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The Complete Guide To Using the Chase Travel Portal — Maximize Your Options

Katie Seemann

Senior Content Contributor and News Editor

360 Published Articles 60 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 28 U.S. States Visited: 29

Senior Editor & Content Contributor

120 Published Articles 728 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 41 U.S. States Visited: 28

Table of Contents

Why book travel through the chase travel portal, cards that earn chase ultimate rewards points, what are chase ultimate rewards points worth, earning chase points by booking travel, how to access the chase travel portal, how to book a flight through chase travel, how to book a hotel through chase travel, how to book a rental car through the chase travel portal, how to book activities through chase travel, how to book a cruise through the portal, how do the prices compare to other sites, other ways to use the chase travel portal, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of the major transferrable points programs and a favorite among many travelers. Points are easy to earn and can be transferred to many different hotel and airline partners. But you can also book travel directly through Chase’s travel portal using Ultimate Rewards points.

Booking travel through the Chase Travel portal is simple and can be a great way to use your points.

We’ll show you everything you need to know about how to redeem your points, including the benefits, how to know what your points are worth, and how to book airlines, hotels, and more through the Chase Travel portal.

Generally, you can get maximum value from your Chase Ultimate Rewards points by transferring them to the Chase airline and hotel partners , so why are we talking about using points through a travel portal? While it’s true that the only way to get the highest value redemptions is by transferring, there is still a lot of value to be had by booking directly through the Chase Travel portal.

Flexibility

Flexibility is not often available with points bookings. Unlike an award booking, booking through Chase Travel is like using any other online travel agency (OTA) . There are no blackout dates or limited inventory award seats. If a flight or hotel is available, you can book it with points through the Chase travel portal.

You Can Earn Frequent Flyer Miles

One of the major bummers of booking flights with frequent flyer miles is that you don’t earn miles on award bookings. You can end up doing a lot of travel without earning miles. However, any booking you make with your Chase Ultimate Rewards points through the Chase Travel portal will earn frequent flyer miles and accrue status points. Unfortunately, hotel and car rental bookings still won’t earn points.

We have talked to so many people over the years that love the idea of collecting points and miles but don’t want to deal with the hassle. While many don’t mind putting a little work into getting an awesome redemption, others are just looking for a simple way to book travel and hopefully save some money in the process.

That’s where the Chase Travel portal comes in. With this method of redeeming points, there is no transferring, comparing points values, blackout dates, limited award availability, or multiple travel accounts. You only have to deal with 1 type of point and 1 travel portal but can still retain many of the benefits of collecting points and miles in the first place.

Bottom Line: You can book flights, hotels, rental cars, activities, and cruises through the Chase Travel portal.

If you like the idea of using the Chase Travel portal, you’ll need a credit card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points:

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance . With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC
• APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  None

Chase Ultimate Rewards

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve ®  is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access , with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority PassTM Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck ®
• APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable

The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.

The Ink Business Preferred ® Credit Card is a powerhouse for earning lots of points from your business purchases , especially for business owners that spend regularly on ads.

Plus the card offers flexible redemption options, including access to Chase airline and hotel transfer partners where you can achieve outsized value.

Business owners will also love the protections the card provides like excellent cell phone insurance , rental car insurance, purchase protection, and more.

• 3x Ultimate Rewards points per $1 on up to $150,000 in combined purchases on internet, cable and phone services, shipping expenses, travel, and ads purchased with search engines or social media sites
• Cell phone protection
• Purchase protection
• No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access
• Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
• Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
• Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
• With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
• Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
• Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
• Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
• APR: 21.24%-26.24% Variable

There are also some great cash-back cards from Chase that can be used to book travel through Chase Travel. The points earned on these cards can be converted into cash-back or alternatively, they can be used in the Chase travel portal.

• Chase Freedom Flex℠
• Chase Freedom Unlimited ®
• Chase Freedom ® card (no longer open to new applicants)
• Ink Business Cash ® Credit Card
• Ink Business Plus ® Credit Card (no longer open to new applicants)
• Ink Business Unlimited ® Credit Card
• Ink Business Premier ® Credit Card

It’s easy to earn lots of Chase Ultimate Rewards points , but do you know how much they are worth ? If you’re transferring your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to a travel partner, their value will go up or down depending on the type of redemption.

However, when you are booking your travel directly through Chase’s travel portal, each Chase Ultimate Rewards point has a set value that won’t change . The credit card you have will determine the value of your Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Transfer Your Points Between Credit Cards for Maximum Value

If you have multiple Chase credit cards, it makes sense to transfer your points to the card with the most valuable redemption rate. The only exception to this is the Ink Business Premier card because points earned on this card can’t be transferred to any other card.

1. To transfer your points between 2 cards, log on to the Chase dashboard and select Combine Points .

2. Then you will be able to select the card you want to transfer points from and the card you want to receive the points. After you choose, click Next.

3. You can transfer all of your points or just what you need. Click Review to continue.

4. Double-check the details and click on the Submit button to complete the transfer.

Bottom Line: Your credit card will determine the value of your Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Your points are worth between 1 to 1.5 cents each depending on which credit card you’re redeeming points through. 

What if you’d prefer to pay for your travel with a Chase credit card to earn Ultimate Rewards points? The number of points you’ll earn through the Chase travel portal is dependent on which credit card you have and what type of travel you’re purchasing.

You can log into your account in 2 ways.

First, you can go directly to the Ultimate Rewards website to log in or you can log in through your Chase account .

If you’re in your Chase account, click on one of your Ultimate Rewards credit cards and then click on Redeem next to the card’s Ultimate Rewards balance.

Then choose the card you want to use.

From here you can access Chase Travel by clicking on Travel  in the top search box or you can switch to another card’s account by clicking on the 3-line icon in the upper left-hand corner.

1. In the Travel section of your Ultimate Rewards account, click on Flights to start your search for a flight. As with any other OTA, you begin your search by inputting basic information such as departure and arrival city, travel dates, and the number of passengers.

2. Next, you will be able to narrow your search results . At the left-hand side of the page, you can filter your results by things like airline or flight times. Then you can sort your results by price, trip duration, or times using the drop-down box at the top of the search results.

3. For each flight option, you’ll be able to see the price in dollars and in points on the right-hand side of the results box.

4. Once you’ve found the flight you want, click the blue Select button. Next, you can choose your return flight using the same process as you did for selecting the outbound flight. Click the blue Select button once you have made your choice.

5. From here you can confirm your flight details and select a fare upgrade if you wish. Then, you’ll be able to choose how to pay for your flight . You can pay for the entire purchase with points or a Chase credit card, or you can split your payment between points and a Chase credit card.

6. Finally, input your passenger information next. Don’t forget to add a frequent flyer number, a Known Traveler Number, or a Redress number if you have them.

Hot Tip: When purchasing travel through the Chase travel portal, you can split your payment between Chase Ultimate Rewards points and a Chase credit card.

1. To book a hotel through the Chase Travel portal , you’ll need to start by clicking on the Hotels tab in the main search box. Then, input your destination, check-in and check-out dates, and the number of travelers. Next, click on the blue Search button.

2. Your search results will look like other sites that you may be familiar with. You’ll see filtering options to the left and sorting options above your search results.

3. Each search result will show the price in both dollars and Chase Ultimate Rewards points. These prices include taxes and fees with the exception of resort fees.

4. Once you select your hotel, click on Add to Itinerary . You can choose to pay for all or part of your hotel cost using Ultimate Rewards points. Click Begin Checkout to input your reservation details and finalize your booking.

Hot Tip: When booking a hotel through the Chase Travel portal, you won’t be eligible to earn points in the hotel’s loyalty program or take advantage of any elite status you may have.

The Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection

The Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection (LHRC) is exclusively for Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders. From the Ultimate Rewards travel home page, just click on The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection tab.

Once you are on the LHRC homepage, type in your destination and click Search to view available properties. Each listing will display the property’s unique cardmember benefits. Click on the listing for more information and to continue the booking process.

When booked through the Chase Travel portal, these properties offer the following benefits:

• Daily breakfast for 2
• Special amenity (varies by property)
• Room upgrades (based on availability)
• Early check-in and late checkout (based on availability)

The Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection properties are reservation-only bookings. You’ll make your reservations online and payment doesn’t happen until you check out from the hotel. These bookings will not take Chase Ultimate Rewards points as payment.

