If you already have the Chase Sapphire, the next step in leveling up your travel rewards game is building the Chase Trifecta. This powerful three-card combo helps you maximize your earning rates across everyday spending. This strategy has allowed me to travel the world on a teacher budget using points and miles.
In this post, I’ll break down how each card plays a role, how to use them together, and why the Chase Trifecta is one of the best setups for both beginners and seasoned travel hackers.
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How the Chase Trifecta Works
The Chase Trifecta pairs your Chase Sapphire card with two no-annual-fee cards: the Freedom Flex and the Freedom Unlimited. On their own, these cards are good, but when you combine the points into your Sapphire account, their value increases significantly.
Start With the Chase Sapphire
Whether you have the Sapphire Preferred or Reserve, the bonus categories are the foundation of the Chase Trifecta. Here’s what you earn on the Sapphire Preferred which is what I use:
5X points on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal
- 5x points on Lyft
3X points on dining
- 3x points on select streaming services
2X points on travel
1X point on everything else
As great as these are, you’ll notice there are still many categories where you’re earning just 1X, which is where the additional cards come in.
Add the Freedom Flex for Rotating 5X Categories
The Chase Freedom Flex is the first card I recommend adding to build the Chase Trifecta. It earns:
5X points on rotating quarterly categories
2x points on Lyft
- 3x points on drugstores
- 3x points on dining
- 1x point on everything else
Each quarter, Chase releases a new set of bonus categories. These might include groceries, gas stations, Amazon, wholesale clubs, home improvement stores, or even more niche categories. There was actually a quarter where vet services were included and since I had a high vet bill that month, I earned a ton of points.
The key is to activate the categories each quarter and use this card whenever a purchase falls within the 5X group.
Then, once you earn those points, you’ll want to combine them with your Chase Sapphire points to maximize their value.
Finish the Chase Trifecta with the Freedom Unlimited for Everyday Spending
Next is the Chase Freedom Unlimited, which fills the gaps in your earning strategy. While it matches the Sapphire and Flex in some categories, the standout feature is:
1.5X points on all other purchases
This applies to everything—your phone bill, car insurance, groceries, clothing, household items, and any random purchases that don’t fall under bonus categories. Instead of settling for 1X points on “everything else,” you’re now earning 1.5X, which makes a huge difference over the course of a year.
Just like with the Flex, you’ll combine the points from your Freedom Unlimited into your Chase Sapphire account.
Why Combining Your Points Matters
One of the most important parts of using the Chase Trifecta is pooling all of your Freedom Flex and Freedom Unlimited points into your Sapphire account.
If you don’t combine them:
They’re worth less when booking through the Chase Travel Portal
You cannot transfer them to travel partners
But when you move them into your Sapphire account, those same points jump in value and become transferable to partners like Hyatt, United, Flying Blue, and many more.
This is where the Chase Trifecta becomes incredibly powerful. You use the Freedom cards to maximize earnings, then use the Sapphire to redeem them for more value.
Final Thoughts: Who Should Build the Chase Trifecta?
If you’re someone who wants to earn more points without spending more money, the Chase Trifecta is one of the best travel hacking setups you can build. It’s easy to manage and incredibly valuable.
This three-card combination is exactly how I’m able to travel the world on a teacher budget and it’s a system anyone can use with just a little planning.
Make sure to check out my post comparing the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture.