Blog
The Power of the Chase Trifecta or Quadfecta
Tommy
Well with all of the craziest going on in the world during the COVID-19 pandemic, I am ready to relax, recharge mentally, and go on a vacation. Gratefully, I am in good health and I just booked my 7-day vacation to the New England Area exploring Portland, ME, Acadia National Park, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Fingers crossed I don’t get COVID-19 anytime now until mid-October. I booked my flight and all of my hotel nights using the Chase Trifecta and Hilton Honors Sign-up Bonus Ladder Strategy. As you probably know, I got into the travel hacking game back in 2013 when I opened up my first big boy credit card with Navy Federal Credit Union. But over the years I have self-taught myself the power of travel hacking and the power of the Chase Trifecta.
When I first began travel hacking at 23, I didn’t have a credit card strategy. I opened up any credit card that would give me miles or points with no annual fee before I even learned about the power of Chase and American Express credit/charge cards. My first four credit cards were the NFCU GoRewards, Capital One Quicksilver, Discover Miles, and the Capital One Venture Rewards. The few things I knew about credit cards were to pay every bill off in full, annual fees are bad (not true), and look for a credit card that offers a decent earning potential for points, miles, or cash back. My credit card strategy was literally to find cards that earn the most points/miles/cash back so I can use them to redeem free flights or hotel nights.
Today, I wanted to share the Chase Trifecta or Quadfecta credit card strategy, as this is one of the best strategies in the market as you can earn tons of points and I still use today. You have the opportunity to earn 3 lucrative sign-up bonuses to build up a strong foundation of Chase Ultimate Reward Points and each credit card has different bonus point spending categories, which adds up points quickly.
All of the cards in this Trifecta are “Keeper” cards and I still use this credit card strategy today. But tons of people utilize this credit card strategy and it has worked very well for me over the years.
The Chase 5/24 rule
Before I get into the Chase Trifecta, we need to discuss the dreaded Chase 5/24 rule. This is important because you may not even be able to use this strategy if you are over the 5/24 rule. The 5/24 rule means that Chase will automatically reject your credit card application if you have opened 5 or more credit card accounts within the past 24 months from any bank. Business credit cards do not count, but all personal cards do. This is Chase’s way to prevent people from taking advantage of the system and collecting a ton of sign-up bonuses in a short period of time (called credit card churning).
What is the Chase Trifecta/Quadfecta?
The Chase Trifecta is any combination of Chase’s flagship personal & business credit cards and the Quadfecta is adding a 4th credit card.
A popular combination is the Chase Sapphire Reserve (CSR) or Preferred (CSP), Chase Ink Business Unlimited or Chase Ink Business Cash, and the Chase Freedom Unlimited (CFU) or Chase Freedom (CF). Another combination could be the Chase Ink Business Preferred (CIP), CFU, and CF.
My current combination is the CSR, CFU, and CF. I use CSR on all dining and travel purchases. I use the CFU on all everyday spending purchases like shopping, pharmacies, Amazon, gas stations, grocery stores, etc. Lastly, I use the CF on rotating bonus categories for each quarter of the year when I can earn 5% cash back.
But you can use any combination you want. There are numerous different combinations that you can use and it depends on every person’s spending habits. I don’t own a business yet so I don’t have any business credit cards, but the CIP, Ink Business Unlimited, and Ink Business Cash are all good credit cards.
Please note that you can only have 1 “Sapphire” card at a time. So you can’t have the CSR and CSP at the same time. However if you have a player 2, then each person can have a CSR or CSP.
Chase Sapphire Reserve (CSR)
The Chase Sapphire Reserve has been my go-to credit card since 2018 as I am a huge foodie. You can read my CSR review explaining the credit card more in depth. You earn 10x points on hotels & car rentals booked through the Chase Travel Portal, 10x points on Chase Dining, 10x points on Lyfts through March 2022, 5x points on flights booked through the Chase Travel Portal, 3x points on travel and dining, and 1x points on everything else.
The CSR offers a slew of travel benefits. Travel benefits include a $300 annual travel credit that is very easy to use (effectively reducing the annual fee to $250), a priority pass select airport lounge membership, a $100 credit issued every 4 years for Global Entry or TSA Precheck, no foreign transaction fees, primary rental car collision damage waiver, trip delay insurance, baggage delay insurance, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, travel and emergency assistance services, purchase protection, and extended warranty protection.
The importance of owning the CSR is that it opens up the Chase Travel Portal where points are worth 1.5 cents when booking through the Chase Travel Portal, you can transfer your points to Chase’s transfer partners at a 1:1 point transfer, or cash out points at 1 cents per point. I highly value the 1.5 cents per point as I prefer simplicity. Also, 1 cents per point for cash back is great as well. The CSR is a great travel credit card for people who like luxury travel benefits and travel a few times every year.
Chase Sapphire Preferred (CSP)
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the sister credit card to the Chase Sapphire Reserve. The CSP offers 5x points on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal, 5x on Lyfts & Pelton equipment, 3x points on online grocery purchases (Ex. Instacart), 3x points on dining, 3x points on select streaming services, 2x points on travel, and 1x points on everything else. You a 10% anniversary points boost every anniversary year capped at 2,500 points and a $50 hotel credit when booking through the Chase Travel Portal.