Bottom Line: Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection properties are only available to Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers. These properties can’t be booked with points.

1. To rent a car through the Chase Travel portal, start by clicking on the Cars tab in the main search box. Then, input your pick-up location, drop-off location, dates, times, and age of the driver. Click on the blue Search box to continue.

2. You can then narrow your search with the filtering options on the left-hand side of the page.

3. For each car option, you will be able to see the car details, rental company, and price in both dollars and Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Once you have selected the car you want to rent, click on Add to Itinerary .

4. You can pay for the entire purchase with points or a Chase credit card or split your payment in any amount. Double-check all of the details before completing your purchase.

Did you know you can also book activities through Chase Travel?

1. Click the Activities tab on the Ultimate Rewards travel homepage to get started. Then, input your destination and travel dates and click the Search button to continue.

2. You can narrow your search by selecting 1 or more categories at the left-hand side of the page. Categories can include things like:

• Classes & workshops
• Cruises & sailing
• Food & drink
• Outdoor activities
• Seasonal & special occasions
• Tickets & passes
• Tours & sightseeing
• Transfers & ground transport
• Unique experiences

3. Each activity will show the price in both dollars and points to the right side of the screen. Click on Show Details and Pricing for more information and to book the activity.

6. Double-check all of the details on the final page before completing your purchase. Click the box confirming you understand the travel disclosures, then click Complete Checkout to finish your purchase.

Bottom Line: You can book lots of activities through the Chase Travel portal, including airport transfers!

If you’re a fan of cruises, you’ll be pleased to know you can book them through your Chase Travel portal. To get started, click on the Cruises tab on the Ultimate Rewards travel homepage.

This will bring up a list of available cruises, but there’s also a search box at the top of the screen, so you can input a specific destination or cruise line.

Each listing will display the cruise line, ship, ports of call, sailing dates, and baseline pricing for an interior or oceanview cabin. Unfortunately, if you want any more specific information or if you want to book, you will need to call 855-234-2542 .

You’ll notice that only cash prices are listed for cruises, however, they can be booked using your Chase Ultimate Rewards points, too.

Hot Tip: You can book a cruise through Chase Travel but you’ll have to call to make your reservation as they can’t be booked online.

Are you getting a good deal by booking through Chase? Let’s look at how the prices available through the Chase Travel portal stack up to other OTAs and search engines including Hotwire , Kayak , and Expedia .

We did some flight searches and found there’s no clear-cut pattern on prices between the Chase portal to other websites.

Example #1: Round-trip flight between Philadelphia (PHL) and San Francisco (SFO) for 1 person in economy.

We searched this route in the Chase travel portal and the cheapest option was a flight that was split between Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines for $526.20. This worked out to be the cheapest price we found, and Priceline had the same low price. Expedia and Hotwire both charge booking fees, making the price a little higher. Each airline’s own website couldn’t split the itinerary between different airlines, so those ended up being much more expensive.

If you are in doubt or would like to check prices yourself, Kayak is a great place to start. Kayak will show you prices for a flight on all of the OTAs as well as the airline’s website. It’s a great one-stop shop to compare flight prices.

Example #2: Round-trip flight between New York City (JFK) and Paris, France (CDG) for 1 person in economy.

We searched this route in the Chase travel portal and the cheapest option was a flight that was split between American Airlines and British Airways for $689.78. This wasn’t the overall best price we found, though. That award goes to Expedia and Priceline.

Hot Tip: You will earn frequent flyer miles when you book your flight through the Chase Travel portal.

Example #1: Here’s how prices looked for a week-long stay at the JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa in Mexico for 2 people including all taxes and fees. The $291.55 resort fee can’t be paid with points.

In this example, the best cash rate by far was through Marriott. However, if you wanted to pay with points, booking with Chase Ultimate Rewards points through the travel portal would be your best bet.

Keep in mind that Marriott doesn’t have an award chart, so different time periods can have different point costs. A 7-night stay at this hotel can dip down to 240,000 points for a 7-night stay. If you’re going to pay for your hotel stay in points, it’s always smart to calculate how many points it would cost to book through Chase versus transferring points . This information can help you make the best and least expensive choice.

Hot Tip: You won’t earn hotel loyalty points when booking a hotel through Chase and any elite status you have may not be recognized.

Example #2: Let’s look at an example of a hotel that doesn’t have a loyalty program. We priced out a 2-night stay at Almond Tree Inn Hotel in Key West, FL for 2 people. The highest prices were direct via the hotel with all other websites surveyed being cheaper.

Here’s how the prices stacked up:

Chase’s low price matched the other online travel websites and was actually lower than the hotel’s own website, so it would be a great option in this case. It also affords the opportunity to use points for a hotel that doesn’t have its own loyalty program.

Car Rentals

In many cases, car rental prices found through the Chase Travel portal were similar to prices found on the rental agency’s own website.

The main difference in booking through Chase vs. directly through a car rental agency is that the car rental agency often has the ability to book the car without paying up front. With the Chase portal, you will be paying at the time of booking and there may be change or cancellation fees if you need to modify your reservation.

In both of these examples, Chase Travel didn’t offer the lowest price, however, that won’t always necessarily be the case. Of course, the advantage of booking through Chase is the ability to use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points. It’s always a good idea to price out your car rental on a few different websites before booking to ensure you’re getting the best price.

Chase actually offered the lowest prices on activities for both examples:

Earn Bonus Ultimate Rewards Points

The Chase Travel portal also helps you earn bonus points.  With the Shop through Chase feature, you can earn extra Ultimate Rewards points through your online shopping.

Just click Earn Bonus Points in the top search bar to access the shopping portal. Click on a featured store or search for a specific one. Then simply click through the portal to your website of choice to make your purchase. Your bonus points will be added to your Chase Ultimate Rewards points total within 3 to 5 days in most cases.

Pay With Points

Did you know you can use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to make purchases at Amazon and PayPal? Click on Pay with Points in the top search bar, then select either Amazon or PayPal to enroll and shop.

Unfortunately, the redemption value you get when shopping through Amazon or PayPal is pretty bad — only 0.8 cents per point. While it’s great to have this as an option, we don’t recommend using points to shop at Amazon or PayPal as your main use of Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Bottom Line: The value of using your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to shop through Amazon or PayPal isn’t great: you will only get 0.8 cents per point!

Apple Purchases

By clicking on Apple in the main search box in your Ultimate Rewards account, you can use your Chase points to make purchases. Normally, you’ll get 1 cent per point in value when using your points for Apple purchases, but there are occasional bonuses offered to get a better redemption rate.

You can also redeem your Ultimate Rewards points for cash-back. To do this, simply select Cash-back from the main search bar at the top of the screen. You will then be able to see choose how many points you’d like to redeem for cash-back at a value of 1 cent per point .

You can choose to have your cash direct deposited into a checking or savings account or as a statement credit. The deposit or statement credit will be posted within 3 days.

Bottom Line: Your Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed as cash-back. We do not recommend this as a primary redemption option because you can get more value via the Chase Travel portal, and a lot more when transferring to airline and hotel partners.

Experiences

This is a really cool section of the Chase Travel portal. When you click on Experiences in the main search bar, you’ll see a list of exclusive events, preferred seating, and other offers for select Chase cardmembers.

Experiences can be purchased with a credit card or with points. You will get 1 cent per point in value when redeeming points for experiences. Some experiences are only available to cardholders of specific cards so be sure to check all of your cards if you have more than 1 to make sure you don’t miss anything.

If you prefer gift cards, you can purchase them through the Chase Travel portal using points. Just click Gift Cards in the main search bar to get started. From here, you will be able to scroll through all of the available gift cards. You’ll get 1 cent per point in value, with occasional sales offering better redemption rates.

Hot Tip: Points redeemed for gift cards have a 1-cent per point value. However, you might notice some cards offer discounts, so there is the opportunity to get a bit more value!

Pay Yourself Back

Another way to use your Ultimate Rewards points is through the Pay Yourself Back feature. This allows you to redeem your points for a statement credit for purchases in select categories. The current categories include groceries, dining, select charities, credit card annual fee, internet, cable, phone, and shipping and the redemption value varies by card.

Transfer To Travel Partners

Transferring points to travel partners is the best way to get the most value out of your points . By transferring, you can potentially get 2, 3, or more cents per point value.

Chase Airline Transfer Partners

Chase Hotel Transfer Partners

To transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to any of the above airline and hotel partners, log on to your account and click on Transfer To Travel Partners in the top search box. Choose your airline or hotel and then select Transfer Points . You’ll need to fill out your frequent flyer information or hotel loyalty membership number to complete the transfer.

Bottom Line: You can currently transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to 14 different hotel and airline partners.

There are many ways to use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points. While transferring points to one of Chase’s airline and hotel travel partners can get you maximum value, there are a lot of benefits for booking travel directly through the Chase Travel portal .

In addition to hotels and flights, you can book car rentals, activities, and cruises. Or, you can use your points for cash back, shopping, gift cards, or Chase exclusive experiences. With so many ways to use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points, your next trip is only a few clicks away!

The information regarding the Chase Freedom Flex℠ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Chase Freedom ® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Ink Business Plus ® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do chase ultimate rewards points expire.

No. As long as you keep your Chase credit card open, your points will not expire.

Can I transfer my Chase points to someone else?

Yes. You can transfer your points to another member of your household who also has a Chase Ultimate Rewards account.

What are Chase Ultimate Rewards points worth?

When redeeming points through the Chase travel portal, the credit card you hold will determine your points’ value.

When redeeming for travel, your points have the following value:

• 1 cent : Freedom card, Freedom Flex card, Freedom Unlimited card, Ink Business Cash card, Ink Business Premier card, Ink Business Unlimited card
• 1.25 cents : Chase Sapphire Preferred card or Ink Business Preferred card
• 1.5 cents : Chase Sapphire Reserve card

When using your points to shop through Amazon or Chase Pay, they are worth 0.8 cents per point.

When redeeming your points for cash back, gift cards, or experiences they are worth 1 cent per point.

What airline partners can I transfer my Chase Ultimate Rewards points to?

Chase airline partners include Air Canada, Air France-KLM, British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Emirates, JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic.

What hotel partners can I transfer my Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to?

You can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to the following hotels at a 1:1 ratio: IHG, Marriott, and Hyatt.

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About Katie Seemann

Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, Forbes Advisor, and Fortune Recommends.

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When it comes to flexible rewards points, Chase bank's credit card rewards program, better known as Chase Ultimate Rewards®, is regarded as the gold standard by many points collectors and travelers. With excellent credit card options, powerful points earning opportunities and valuable transfer partners, there are many reasons to love this program.

Plus, Chase Ultimate Rewards® points can be more lucrative and versatile compared with other travel rewards cards.

Here's what you need to know to get the maximum value from your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points.

How to get started using your points

To begin redeeming your points, log in to your account. You can access your Chase Ultimate Rewards® account directly from your Chase online account or through this link .

Once you're logged in, you can view all redemption options through the "Earn / Use" tab in the top menu. Click it to see a drop-down menu with the various redemption options, along with some quick links to your card’s benefits, travel alerts and more.

Two ways to maximize Chase Ultimate Rewards® points

While booking through Chase’s online portal is the easiest way to use Chase Ultimate Rewards® for travel, this strategy may not get you the best value overall.

1. Transfer your points to a partner

If maximizing the value of your points is the priority, transferring points to one of Chase’s travel partners is likely your best bet. You can transfer points to more than a dozen airline and hotel programs at a 1:1 ratio in increments of 1,000 points.

» Learn more: The best Chase transfer partners — and ones to avoid

Here's a quick rundown of the full list of Chase's transfer partners. Bookmark this list to refer back to in the future when you're ready to redeem.

Chase Ultimate Rewards® airline transfer partners:

Aer Lingus AerClub.

Air Canada Aeroplan .

Air France/KLM Flying Blue.

British Airways Executive Club (Avios).

Emirates Skywards .

Iberia Airlines Iberia Plus.

JetBlue TrueBlue .

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards .

United Airlines MileagePlus .

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

Chase Ultimate Rewards® hotel transfer partners:

IHG Rewards Club .

Marriott Bonvoy .

World of Hyatt .

The value of each of these partners’ points varies. In general, you can often get close to 2 cents per point in value when you transfer them to an airline program, then redeem for award flights.

For example, a one-way business class flight on United Airlines from Los Angeles to New York in May cost $725 on a recent search. But if you transferred points from Chase to United, this same flight would set you back 38,000 points. Divide $725 by 38,000 and you’ll see you’re getting 1.9 cents worth of travel for every point if you transfer your points to United miles.

Expect lower value when transferring to hotel programs, with Hyatt being an exception as those points are among the highest valued hotel points .

You have plenty of other options for redeeming the Chase Ultimate Rewards® points you've earned beyond transferring your points to Chase partner programs — but some offer more value than others.

» Learn more: Helpful tips for earning Chase Ultimate Rewards®

2. Book in Chase's travel portal

Your points are most versatile when you use them to book flights, hotels, rental cars or experiences directly through its portal.

This is where you can redeem points for travel from nearly any provider — almost every major airline, hotel group, car rental company and more. Just search your dates and destination, and you’ll see cash prices from a whole range of providers, with a corresponding price in points for each.

The per-point value you get redeeming them this way depends on which credit card is in your wallet.

Here's how your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points values differ based on the card you hold:

Chase Freedom® , Chase Freedom Unlimited® , Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card , Ink Business Cash® Credit Card : 1 cent per point.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card : 1.25 cents per point.

Chase Sapphire Reserve® : 1.5 cents per point.

Here's how it works

For example, a hotel room that costs $199 a night in cash can be booked by cardmember with a Freedom-branded or Ink-branded card for 1 cent per point, or 19,900 points. But with Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , you get 1.25 cents per point in value and would pay 15,920 points for that same room.

A Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardmember, who gets 1.5 cents per point in value, pays 13,267 points for the same hotel stay.

» Learn more: Should Chase cardholders use points or cash to book flights?

Redemptions to avoid

While there are several ways to redeem your points, if your goal is to extract the most value, avoid the temptations of the following redemptions.

Cash back or gift cards

You can redeem your points for cash back as a statement credit or a deposit into your bank account, or redeem points for gift cards at a wide variety of retail stores.

With both of these options, you will receive a flat rate of 1.0 cent per point in value, which may not be the best use of your points.

Amazon or Apple purchases

You can use your points to pay for Amazon purchases, but you’ll get only 0.8 cent per point. You're better off making the purchase with your card and redeeming points as a statement credit or cashing in points for a gift card.

You can also use points to shop at Apple, where you’ll get a value of 1 cent per point, but that’s useful only if you need very specific products.

If you want to maximize your Chase Ultimate Rewards® ...

In terms of sheer dollar values, some Chase Ultimate Rewards® redemption options are worth far more than others.

If flexibility and ease of use are important to you, redeeming points directly through Chase's travel portal is straightforward. If you want to use your points to buy merchandise, remember that statement credits and gift cards will usually get you more value than redeeming your points with Amazon or Apple.

In general, you’ll get the highest Chase Ultimate Rewards® points value by transferring them to their airline or hotel partners.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1.5%-5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Up to $300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1%-5% Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Earn 5% on Chase travel purchased through Chase Travel®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.

$200 Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

Chase Ultimate Rewards: How to earn, redeem, and maximize your points in 2024

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate credit cards to write unbiased product reviews .

The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Chase Freedom Flex®. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

• Chase Ultimate Rewards points are incredibly valuable because they can be redeemed in many ways.
• The only way to collect these points is by holding a Chase credit card that earns Ultimate Rewards.
• Read Business Insider's guide to the best Chase cards or learn more about the Chase Travel℠.

Introduction to Chase Ultimate Rewards ®

The Chase Ultimate Rewards® rewards program is frequently considered one of the top credit card point systems available today — and for good reason. Ultimate Rewards points, which you can earn from some of Chase's best credit cards , offer some of the most generous and diverse travel redemption options across all loyalty programs. 

But you don't have to redeem rewards for travel if you don't want to. You can cash them out, trade them for gift cards, or even pay for your Amazon cart with them at checkout. Not all these redemptions are a good idea, but it's nice to know all your options.

Let's look at all the ways to earn and redeem Chase points.

Earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points

The only way to earn rewards in the Chase Ultimate Rewards ecosystem is to open and use a Chase card that operates within this program.

Fortunately, Chase points-earning cards are some of the best travel credit cards available today. Each card offers a generous welcome bonus and ongoing rewards for everyday spending.

Credit cards that earn transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards points

Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. Earn 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries. Earn 2x on all other travel purchases. Earn 1x on all other purchases.

21.49% - 28.49% Variable

Earn 60,000 bonus points

Good to Excellent

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. High intro bonus offer starts you off with lots of points
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Strong travel coverage
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit

If you're new to travel rewards credit cards or just don't want to pay hundreds in annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a smart choice. It earns bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases and offers strong travel and purchase coverage, including primary car rental insurance.

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC

Earn 5x points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

22.49% - 29.49% Variable

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Annual travel credit can effectively shave $300 off the annual fee if you use it
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Strong travel insurance
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Strong bonus rewards on travel and dining
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Very high annual fee

If you're new to rewards credit cards you may want to start elsewhere, but if you know you want to earn Chase points and you spend a lot on travel and dining, the Sapphire Reserve is one of the most rewarding options.

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®

Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.

21.24% - 26.24% Variable

Earn 100,000 bonus points

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. High sign-up bonus
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Offers 3x bonus points on several spending categories, including travel and advertising purchases
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Includes comprehensive travel coverage
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Welcome bonus has a very high minimum spending requirement

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers a huge welcome bonus and solid earning and benefits for a moderate annual fee. If your small-business expenses line up with the card's bonus categories and you like redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards® points for travel, this is one of the best small-business credit cards to consider.

Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. Earn 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months

20.49% - 29.24% Variable

Earn $200 cash bonus

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No annual fee
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Generous bonus cash-back categories
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Great welcome bonus
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Booking through Chase Travel℠ can restrict outside earning potential
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Varying percentages and rotating calendar categories require extra attention
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. 3% foreign transaction fees

The Chase Chase Freedom Flex® is a great pick if you want one of the best no-annual-fee cards with big earning potential and impressive benefits. It's an even better choice if you already collect Ultimate Rewards points with other Chase cards, because you can combine your points and potentially get even more value.

If you're looking to open a Chase rewards card, you may be wondering whether you should get the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a lower annual fee of $95 compared to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which has a $550 annual fee. On the other hand, the Reserve also offers higher points-earning rates and more bells and whistles, such as a $300 annual statement credit for travel purchases. 

If you're trying to decide between these two cards, our Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve card comparison offers a side-by-side evaluation with more detail.

If you're a small-business owner, on the other hand, you may want to opt for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, or another of the best Chase business credit cards .

What to know before applying for a Chase Ultimate Rewards card

Most credit card issuers have some guidelines that dictate whether or not they will approve you for their cards. Most restrictions have to do with your credit score. There's one limitation, however, that's unique to Chase.

You'll typically need good to excellent credit

Chase cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® require high credit scores in the good to excellent range. According to the FICO scoring model, an excellent credit score is anything above 800.

While you may get approved for one of these cards with a score in the high 600s and above, it's key to avoid taking on debt you can't pay off each month: Credit card rewards are never worth incurring high interest fees. 

Chase's 5/24 rule

The "5/24" rule from Chase means you won't be approved for most Chase credit cards if you've opened five or more credit cards in the last 24 months. This doesn't mean five or more credit cards from Chase; this means five or more credit cards from any issuer. Keep this limitation in mind if you're planning to open multiple rewards credit cards in the near future, and strongly consider prioritizing applications for Chase cards so you don't run into this limit.

How to use Chase Ultimate Rewards points

It helps to know your options if you're considering a card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, but want to make sure you can use them effectively.

You'll have more redemption opportunities if you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or Ink Business Preferred Credit Card. Without at least one of these cards, you won't be able to transfer points to airline and hotel partners, and your points will only be worth 1 cent apiece toward travel booked through the Chase Travel℠ .

If you do have one of the above cards, Chase lets you pool all your points in one place for optimal redemptions. So you can move points over from, say, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and get 1.25 cents per point for travel booked through Chase, or transfer your Ultimate Rewards to an airline or hotel program to book an award.

Here are the most common redemption options you can look forward to:

Book travel through the Chase Travel℠ portal (up to 1.5 cents per point)

You can also book hotels, airfare, vacation rentals, activities, and rental cars directly through the Chase Travel ℠ Portal , which is similar to an online travel agency. If you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you get a 50% bonus when you book with points, thus giving your points 1.5 cents each in value.

With the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, you get a 25% bonus when you redeem points through the portal, or 1.25 cents per point.

As far as the top travel destinations you can visit with Chase Ultimate Rewards points, the sky is pretty much the limit (well, the entire globe, not the sky). You can use points to book flights and accommodations almost everywhere. But as far as value goes, Chase Travel℠ will usually get you the best value for cheap hotel stays and flights, while transferring Ultimate Rewards points to partners is generally a smarter move if you're looking to book a first-class flight or an expensive luxury hotel.

Pay Yourself Back with Chase points (up to 1.5 cents per point)

During the pandemic, Chase introduced a compelling new way to redeem points for everyday, non-travel expenses. Chase Pay Yourself Back lets you redeem Ultimate Rewards points toward purchases in eligible categories. 

However, this option has become less lucrative with Chase's recent devaluation of Pay Yourself Back. The return you'll get for your points varies depending on the card you have, with the best value coming from the Chase Sapphire Reserve card (1.25 cents per point in eligible categories, 1.5 cents per point for charitable donations) and Ink Business Preferred Card (1.25 cents per point in eligible categories).

If you don't have any travel plans in the near future, this could be another option for using your rewards to cut down on expenses — and you don't have to feel any guilt about missing out on optimal points value.

Transfer points to airline and hotel partners (2 cents per point or more)

Similar to Amex Membership Rewards , Chase Ultimate Rewards lets you transfer points to a wide range of airline and hotel partners. All Chase transfer partners let you move your points at a 1:1 ratio, which is not only valuable but also easy to understand. 

Transferring your Chase Ultimate Rewards to Chase's travel partners is the best way to get the most value from your points, since there's no limit to how much your points can be worth. It all just depends on what kind of award flight or hotel stay you book — and if you book a first-class flight or luxury hotel, you could be looking at hundreds if not thousands of dollars in value.

Because most of Chase's airline partners are in an alliance, you can redeem your airline miles (after you transfer points from Chase) on any of the carrier's alliance partners.

For example, you could transfer your Chase points to United Airlines, then use your United miles to book award flights on Star Alliance partners like Air Canada, Lufthansa, or Singapore Airlines. The same goes for British Airways (Oneworld alliance, which includes American Airlines and Cathay Pacific) or Air France-KLM Flying Blue (SkyTeam alliance, which includes Delta and Korean Air).

Redeem points for experiences (point values vary)

You can also use Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book special experiences, including one-of-a-kind events hosted by Chase. It's hard to say what your exact point value will be for these redemptions since Chase often sets the "price."

Past examples include VIP dining experiences, sports games with VIP seating, and Broadway-style shows. Point requirements are all over the place from as low as 10,000 points for a single-day ski resort lift ticket to 760,000 points for a VIP weekend experience at the Sundance Film Festival. These redemptions were largely put on hold due to the pandemic, but are ramping up again.

Redeem for statement credits or gift cards (1 cent per point)

No matter which Chase card you have, you can trade points for statement credits at a rate of 1 cent per point. This option can be a good one if you don't want to travel or if you want to use your points to cover a splurge purchase of some kind. All you have to do is charge the purchase to your credit card, then redeem your points at a rate of 1 cent each in order to wipe all or part of the charge away.

Gift cards are another redemption option Chase offers, and you'll normally get 1 cent per point if you go this route. Sometimes Chase even offers gift cards with a better value for specific retailers, which can be a good deal. It's not unusual to see gift cards for retailers like Apple, Panera Bread, or Old Navy for 2,250 points per $25 gift card.

Pay for merchandise (point values vary, not a good deal)

If you prefer to shop directly with your points, you can redeem them for purchases on Amazon.com , PayPal, or with Apple. You'll get 0.8 cents per point when you use points to shop on Amazon or with PayPal, and 1 cent per point when you purchase electronics through Apple.

