Chase Ultimate Rewards program has many perks that can significantly benefit cardholders, who can rack up points as they spend and redeem them for rewards. In this article, we will explore two main themes around the Chase Ultimate Rewards program: redemption options and value, and Chase’s airline partners.
Redemption Options and Value
Chase Ultimate Rewards program offers several ways to redeem your points, including cash-back, gift cards, merchandise, experiences or travel. The value of each redemption option varies, with the most beneficial being transferring points to chase’s partner programs.
Transferring your points to an eligible partner program can provide you with significant value. For example, transferring points to World of Hyatt, one of Chase’s hotel partners, can give you up to 2 cents per point in value for hotel stays.
Alternatively, transferring points to Chase’s travel partner programs like United or Southwest Airlines could give you 1.5 to 2 cents per point or more in value for flights. One thing to keep in mind is that each transfer partner has its own conversion rates that dictate how many Ultimate Rewards points are needed to get a mile or point in their program.
Always check Chase’s website for the latest conversion rates before transferring your points. Another primary redemption option within the Chase Ultimate Rewards program is booking travel through the Chase travel portal.
You have the flexibility to book flights, hotels and rental cars and pay using your points. The value of each point redeemed is set at 1 cent per point.
This is not the most valuable rate offered, but it can be useful for flights on discount carriers that don’t partner with Chase’s airlines. Finally, you can also redeem your points for cash back or merchandise, but we do not recommend these options as the value per point is typically less than 1 cent per point, making those redemptions less valuable than the others in most cases.
Chase Airline Partners
Chase Ultimate Rewards cardholders also have the opportunity to transfer their points to a variety of airline loyalty programs. Transferring points directly to airline programs can be an excellent way to maximize the value of your points.
Chase partners with major US airlines like United, Southwest, and JetBlue, as well as international carriers like British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Air France/KLM. To transfer points to any of these partners, navigate to the Ultimate Rewards portal, and then to the specific airline’s rewards program.
As previously mentioned, each transfer partner has its conversion rates that dictate how many Ultimate Rewards points are needed to get a mile or point in their program. For example, United miles transfer at a 1:1 ratio when you transfer at least 1,000 points.
British Airways converts at a rate of 1,000 Ultimate Rewards points will result in 800 Avios points. It’s important to research and understand the value of each redemption option before transferring points.
For example, most airlines have varying award charts that dictate how many airline miles are required to fly to different destinations, depending on the airline, season of travel and demand. In some cases, a point transfer may not be the most efficient use when you compare the cost in miles to the price of the ticket.
Additionally, many airlines have fare classes or types of tickets that dont allow you to use their miles or points for these rewards. Another thing to keep in mind is that the award availability for flights you want to book with miles or points can be limited, so plan accordingly.
Be prepared to book as far in advance as you can, because many reward flights open up 11 months before departure. Lets take United Airlines as an example.
According to their award chart, one-way economy awards start at 12,500 miles, while premium cabin (Polaris business class) one-way fares to Europe, Asia and Japan start at 60,000 miles. If you compare with buying a similar ticket with cash, you can see why it sometimes makes more sense to transfer your points for air travel.
Suppose that equates to a valuation of about 1.8 to 2 cents per point.
Conclusion
Chase Ultimate Rewards program offers numerous ways to redeem points with some valuations offering more value than others. Chase’s airline partners can give cardholders the best value for their points, but it’s essential to do your research and understand each airline’s redemption options, award chart, and other eligibility restrictions.
In general, taking the time to plan and manage your redemptions can result in significant savings, which can make your travels more enjoyable. Chase Ultimate Rewards program provides a variety of travel partners that offer great redemption options.
Along with airline partners, there are also several hotel partners, including World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, and IHG Rewards Club.
Transferring Points to Hotels
If you prefer to stay in a hotel rather than an Airbnb or other non-hotel accommodations, then you should know how you can use your Chase Ultimate Rewards to cover some, or all your hotel costs when booking through Chases eligible hotel partners. Chase partners with three hotel loyalty programs: World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, and IHG Rewards Club.
You can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to any of these programs at a 1:1 ratio. One of the most valuable options for redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards points is Transferring them to the World of Hyatt.
Depending on the category of the hotel, you can get anywhere from 1.2 to 2 cents per point. For example, a points redemption at the Park Hyatt Sydney that might cost $1,000 per night can be worth it if it costs you 30,000 Hyatt points instead of transferring over $700 worth of Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Marriott is another great Chase Hotel partner, with a large portfolio of hotels and resorts around the world to choose from. The value you get depends on where you book and the season, but a good rule of thumb is that you can generally expect to get 0.8 to 1.2 cents per point.
IHG Rewards Club is the third hotel partner in the Chase Ultimate Rewards program. IHG offers a range of hotel brands, from budget to luxury, such as Intercontinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn that you can use your points on.
Redeeming your IHG Rewards Club points for a hotel stay is generally not as lucrative unless you can find a special deal.
Comparison of Redemption Value and Accessibility
Choosing between the hotel partners comes down to personal preferences and your travel itinerary. While all three offer great value depending on how you use your points, access to an eligible hotel is also vital when redeeming your points, depending on where you’re traveling.
Marriott has the most extensive coverage worldwide, with roughly 7,600 properties in 133 countries. Also, Marriott has four different pricing tiers, ranging from Category 1 to Category 8 hotels, depending on location, amenities and the time of year.
IHG Rewards Club offers over 6,000 properties across 30 hotel brands in over 100 countries worldwide. IHG Rewards offers a fixed price redemption scheme, called PointsBreaks.
