7 Shocking Secrets: How To Maximize The Chase Sapphire Preferred Groceries Bonus In 2025

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (CSP) has long been a powerhouse for earning valuable travel points on dining and travel, but its grocery rewards are often misunderstood. As of today, December 14, 2025, the card offers a stellar 3x points on online grocery purchases, a category that has become increasingly relevant in the post-pandemic world. However, navigating what qualifies—and what doesn't—is the key to unlocking hundreds of dollars in extra Chase Ultimate Rewards points, especially with the major program changes rolled out in 2025.

The latest updates, including the introduction of the new "Points Boost" feature, have completely shifted the value proposition of every point you earn, including those 3x points from your online grocery spending. If you are not optimizing this category, you are leaving significant value on the table that could be transferred to elite airline and hotel partners like World of Hyatt or Air Canada Aeroplan.

The 3x Online Grocery Secret: Stores That Count (and the Big Exclusions)

The biggest secret to maximizing your Chase Sapphire Preferred grocery rewards is understanding the single word "online." The card’s 3x points per dollar bonus is explicitly for purchases made at online grocery stores. This means walking into your local supermarket and swiping your card at the checkout lane will only earn you the base 1x point per dollar, which is a major missed opportunity.

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The 3x bonus is designed to reward transactions processed as e-commerce or digital orders, which is a crucial distinction from traditional in-store shopping. This category is a significant perk, especially for cardholders who rely on delivery or curbside pickup services.

The Golden List: Confirmed Online Grocery Stores for 3x Points

While Chase does not publish a definitive, exhaustive list, cardholder data confirms that most major regional and national supermarket chains qualify when you place your order through their website or app for pickup or delivery.

• Kroger Family of Stores: This includes regional favorites like Fred Meyer, Ralph's, Harris Teeter, King Soopers, Smith's, and QFC. Ordering online from any of these chains for pickup or delivery is generally confirmed to earn 3x points.
• Safeway/Albertsons Family: Similarly, online orders from Safeway, Albertsons, Vons, and other associated stores typically code as an eligible online grocery purchase.
• Instacart: Purchases made through third-party services like Instacart, when paying with your CSP, are often coded as an online grocery transaction, earning you the 3x rate. This is a powerful way to get 3x points from multiple local stores.
• Regional Chains: Most other local and regional supermarkets offering online ordering (e.g., Publix, Wegmans, H-E-B) should qualify, provided the transaction is processed as an online purchase.

The Three Major Exclusions to Avoid

The Chase Sapphire Preferred explicitly excludes three major types of merchants from the 3x online grocery category, which can be a trap for the unwary:

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1. Target: All purchases, including online, do not qualify for the 3x grocery bonus.
2. Walmart: All purchases, including online, are excluded from the 3x grocery bonus.
3. Wholesale Clubs: Warehouse stores like Costco, Sam's Club, and BJ's Wholesale Club are all excluded, even if you order items online for delivery.

The 2025 Points Boost: How Your 3x Groceries Are Now Worth More

The biggest change to the Chase Ultimate Rewards program in 2025 is the introduction of the Points Boost feature, which fundamentally alters the value of your points earned from the 3x online grocery category. This update replaced the old, fixed 1.25 cents per point (CPP) redemption value for travel booked through the Chase Travel portal (formerly Chase Ultimate Rewards portal).

Understanding the New Value Proposition

Under the old system, 3x points on groceries meant you earned 3.75 cents per dollar (3 points x 1.25 CPP). The new Points Boost is more dynamic and potentially more rewarding, but also more complex.

• Points Boost for Travel: The new benefit allows points to be worth up to 1.5 cents per point on select hotels and up to 1.75 cents per point on flights with select airlines when booking through the Chase Travel portal. This means your 3x grocery spending could now yield a return of up to 5.25 cents per dollar (3 points x 1.75 CPP) on specific flights, far exceeding the old rate.
• Transfer Partners Remain King: The most significant value still comes from transferring your Ultimate Rewards points to one of Chase's premium airline or hotel transfer partners. When transferred, the value of your points can easily reach 2.0 CPP or higher, especially with partners like World of Hyatt (the clear winner for hotel transfers), Air Canada Aeroplan, or British Airways. A 3x grocery purchase, when transferred strategically, can effectively become a 6%+ return on your spending.

For existing cardholders who applied before June 22, 2025, the old 1.25 CPP rate may still apply for a grace period, but all new cardholders must adapt to the Points Boost system immediately.

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Advanced Strategies: Earning 3x Points In-Store and Maximizing Redemption

While the 3x bonus is restricted to online grocery purchases, there are power-user strategies you can employ to ensure you never miss out on the valuable Ultimate Rewards points, even for your routine shopping.

The "Click-and-Collect" In-Store Trick

Even if you prefer to pick up your groceries, you can still trigger the 3x bonus. The key is to place your order using the grocery store's app or website and select the "curbside pickup" or "in-store pickup" option. Since the transaction is processed as an online order before you ever set foot in the store, it codes correctly for the 3x points. This allows you to bypass the need for a dedicated in-store grocery card while still earning a premium rate.

The Full Chase Ultimate Rewards Ecosystem

The true power of the Chase Sapphire Preferred's 3x grocery points is its role in the larger Chase Ultimate Rewards ecosystem. The points you earn from groceries can be combined with points from other Chase cards, such as the Chase Freedom Unlimited or Chase Freedom Flex, to maximize your overall earning potential. This strategy is essential for travel hackers looking to stockpile points for a major redemption.

The welcome bonus, currently a generous 75,000 bonus points after meeting the spending requirement, is another massive source of points that should be factored into the overall value.

Key Transfer Partners for Maximum Value

To ensure your 3x grocery points are redeemed for the highest value, focus on transferring them to these key 1:1 transfer partners:

• Airlines: Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, United MileagePlus, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Aer Lingus AerClub.
• Hotels: World of Hyatt (consistently offers the highest value), Marriott Bonvoy, IHG Rewards Club.

Before applying for the Chase Sapphire Preferred, prospective cardholders must be aware of the infamous Chase 5/24 Rule. This unofficial policy dictates that Chase will generally deny an application if you have opened five or more personal credit cards from any issuer in the last 24 months. Ensuring you are under the 5/24 limit is the critical first step to securing this card and its valuable 3x online grocery bonus.