Redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards®
1. Transfer to Airline/Hotel Partners
The highest value typically comes from transferring Ultimate Rewards (UR) points to travel partners. You can often achieve 2¢ or more per point in value, compared to the standard 1¢ per point if redeemed for cash back.
Airline Partners (Usually 1:1 Transfer Ratio)
- United MileagePlus
- Southwest Rapid Rewards
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- British Airways Executive Club
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- Emirates Skywards
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Iberia Plus
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue
Hotel Partners (Transfer Ratios Vary)
- World of Hyatt (best value!)
- Marriott Bonvoy
- IHG Rewards
Example Scenario
2. Use Chase Travel℠ Portal Wisely
Points redeemed through the Chase Travel℠ portal have a fixed value, which can be advantageous:
- With Chase Sapphire Preferred®: Points are worth 1.25¢ each.
- With Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Points are worth 1.5¢ each.
This option is good for simple redemptions if:
- You want to avoid potential blackout dates common with airline/hotel programs.
- You find competitive pricing on the portal for flights or hotels.
- The value from transferring to partners for a specific redemption is less than the portal's fixed value.
3. Redeem Smart: Avoid Low-Value Options
To maximize the value of your Ultimate Rewards points, it's generally advisable to avoid redemptions that offer lower per-point values, such as:
- Statement credits or direct cash back (typically only 1¢ per point).
- Gift cards or Apple® product purchases through Chase (also often around 1¢ per point).
These options significantly diminish the potential value you can get from your points compared to travel redemptions.
4. Leverage Transfer Partner Sweet Spots
Certain airline and hotel loyalty programs have "sweet spots" in their award charts where your points can go much further. Here are a few well-known examples:
| Airline/Hotel Program | Example Sweet Spot Redemption |
|---|---|
| Virgin Atlantic | Fly ANA first-class to Japan (110,000–120,000 points round-trip) |
| Air Canada | U.S. to Europe one-way in business class for 60,000 pts + low fees |
| Hyatt | Park Hyatt Maldives or NYC for 25,000–35,000 points/night (worth $600–$900 value) |
Note: Sweet spots can change as loyalty programs update their award charts. Always verify current redemption rates.
5. Don't Forget Travel Protections
When you use premium Chase cards like the Sapphire Preferred® or Sapphire Reserve® to pay for your travel (even partially, sometimes), you gain access to valuable travel protections. These include:
- Trip Delay Reimbursement
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
- Primary Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
- Baggage Delay Insurance & Lost Luggage Reimbursement
These benefits can save you significant money and provide peace of mind, adding value beyond just the points earned or redeemed.
Summary Strategy
- Use a combination of Chase cards (e.g., Freedom series + Sapphire series) to maximize points earned across various spending categories.
- Pool all your Ultimate Rewards points under a premium card account (Sapphire Preferred®, Sapphire Reserve®, or Ink Business Preferred®) to unlock transfer capabilities.
- Prioritize transferring points to airline and hotel partners (especially World of Hyatt for hotel stays) to achieve the highest possible redemption value.
- Avoid redeeming points for cash back, statement credits, or gift cards unless absolutely necessary, as these offer lower value.
- Use the Chase Travel℠ portal when transfer partner options don't align with your travel plans or when the portal offers a better effective value for your specific redemption.