You can get a room at any of the listed hotels for just 5,000 points per night, with rooms rotating out every few months. World of Hyatt is the smallest hotel partner in terms of available properties, with only 1,000+ hotels worldwide at the time of this writing.
Hyatt is well known for their quality of service and has a relatively small footprint versus other hotel chains. When Choosing which hotel brand to transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to, some factors to consider include, your travel itinerary, location and personal hotel preferences.
How to Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to partners
Before you can redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards points with a transfer partner, you first need to link your rewards accounts. Keep in mind that transfers can take up to 2 – 7 days to go through, so plan accordingly if you’re looking to book a hotel or flight in the near future.
To start the transfer process, log in to your Chase Ultimate Rewards account and select the “transfer partner” option. Choose the partner program you want to transfer points to, enter the account details of your chosen partner and then specify how many points you want to transfer.
You can usually transfer in increments of 1,000 points to a maximum of 100,000 points, depending on the program. Be sure to verify the transfer rules, conditions, and current conversion rates before initiating the transfer.
Rules and Conditions of Transfers
Keep in mind that there may be different rules and conditions when transferring your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to hotel partners. For example, Marriott Bonvoy allows you to transfer a maximum of 500,000 points per day to their program, and the transfer must be in increments of 1,000 points.
On the other hand, World of Hyatt limits the transfer of Ultimate Rewards points to 100,000 per transaction, and the transfer is subject to the terms and conditions of the World of Hyatt program. Transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to partner programs is generally straightforward, but it’s essential to research each partner program’s rules and conditions before redeeming your points.
Understanding these rules can help you optimize the value of your Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Conclusion
Chase’s hotel partners can allow you to use your Ultimate Rewards for stays at some fantastic properties. While Marriott Bonvoy has the most comprehensive coverage, the best redemption value per point can often be found in the World of Hyatt portfolio of hotels.
Always do your research before transferring your points, and don’t forget to keep the conversion rules and restrictions in mind when booking your stay, or you may find yourself scrambling for hotel cash at the last minute.
Frequently Asked Questions about Chase Transfer Partners
If you’re new to the Chase Ultimate Rewards program or just have a few questions, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Chase transfer partners.
Information about Specific Airlines and Hotels
Q: Which airlines can I transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to, and what is the conversion rate? A: Chase partners with multiple airlines, such as United, Southwest, and British Airways.
You can transfer points at a 1:1 ratio, but there may be additional terms and conditions specific to each airline. Q: Can I transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to hotel loyalty programs, and what is the conversion rate?
A: Yes, you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to hotel loyalty programs, such as World of Hyatt and Marriott Bonvoy. The conversion rate is 1:1 for all hotel partners, meaning that 1 Chase Ultimate Rewards point is equal to 1 hotel loyalty point/mile.
Q: Which hotel partners can I transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to, and what is the conversion rate? A: Chase partners with several hotel loyalty programs, like World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy and IHG Rewards Club.
The conversion rate for all hotel partners is 1:1, meaning you get one hotel loyalty point/mile for every Ultimate Rewards point.
Using Chase Points and Transferring them between accounts
Q: Can I combine Chase Ultimate Rewards points with someone else’s account? A: Unfortunately, you can’t combine points between two different Chase Ultimate Rewards accounts.
However, some Chase Ultimate Rewards cards let you pool points within your household members. Refer to Chases Terms and Conditions for details for each program.
Q: How do I transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to partners? A: Transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to partners is simple.
Log in to your Chase Ultimate Rewards account, select the transfer partner option and then choose the partner program you want to transfer points to. Enter the necessary account details and then specify how many points you want to transfer.
Finally, verify the transfer rules, conditions, and current conversion rates before initiating the transfer. Q: How long does it take for Chase Ultimate Rewards points to transfer to partners?
A: Points typically transfer within seconds or minutes, generally taking no more than 24-48 hours. However, some transfer partners may take longer, so it’s a good idea to plan ahead.
Q: Can I use some of my Chase Ultimate Rewards points and pay for the remainder of my purchase with cash or another payment method? A: Yes, Through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, you can use your Ultimate Rewards points to pay for part of your travel cost, and then cover the rest with a credit card.
The travel portal shows you the cost of your booking and how many points you need to redeem. Q: What happens to my Chase Ultimate Rewards points if I close my Chase card?
A: Under certain circumstances and depending on the type of Chase credit card you have, your unused points may be forfeited when you close your account. However, some types of Chase credit cards will give you the option to transfer your points to a different Chase Ultimate Rewards account before closing it.
Be sure to read the fine print of your card agreement and know the rules and restrictions to avoid losing any valuable Ultimate Rewards points.
Conclusion
Transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to partner travel programs, such as airlines and hotel loyalty programs, is usually the best way to get the most value out of your points. By understanding the rules, restrictions and conversion rates that apply, you can maximize the value of your Chase Ultimate Rewards points when booking your next travel adventure.
Keep in mind that there may still be limitations or restrictions specific to each program, so be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully before initiating your transfer, or you might be unpleasantly surprised when it comes time to redeem your points. In summary, the Chase Ultimate Rewards program offers several ways to redeem points, and combining them with eligible airline and hotel partners can give you significant value.
However, it’s essential to research and understand the rules, restrictions and conversion rates that apply before transferring points. Knowing the ins and outs of the program and the specific transfer partners can help you maximize the value of your points and turn your travel dreams into reality.
With some careful planning and a little bit of research, you can make the most of the Chase Ultimate Rewards program and its redemption options.