However, this isn't a good deal. Considering you can redeem points for statement credits to cover any purchase you want at a rate of 1 cent per point, you should make the purchase on your card (and you'll earn points for the purchase). Then, you can erase the charge from your statement by cashing in points for a statement credit at a rate of 1 cent each. 

Best ways to redeem your Chase points

While the best way to use points depends on your personal goals, there are plenty of redemptions that can pay off big time. Here are some of the most valuable ways to cash in your rewards if you aim to book epic and unforgettable travel experiences for free.

Score cheap flights through Chase Travel℠

Transferring Chase points to airlines often provides the best value, but don't forget you can also save big by booking flights through Chase Travel℠. This is especially true when you find a cheap fare online because the lower the price, the fewer points you'll need to book through Chase.

Here's a good example of how this works: When I was trying to find award flights to Milan, Italy for my family of four and my parents, I almost booked using 30,000 American Airlines miles each plus airline taxes and fees each way.

I ultimately found cheap one-way flights on TAP Air Portugal for $287.80 each. Since you get a 50% bonus value (1.5 cents per point) when you book flights through the Chase portal with points from the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, I was able to book six one-way flights worth $1,726.80 in total through Chase for just 115,120 Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

That's $287.80 apiece, or 19,186 points per person — a much better value than redeeming American Airlines AAdvantage miles . With the American AAdvantage program, I would have paid 180,000 American miles plus around $100 per person (or $600 for six of us) in airline taxes and fees.

Transfer points 1:1 to Southwest Airlines

If you're OK with flying economy and mostly travel in the US and to the Caribbean or Mexico, you'll definitely want to consider transferring points 1:1 to Southwest Airlines. This frequent flyer program is revenue-based, meaning lower prices mean you can score award flights for fewer points. In fact, you can frequently find one-way flights for as little as 5,000 points during one of Southwest's countless sales.

Southwest also gives each customer two free checked bags, making it a good choice for families who travel with checked luggage. Finally, the airline has a generous cancellation and rebooking policy which means you can usually reschedule your flight — even at the last minute.

Fly cheap economy to Europe with Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Flying Blue (the loyalty program for Air France and KLM) is a truly underutilized Chase Ultimate Rewards partner. This partner lets you fly for cheap to and from Europe from most major cities, and often for less than you'll pay with other airline programs.

You can frequently find one-way awards to European cities like Amsterdam and Paris for less than 30,000 miles one-way with this program, making them a solid option to check out if you're dreaming of a European getaway. Best of all, awards are generally plentiful and you can usually find four or more economy awards on any given flight.

Transfer to airline partners to fly business class

Using airline miles to fly business class makes a lot of sense, and this is particularly true with airlines that have fixed award charts. Fortunately, Chase has several airline partners that make it easy to book premium cabins for a reasonable number of miles.

For example, you could transfer your Chase points to these airlines for an epic redemption:

• Use 107,000 Singapore Airlines miles to fly business class from the West Coast to Singapore with Singapore Airlines
• Use 50,000 Virgin Atlantic miles to fly Delta One from the US to Europe (outside of the UK)
• Use 87,500 Air Canada Aeroplan points to fly business class from the US to Asia (under 11,000 flown miles) on Star Alliance partners

These are just a few of the options to consider, although there are many, many ways to utilize Chase points for profitable transfers to airline partners. 

Book hotels through Chase Travel℠

While the Chase Ultimate Rewards program partners with IHG Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt, it's important to price shop awards before you transfer Chase points to these programs.

For example, you may find that a Marriott stay that costs 50,000 points will only set you back 12,000 Chase points through the portal. In that case, it makes more sense to book your hotel stay with points through Chase than it does to transfer all those extra points over to book the same room.

Here's a good example of the exact same hotel stay on the same dates with the IHG Rewards program. While you can book the Holiday Inn Montego Bay Resort for 50,000 IHG points through IHG.com, the same hotel on the exact same dates will only set you back around 18,000 points through Chase Ultimate Rewards with the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Also note that the Chase portal lets you book hundreds of thousands of independent and boutique hotels and resorts, meaning you can use your points to shop around for a good deal.

Book fun excursions you don't want to pay for

Another way to use Chase Ultimate Rewards is for fun day trips and excursions you wouldn't normally want to pay for. Think of snorkeling trips in the Caribbean, a sunset booze cruise in Hawaii for your anniversary, or a cooking class in Florence, Italy. You can use Chase points to book these experiences and more, and often for less than you think.

Remember that you'll get 25% more travel for free when you use points from the Chase Sapphire Preferred to book travel through the portal, but this amount goes up to 50% more travel if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

I have used Chase points to snorkel with stingrays in Grand Cayman, swim with sharks in Bora Bora, and see some of the world's oldest ruins in destinations like Italy and Greece. I see splurging for excursions as a fun way to treat myself and my family. And they're my points to spend, so why not?

Chase Ultimate Rewards frequently asked questions

Whether Chase Ultimate Rewards are worth it depends on your spending habits, travel goals, and financial priorities. For frequent travelers and those who use credit cards strategically, Chase Ultimate Rewards can offer significant value. With opportunities for earning points on everyday purchases and the flexibility to redeem them for travel, cash back, or other benefits, many find the program to be highly rewarding. However, it's essential to assess your individual needs and compare the benefits of Chase Ultimate Rewards to other credit card rewards programs to determine if it aligns with your financial goals.

Chase Ultimate Rewards is a versatile and highly regarded rewards program offered by Chase Bank. It allows cardholders to earn points on their purchases, which can be redeemed for a variety of benefits, including travel, cash back, gift cards, and more. With Chase Ultimate Rewards, you have the flexibility to choose how you want to use your points, making it a valuable addition to your financial toolkit.

Chase Ultimate Rewards do not expire as long as your account is open and in good standing. Unlike many other rewards programs, your hard-earned points remain available for you to use whenever you're ready, giving you flexibility and peace of mind.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

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What is Chase Ultimate Rewards?

What are chase ultimate rewards points worth, credit cards that earn chase ultimate rewards®, options to redeem ultimate rewards points, best ways to use your ultimate rewards points, chase ultimate rewards: faq.

Chase Ultimate Rewards: All You Need to Know

• Chase Ultimate Rewards® is Chase Bank’s loyalty program where eligible cardholders can earn and redeem points on their purchases.
• There are many ways to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, including travel through Chase Travel℠, statement credits, transferring to airline and hotel partners, and Chase Experiences.
• Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , Chase Sapphire Reserve® , and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card have a higher redemption rate for travel through Chase Travel℠ than other cards.
• Points can be pooled together from different Chase card accounts for even more value.

Chase Ultimate Rewards® is the premier loyalty program offered by Chase Bank that allows cardholders to earn and redeem points on their purchases. Through this program, cardholders have access to the Chase Travel portal where they can redeem points for hotels, rental cars, flights, and more. 

This extra-flexible program remains one of the best credit card loyalty programs, with high-value redemption options and great transfer partners. 

Your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points are capable of more than you may realize, and some redemption options are a better deal than others. Additionally, some Chase credit cards offer higher redemption rates on travel than others.

We’ll break it down for you in this comprehensive guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards® to help you get the most out of your credit card.

Cards with higher Chase Travel℠ redemption value

Chase sapphire preferred® card.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

The value of Chase Ultimate Rewards® points varies based on how they are redeemed. Generally, points are worth about 1 cent each when redeemed for cash back or gift cards. 

However, points can be worth more when redeemed for travel through the Chase Travel℠ portal or transferred to travel partners. For example, when using points for travel through the Chase Travel portal, points are worth 1.25 cents each (25% more) with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and 1.5 cents each (50% more) with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. 

Do Chase Ultimate Rewards® points expire?

Chase Ultimate Rewards® points do not expire as long as your account remains open, in good standing and you have at least one Ultimate-Rewards-earning card open. If you close all of your accounts, any unused points will be forfeited.

Best for most travelers

Earn 5X points on Chase Travel℠ purchases, 3X points on dining, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services, and 1X points on other purchases.

Best for premium travel perks

Earn 10X points on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase Travel℠, 10X points on Chase Dining purchases, 5X points on flights booked through Chase Travel, 3X points on non-Chase travel and dining, and 1X points on all non-bonus spending.

Best for high-spending businesses

Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in select categories each year, and earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.

