Don’t wait any longer to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s 100,000-point bonus 

Last week, I made a mistake.

I had it all planned out. I was going to jump on a big welcome offer for a credit card I’d been eyeing and have my husband do it, too. The two bonuses we’d earn would be enough to score us business-class tickets home from Europe later this year, which, now that we have a squirmy 7-month-old, have been seeming all the more appealing.

But when I finally sat down and opened my laptop to apply, I felt a wave of panic. I couldn’t find the offer language anywhere. I’d missed the bonus window by a day.

If you can’t tell, I’m still kicking myself, which is exactly why I’m writing this. One of this year’s best offers is about to expire, and it’s simply too good to let you accidentally miss it.

Until May 15 at 9 a.m. EDT, new applicants for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) can earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. But while that’s still a couple of days away, the time to apply is right now.

Absolute last chance: Chase Sapphire Preferred 100,000-point ‘offer of the year’ is ending May 15

Maybe you’ve been meaning to read up on the benefits, check to make sure you’re eligible or learn more about how to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Maybe you’ve been trying to put as much space as possible between card applications. Maybe you’re already convinced of the Sapphire Preferred’s impressive value but just haven’t gotten around to applying.

Hey, no judgment from me — but I’m here to tell you to stop procrastinating.

See, I’m not the only one who’s been feeling pangs of credit card regret lately. After another limited-time offer closed earlier this week, we received a flood of messages from readers who wanted to take advantage and just didn’t act soon enough. It’s not a good feeling.

Related: 8 mistakes to avoid if you want the 100,000-point Chase Sapphire Preferred offer

Not worth the risk

We all know waiting until the eleventh hour comes with its risks.

What if you accidentally set your calendar reminder for the wrong time zone? (Done it.) What if you lose the application window in a vast sea of open tabs and forget all about it? (Done it.) Or, what if life simply gets in the way, as it did for me last week?

I’ll tell you: You’ll find yourself on the wrong side of a special offer that, if history tells us anything, may not come around again for years.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns valuable Ultimate Rewards points that can be transferred to a lengthy roster of hotel and airline partners.

As a longtime holder of the card myself, I can assure you that no matter what kind of trip you’re trying to plan — whether it’s a quick domestic jaunt or a splashy, once-in-a-lifetime trip abroad — Ultimate Rewards points can help get you there.

I’ve transferred Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt to book luxe stays in Maui, London and Sydney and road-trip overnights in the middle of Utah.

I’ve transferred them to airline partners like Air Canada Aeroplan and United MileagePlus to book business-class flights to Tahiti and Japan and short economy trips home to Chicago to visit family.

You truly can never have too many Ultimate Rewards points, and the chance to net 100,000 of them at once almost never comes around. So, even if you’re not ready to plan a trip now, you can bank them for the future — and I’d highly recommend you do.

Related: 21 ways to use 100K Chase Ultimate Rewards points: Budget-friendly redemptions and luxurious trips

Apply now: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card