Why couples who travel should get a Sapphire Reserve card and the Ink Business Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) and the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card are two of our favorite travel rewards cards. Most travelers only get one of these cards, but there is an argument for some households to have both.

And now with the launch of the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (see rates and fees), there’s another contender with impressive earning rates and valuable statement credits.

In particular, some couples may benefit by one person getting one of the Sapphire Reserve cards and the other person getting the Ink Business Preferred. These cards can form the perfect combination for couples who sometimes travel separately or want to maximize their point-earning capabilities.

Here’s why holding a Sapphire Reserve or the Sapphire Reserve for Business alongside an Ink Business Preferred card can be beneficial for a couple.

The information for the Ink Business Preferred has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Save on fees

If you’re going to sign up for the Sapphire Reserve, you might consider paying the additional $195 to add your partner as an authorized user. Or, by opting to pay a lower $95 annual fee, your partner could get their own Ink Business Preferred card instead. They’d need to be eligible for a small-business card, of course — but many hobbies and side hustles can qualify you for a small-business card, like a crafts business on Etsy or working as a freelance photographer.

You could also choose to apply for the Sapphire Reserve for Business instead of the Sapphire Reserve. If your partner has the Ink Business Preferred, you would need your own side hustle or business — or they can apply for the card as well and add you as an authorized user to their Ink Business Preferred at no additional cost.

Related: The power of the Chase Trifecta: Maximize your earnings with 3 cards

Take advantage of complementary earning rates

The Sapphire Reserve was refreshed in June and lost the ability to earn 3 points per dollar on travel purchases (effective immediately for new cardholders; from Oct. 26 for cardholders who applied before June 23). Since Chase broadly defines travel, purchases like Airbnbs, car rentals and taxis no longer earn bonus points.

Both the Sapphire Reserve and the Sapphire Reserve for Business earn 8 points per dollar on all Chase Travel℠ purchases and 4 points per dollar on flights and hotels booked directly.

This gives couples an opportunity to truly maximize earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points. One person could pay for hotel and flight purchases using either Sapphire Reserve card, earning up to 8 points per dollar. Meanwhile, other travel expenses, like car rentals and parking fees, would go on the Ink Business Preferred.

Related: Why you should carry a backup credit card while traveling

Earn two welcome bonuses

Earning a large welcome bonus on a new credit card is one of the quickest ways to amass travel rewards. That large sum of points can help fund your next trip.

If you apply for the Sapphire Reserve for Business and Ink Business Preferred, you can earn up to 290,000 bonus points after meeting the minimum spending requirement on each card. Otherwise, you can earn up to 215,000 bonus points if you choose to apply for the Sapphire Reserve alongside the Ink Business Preferred.

Chase points transfer to some valuable partners, including Air Canada Aeroplan and World of Hyatt. For example, you can fly United business class to Australia for 100,000 Aeroplan points one-way.

Related: 5 reasons to get the Chase Ink Business Preferred

Combine rewards between accounts

You might worry that a downside of you and your partner having multiple Chase cards is that you’d have separate points balances. Luckily, Chase lets you combine Chase Ultimate Rewards points with a household member.

Ink Business Preferred cardholders can redeem their points for up to 1.75 cents through Chase Travel; however, as a Sapphire Reserve cardholder, you can redeem your points for up to 2 cents per point via Points Boost.

By taking the mix-and-match approach, points earned on the Ink Business Preferred transferred to a partner’s Reserve card can maximize Chase Travel redemptions.

Combining points between accounts is also useful if you plan to redeem your Ultimate Rewards points by transferring to one of Chase’s 14 transfer partners (13 transfer partners come Oct. 16, with the loss of Emirates Skywards).

Related: Chase Ultimate Rewards points: How to redeem for maximum value

Alternate combinations

You might wonder whether you could replace either of the cards in this combination and still get similar benefits. Here’s a look at two alternate combinations you might consider:

Sapphire Preferred instead of a Sapphire Reserve

You might consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) for its significantly lower $95 annual fee.

The card has competitive earning rates of 3 points per dollar on dining (including eligible delivery services), 3 points per dollar on online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs) and select streaming services, and 2 points per dollar on all travel (other than Chase Travel purchases).

You can use the Sapphire Preferred in tandem with the Ink Business Preferred by putting all travel purchases on the Ink Business Preferred card, while the Sapphire Preferred can be used for Chase Travel, dining, and online grocery purchases.

This combination is perfect for couples who don’t want to pay over $800 in annual fees but still earn bonus points across several categories.

Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve: With new changes in effect, which card is best for you?

Sapphire Preferred instead of the Ink Business Preferred

You might also consider getting the Sapphire Preferred instead of the Ink Business Preferred, especially if you aren’t eligible for a business credit card.

The positive aspects of the Sapphire Preferred are the ability to earn bonus points across more categories, including online grocery purchases and select streaming services. The Ink Business Preferred has several bonus categories, but if you just have a side gig, chances are the bonus points from those categories are going to be minimal, if they’re even applicable to you.

The Sapphire Preferred still earns bonus points on all travel, but at a slightly lower rate of 2 points per dollar.

Related: Why you may want the Ink Business Preferred over the Chase Sapphire Reserve

Bottom line

The Sapphire Reserve or the Sapphire Reserve for Business with the Ink Business Preferred card combination is a good choice for couples who travel frequently. It’s best for couples who sometimes travel separately and want to efficiently earn point for travel.

However, some couples may get better value from an alternate card combination or from simply opening one card account and adding an authorized user. So, consider how you’ll use your cards and redemption plans when deciding on a credit card strategy.

To learn more, read our full reviews of the Sapphire Reserve, Sapphire Reserve for Business and Ink Business Preferred.

Apply here: Sapphire Reserve

Apply here: Sapphire Reserve for Business