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Michelle GrantFellow
Mitchell Grant has years of experience working with small businesses and Fortune 100 companies such as Citigroup and Wells Fargo. Although he grew up in Michelin-starred restaurants and California wineries, Mitchell discovered that writing was his true calling. He is prolific, his works are read thousands of times a day.
Michelle Grant
Michelle GrantFellow
Mitchell Grant has years of experience working with small businesses and Fortune 100 companies such as Citigroup and Wells Fargo. Although he grew up in Michelin-starred restaurants and California wineries, Mitchell discovered that writing was his true calling. He is prolific, his works are read thousands of times a day.
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Clinda Proctorauthor
Clint Proctor is editor-in-chief of the credit card and travel rewards team at Forbes Advisor. She has five years of experience in personal finance journalism and has worked with a number of leading national publications, including Business Insider and MyFICO. Clint has spent millions of credit card points and miles booking budget travel and is passionate about helping others do the same.
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Clinda Proctor
Clinda Proctorauthor
Clint Proctor is editor-in-chief of the credit card and travel rewards team at Forbes Advisor. She has five years of experience in personal finance journalism and has worked with a number of leading national publications, including Business Insider and MyFICO. Clint has spent millions of credit card points and miles booking budget travel and is passionate about helping others do the same.
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Proven fact
Posted: July 19, 2023 at 9:00 am
Editor's Note: We earn a commission for affiliate links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not influence the opinions and ratings of our editors.
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Contents
- Who is an authorized user?
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Authorized User Benefits
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Charges for Authorized Users
- How to add an authorized user with Chase
- Point
See more
TheKartica Chase Sapphire Preferred®it's one of the best road maps out there. Even with a $95 annual fee, the card is truly packed with rewards and perks that many competing cards can't match. This card treats its users very well, so it's no big surprise to learn that adding an authorized user is simple, useful and free.
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Kartica Chase Sapphire Preferred®
On the Chase Bank USA, NA website
4.6
A Forbes consultant has created additional star ratings so you can see the best card for your specific needs. This card shines in this app, but the overall star rating may vary compared to other cards.
On the Chase Bank USA, NA website
Up to 5x rewards
Earn 5x on travel purchased with Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel-related purchases andread more
welcome bonus
60,000 bonus points
Annual subscription
$95
Normal APR
21.49%-28.49% Variable
Credit assessment
Excellent, good (700 - 749)
Editorial review
Offering a rare combination of high rewards rates and flexibility of use, this card is a frequent traveler and restaurant diner's dream - for a small annual fee.
Za i protiv
- Earn high rewards in various spending areas
- Transfer points to travel partners at a 1:1 ratio
- Multiple protections for travel and shopping
- Annual subscription
- Without introductory APR
- The best travel rates are only available when booking through Chase
Card information
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. That's $750 when redeemed with Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Enjoy perks like 5x travel purchased with Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x dining and 2x all other travel purchases plus $50 in annual Ultimate Rewards hotel credit and more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem flights, hotels, car rentals and cruises with Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 per trip.
- You can rely on trip cancellation/interruption insurance, rental car collision damage insurance, baggage loss insurance and more.
- Get free access to DashPass, which will unlock $0 delivery fees and reduce service fees for at least one year if you activate it by December 31, 2024.
- Member of the FDIC
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. That's $750 when redeemed with Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Credit score ranges are based on the FICO® credit score. This is only one scoring method and your credit card company may use a different method when processing your application. It is for guidance only and approval is not guaranteed.
Who is an authorized user?
An authorized user is someone the primary account holder adds to their account. The user has his own credit card and can make purchases and build a positive credit history. Forkarty cashbackoweLubtravel ticketsAuthorized users can also claim rewards, although only the primary account holder can redeem them.
In contrast to Ashared accountowner, authorized users bear no financial responsibility for charges. Instead, they are added to an existing account, which can help them build credit. The process of adding an authorized user is generally much easier than opening a joint account, and there is often no limit to the number of users that can be added to a master account.
Another advantage of adding an authorized user over opening a joint account is that if an authorized user's spending habits do not align with the primary account holder's financial plan, the user can easily be removed from the account. On the other hand, removing the account co-owner usually involves the complete closure of the account.
SomeAuthorized userit doesn't even have to be someone important. You can add a parent, child, friend or anyone else. Just make sure it's someone you can trust, as remember that your credit card company will ultimately make you solely responsible for paying your monthly bill.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Authorized User Benefits
Benefits for the primary cardholder
Now that we've defined who an authorized user is, consider the benefits of adding them to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Not only will you be able to essentially double your ability to collect rewards, but you can also expand your reach.
For example, an authorized user on vacation can receive significant rewards even if the primary account holder works from home. Having an authorized user on your account basically allows you to be in two places at once to earn rewards. This can be especially helpful when you're trying to meet the minimum spending requirements for the card's welcome bonus: 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of opening your account.
Another potential benefit of adding Sapphire Preferred Authorized User is that it can increase the number of hotel or airline loyalty accounts that qualify for a 1:1 points transfer. Cardholders may transfer their points to affiliate program accounts owned by an eligible user, provided the user is a member of their household.
Benefits to the Authorized User
While all of the above benefits are primarily intended for the primary account holder, there is great value to be gained for the authorized user as well. Authorized Sapphire Preferred users can:
- Build a credit history
- Avoid signing up and paying a separate bill
- Avoid foreign transaction fees (ideal for those traveling abroad)
- Get a free DashPass from DoorDash (if activated by 12/31/2024.)
- Get Trip Cancellation Insurance, Trip Stopover Insurance, Rental Car Collision Damage Insurance, Baggage Loss Insurance and more
In addition, authorized users can work with the primary cardholder to redeem rewards. For example, when two cardholders are a couple, they can use their cumulative points and book an unforgettable vacation together. Alternatively, the Primary Cardholder may redeem Points on behalf of the Authorized User for travel, cash back, gift cards or any other redemption method available throughChase Ultimate Rewards®.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Charges for Authorized Users
Another benefit of adding an Authorized User to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is that it's free. Adding a user is free and does not affect the card's annual fee.
In contrast,Chase Sapphire Reserve®charges $75 for each authorized user. And that's in addition to the card's annual fee. So if you add an authorized user anyway, you'll start each cardholder year hundreds of dollars up front by choosing Sapphire Preferred instead of Sapphire Reserve.
The Sapphire Reserve card offers exclusive perks that can make it a spendthrift, such as a $300 credit on your travel report, Priority Pass lounge access (for primary cardmember, authorized user and two guests each), and an application fee credit for reliable trip. However, since the latter two benefits will only be useful at the airport, the Sapphire Reserve will be less valuable to infrequent travelers.
How to add an authorized user with Chase
Adding an authorized user is easy. There are two ways to do this: call Chase at the number on the back of your card or log in to your Chase account.
Once you've logged in and selected your Sapphire Reserve account, the process is as follows:
- Expand the More drop-down menu.
- Expand the Account Services drop-down menu.
- Click "Add Authorized User"
- Click "Start"
- Enter the authorized user's personal information and then click "Next"
- Enter the address details of the authorized user and then click "Next"
- Confirm your own address where the card will be sent, then click "Next"
- Check the information provided. If everything looks good, click Add Authorized User
Once this process is complete, you should receive your Authorized User Card in the mail shortly. Once you have it, just activate the card and start earning rewards.
Find the best credit cards for 2023
No one credit card is the best choice for every family, every market, and every budget. We have selected the best credit cards in such a way that they are as useful as possible to a wide range of readers.
Learn more
Point
Adding an authorized user - or even multiple users - to your Sapphire Preferred account can be a great way to increase your account's overall earning potential while sharing valuable benefits with family members or friends. Just make sure you trust the person you want to add, as only the primary account holder is financially responsible for the account charges.
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