirement of $4,000. 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points are worth around $750 in travel booked through Chase. You can redeem points for flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, and more.

The Sapphire Reserve now offers new cardholders 100,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. This juicy bonus is worth around $1,500 in travel redemptions. The Reserve also comes with a $300 annual travel credit, 3x points on travel and dining, and other luxury perks.

Meanwhile, the Ink Business Preferred has matched the Sapphire Reserve with a 100,000 point bonus after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. This gives small business owners a quick influx of valuable points. The Ink Preferred earns 3x points on the first $150,000 in combined spending across travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone services, and advertising with social media and search engines each account year.

The United Quest Card also comes with 100,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. United miles can be redeemed for United flights or transferred to United's Star Alliance partners. Perks include a first and second checked bag free, 2 United Club lounge passes each year, and expanded award availability.

Chase Makes 100K Bonus Points Offer Far More Attainable - How to Earn the 100K Points with Less Spending

Chase has made hitting the 100,000 point bonus threshold much more achievable for the average cardholder. With lower spending requirements now in place, you can earn a mountain of valuable points without going overboard on spending. Here are some tips and strategies for earning the 100k bonus on Chase cards like the Sapphire Reserve and Ink Business Preferred while minimizing your expenditures.

First, put your regular recurring bills and expenses on the new card. Things like your internet, cable, phone plans, utilities, insurance payments, and subscriptions are ideal charges to put on the card. The dollars add up over time, so let your essential expenses contribute to reaching the bonus. Just don't overspend beyond your normal budget.

Next, maximize bonus categories. The Sapphire Reserve earns 3x on dining and travel, so funnel as much of your food and trip expenses through the card. Meanwhile, the Ink Business Preferred earns 3x on shipping, internet, cable, phone services, and advertising. Take advantage of the categories where you spend regularly. Bonus points help you hit the threshold faster.

Another option is to pay for larger purchases like tuition, medical bills, or home improvement projects with the card. Just be sure you have the cash to pay it off in full. You don't want to go into debt solely to earn points. But if you already budgeted for a big expense, letting it count toward the bonus is smart.

Finally, don't be afraid to manufacture a little extra spending through gift cards if you need to bridge the gap. Only buy gift cards you were going to use anyway for household expenses at grocery stores, pharmacies, home improvement stores, etc. This way you aren't wasting money just to earn points. In moderation, gift cards can help inch you closer gradually.

Chase Makes 100K Bonus Points Offer Far More Attainable - Additional Flexible Redemption Options Added

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are some of the most valuable and versatile points around. And Chase has expanded members' flexibility in redeeming points for maximum value. With new redemption possibilities, you can stretch 100,000 Chase points even further. This gives cardholders more control over getting the most bang for their points.

One of the best features of Ultimate Rewards is the ability to transfer points at a 1:1 ratio to Chase's airline and hotel partners. This includes big names like United Airlines, British Airways, Hyatt, Marriott, and more. 100,000 points could score you a business class flight or multiple free hotel nights. Transferring to partners is one of the most lucrative ways to use Chase points.

And Chase recently added new transfer partners to give members more possibilities. For example, Chase cardholders can now transfer points to Emirates Skywards. This opens up access to Emirates' renowned first and business class suites. 100,000 Chase points could get you a posh ride aboard the Emirates A380. Cardholders also have a new transfer partner in Turkish Airlines. This unlocks great Star Alliance award availability to Europe and beyond.

Chase has also expanded the Pay Yourself Back tool which allows using points to offset spending in certain categories at a bonus value. Now through September 2022, Chase members get 1.5 cents per point redemption value when erasing eligible purchases. That means 100,000 points are worth $1,500 in Pay Yourself Back refunds.

You can cash in points for previous travel purchases made in the last 90 days. Or pay yourself back for spending at restaurants, grocery stores, home improvement stores, charitable donations, and more. This option keeps your cash in your wallet while still getting maximum value from Chase points.

Chase also lets you redeem Ultimate Rewards directly for Airbnb gift cards. When buying gift cards in $50 increments, you get up to a 40% points refund. This stretches your points value further when booking stays through Airbnb. Son 100k points could redeem for $1,666 worth of Airbnb gift cards after the refund. That's some serious savings on vacation rentals.

Chase Makes 100K Bonus Points Offer Far More Attainable - Limited Time Increased Offer - Act Quickly

Chase occasionally increases the welcome bonuses on its cards for a limited time, and right now is one of those times to pounce. Many of the bank’s top travel rewards cards currently offer elevated intro bonuses that are significantly higher than their standard offers. However, these inflated welcome bonuses likely won’t last for too long before dropping back down again. That’s why you’ll want to act fast to lock in these bonuses before the expiration date hits.

Take the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for example. This popular card normally offers 60,000 points as a sign-up bonus. But at the moment, new applicants can earn a massive 80,000 points by meeting minimum spend. That’s the highest public welcome bonus ever offered on the Preferred. With recent additions like Pay Yourself Back and Airbnb redemptions, these 80k points are worth at least $1,000 in travel. Maybe even more when transferred to airline and hotel partners. However, this increased offer is only available for a limited time.

Same goes for the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which now offers a whopping 100,000 point bonus. That doubles the standard 50,000 points that this premium card usually provides. 100k Chase points can be redeemed for $1,500 in travel through the Chase portal, or potentially even more value when transferred to partners. But to lock in this bonus, you must apply before the deadline which hasn’t been announced yet. Once the deadline passes, the bonus will revert to its lower standard amount.

Other Chase cards like the Ink Business Preferred, United Quest Card, and IHG Premier Card are also offering higher bonuses for now. But don’t expect them to last forever. Once the promotional time period ends, applicants will go back to earning the regular lower bonuses.

