There’s a reason why Chase credit cards are recommended for a broad spectrum of travelers. Those new to the world of travel rewards as well as experienced veterans can find plenty of value and simplicity in the Chase Ultimate Rewards® program. Chase points, earned through welcome bonuses and everyday spending, provide access to some of the best hotel and airline transfer partners in the business — 14 of them in total. In addition, redeeming those rewards in the easy-to-use Chase Travel portal can offset a variety of trip costs, from rental cars to activities and tours and more.
Our list of the best ways to use Chase points certainly isn’t exhaustive. Instead, our options supply travelers with a range of possibilities to inspire their next getaway, whether that’s a hotel stay, first-class flight, economy booking or a mix of it all. The “best” option comes down to your individual travel needs.
Book hotel stays by transferring Chase points to Hyatt
Among the major hotel chains, World of Hyatt generally has the most reasonable award pricing, with a nightly cost for a Hyatt property ranging from 3,500 points to 45,000 points. Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer at a 1:1 ratio to World of Hyatt.
While the World of Hyatt hotel portfolio is smaller than many other international chains, the number of properties continues to expand globally. Currently, there are more than 1,300 hotels in 76 countries under the Hyatt umbrella, including luxury brands like Park Hyatt, Alila, Andaz and Miraval. Hyatt might not have the size of some other chains, but it makes up for it by delivering some of the most consistent (and generous) benefits to its program members.
Redeem for 1.25 to 1.5 cents per point on general travel
While transferring points can often provide outsized value, for simplicity’s sake (and for those newer to the world of rewards), redeeming points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal can be a worthwhile option. Those who hold the Chase Sapphire Reserve® can redeem points for a flat 1.5 cents each toward travel purchases, while cardholders with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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The information for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
can redeem points for 1.25 cents each toward travel.
This option means there is no need to search for capacity-constrained award availability; booking through the Chase Travel portal is similar to booking through any other online travel agency. However, Chase’s version allows cardholders to offset the cash cost of a booking with their points.
Transfer to Air France-KLM during Flying Blue “Promo Rewards”
Every month, Flying Blue, the joint loyalty program of Air France and KLM, offers exclusive discounts on flights to and from specific cities or regions for booking until the end of each month — along with a specified travel window. While these offers change from month to month, there are often exceptional deals that make transferring to Flying Blue a no-brainer. Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer at a 1:1 ratio to Air France-KLM Flying Blue.
Sample Promo Rewards that we’ve seen include economy awards between Europe and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Miami International Airport (MIA) and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) for 15,000 miles each way. Even without a Promo Reward, you can generally expect that transatlantic business class awards will start around 55,000 miles each way, a decent value in and of itself.
Transfer to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club to fly ANA to Tokyo
A frequent flyer favorite redemption is the ability to book ANA first- and business-class flights via partner Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. For instance, Virgin requires just 60,000 points for a one-way, first-class ticket between New York (JFK) and Tokyo (TYO). Thanks to the ability to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Virgin at a 1:1 ratio, that means it’ll require as little as 60,000 Chase points for this specific flight. Keep in mind, as with all transferable award bookings, availability is often limited.
Credit cards that earn Chase points
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card ($95 annual fee).
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card ($550 annual fee).
- Ink Business Preferred Credit Card ($95 annual fee).
Chase offers a variety of Ultimate Rewards points-earning credit cards, but it’s important to note the distinction that the no-annual-fee Chase Ultimate Rewards cards below must be combined with one of the cards above to transfer rewards.
What other ways can you redeem Chase points?
Chase points can also be redeemed for a variety of non-travel options, from statement credits (1 cent per point), gift cards (1 to 1.3 cents per point), Apple purchases (1 cent per point) and more. Here’s a full list of the ways to redeem Chase points.
Tips for maximizing your Chase rewards
- Compare the cost of a booking through the Chase Travel portal with the cost of booking directly through a partner program. (For instance, look at United’s website to see how many miles a flight would cost and compare that to how many Chase points would be needed on the Chase Travel portal.)
- Be on the lookout for transfer bonuses that appear from time to time with specific programs; this will allow you to use fewer points for a redemption.
- Only transfer to a hotel or airline program when you have a specific use in mind; there is no way to reverse a transfer once it’s complete.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
50,000 Chase points are worth at least $500 when redeemed for cash back or travel through the Chase Travel portal and as much as $750 if you hold the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card. However, it’s possible to get even more value when transferring to Chase’s travel partners. For instance, perhaps two nights at a Hyatt property costs $2,000 in cash but only 50,000 Hyatt points to book (Chase transfers to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio).
100,000 Chase points are worth at least $1,000 when redeemed through the Chase Travel portal, and as much as $1,500 for travel on the portal if you hold the Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card. However, it’s possible to get even more value when transferring to Chase’s travel partners for expensive premium cabin flights or luxury hotel stays.
Chase points never expire, but you do need to have an open credit card in good standing that earns Ultimate Rewards points.
Ultimate Rewards points are the rewards currency of select Chase credit cards, earned via welcome bonuses, spending, shopping portals and more. Those points can then be redeemed for a variety of travel and non-travel expenses.
Generally, cardholders can get the most value from Chase points (at more than 1 cent apiece) by booking travel, but redeeming points for cash back is also an option for those who prefer that over travel rewards redemptions.
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