Chase Freedom’s Q2 Rotating Bonus Categories Revealed

March 15, 2024

Chase Freedom Q2 Rotating Bonus Categories

Today, Chase revealed the rotating bonus categories for Freedom (no longer available) and Freedom Flex cardmembers for the second quarter of 2024. The new categories include Amazon and Whole Foods, Hotels, and Restaurants.

Cardmembers can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in these categories for three months. Let’s take a look at the full details of the bonus categories for this upcoming quarter.

Earn 5% with Chase Freedom

Starting April 1 through June 30, 2024, Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex cardmembers can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases on the following:

➡️ Amazon and Whole Foods

The Amazon.com category includes purchases made at Amazon.com (including digital downloads, Amazon.com Gift Cards, Amazon Fresh orders, Amazon Prime subscriptions, and items sold by third-party merchants through Amazon.com’s marketplace) and Whole Foods Market (including physical Whole Foods Market and Whole Foods Market 365 stores, and the website accessible at http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com).

➡️ Hotels booked directly with the hotel (plus through Chase Travel)

Merchants in this category include hotels and motels, and many smaller establishments like bed & breakfasts, and inns. Hotel accommodations not booked directly with the hotel will not qualify; for example, hotel accommodations purchased through travel agencies, discount travel sites, vacation clubs, tour operators, or as part of a package offered by merchants such as cruise lines and railways. However, please note that this quarter hotel purchases through Chase Travel will qualify in this category. Points will not be earned until charges are posted to your account. Purchases other than your room bill on the hotel premises will not be included in the category unless they classify as a hotel merchant; for example, restaurant or entertainment purchases. In addition, the purchasing of hotel points will not qualify in this category.

➡️ Restaurants

This category’s merchants’ primary business is sit-down or eat-in dining, including fast food restaurants and fine dining establishments. Merchants that sell food and drinks located within facilities such as sports stadiums, hotels and casinos, theme parks, grocery and department stores will not be included in this category unless the merchant has set up such purchases to be classified in a restaurant category. Bakeries, caterers, meal kit delivery services, and gift card merchants are not included in the category. Delivery and takeout services will be included if they classify as a restaurant merchant.

How it Works

You can activate the new categories here, starting on March 15, 2024. Must activate by June 14, 2024.

This quarter Freedom Flex cardmembers can stack 5% quarterly cash back on Chase Travel hotel purchases and 5% quarterly cash back on dining with their standard 5% cash back on Chase Travel purchases and standard 3% on dining. However, because both quarterly cash back and standard cash back are earned as additional cash back on top of the base 1% cash back earned on each purchase, the most cardmembers will earn is 9% cash back on Chase Travel hotel purchases (1% on every purchase + additional 4% on Chase Travel + quarterly additional 4% on Chase Travel hotel purchases) and 7% cash back on dining (1% on every purchase + additional 2% on dining + quarterly additional 4% on dining).

Chase Freedom Cards

The Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex cards earn 1% on all purchases but also 5% on rotating quarterly bonus categories, up to a combined $1,500 in purchases. So you can earn up to $75 every quarter, if you maximize the eligible categories. You can even have more than one Freedom card.

But it gets much better than that, since the cashback can be used as Ultimate Rewards points. To use the cashback as Ultimate Rewards points, you need to have one of the premium cards from Chase. That’s Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Ink Business Preferred or Ink Business Plus. You can then use points you earn with Chase Freedom cards as Ultimate Rewards. That gives you the ability to transfer to travel partners.

Along with 5% rotating categories, Freedom Flex cardmembers also earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards, 3% cash back on dining and drugstores and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Freedom Flex cardmembers also receive World Elite Mastercard Benefits, including cell phone protection and discounts with Lyft, Shoprunner and more, in addition to Priceless Experiences.

If you don’t have the Chase Freedom Flex card, you can sign up and earn a $200 bonus cash back when you spend $500 within the first three months. Chase Freedom is no longer available for new applications. You can also product change other Chase cards to Freedom Flex. This is a good option if you don’t want to apply for a new card.

Guru’s Wrap-Up

These are good categories for Freedom cardholders. Amazon is a massive online retailer and Whole Foods is also a popular supermarket. However, some people might already earn 5% there with one of the Amazon cards. You also have hotels and restaurants this upcoming quarter, which should be useful for travelers.

Don’t forget to maximize this quarter’s categories as well, which are much better. You then have until the end of March to spend $1,500 (check your progress) on the following categories: