The 4 cards you need to create the famed Chase Quadfecta

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Forget the Trifecta, the Quadfecta is what will turn your wallet ( or your household wallet ) into a point earning machine. The best part? Only one of the cards comes with an annual fee. Let’s take a look at how you can strategize your expenses, maximize your spend, and fast-track your dream trip.

Our travel dreams look something like this: the all new Singapore Suites ( WOW, tuck me in and read me a night night story )

Let’s cut to the Chase 😉 Here are the 4 cards you need to complete the Chase Quadfecta

1. Chase Ink Business Cash
2. Chase Sapphire Reserve ( Or modified with the Chase Sapphire Preferred )
3. Chase Freedom
4. Chase Freedom Unlimited ( Or Chase Ink Business Unlimited )

The strategy employed in building the Quadfecta is that each and every one of these cards offers an earn structure that maximizes one or more categories of spend. Let’s walk you through each of the cards.

 1) Chase Ink Business Cash

This is a fantastic, no-annual fee, cash back card that earns up to 5x points ( on $25k spend ) on some great categories. When you team a Chase “cash back” card with a premium Ultimate Rewards card like the Reserve mentioned above, those points convert from cash back to transferrable Ultimate Rewards. Here are the categories that the Chase Ink Business Cash earns the best return on:

• Earn 5x on
  • Internet
  • Cable
  • Phone
  • Office Supplies

2) Chase Sapphire Reserve ( or “modified Quad” –  Sapphire Preferred )

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is Chase’s flagship card and comes with a $450 annual fee. However, $300 of that is offset with an annual $300 travel credit which translates into roughly $150 paid towards that annual fee. With that you’re getting better trip cancellation protection, a priority pass membership, 1.5c return on points in Chase Travel, the ability to convert cash back points into transferrable Ultimate Rewards AND these earn categories

• Earn 3x
  • Travel
  • Dining

Rather spend $95 a year on a Sapphire Preferred? You’ll still get great rental car protection, the ability to merge and convert cash back points into Ultimate Rewards, and a 1.25c redemption value in Chase Travel along with these earn rates

• Earn 2x
  • Travel
  • Dining

Neither of these cards assess foreign transaction fees.

3) Chase Freedom

The Chase Freedom card is a great no fee card that offers outstanding category bonuses that rotate from quarter to quarter. The great thing about this card is there is the opportunity to earn 5x points at a wide variety of establishments and categories throughout the year, up to $1500 a quarter, or 7500 points when converting into Ultimate Rewards. You can even pick up gift cards for your favorite restaurants, gas stations, hotels at many of the categories which means you can effectively earn 5x points on those purchases as well when you go to redeem your gift cards. Great for gifts too!

Here’s what those 5x category bonuses have been for 2018

• 1st Quarter
  • Internet, Cable, Phone
  • Chase Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay
• 2nd Quarter
  • Grocery Stores
  • Apply Pay, Chase Pay
• 3rd Quarter
  • Gas Stations
  • Lyft
  • Walgreens
• 4th Quarter
  • Department Stores
  • Wholesale Clubs
  • Chase Pay

       Interested in the Chase Freedom?

 

4) Chase Freedom Unlimited or Chase Ink Business Unlimited

Both of these cards earn 1.5x on every single purchase. So for every purchase that isn’t earning a higher rate of return on the aforementioned cards, you’d put onto either of these cards ( depending on if it’s a personal or business expense.)

In case you’ve forgotten:

5 of the best uses of Ultimate Rewards

ANA First Class Via Virgin Atlantic

One of the sweetest of sweet spots is flying ANA First Class through a Virgin Atlantic redemption. In fact, you can do it roundtrip starting at 110k from the West Coast. That is an unreal value.

Lufthansa First Class via Singapore Airlines or United

It now costs 95k Singapore miles, which is quite steep, but Singapore miles are one of the easiest currencies to accrue as they partner with all 4 major flexible point programs ( SPG, Chase, Citi, and Chase). Additionally, Singapore has comparatively low change fees, meaning you can book into business class as a backup, and when Lufthansa releases space ( roughly 14 days ahead of departure) swoop in. Alternatively, if you see space avail, and are willing to fork out a few more miles, but avoid fees – you can redeem 110k United for the same award.

You can read about our experience on the A330 or the incredible 747-8i

Singapore Suites via Singapore Airlines

For 76k Singapore miles you can fly from JFK to FRA or vice versa, and experience one of the most aspirational first class experiences in the sky, Singapore Suites. It’s truly incredible. You can read our review here

68k Roundtrip Business Class to Europe with Iberia Avios

One of the great spots on Iberia’s award chart is flying business class from Chicago/East Coast to Madrid on Iberia’s own lie-flat business class. I’m doing this in over New Year’s and will have a review posted soon after.

Transfer to Air France for sweet-spot biz redemptions 52k-67.5k

Air France offers a great reverse herringbone business class that you can find on their 772, 773s, some A330s, and eventually on their A380s. You’ll be hard pressed for find a better way to fly across the pond.

A recap:

By combining all the fire power of these cards you’re maximizing your purchase power and earning some very impressive points that will get you and your loved ones closer to those dream trips.

How to organize your purchase structure to max rate of return.

• 5x Chase Ink Business Cash
  • Phone, Internet, Cable
• 5x Chase Freedom
  • Utilize Category Bonuses
• 3x with Reserve or 2x with Sapphire Preferred
  • Travel and Dining
• 1.5x Chase Freedom Unlimited or Chase Ink Business Unlimited
  • everything else