Best for flexible cash back + no annual fee

Chase freedom unlimited®.

Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Best for cash back categories + no annual fee

Ink business cash® credit card.

Earn 5% cash back in select business categories (on up to $25,000 per year) and earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (on up to $25,000 per year). Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Best for flat rate cash back + no annual fee

Ink business unlimited® credit card.

Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases made for your business.

1. Travel through the Chase Travel℠ portal

Value of this option: 1 to 1.5 cents

One of the best ways to redeem your points is through Chase Travel℠, especially if you have a travel credit card such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. 

• With the Sapphire Preferred or Ink Preferred, you can redeem your points at 25% more value, so 1.25 cents apiece.
• With the Sapphire Reserve, you can redeem your points at 50% more value or 1.5 cents apiece.
• Other cards, like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, have a value of 1 cent per point when redeemed through Chase Travel.

2. Transfer partners

Value of this option: Variable, but highest potential

Chase has a solid list of airline and hotel transfer partners, and transferring your points to their loyalty programs can offer significant value. All points can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to these partners, meaning if you transfer them to the right program, they can be worth over 2 cents apiece.

Airline partners:

• Aer Lingus 
• Air Canada 
• Air France-KLM
• British Airways
• Virgin Atlantic 

Hotel partners:

• InterContinental Hotels Group

3. Statement credits or cash back

Value of this option: 1 cent

Points can be redeemed for cash back (via statement credits or a direct deposit) at 1 cent per point, so 1,000 points are worth $10.

4. Gift cards

Gift cards are typically worth 1 cent a point, but you may be able to score a deal. Occasionally, Chase sells certain gift cards at a discount, boosting the overall value of your points. 

5. Shop with Points

Value of this option: 0.8 cents

You can use your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points through Amazon to pay through the Shop with Points program. While this is convenient, it’s arguably the worst way to redeem your points as they’ll only be worth roughly 0.8 cents apiece.

6. Chase Dining

Value of this option: Variable

Chase Ultimate Rewards® points can be used to pay for dining experiences through Chase Dining. Through the website Tock, cardholders can use their Ultimate Rewards® points to make reservations, order takeout or pay for food orders. 

This is a great option for Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders, as this card offers a reward-earning rate of 10 points per dollar spent on Chase Dining.

7. Chase Experiences

Certain card members can redeem points for exclusive events through Chase Experiences. These events can range from private dinners at unique locations with high-end chefs to luxury travel packages. 

For example, Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders could buy tickets to the exclusive “Dinner on the Court” series—a unique dining experience held on the court of San Francisco’s Chase Center (home of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors).

There’s no “best” way to use your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points since the best option will depend on your lifestyle and the card you have. 

However, these are the three options that will likely get you the most bang for your buck:

• Transferring to select travel partners. Some of Chase’s travel partners have valuable points through their loyalty programs, so transferring points at a 1:1 ratio can be very beneficial. For example, Hyatt points are worth upwards of 1.7 cents each, meaning 10,000 Ultimate Rewards® points can be worth $170. 
• Booking travel through Chase Travel ℠ . If you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you can redeem your points for significant value through Chase Travel. Rather than the standard 1 cent per point, they’ll be worth 1.25 cents each on the Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred and 1.5 cents each on the Sapphire Reserve.
• Gift cards, sometimes. If you can catch a good discount on a gift card through Chase, your points could be worth decently more than the standard 1-cent value.

That said, redeeming for statement credits, Chase Experiences or Chase Dining isn’t a bad deal if they strike your fancy. We don’t recommend the Shop with Points option through Amazon, since your points would be worth less than 0.8 cents each.

What is the best way to use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points?

The best way to use Chase Ultimate Rewards points depends on your lifestyle. You’ll get the most value from transferring to select travel partners or redeeming through Chase Travel on certain cards. You can also redeem points for statement credits or gift cards at a decent rate.

How much are 50,000 Chase points worth?

It depends on how you choose to redeem your points and which card you have. If you redeem for cash back, 50,000 points are worth $500. They can be worth significantly more through Chase Travel if you have certain credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred. They can also be worth more if transferred to certain travel partners.

Is Chase Ultimate Rewards a good program?

Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of the best credit card programs out there, offering high-value redemption options. Cardholders can redeem points through various travel partners for significant value but can also redeem points for statement credits or travel through Chase Travel at a solid rate.

How do I get 10X points on Chase Ultimate Rewards?

If you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you can earn 10X points on hotels and rental cars booked through Chase Travel, 10X points on Chase Dining purchases, and 10X points on qualifying Lyft rides and eligible Peloton purchases through March 2025.

How do I access Chase Ultimate Rewards?

To access Chase Ultimate Rewards, log into your Chase account and then navigate to the Chase Ultimate Rewards® tab on the right side of the screen. Select your card and you’ll be brought to a homepage that shows how many points you have and options to redeem them.

Which airlines are part of Chase Ultimate Rewards?

Chase has 11 airline partners: Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air France-KLM, British Airways, Emirates, Iberia, JetBlue, Singapore, Southwest, United, and Virgin Atlantic.

How much are Chase points worth?

Chase Ultimate Rewards® points vary in value depending on how you redeem them and which card you have. Cash-back is worth 1 cent per point and redeeming for travel through Chase can be worth up to 1.5 cents apiece. If you transfer your points to one of Chase’s travel partners, they may be worth even more.

Which credit cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards?

All of Chase’s reward-earning cards earn Ultimate Rewards points, even the ones that market themselves as cash-back cards. Depending on the card you have, these points may have different values. Co-branded cards with hotels or airlines (like United or Southwest cards) don’t earn Ultimate Rewards points and instead earn rewards with the partner’s loyalty program.

About the Author

Jaiden Hart serves as a credit card writer and content manager at LA Times Compare. Beginning her career as an intern on the Compare team, she has since amassed considerable expertise and passion in the credit card industry. 

Jaiden’s primary objective is to simplify the process of choosing and managing a credit card through engaging and honest content so individuals can more effectively maximize their benefits and meet their financial goals.

About the Reviewer

Blake Esken has over 15 years of experience in product management and has been a member of the Los Angeles Times staff for over five years.

As part of his role at the Los Angeles Times Commerce Team, Blake acts as the in-house reviewer and fact checker for LA Times Compare. He supervises all content for compliance and accuracy and puts to use skills he has honed through years of experience managing high-stakes projects for a range of industry-leading companies.

He has a strong background in data analysis, compliance, and communication, which allows him to support LA Times Compare through fact-checking in an effort to provide up-to-date and factual information across our content.

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How to Transfer Chase Points—and Get the Most Value From It

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When used properly, Chase Ultimate Rewards can give you one of the highest valuations of any credit card rewards program . But knowing when it’s best to redeem your hard-earned points in the Chase portal, along with when and how to transfer Chase points elsewhere to get a better value, isn’t always an easy task. Follow this guide to ensure you get the best deal on your upcoming trip—and the one after that.

Chase Ultimate Rewards overview

If you have a credit card issued by Chase, you are probably somewhat familiar with Chase Ultimate Rewards, but here’s a quick refresher: Each rewards card typically earns at least one point per dollar spent on all purchases. Some of the most popular cards from Chase are the Sapphire travel rewards cards, Ink business cards, and the Freedom cash back cards. 

The number of points you earn varies depending on the card you have. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® earns 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 3 points on dining, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services; 2 points on other travel; and 1 point on all other purchases. 

Compare that to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , which earns 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals and 5 points on flights, both purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3 points on dining and other travel, and 1 point on all other purchases. 

You can also earn points by meeting the minimum spending requirement on welcome bonuses, which is especially helpful if you are new to the world of points as it gives you an influx of points quickly. When you are ready, you can redeem your bonus points for travel, cash back, gift cards, or on select purchases.

When to book travel directly on Chase Ultimate Rewards

If you aren’t redeeming your points, booking through Chase Ultimate Rewards is still quite advantageous. For instance, if I were to book a $500 two-night stay at a hotel using a Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card booking directly with the hotel, I would earn just 1,500 points. If I booked that same stay for the same price through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, I would earn 5,000 points.

It could make sense to use points to book travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards in a couple of scenarios. If you are booking a cheap flight and don’t want to pay cash for it, and it’s not on a partner airline, you can book using points without worrying about the value. For example, if you are traveling on a low-cost airline like Spirit Airlines and do not want to pay cash for your ticket, you can book using the portal. Although you might not get a top redemption value, you'll avoid paying out of pocket for the flight. 

