Keeping pace with American Express and Capital One, Chase is updating the benefits on most of their travel rewards credit cards with an annual fee. That includes top cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve, but also co-branded airline and hotel cards with United, Southwest, Marriott, and others.
With travel on pause, Chase is adding a grocery bonus category to these travel rewards cards, earning you either 3x points, 5x points, or 6x points. Just how lucrative your bonus will depend on which credit card you have. These new bonuses start today and run through June 30, 2020.
See below for a full breakdown of the new grocery benefits.
Chase Sapphire Preferred & Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Preferred will now earn 3x Ultimate Rewards points for every dollar spent at grocery stores and grocery delivery services on up to $1,500 of spending each month. (This offer is now expired)
This is a huge boost to the card's benefits that already offers 3x points per dollar spent at restaurants and 2x points per dollar spent on travel.
Click Here to get more information about the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve will now earn 5x Ultimate Rewards points for every dollar spent at grocery stores and grocery delivery services on up to $1,500 of spending each month. And in my opinion, this card has now become the best option for buying groceries. (This offer is now expired)
Click Here to get more information about the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Hotel Credit Cards Getting Grocery Benefits
Chase will also be adding grocery benefits to their major co-branded hotel credit cards as well.
The World of Hyatt Credit Card will now earn 3x points for every dollar spent at grocery stores and grocery delivery services on up to $1,500 of spending each month. (This offer is now expired)
Click Here to get more information about the World of Hyatt Credit Card.
The same goes for the IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card. You'll now earn 3x points for every dollar spent at grocery stores and grocery delivery services on up to $1,500 of spending each month. (This offer is now expired)
Click Here to learn more about the IHG Rewards Club Premier Card.
And finally, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card will earn 6x points per dollar spent on up to $5,000 at grocery stores and grocery delivery services between May 1 and June 30. (This offer is now expired)
This is in conjunction with the updates to the co-branded Marriott credit cards issued from American Express.
Click Here to get more information about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card.
Airline Cards Getting Grocery Benefits
Finally, Chase will be adding grocery benefits to most of its co-branded airline credit cards.
Starting with United top tier United Club Infinite Card, you'll now earn 5x MileagePlus miles for every dollar spent on groceries and grocery delivery services on up to $1,500 per month from May through June. (This offer is now expired)
Click Here to get more information about the United Club Infinite Card.
United's mass-market card, the United Explorer card, will also get updated grocery benefits. You'll now earn 3x MileagePlus miles per dollar you spend at grocery stores and grocery delivery services. (This offer is now expired)
Click Here to get more information about the United Explorer Card.
And the suite of Southwest Airlines credit cards will all earn 3x Rapid Rewards points per dollar you spend at grocery stores and grocery delivery services. See our post with everything you need to know about the co-branded Southwest Airlines cards.
Our Analysis
Chase follows both American Express and Capital One by adding non-travel benefits to their portfolio of travel rewards credit cards. And at a time when travel isn't possible, it makes sense.
Many of these cards are worth their annual fee thanks to lucrative travel perks. Those have taken a big hit lately, so adding some non-travel perks can help cardholders decide whether it makes sense to keep the card or ditch it.
But right now, these benefits only extend through June 30. Only time will tell whether that gets extended or not.
Bottom Line
Have a Chase Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, or any other Chase travel rewards card? It just got much more valuable to use for your grocery spending. But this limited time offer runs through the end of June.
Thank goodness for the 5x on my cfu until May. No sapphires. So will either go with ihg for the month of June.
What stores are considered “grocery“? Are Walmart and target included?
Walmart, Target, Costco, & Sam’s Club are not considered grocery stores, unfortunately.
Hi,
if I use CSR for Instacart or Shipt purchase of groceries. Is it coded as online purchase or grocery purchase?
Hey Jan, great question. Instacart is coding as grocery for the sake of earning the 5x bonus through June.