Like the CSR you also have travel benefits such as no foreign transaction fees, primary rental car collision damage waiver, trip delay insurance, baggage delay insurance, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, travel and emergency assistance services, purchase protection, and extended warranty protection.
The CSP will also open up the Chase Travel Portal, but points are worth 1.25 cents when booking through the Chase Travel Portal, you can transfer your points to Chase’s transfer partners at a 1:1 point transfer, or cash out points at 1 cent per point. The CSP is one of the best travel cards out there and is a great starter card for beginners.
Here is a side by side comparison of both cards and you can choose which is best for you. Overall, the CSP is the better option to earn points and they have significantly devalued the CSR. I truly think that Chase is trying to make people switch to the CSP as it is more profitable for them and then they will revamp the CSR again to make it more exclusive. I just have a feeling that will happen though and no sources that it will actually happen.
Chase Freedom Unlimited (CFU)
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is my everyday spending credit card. The CFU was revamped in late 2020 and it has become one of the strongest no annual fee credit cards on the market. Now you earn 5x points on travel booking through the Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on dining and pharmacies, and 1.5x points on everything else. The card has no annual fee, a fair APR, normal balance transfer and cash advance fees. But it has foreign transaction fees so make sure you only use it domestic purchases.
Chase Freedom Flex (CFF)
The Chase Freedom was revamped to the Chase Freedom Flex credit card in late 2020. Now you earn 5x points up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories every quarter each quarter you activate. Activating is easy as you are sent a link before the start of the new quarter or you can activate using online/mobile banking. You also earn 5x points on travel booking through the Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on dining and pharmacies, and 1x point on everything else. In the past, the rotating categories have been grocery stores, department stores, Amazon, gas stations, streaming services, etc. The card has no annual fee, a fair APR, normal balance transfer and cash advance fees. But it has foreign transaction fees so make sure you only use it domestic purchases.
Chase Ink Business Preferred (CIP)
The Chase Ink Business Preferred credit card is a powerful business credit card. You earn 3x points on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable, and phone services, and advertising purchases made with social media websites and search engines.
There is a $95 annual fee and there are no foreign transaction fees. You can add employee cards for no additional fee.
The CIP will also open up the Chase Travel Portal and points are worth 1.25 cents per point when booking through the Chase Travel Portal or you can transfer your points to Chase’s transfer partners at a 1:1 point transfer. The CIP is a great credit card for business owners who travel a lot.
Chase Ink Business Unlimited
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited is the business version of the CFU. You earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases. There is an introductory 0% APR for the first 12 months. The Ink Business Unlimited has no annual fee, but has foreign transaction fees. You can add employee cards for no additional fee.
Chase Ink Business Cash
The Chase Ink Business Cash is the business version of the CF. You earn 5% cash back on purchases at office supply stores, internet services, and cable/phone services up to $25,000 in combined purchases each account anniversary year. You also earn 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations up to $25,000 in combined purchases each account anniversary year. There is an introductory 0% APR for the first 12 months. The Ink Business Cash has no annual fee, but has foreign transaction fees. You can add employee cards for no additional fee.
Chase Trifecta/Quadfecta Tips
- Try to limit your Chase Trifecta/Quadfecta to one annual fee. I learned that annual fees aren’t a negative. They are worth it only if you can get more value using the credit card than the annual fee.
- Due to the 5/24 rule, it’s wise to open up Chase credit cards first instead of opening up credit cards at other places. I would recommend opening up the CSP, CFU, and CF and earn all of those sign-up bonuses first and then expand to other credit cards. It’s best to spread out opening these cards over a course of a year or more. I opened up the CSR, CFU, and CF over a course of 15 months. If you try to open all of the credit cards up over a short period of time, you can run into some problems. First, Chase may deny your application or deny a sign-up bonus for trying to open up all of the credit cards too soon. Second, you may run into an issue where you can’t afford to meet the minimum spending for the sign-up bonus without paying interest. The number one rule of travel hacking is to pay off your balance in full every month as interest payments will eat into your rewards very quickly. You should not be spending more money than you can afford to earn sign-up bonuses and points/miles. If you do then you shouldn’t be playing this game…
- Chase will only allow you to have one Sapphire credit card opened at a time so you have to choose between owning the CSR or CSP. Here is an analysis by the Points Guy of the breakeven point for deciding between the CSR or CSP.
- Most restaurants and bars on golf courses and movie theaters (exception is AMC Dine-In theaters) don’t code as Food & Drink. They usually code as entertainment so you won’t earn 2x with the CSP or 3x with the CSR. I found out that stadium concessions typically code as Food & Drink. I can can confirm that this happens at Wrigley Field and Soldier Field in Chicago. I’ve made this mistake multiple times and not using the correct credit card at movie theaters and golf courses.
Overall, the Chase Trifecta or Quadfecta is one of the most powerful credit card combinations in the market and I am still using it today. It has earned me a ton of points that I have been able to cash in to use for vacations and flights/hotel nights for weddings. The Chase Trifecta is relatively simple to use as there is only 1 or 2 annual fees. You just have to be aware and make sure you use the right credit card on specific purchases to maximize your credit card rewards.
If you would like to apply for these credit cards, please check out my “What’s in my Wallet” page and the links are located there.