Or, if you don’t have very many points in your account, you can book through the portal and use points to pay for part of your flight or hotel stay, reducing the overall cost. Since you cannot transfer points to a car rental company, you could also use points to book a rental car through Ultimate Rewards rather than paying cash.

Special card considerations

When you book directly on Chase Ultimate Rewards, you get a standard valuation of 1 cent per point. However, the Sapphire rewards cards give you a slight leg up. If you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you get 1.25 cents per point rather than 1 cent. So, if you have 60,000 points, these are worth $750 rather than $600. 

This also applies to the Chase Sapphire Reserve , but you get an elevated valuation of 1.5 cents per point. So, the same amount of points would be worth $900 when booking through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® and the Chase Freedom Flex℠ are both popular cash-back cards . However, these earnings come in the form of points, which you can redeem for cash back or travel at the standard valuation. You cannot transfer these points to any partners directly, but you can transfer points between your Chase accounts. This allows you to merge cash-back rewards with your Sapphire rewards cards, making them transferable to airline or hotel partners. 

Also, keep in mind that not all Chase credit cards earn Ultimate Rewards. If the card is co-branded with an airline or hotel, you’ll earn points for that loyalty program—do not apply for the Marriott Boundless card thinking you will earn points that are as flexible as Ultimate Rewards points.

When to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points 

You will usually get a better value from your points if you transfer them to a partner before redeeming—we’ll get into the math of it all in a minute. You want your hard-earned points to go as far as possible, so strategizing is essential. You can transfer your points from Chase Ultimate Rewards to 11 airlines and three hotel groups at a 1:1 ratio. That means if you transfer 1,000 points from your Chase Ultimate Rewards to any partner in the list below, you will receive 1,000 points to that rewards program. Occasionally, there will also be bonuses you can take advantage of to earn even more points. At the time of writing, there is a 50 percent bonus offer when transferring points to Marriott Bonvoy, turning 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points into 1,500 Marriott Bonvoy points. 

Chase transfer partners

Airline partners.

• Aer Lingus, AerClub
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• British Airways Executive Club
• Emirates Skywards®
• Flying Blue Air France KLM
• Iberia Plus
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards®
• United MileagePlus®
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Hotel transfer partners

• IHG® One Rewards
• Marriott Bonvoy®
• World of Hyatt®

Breaking down the math

Let’s look at a couple of examples where it might make sense to transfer your points. 

If you want to visit Denver (DEN) from New York City (LGA) this June, you can take a nonstop business-class flight on United Airlines for $948. If you are a Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholder and book this flight on Chase Ultimate Rewards, you will use 63,200 points. The exact same flight, when booking on the United website, costs just 45,300 miles plus $5.60 in taxes and fees. Since you can transfer your points to United MileagePlus at a 1:1 ratio, you can fly the same route for almost 18,000 points less, which leaves plenty of points for another trip. 

Or, you could take a five-night trip to Punta Cana and stay at the Four Points by Sheraton , a Marriott property. If you book on Chase Ultimate Rewards and are a Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholder, you will spend 79,840 points. If you took advantage of the 50 percent bonus to transfer to Marriott, you would need to transfer just 43,670 points to book the same property. 

Transferring your points in these situations would save you anywhere from 18,000 to 30,000+ points, which is certainly enough for another flight. 

There are also some instances where you might want to do a double transfer. For example, if you want to fly on Qatar Airways , which is not a partner with Chase, you could transfer your points to British Airways Avios and then transfer those points to Qatar Airways. Or, if you didn’t want to do a double transfer, you can sometimes book award travel on airlines within the same alliance. If you transferred your points to United MileagePlus, you could book award travel on Avianca through United.com. Similarly, if you transferred points to British Airways, you could book award travel on American Airlines via BritishAirways.com. 

How to transfer Chase points

Transferring your points is simple. All you need to do is log into your Chase account via the app or online and navigate to the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. Click “Earn/Use” next to where you see your point total, and then “Transfer to Travel Partners.” Select the partner you want to transfer points to, how many points you wish to transfer in increments of 1,000, then enter your rewards membership number and any other requested information. Review everything and submit. 

Some point transfers are instantaneous, while others can take a couple of hours or even a day to process. This information will be given to you before you complete the transfer. Keep in mind that once your points are transferred, they are out of your account. You can’t send them back to your Chase Ultimate Rewards account if you decide not to book on the partner you sent them to. 

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10 Tips for Using the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Center

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

Among the numerous benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve, one of the least appreciated is the ability to receive 1.5 cents in value per point redeemed at the Ultimate Rewards Travel Center. In fact, this benefit should change how you redeem your Ultimate Rewards points, when you want to earn redeemable miles and elite status credit on flights or when the hotel you want can't be booked through a Chase transfer partner, among other situations .

The problem is that the Ultimate Rewards Travel Center is not exactly the best designed website, but there are many tips and tricks that can help you use it and get more value from your points.

Here are 10 things that you might not know about the Ultimate Rewards Travel Center:

1. Save time by creating traveler profiles. 

If you're going to be using the Ultimate Rewards Travel Center regularly, you might as well spend a few minutes creating traveler profiles for yourself and anyone else who you'll be booking travel for.

These profiles contain the basic information needed to book reservations, such as your name, address, birth date and contact information. You can also add your preferred departure airport, your passport information and even special meal requests. There are even fields to add in your frequent flyer numbers and your account numbers for hotel and rental car programs. This can save you lots of time when you book reservations.

2. Earn points and miles from your award bookings.

With your loyalty program information on file, you're free to earn the points and miles from many of your award reservations, the same way you would if you booked directly. You can earn rewards from all of your flights and rental car reservations, although most hotel programs won't offer rewards unless you book directly with them. For example, I often use the Ultimate Rewards Travel Center to book rental cars with National, and by supplying my Emerald number I still receive access to the Executive Aisle due to the elite status I received as a Sapphire Reserve cardholder.

3. Book rental cars one-way. 

For several years, you were unable to book a rental car at the Ultimate Rewards Travel Center unless you were dropping it off at the same location you picked it up. But recently, a new field appeared that allows you to specify a different drop-off city or airport. Having more options is always a good thing.

4. Be very careful when booking hotels. 

I often book hotels using the Ultimate Rewards Travel Center, especially when my hotel points fail to offer 1.5 cents in value or when I need to stay somewhere that isn't part of one of the hotel programs I have rewards with. But one of the real problems with the Ultimate Rewards Travel Center is that it fails to include taxes and fees in its initial quote, and you'll only see the total price after you click "book" and add it to your card.

What's worse is that even this price may not include "resort fees," "urban destination" fees or any other of the new bogus fees that are rapidly infecting the hospitality industry. This means that the total price you must pay will not be disclosed by the first, or even the last, price you see, and the hotel can hit you up in person for undisclosed fees when you check out. For more information on this problem, see my post on Comparing Hotel Price Transparency Across Booking Sites .

5. You probably won't get points on hotel bookings.

I know that the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Center is operated by a company called Connexions Loyalty, but I'm not aware of any connection it has to Expedia and it's group of online travel agencies including Hotels.com, Hotwire.com , Orbitz and Travelocity . What I do know is that on several different occasions hotel staff has told me that they thought my room was booked through Expedia.

Whether or not Expedia has anything to do with Chase or Connexions Loyalty doesn't matter. What you need to know is that the hotels you book through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Center will be treated as third-party travel agency bookings. This means that you're unlikely to receive hotel points from your stay, and you may not even receive some of the benefits of any elite status you hold.

6. You can filter out basic economy fares. 

When so-called basic economy fares began proliferating through the travel world, online travel agencies like the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Center were slow to inform customers of the numerous restrictions imposed on these fares. Thankfully, the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Center now displays basic economy fares somewhat clearly. You even have the option to exclude basic economy fares , but only after you see the initial search results. Unfortunately, I've frequently found this option to be less than functional, returning no results on occasion.

