It's officially gone: After just over a month, the excellent 75,000-point welcome bonus offer on both the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® has officially ended. While it wasn't record-breaking, it was still the best offer we've seen on either card in over a year. Not to mention, the Sapphire Preferred is one of the best starter travel credit cards, period.
But if you waited too long, it's not all doom and gloom. Though it's disappeared from much of the internet, personal referral links are still live. That means there's still a chance to get this 75,000-point bonus by getting referred by a friend … or us. And even then, there are other smart steps to take.
Read on for what you should do to ensure you get the best bonus on a new Sapphire Card.
Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (for full disclosure, this is a personal referral link).
Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (for full disclosure, this is a personal referral link).
Get Referred by a Friend (Or Us!)
Do you know somebody that already has the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve Card? They may be able to help you get that 75,000-point bonus after all.
While Chase has pulled that bonus from most of its public channels, it's still available through some personal referral links – the links that current Sapphire Preferred and Reserve cardholders can generate and send to friends and family.
So if you can find a friend or family member who has a referral link at the ready, you should be able to get approved for the 75,000-point bonus. Whoever refers you will get 15,000 points if you're approved.
Read more: Are You Eligible for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card?
In the past, it's usually taken Chase a few days – and sometimes even weeks – to update personal referral links after changing bonus on their flagship travel cards. But that's no sure thing, so don't wait!
If you want to take advantage of the personal referral offer, your days are numbered.
Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (for full disclosure, this is a personal referral link).
Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (for full disclosure, this is a personal referral link).
Apply In-Branch For an Even Bigger Offer!
A 75,000-point Chase Ultimate Rewards bonus is great … but 85,000 points is even better. If you're willing (and able) to apply for the Preferred Card in-person at a Chase bank branch you might still be able to snag a bigger bonus.
According to Doctor of Credit, Chase is still currently offering a bonus of up to 85,000 points to in-branch applicants: The same 75,000 points after spending $4,000 within three months, plus another 10,000 points after spending a total of $6,000 within six months. This offer is only available on the Sapphire Preferred Card … not the Reserve.
This bigger, in-branch offer is rumored to end on June 22 – so don't delay!
Grab a Chase Freedom Card
If you were not eligible for the Chase Sapphire Preferred 75,000-point bonus (and even if you were), it is always a great idea to look at one of the Chase Freedom Cards – the *chase freedom unlimited* or the Chase Freedom Flex℠.
Neither of these cards charge an annual fee. And while they're both technically cashback cards, you can pair either Freedom card with a Chase Sapphire Card and turn that cash back into Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited, earns 1.5% on all spending – plus an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year)! That's on top of other great bonus categories like 3% on drugstores and dining, 5% on travel expenses purchased through Chase Travel℠, and more. And you get a flat 1.5% cash back on all other purchases, period.
The Freedom Flex Card is the successor to the longtime favorite Chase Freedom Card, which is no longer open to applications. Not only do you earn $200 cash back after spending $500 in the first three months of card membership, but you'll also earn 5% cash back (or 5x Chase points) on a series of rotating quarterly bonus categories. Plus you'll also earn 3% on dining and at drugstores, among other bonus categories.
So whether or not you grabbed the a new Sapphire Card, it is never a bad idea to add a Freedom card to the mix and earn some extra cash back. Later on, you can grab a Sapphire Card and convert the cash back into Ultimate Rewards points, if you'd like.
Read More: Chase Freedom Flex vs Freedom Unlimited: Which Card is Right for You
Bottom Line
The Chase Sapphire 75,000-point bonus isn't completely gone … at least not yet. Using a referral link from a friend, family member, or us, you can still take advantage for a bit longer. And if you live near a Chase branch, it might be worth the extra effort to go talk to a banker about the even bigger Sapphire Preferred offer.
Plus, even if you aren't eligible for a Sapphire Card, there are still some other great ways to earn Ultimate Rewards.
Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (for full disclosure, this is a personal referral link).
Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (for full disclosure, this is a personal referral link).