Chase Retention Bonus Offers

Chase retention bonus offers, as with other credit card retention bonuses by other issuers, depend on several factors: the credit card of course, but also your spend on it, overall value to Chase, at what stage in your card membership you're calling, and whom you're speaking with. Because of these variations, just because someone else received a certain bonus retention offer, don't assume that you'll also be offered it.

But first, some general tips, followed by examples of what others have received recently, as reported on Flyertalk.

1. Call the Number on the Back of Your Chase Credit Card

Chase's retention department is called Loyalty Services, but it does not have a direct external number. Call the number on the back of your card, and if it's a co-branded card, such as the United MileagePlus Explorer, you can ask the agent to transfer you to Loyalty Services.

2. For Chase's Own Cards Agents Generally Handle Retention Themselves

If you call the number for your Chase Sapphire Preferred card or the Ink Bold card, the agent will not transfer you to Loyalty Services, because it's a Chase card (not co-branded) and the agents handle retention and cancellation themselves.

3. Know Your Portfolio and Which Cards You Must Keep vs. Which You're Prepared to Cancel

Chase representatives can see your entire portfolio of Chase cards and your spend on each, and of course will try to get you to keep cards without retention offers. So be prepared to give cogent reasons for why you're considering closing a given card, since you may not be offered the best retention offer you're preapproved for unless you seem genuinely ready to cancel.

4. Don't Actually Say You'd Like to Cancel If You First Want to Check Retention Bonus Offers

There have been cases where a cardholder says s/he wants to cancel (hoping to first hear retention bonus offers) but the Chase representative goes ahead and quickly cancels the card. The solution? Don't say you want to cancel, instead say something like “I noticed that my annual fee for _______ card will post soon, and I'm trying to decide whether to keep the card….”

5. Counter the Spiel on the Card's Benefits

Now, you may be subjected to a spiel from the rep on all the card's benefits, but you can try to pre-empt that by quickly acknowledging some of these benefits but point out that they aren't useful to you because:

You already receive these benefits through other means (e.g. you have elite status with the airline or hotel)
The benefit isn't useful (e.g. you can't use the Hyatt annual free night because you only stay in Category 5-6 Hyatts)
Another credit card offers superior benefits

6. You Have Until 60 Days After the Annual Fee is Billed to Cancel

Don't fret if you forget to call earlier and the annual fee hits. You can still call the number on the back of your card, and if after exploring any potential retention offers you decide to close the card within the 60 day timeframe, the annual fee will be removed.

7. If You Do Close a Card, Don't Forget to Move Your Ultimate Rewards Points and Credit Limit First

If you plan to close a Sapphire Preferred, Ink Bold or Ink Plus card linked to Ultimate Rewards, make sure you first transfer the points to another Chase card linked to Ultimate Rewards (e.g. if you're closing an Ink Bold, move the points to your Sapphire Preferred or Ink Plus card) before closing it, otherwise those points will be gone forever. Your other options are to transfer the points to one of the airline or hotel partners (although note they will then be subject to expiration according to the airline or hotel loyalty program) or to your spouse or partner's Ultimate Rewards account. See How to Transfer Miles and Points Between Frequent Flyer Accounts

8. Don't Forget to Use Your Ultimate Rewards Points, United Miles and Hotel Points

Miles and points aren't a retirement fund–award charts can and will devalue. So don't just earn miles and points from retention bonuses, signup bonuses and category spend bonuses–use them! Need some ideas? Check out Best Ways to Use Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

Again, a caveat to the offers below: just because someone else recently received one of these Chase retention bonus offers doesn't mean you will be offered it, either because you're not preapproved for it, or due to the unique circumstances of the cardholder who received it or the discretion of the agent or manager who approved it.

Sapphire Preferred

Almost no one has received a retention bonus or an annual fee waiver for the Sapphire Preferred, especially recently, so don't be disappointed when you don't either. You won't be transferred to Loyalty Services, since Chase Sapphire Preferred agents handle all retention and cancellation themselves. Expect that if you say you're thinking of cancelling, the agent will tell you all about the card's benefits, and also note you can downgrade to the no fee Sapphire card, and if you can, downgrade to the no fee Freedom card, which can be very useful for doubling your quarterly limit for the 5X categories.

Alternatively, see if you can still switch to the Sapphire Preferred MasterCard since that would enable you to later apply again for the Sapphire Preferred Visa and receive the 40,000 point signup bonus again.

That said, Flyertalk member Slybone was able to obtain 9500 points in exchange for putting substantial spend (over $50,000 in a month) on the card. So if you're a big spender or have major reimburseable spend, you may be able to receive additional points for your spend.

Another unusual example is Efilon87 on Flyertalk, who was able to receive 5000 points for keeping his Sapphire Preferred, in conjunction with a $50 statement credit for the United MileagePlus Explorer card.
2500 points reported by suspire

Ink Bold