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If you’re just getting started you need to get the most powerful combo of credit cards to earn miles. I’ve discussed the general strategy to maximize miles from credit cards over your lifetime recently, but let me be very specific for beginners.

Start with the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. While you’re at it, get the Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card if you have more spending capacity and a business. I recommend these 2-3 cards because:

  1. They earn Ultimate Rewards, that transfer to 11 partner airline
  2. They complement each other. Most of my cards don’t work together; they are all just separately working towards different goals. But the Chase Sapphire Reserve® actually makes the Chase Freedom Unlimited®more valuable by making the Freedom Two Step possible.
  3. If you get all three cards, you’d earn a minimum of 1.5 miles per dollar on all purchases and 3 miles per dollar on travel; dining; shipping; internet, cable, and phone services; and search engine or social network advertising

Are You Eligible?

These are all Chase cards. Chase will deny your application if you have five new credit card accounts in the last 24 months from any banks. Additionally the Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a business card, so you will be denied if you don’t have a business (though sole proprietorships and putting your SSN for your tax ID are fine.)

Other than that, you just need to be approved for the cards to get the bonuses.

Which Cards for Spending

Down the line, when you’ve met the minimum spending requirements, put:

  • spending on travel; shipping; internet, cable, and phone services; and search engine or social network advertising on the Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card for 3x per dollar
  • spending on dining on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® for 3x per dollar
  • spending everywhere else on the Chase Freedom Unlimited® for 1.5x per dollar

Why to Do It

Ultimate Rewards

These cards earn ultra-valuable Ultimate Rewards that I value at 2 cents each. Chase Ultimate Rewards can transfer 1:1 to 11 partner airlines and 3 hotel partners.

All the airline programs and Hyatt have value. (The other three hotel programs you should avoid.)

For instance, you can use 60,00 United miles for a one way trip in a flat bed from the United States to Europe, or 40,000 United miles for a one way trip in Thai First Class from Bangkok to Sydney with a free hourlong Thai massage before the flight.

Southwest Rapid Rewards are worth about 1.4 cents toward any Southwest flight with no blackouts. You can often do better with other transfer partners, but it’s still a good option to save cash and get on any Southwest flight.

Free nights at Hyatts worldwide start at 3,000 points.

Freedom Two Step

So far I’ve only hinted at something important. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns Ultimate Rewards, but they cannot transfer to those awesome transfer partners above; they can only be redeemed for 1 cent each. However, if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card too, you can combine Ultimate Rewards earned with a no annual fee card with the Ultimate Rewards earned with one of the premium cards and from there to hotels and airlines. That’s the Freedom Two Step.

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Read more about the Freedom Two Step here.

Bottom Line

New to miles?

Get the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Chase Freedom Unlimited®. If possible, get the Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card too. Now you’re all set for some huge travel.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Just getting started in the world of points and miles? The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best card for you to start with.

With a bonus of 60,000 points after $4,000 spend in the first 3 months, 5x points on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal and 3x points on restaurants, streaming services, and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), this card truly cannot be beat for getting started!


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