Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred Beats Delta Amex Cards for Points
- shellyvix
- Nov 20
- 3 min read
If you’re thinking about travel rewards credit cards, you might be tempted by co-branded Delta American Express cards. After all, they let you earn Delta SkyMiles directly. But if you truly want to maximize the value of your points — and gain flexibility — the Chase Sapphire Preferred (CSP) often comes out far ahead. Here’s why.
1. Unmatched Flexibility
The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) points, which are incredibly flexible. You can transfer UR points 1:1 to a variety of airlines and hotels, including:
Major airline loyalty programs such as Air France–KLM Flying Blue, Aeroplan, United, Virgin Atlantic, and more
Hotel programs including Hyatt, Marriott, and IHG
By contrast, Delta Amex cards earn SkyMiles, which are tied heavily to Delta and offer far less flexibility.
2. Book Delta Flights for Far Fewer Points
Even though Chase doesn’t transfer directly to Delta, you can still book Delta flights — and often for much fewer points — by transferring UR points to Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) or Virgin Atlantic.
These partner programs can book flights on Delta because they’re part of the same airline alliances or partnerships. Many Delta-operated flights cost fewer miles through these partners than through Delta’s own SkyMiles program.
Example: A Delta domestic flight might cost far more SkyMiles when booked through Delta, yet the same flight could be available through Flying Blue or Virgin Atlantic for significantly fewer miles.
Add in periodic 25–30% transfer bonuses, and you can end up paying dramatically fewer Chase points than you would SkyMiles for the exact same Delta flight.
3. Hyatt: The Best Hotel Transfer Partner
CSP transfers 1:1 to World of Hyatt, widely regarded as the best hotel transfer partner in the points world. Hyatt offers extremely high value on award nights, especially in lower categories or for aspirational properties where cash prices are high but point costs remain reasonable.
This level of hotel value is something Delta Amex cards simply cannot compete with.
4. Transfer Bonuses Boost Your Value Even Further
Chase frequently offers bonuses of 20–30% when transferring points to partners like Flying Blue or Virgin Atlantic. When these promotions are active, your points instantly become more valuable — meaning you need fewer points for the same flight.
5. Low Annual Fee + Strong Perks
The Chase Sapphire Preferred comes with a low annual fee of $95 (far lower than many airline cards) yet includes excellent benefits:
Primary rental car insurance
Trip cancellation/interruption protections
Lost luggage coverage
Travel accident insurance
A 25% redemption bonus when booking travel through Chase’s portal
This makes CSP one of the best-value travel cards on the market.
6. Smart Strategy: Downgrade Your Delta Amex, Add CSP
If you already have a Delta Amex, especially one with a higher annual fee, it may make sense to downgrade it to the no-annual-fee version to keep your account history while reducing costs.
Then, apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred to start earning Ultimate Rewards instead of SkyMiles. Doing this gives you:
More flexibility
Better flight redemption options
Access to top hotel value through Hyatt
Potentially lower overall annual fees
Bottom Line
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is simply a more powerful, flexible, and valuable points card than any of the Delta Amex cards.
You can use CSP points to book Delta flights via partner programs for far fewer points, transfer to Hyatt for industry-leading hotel redemptions, and take advantage of transfer bonuses that amplify your point value even more — all for a low annual fee and excellent travel perks.
For most travelers, the best play is to downgrade the Delta Amex to the free version and make the CSP your main points-earning card.
To apply or for more information on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, click HERE.
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