Chase Trifecta: Three Сards That Maximize Your Spending Benefits

The term “Chase Trifecta” is familiar to many savvy credit card users. It refers to a strategy that combines three strategic Chase credit cards to optimize the collection and earning of Ultimate Rewards points. This combination not only increases travel rewards but significantly enhances the overall value of point redemption, allowing you to maximize your rewards across various spending categories.

The Essence of the Chase Trifecta Strategy

Essentially, this method encompasses:

• A premium travel rewards card, 
• A category-specific credit card 
• A general-purpose card for everything else. 

This powerful combination enables you to cover all aspects of spending with your Chase credit cards, while providing flexibility to maximize your rewards and earn points tailored to your financial habits and travel preferences.

The Travel Rewards Card – Chase Sapphire Preferred

Begin with your primary travel rewards credit card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Acting as the cornerstone of your Chase Trifecta, this card facilitates the earning of substantial points on travel purchases, offers point transfers to various airline and hotel partners, and frequently includes valuable benefits such as rental car insurance or even exclusive lounge access.

With the Sapphire Preferred card, you earn 5x points on travel booked through Chase Travel, 3x on dining, streaming, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart/Target/wholesale), 2x on other travel purchases, and 1x everywhere else.

5x points on Lyft rides through September 30, 2027 and 5x points on eligible Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 through December 31, 2027.

The Category-Specific Bonus Card – Chase Freedom Flex

Next, to boost point accumulation in various spending categories, opt for the versatile Chase Freedom Flex. This credit card offers 5% rewards on up to $1,500 in combined spending each quarter on rotating bonus categories you activate (examples: gas, grocery, Amazon, online shopping).

• Q3 2025 (Jul 1–Sept 30): Gas stations, EV charging, select live entertainment, and Instacart (Birthday Surprise).
• Q2 (Apr 1–Jun 30): Amazon + select streaming services, plus a special Internet, Cable & Phone Services bonus in June.

You have until mid-quarter to activate, and purchases made before activation still count retroactively after activation.

It also earns 5% on Chase Travel purchases, 3% on dining (including delivery services) and drugstores, and 1% everywhere else. It now provides cell phone protection, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, and extended warranty protection — rare perks for a no-annual-fee card.

Key Benefits

• Cell Phone Protection:
  • Covers up to $800 per claim, with a $1,000 annual cap, $50 deductible, max 2 claims/year. Coverage applies after paying your phone bill with the Flex card.
• Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance:
  • Up to $1,500 per traveler and $6,000 per trip for prepaid, non-refundable fares if canceled due to covered reasons (e.g., sickness, weather).
• Extended Warranty & Purchase Protection:
  • Extends U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by 1 year on eligible items (up to 4 years total).
  • Covers new purchases against theft/damage (typically up to $500 per claim, with annual limits).
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver (CDW):
  • Secondary coverage when you pay for the rental with your Flex card and decline the rental agency’s CDW.

DashPass Benefit

• 6 months of complimentary DashPass (DoorDash + Caviar), when activated any time between Feb 1, 2025 and Dec 31, 2027.
• After the free period, auto-renrollment occurs at the standard rate unless canceled.
• Up to $10 off per quarter on non-restaurant DoorDash orders, until Dec 31, 2027.

Points accumulated from this card can be transferred to your Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, maximizing their value through Ultimate Rewards transfer options. By booking travel through the Chase travel portal, you can redeem points at a value of 1-1.25 cents each. Additionally, points can be transferred to partnered loyalty programs at a 1:1 ratio, facilitating even broader travel benefits and flexible redemption options.

The Catch-All Card – Chase Freedom Unlimited

For expenditures outside specific bonus categories, the Chase Freedom Unlimited serves as an efficient catch-all card, earning 1.5x points on all purchases, 5% on Chase Travel purchases, 3% on dining (including takeout and delivery) and drugstores, and 2% on Lyft rides through September 30, 2027 (this is your regular 1.5% base + 0.5% Lyft bonus).

DashPass Benefit (DoorDash + Caviar)

• 6 months of complimentary DashPass (activate by Dec 31, 2027).
• After 6 months, you’ll be auto-enrolled at the standard monthly rate unless you cancel.
• DashPass members get up to $10 off per quarter on non-restaurant DoorDash orders through Dec 31, 2027.

This unlimited earning potential makes it a highly efficient choice for any expenses not covered by existing bonus categories—whether that’s utility payments or spur-of-the-moment coffee purchases. You can trust that every purchase with your Freedom Unlimited card contributes to your travel reward goals and helps maximize your points accumulation.

Advanced Travel Credit Card Strategies

For those eager to elevate their travel rewards, integrating business credit cards into their strategy is an effective method. The Chase Ink Business Preferred card provides 3x points on numerous business-related spending categories, including shipping, advertising, and travel. Moreover, substantial welcome bonuses are commonplace—sometimes reaching up to 120,000 points following considerable spending, making it one of the best business credit cards for earning points quickly.

It’s important to note that non-full-time businesses may still be eligible for business credit cards due to side activities such as dog-walking or selling items online. These business credit cards present an opportunity to amass more points without affecting personal card eligibility. However, bear in mind the Chase 5/24 rule when applying to ensure your application is considered.

This suggested card combination effectively addresses diverse spending categories, maximizing your Ultimate Rewards redemption value when using the Chase travel portal with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, yielding a 25% increase in points value.

To accelerate earning the 75,000 bonus points through the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, strategically align your credit card applications with large purchases, such as acquiring a new appliance or undertaking significant home renovations. By maximizing your spending in these categories, you can quickly reach the minimum spending requirement to unlock the bonus and maximize your points earning potential.

Before adopting this strategy, evaluate your options thoroughly. Certain cards, like the American Express Gold Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, serve as excellent alternatives for travel rewards. Or, for elevated rewards on general purchases, consider the Wells Fargo Active Cash card offering 2% cash back.

Conclusion

Rather than being swayed by credit card promotional tactics, examine your actual financial habits by reviewing your banking and credit card records to identify your genuine spending patterns. Establish a clear budget plan. Select credit cards that provide optimal benefits based on your actual expenditures.

Chase particularly rewards engaged customers who utilize Chase partner promotional offers and consistently maximize quarterly bonus categories. For those who don’t frequently travel, investing in the Amex or Chase trifecta systems offers minimal value. It’s essential to assess your travel desires and capabilities realistically.

Prior to implementing this approach, thoroughly consider all available alternatives.