Update: Current Ink Bold Business Card offers 2X points for hotel and gas spend; it does not offer 2x points for travel agency spend
Earlier this week, I mentioned calling up to activate my new Chase Ink Bold Business Card (see Best Travel Credit Cards to apply) and learning that only a 25,000 bonus was noted in my application. Fortunately I had taken screenshots when I applied for the card (see Confirm Your Credit Card Bonus and Terms When Activating and Take Screenshots).
When I called back the following day, I was gratified that the bonus had already been corrected to 50,000 points, which I will earn by putting $5000 on the card within the first 3 months. But my other question, on the 2x points for TravelSort and other travel agency spend, was still outstanding. You see, on the application's Offer Terms, it clearly include “travel agencies” (see above) but in the welcome collateral sent with the card, it only mentioned gas and hotels:
It took about an hour or more on the phone, but the agent confirmed that, at least for now, all spend on merchants such as TravelSort that are classified as Visa or Mastercard as “travel agencies” will receive the 2x Ultimate Rewards points, the same as regular hotel spend and gas spend, which also receive double Ultimate Rewards points. This is great news for our clients that have the Ink Bold card, since not only do they receive members-only prices by using TravelSort, but they'll receive the same 2x Ultimate Rewards points bonus as they would booking with the hotel directly.
How does the Ink Bold compare to the Chase Sapphire Preferred? Although we previously posted a Chase Ink Bold Business Card Review, here's an at a glance comparison with the Sapphire Preferred:
Bonus: Both cards offer 50,000 bonus points, but you do have to spend $5000 on the Ink Bold vs. $3000 on the Chase Sapphire Preferred to earn the bonus
Bonus spend categories: Most frequent travelers will be able to earn more bonus points using the Chase Sapphire Preferred, given its 2x bonus on all travel and dining, than on the Ink Bold. But if as a business owner you have high office supply expenses and buy them at office supply stores such as Office Max, Office Depot, Stape or from a wholesale distributor of office supplies, or have high telecom/wireless services costs (note that phones and telecom equipment are excluded) the 5x points could add up quickly.
And since the Chase Sapphire Preferred does not offer 2x points for spend on TravelSort or other travel agencies, the Ink Bold is a good card to have to get the same bonus points on better hotel prices, especially for 5-star luxury hotels and boutiques that either don't participate in rewards programs or aren't worth redeeming points for given high redemption rates.
Other benefits: I value the 7% points bonus for the Sapphire Preferred more highly than lounge access, but at least both cards don't have foreign transaction fees.
Verdict: The Chase Sapphire Preferred is still our top recommended travel card, given its 2x points bonus on dining and non-airfare, non-hotel travel spend (eg taxis, mass transit, car rentals) which the Ink Bold doesn't bonus.
For small business owners, however (and that is, after all, whom the Ink Bold targets) the Ink Bold is a great card to put all business expenses that receive a 5x bonus (office supplies, telecom and wireless services) and 2x bonus that the Sapphire Preferred doesn't cover: gas and travel agencies.
Caveats:
- The 2x bonus for travel agencies is for merchants that Visa/Mastercard classify as travel agencies. TravelSort is one, but I can't speak to how other travel entities are classified by Visa/Mastercard.
- Chase could, as always, change the bonus categories and decide not to bonus travel agencies. So if you're planning a TravelSort or other travel agency booking, consider doing it sooner rather than later!
Chase Ink Bold Application Tips: You need not have a formal business entity (eg corporation, LLC, etc.); you can instead use your social security number to apply as a sole proprietor. You will likely be asked:
- Nature of your business
- How long you've had it (if it's nascent and you're just in the planning stages, say that)
- Revenues (don't worry if you're in the planning stages and don't have any yet)
- If you have any employees (no worries if you don't)
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