Disclosure: awardtrail earns revenue through display advertising and may earn commissions on some links at no cost to you. Commercial relationships never influence our editorial content or recommendations. Full disclosure →
Get ready to boost your points stash! Chase just announced the Q1 2026 bonus categories for the Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex cards, and they're pretty tasty. We're talking 5% cash back or 5x points per dollar on up to $1,500 in spending at restaurants, with Norwegian Cruise Lines and the American Heart Association thrown in as well. Dining is always a welcome category and is a great chance to earn bonus rewards on things you're already buying!
Here's why this matters to you: If you have either of these cards (and you should!), you can earn some serious rewards on everyday spending like grabbing dinner or ordering in. And the Freedom Flex card has an even sweeter deal: it already earns 3x on dining, so you'll actually be racking up a whopping 7x points per dollar during Q1 2026! Don't forget to activate the bonus categories starting December 15, 2025 so you can start earning January 1, 2026 and max out those bonus rewards!
Why This Matters for Your Strategy
News in the points-and-miles world moves fast, and promotional changes often have a short window. If this announcement affects a card or program you hold, log into your awardtrail dashboard to check your current benefit usage, bonus progress, and whether a transfer or redemption makes sense right now — before terms change.
As a general rule: transfer points only when you have a specific redemption in mind — transfers are almost always one-way and non-reversible. If you're unsure of the value, check our redemption guides before acting.
Explore Related Tools
- 🎯 Sign-Up Bonus Tracker
Track your MSR progress and deadlines
- 💳 Benefit & Credit Tracker
See which card credits you haven't used yet
- 🔢 Chase 5/24 Calculator
Know exactly when slots open up
- ❓ Rewards FAQ
Answers to the most common questions
More Recent News
October 5, 2026, 6:39 PM
October 4, 2026, 9:03 PM
October 3, 2026, 3:42 AM
Comments (0)
Community Discussion
Sign in to share your experiences and insights with fellow award travelers.