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Chase Celebrates 15 Years of Freedom with Q1 Bonus Categories
In the first quarter of 2025, Chase is not only welcoming a new year but is also celebrating the 15th anniversary of its Freedom product.
About Chase’s Q1 2025 bonus categories:
From January 1st through March 31st, Chase Freedom Flex (and the retired Chase Freedom) customers can earn up to 5% back in four bonus categories: Grocery Stores; Fitness Clubs; Hair, Nails, and Spa Services; and Norwegian Cruise Lines.
First, the Grocery Stores category includes supermarkets, smaller grocery stores, and “merchants that offer a full-service grocery line of merchandise including a deli and bakery.” Additionally, grocery delivery services such as Instacart are also included. However, two notable exceptions include Target and Walmart. Warehouse clubs, discount stores, and other merchants that don’t primarily sell groceries may not qualify.
Next, Fitness Clubs include purchases and membership fees for health clubs, gyms, fitness centers, and other services related to physical fitness. However, services specializing in virtual or at-home fitness services are not included nor are massage therapy locations, dietary and weight management counseling serives, or personal trainers.
The Hair, Nails, and Spa Services category includes those three named services as well as massages, spa treatments, manicures, tanning, and more. In terms of exclusions, medical facilities will not qualify. Also, spa services located inside of other businesses (such as inside hotels) might not be eligible.
Finally, the Freedom’s Norwegian Cruise Lines category will include cruise fares purchased directly with Norwegian Cruise Line. This means that sailing purchased through third-party vendors or travel agencies will not be eligible for this bonus.
As always, cardholders will need to activate the offer in order to earn the 5% back. For Q1, activation must happen by March 14th, 2025.
The 5% back is also capped at a total of $1,500 in combined bonus category spending. In other words, cardholders can earn a maximum of $75 cashback from this offer during the quarter.
What they’re saying:
Commenting on the Q1 selections and the milestone year for Freedom, the GM of Chase Freedom Brent Reinhard said, “2025 marks 15 years of Chase Freedom’s quarterly rotating categories and helping our cardmembers earn more on their everyday purchases. We’re excited to celebrate this milestone, and even more thrilled to continue rewarding our cardmembers every quarter with bonus and surprising categories so they can get the most out of their everyday spending.”
My thoughts:
I want to start with the inclusion of the Norwegian Cruise Lines category. On the one hand, I have no idea how many Freedom/Freedom Flex customers truly intend on booking a cruise in the next three months — but, on the other hand, those who do plan to do so should easily be able to max out this quarter’s bonus. Also, since this is the fourth category featured, I have no issue with this very specific inclusion.
As for the rest, I think these will be some very useful bonus categories to start the year. While Grocery Stores is a good category to have year-round, Fitness Clubs are undoubtedly a good first-quarter pick (and at the end of the quarter, you can assess whether you’ve actually been going to the gym!). Meanwhile, the Hair, Nails, and Spa Services selection is perfect for those recovering from the holiday season.
So, if you have a Chase Freedom or Freedom Flex card, be sure to activate your Q1 2025 5% bonus categories offer by March 15th.
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