Chase Makes 100K Bonus Points Offer Far More Attainable - What Cards Are Eligible for 100K Bonus

Chase has rolled out 100,000 point welcome bonuses on several of its premium travel credit cards. However, not all Chase cards are eligible for the inflated 100k offers. Here is a look at which ones have bonuses raised to 100,000 points:

The Chase Sapphire Reserve now offers new applicants 100,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Typically the Reserve card earns new members 50,000 points as a sign-up bonus when they meet minimum spend requirements. But for a limited time, Chase has doubled the intro bonus. This makes the Reserve an even more compelling option for serious travelers who can utilize its $300 annual travel credit, 3x dining and travel earning rates, Priority Pass lounge access, and other luxury perks.

Another Chase card now providing a 100k bonus is the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card. This small business card normally awards new accounts 80,000 points when they spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. However, the 100,000 point bonus offer ups the incentive for entrepreneurs needing a flexible rewards card. Especially when combined with the Ink Preferred's 3x bonus categories and cell phone protection.

The United QuestSM Card is also featuring an increased 100,000 mile sign-up bonus for spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Typically it offers 60,000 miles as a welcome bonus. United loyalists who check bags and fly frequently will appreciate the 2x miles on United purchases, two free checked bags, United Club lounge passes, and up to $125 in annual statement credits for United purchases.

Finally, the IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card is currently providing 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. This is up from its standard offer of 140,000 bonus points. Given IHG's massive portfolio of hotel brands worldwide, this elevated offer creates huge opportunity to redeem points for multiple free nights. Or you can use them towards reward nights at luxury IHG hotels that ordinarily cost 70,000 or 80,000 points per night.

Chase Makes 100K Bonus Points Offer Far More Attainable - Maximizing the Value of 100,000 Points

Scoring 100,000 points from a Chase card welcome bonus is thrilling. But to truly maximize the value, you need a strategy for redeeming all those points. After all, 100k points are only as good as how you use them. Here are some tips for stretching 100,000 Chase points to their full value potential.

First, don’t just randomly book any old flight or hotel stay. Do your research to find the highest cents per point redemptions. This requires a little work, but pays off. For flights, look for high-priced fares over peak dates like Christmas. For hotels, target expensive properties in big cities during busy seasons.

I once redeemed 60,000 Chase points for a Westin hotel stay in downtown Chicago over Lollapalooza weekend that would’ve cost $900+ cash. That's 1.5 cents per point in value right there. Similarly, off-peak flights can get less than one cent per point. Shop carefully.

Transferring points to airline and hotel partners can also increase value. British Airways, Hyatt, and Singapore Airlines are my go-to partners for big redemptions at over 2 cents per point sometimes. Just last month I transferred 100k Chase points to United for a $3,000+ business class ticket to Europe. If I booked that same flight through the Chase portal, it would’ve cost me 150,000 points. Partners save you points.

Don’t let points expire either. Chase points expire if your account stays inactive for over 2 years. Set calendar reminders to use your points long before that deadline. Another strategy is "pooling" points with your spouse or family by transferring to a common partner program like Hyatt. This keeps points active and consolidated.

I also routinely use the Chase Pay Yourself Back tool to erase travel purchases from my account. During promos it offers up to 1.5 cents per point in value. I used 75,000 points recently to wipe out $1,125 in prepaid Disney World vacation expenses. That kind of instant statement credit feels like getting paid to travel.

Maybe most importantly, attach a card with bonus categories to all your frequent spending. My Sapphire Reserve handles all dining, grocery, and travel purchases. Rack up points faster, so you always have a stash ready for the next epic redemption. Monitor your point balances, foresee your upcoming expenses, and the possibilities are endless.

Chase Makes 100K Bonus Points Offer Far More Attainable - Strategies to Meet Spending Requirements

Earning a juicy 100,000 point Chase card bonus does come with a price - you need to meet the minimum spending requirements, which can be $4,000 or more within three months. That may sound intimidating, but dozens of strategies exist to organically spend up to the threshold without breaking your budget. The key is maximizing your everyday purchases.

For starters, use the new card as your primary means of payment for all household bills, utilities, subscriptions, insurance payments and other recurring expenses. Even mundane items like your morning coffee or weekly grocery haul count towards the bonus when you use the Chase card. Automate and stack as many usual purchases as possible during the initial three months.

Next, think ahead about any major expenses coming up like tuition, medical bills, home repairs or travel. Put those on the card if you already budgeted for them. One friend had a $2,000 dental procedure scheduled which took her halfway to the spending requirement right there.

Also take inventory of regular services you pay for like lawn care, house cleaning, pet grooming or ride shares. Paying with the Chase card turns these routine costs into bonus progress. Some folks even use the card for childcare like daycare tuition or babysitting services.

When shopping online, go through the Chase portal which features special discounts and bonuses. Or use the new card to buy gift cards to places you frequent anyway like the grocery store or pharmacy. This way you aren't overspending just to earn points.

Downgrading other cards and consolidating all your spending onto the new Chase card simplifies meeting the bonus criteria. Pay it forward by using it to cover group dinners, parties, or chip in on a gift. Friends may even let you pay them back for a recent expense.

Business owners have even more ways to organically spend up to the threshold. Use it for advertising, software costs, shipping, office supplies, internet and cable bills that the company would normally cover. Putting routine operational expenses on the card allows the business to earn the bonus.

While manufactured spending through methods like gift cards should be minimized, it can bridge small gaps. But never overextend your true budget purely to earn a card bonus. Maintain your normal financial lifestyle.