The three cards everyone should have in their wallet
By Rachel Lipson
August 29, 2025
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With so many credit cards on the market, it can be dizzying to try to figure out which ones to hold. Between a flight attendant trying to advertise a card that earns airline miles, to billboards, ads and mailings everywhere you turn, the world of credit cards can feel extra confusing.
Whether you have multiple cards in your wallet, are a loyalist to a particular airline’s card or you’re still using the first card you ever got approved for in your 20s, there is a three-card strategy that can drastically increase your point earning capabilities and get you on your way to more affordable travel.
Why three cards? I just want one!
I get it. When I started learning about points and miles, I never believed I’d be someone who would open multiple cards. It felt confusing to think about having more than one card and unnecessarily tedious to keep track of dates, payments, fees, etc. Then I discovered that the real secret to traveling with points and miles is to maximize every dollar spent into points that can be used for travel. To do this, there are three cards that work in tandem with one another that make all the difference.
The First Card
The first card is the #1 card for travel, so it may not come as a surprise if you’ve been around here a while: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or The Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
These cards unlock the ability to transfer Chase’s Ultimate Rewards Points to airlines and hotels allowing you to book travel directly with partners. Because this isn’t something all Chase cards can do, and because Chase has excellent travel partners, having a card that makes this possible is extremely important.
All of the Sapphire cards offer this capability, so just choose the one that feels right to you!
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Earn 5x points per dollar spent on all travel booked through Chase Travel℠
Earn 3x points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target®, Walmart® and wholesale clubs)
Earn 2x points per dollar spent on all other travel
Earn 1x points per dollar spent on all other purchases
Annual $50 hotel credit when you book through Chase Travel
Travel and purchase protections
10% anniversary points boost
$95 annual fee
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Earn 8x points per dollar on all Chase Travel℠ purchases
Earn 4x points per dollar on flights and hotels booked directly
Earn 3x points per dollar spent on dining purchases worldwide
Earn 1x points per dollar spent on all other purchases
Purchases that qualify for the annual $300 travel credit will not earn points. Once the $300 travel credit has been used completely then those travel purchases will earn the respective points.
$500 credit for The Edit, Chase's curated collection of luxury hotels and resorts, broken up into $250 semiannual credits (use toward pre-paid bookings of two nights or more)
Biannual $150 dining credit to use with Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables; $300 annually
Chase Sapphire lounge access
Priority Pass Select membership
$795 annual fee
To choose between these two cards, decide if the perks and benefits of the premium card (The Reserve) feel useful to you or if you’d prefer (no pun intended) the more basic card (The preferred).
Either will be a great option!
The Second Card
The second card in this Chase trio AKA “The Chase Trifecta” is the Chase Freedom Unlimited® or The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card.
One is a personal card, the other business, but either earns a minimum of 1.5% (1.5x) back on all purchases which means a boost of 50% on each dollar of eligible purchase spent when using this card over a standard 1x card. That 50% can make a big difference!
The Freedom Unlimited (personal):
Enjoy 5% (5x) back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
3% (3x) back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (includes takeout and eligible delivery service)
1.5% (1.5x) on all other purchases
$0 annual fee
While this card is advertised as a cash back card, the rewards are delivered as points which can be transferred to the Sapphire and used to book travel outside of Chase Travel℠.
With the rewards structure that offers a minimum of 1.5x back on all purchases (and higher earnings in certain categories), using this card as an everyday card can help you rack up significant points.
The Ink Unlimited (business):
Earn 1.5% (1.5x) back on all eligible purchases with no cap on the earnings
$0 annual fee
The Third Card
The third card in the Chase Trifecta is the Chase Freedom Flex®
5% (5x) points back in rotating quarterly categories on up to $1,500 in combined purchases (activation required).
5% (5x) back on all travel booked through Chase travel℠
3% (3x) back on drugstore purchases
3% (3x) back on dining (including takeout and delivery!)
1% (1x) back on all other eligible purchases
$0 Annual fee
Again, this is a card that’s advertised as cash back, but once the points are combined with the Sapphire (or any other card in the Chase portfolio that allows transfers to partners) the points become useful outside of Chase Travel℠.
Put these together and what do you get?
With three of these cards in your wallet and a total annual expenditure starting at only $95 in annual fees, you’ll be poised to earn significant points on your everyday spending. The 1.5x on all purchases (and more in select categories), 5x on quarterly categories on the Flex (that’s 30K points a year if you max that out!) combined with the ability to transfer points to hotels and airlines, this trifecta can really boost your point earning and change the way your family travels.
Rachel Lipson
There are so many things to consider when looking for a credit card for your household or business. Hopefully these tips help you make smart choices!
Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Brooklyn Family Travelers and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