7. The baggage and hotel cancellation policies are as clear as mud. 

When you book a ticket directly with an airline, it will tell you exactly what your carry-on and checked baggage allowance is, the cost of purchasing additional bags. But when you book a ticket using the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Center, you simply get a link titled "baggage fees." This link takes you to Airlinebaggagecosts.com , which simply offers links to each airline's web page that discusses baggage fees. This multi-step process is no better than Googling it yourself, and it offers no clarity on the baggage allowance that applies to your particular fare and routing.

Likewise, if you want to know what the hotel cancellation rules are, the Chase Travel Center will just reference the hotel's "cancellation window," and it's up to figure out what that is.

8. You can book Southwest and Allegiant flights, but only by calling.

Southwest and Allegiant flights don't ever appear in the online results when searching the Ultimate Rewards Travel Center. But after you perform a search, you'll see this note buried in the disclaimers; "Some airlines don't offer advance seat selection. Southwest and Allegiant tickets can only be purchased by calling us at 1-855-234-2542."

But that's not all — you can also book Norweigian and Gol (a Brazilian low-cost carrier) flights by calling the Ultimate Rewards Travel Center.

9. The call center can be frustrating, but the representatives do a decent job. 

There are few things more annoying in travel than having to listen to long, irrelevant messages before reaching a human. You mean I have to know the names and birth dates of the travelers before I can book an airline ticket? I had no idea! And I certainly don't care when I'm calling for help with a hotel or rental car issue. Yet you have to listen to this message each and every time you call.

Thankfully, I've had pretty good experiences with the representatives once I got through to them. For example, one reached out directly to a small hotel in Mexico, and got them to waive the cancellation fee after I became sick and couldn't travel.

10. Don't forget "activities."

When you book something online at the Ultimate Rewards Travel Center, you have four options: flights, hotels, car rentals and something called "activities." This last one can be a great opportunity to redeem your Ultimate Rewards points rather than spend cash on tours and attractions on your next trip.

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Here’s How To Save $900 on Travel With the Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Vault’s viewpoint.

• The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a travel credit card with plentiful perks and rewards that appeal to travelers.
• Eligible new cardholders who spend at least $4,000 within three months of account opening can earn a 60,000-point welcome offer.
• When redeeming rewards through the Chase Travel℠ portal, this offer is worth $900 toward eligible travel bookings.

This Popular Travel Rewards Card Has a Sizable Welcome Offer

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has long been a favorite among travelers who value travel rewards. It’s a feature-packed travel rewards credit card with premium travel perks like complimentary airport lounge access and primary rental car insurance coverage. You also earn rewards when you swipe your card for travel, dining and other everyday purchases.

But that’s not all. For eligible new cardholders, it also provides a generous welcome offer. A credit card welcome offer can be an excellent way to earn many points quickly for meeting the stated requirements. If you want to use your rewards for travel, a bonus can get you closer to your award travel redemption goals.

How To Earn the Welcome Offer and Who Qualifies for It

You must verify your eligibility before trying to earn a credit card welcome offer. Some credit card issuers have limitations for these bonuses, and Chase has strict welcome offer eligibility requirements for all cards in its Chase Sapphire credit card lineup. If you don’t meet these requirements, you may be ineligible to earn the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s welcome offer.

Welcome offer restrictions: You’re ineligible for this offer if you’re an existing Chase Sapphire credit card holder. This includes any of the Chase Sapphire credit cards. Additionally, previous Sapphire credit card holders must not have received a new cardmember bonus within the last 48 months.

How to earn the welcome offer: Spend at least $4,000 on eligible purchases within three months of account opening to earn the bonus of 60,000 points. Some purchases, like money orders, travelers’ checks, cash advances, balance transfers and lottery tickets, don’t count toward the minimum spend requirements. After meeting the offer conditions, you should allow six to eight weeks for the bonus points to be posted to your account.

Note: If you’re holding out on getting this card until you’re eligible for the welcome offer again, you might want to explore alternative travel credit cards. Another option is to apply for one of the best Capital One credit cards —several of which earn travel rewards.

Get $900 To Spend on Travel in the Chase Travel Portal

After earning the welcome offer, you’ll likely be eager to redeem your credit card rewards. One of the best features of the Chase Ultimate Rewards program is its flexibility.

Cardholders have various redemption options, such as receiving a statement credit, redeeming for travel purchases booked through Chase Travel or transferring rewards to eligible travel partners to book flights and hotel stays. But make sure you maximize the value of your rewards. Some redemption methods provide more value than others.

Here’s an example: When you redeem your Ultimate Rewards points for a statement credit to your credit card account, points are worth $0.01 apiece, so the welcome offer is only worth $600 when redeemed this way. It may be tempting to redeem your rewards in this manner because of the simplicity, but you won’t receive maximum value.

Consider this redemption option instead: If you use your points to book rental cars, hotels or flights through Chase Travel, you can get 50% more value from your points. The 60,000-point welcome offer is worth $900 for eligible travel bookings. That’s an impressive value for a credit card welcome offer. Chase Travel is a travel booking platform that functions similarly to other websites and apps. It’s easy to use, and you can filter the search results to meet your needs.

Tips To Get the Most out of the Chase Sapphire Reserve

If you’ve recently added the Chase Sapphire Reserve to your wallet or plan to soon, you’ll want to get the most out of your new travel credit card. Here are a few tips for the best success.

Start Working Toward Earning the Welcome Offer

You’ll need to make at least $4,000 in purchases with your card within three months of opening your credit card account. You don’t want to wait until the last minute to meet the spending threshold. If you delay on your spending, you may miss out entirely on earning the welcome offer.

Of course, you should only use your credit card for purchases you can afford. Paying your entire statement balance each month is the best way to avoid accumulating credit card debt.

Maximize the Rewards You Earn

When using your card to make purchases, don’t miss out on opportunities to boost your rewards. You’ll earn 3X points on general travel* (not purchased through Chase) and dining purchases with your card.

However, when using your card to pay for hotels (excluding The Edit℠ properties) and car rentals through the Chase Travel portal, you’ll earn 10X points*. You can also earn 5X points when booking flights through the Chase Travel portal*. Finally, Chase Dining purchases through Ultimate Rewards earn 10X points. You can earn rewards faster with these elevated rewards rates.* (You earn on travel after the first $300 in travel purchases each year, which goes toward the $300 annual travel credit.)

Activate Your Priority Pass Select Membership

A noteworthy premium travel benefit of the Chase Sapphire Reserve is complimentary airport lounge access , thanks to the included Priority Pass Select membership. This is a valuable perk for frequent fliers.

With this membership, the primary cardholder and any authorized users can access participating Priority Pass airport lounges for free. Each eligible cardholder can bring up to two guests for free.

However, this credit card benefit must be activated. You should do that shortly after receiving your credit card in the mail so you don’t forget. Each authorized user must also activate their membership to use this perk.

Compare Redemption Options Before Using Your Points

Before redeeming your rewards, explore all your options. You can get more value by transferring them to one of Chase’s travel transfer partners or booking travel through the Chase Travel portal. While it can take more effort to maximize the value of your points, it can be worthwhile.

Earn a $100 Credit Once Every Four Years for Select Application Fees

Another card perk you don’t want to forget is the up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application fee. This benefit is available once every four years and can be used by you or an authorized user.

Charging your credit card for an eligible application fee will trigger a statement credit to your account. If you’ve been meaning to apply for one of these expedited screening or processing services, make sure you charge the application fee to this card to utilize the credit.

Don’t Ignore Included Travel Protections

The Chase Sapphire Reserve has plentiful travel protections. Before you book your next trip, take some time to review these benefits so you know what to expect. It’s wise to ensure you fully understand the coverage terms and any exclusions before traveling. This way, you will know how to navigate the claims process if you have to make a claim. You can check out our Chase Sapphire Reserve benefits guide for our breakdown of the information.

Taking Advantage of This Welcome Offer

This welcome offer could help you reduce your upcoming vacation costs. If you’re considering applying for the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you may want to do so soon to quickly boost your stash of Chase points.

You can maximize the value you receive from this in-demand Chase credit card by earning the welcome offer and redeeming your rewards for travel bookings through the Chase Travel portal to save $900 on travel.

If this isn’t your ideal credit card, there are many other top-rated cards to consider. Review our list of the best credit cards to learn more about the best features of each card on our list.

The post Here’s How To Save $900 on Travel With the Chase Sapphire Reserve® first appeared on Newsweek Vault .