re: Chase Sapphire Preferred sign up bonus

I found a decent example.

If you can find one, a round trip saver award to northern South America is 40,000 points through United/Star Alliance.

Now, do you think you will find that ticket for $500 or less?

I will say, doubtful. And that's my point. It gets worse from there depending on location and the type of seat you want. Hence why fixed value cards are great for cheap tickets, but if you want to go far and wide or travel in luxury, you want cards like Chase's or Amex where you can transfer into participating airline partners, and NOT use the 1.25 transfer.