Chase Travel Rewards: Guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards

Most products on this page are from partners who may compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how they appear on the page. However, opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain. This page may include information about American Express products currently unavailable on Slickdeals. American Express is not a partner of Slickdeals.

The Chase Ultimate Rewards program is among the most flexible rewards programs around, especially for people who are excited about free and discount travel. Ultimate Rewards points are generally regarded as being some of the most valuable. In fact, because of their flexibility and transfer options, we regularly give these points high marks in our monthly point valuations. They are best redeemed for travel either through the Ultimate Rewards website or transferring to travel partners.  Additionally, Chase Ultimate Rewards points never expire, as long as your account remains active and in good standing. When redeemed through the Chase website, you can use them for virtually any flight, hotel, rental car and other travel.

Earn Valuable Points or Miles for Travel

Best Travel Credit Cards

Visit the Marketplace

Chase Travel Rewards: Ultimate Rewards® Program Review

Related Article

What Are Points and Miles Worth?

Read More

How Much Are Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Worth?

Ultimate Rewards points are valued at the very top tier of rewards points; you can usually get more than double the stated value when redeeming them. However, the manner in which you use your points will influence this value. They can be worth less than a cent or more than five cents each, based on a range of factors including transfer partner award bookings.

Similar to earning points, when it comes time to redeem points, the value is dependent on the credit card you use. For example, points earned with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card can be redeemed in the Ultimate Rewards portal for 1.25 cents each, while points earned with the Chase Sapphire Reserve can be redeemed for 1.5 cents a piece.

Premium award bookings on partner airlines tend to offer the biggest value per point. On some flights, you may be able to get over five cents per point. You can also transfer points to an airline or hotel partner at a 1:1 ratio. That means one Chase point is worth one United MileagePlus mile, one Marriott Bonvoy point or one point in any of the participating programs. At a minimum, you should only redeem points if you’ll get at least the rate offered by booking through the Chase website directly with your card.

Redemption & Transfer Options

When you are ready to redeem your points, the first place to go is your Chase account. Click on the link to redeem or view your Ultimate Rewards account for details and redemptions. The value you'll get for your points depends on the Chase credit card that you're using to redeem them.

• Booking rewards travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal: The best way to use Chase Ultimate Rewards points is for travel. The Chase Ultimate Rewards portal is powered by Expedia, so you can book just about any travel expense (flights, hotels, car rental, etc.) directly with your Chase points.
• Transferring points to Chase Airline & Hotel partners: When you carry either of the Sapphire credit cards or the Ink Business Preferred, you can transfer your Ultimate Rewards to any of Chase's travel partners. The very best value for points usually comes from moving your Chase points to a transfer partner. However, don’t move points until you have a plan to use the resulting miles or points. Keeping them in the bank at Chase is the best strategy until you’re ready to book.
• Using Chase points for booking experiences: Chase offers unique and exclusive experiences for sporting events, concerts, highly rated restaurants and more.
• Buying gift cards with chase points: Gift cards give you a lower value per point than travel, usually around one cent per point. You can choose from over 200 brands.
• Getting cash-back on Chase points: If you’re feeling uninspired or need the extra money, you can redeem for cash at a value of one cent per point.
• Shopping using points: Retail partners Amazon and Apple allow you to redeem points for purchases directly. Again, this tends to offer a lower value than travel.

• Chase Airlines Partners List

  - Aer Lingus AerClub
  - Air Canada Aeroplan
  - British Airways Executive Club
  - Emirates Skywards
  - Flying Blue (Air France/KLM)
  - Iberia Plus
  - JetBlue
  - Singapore Airlines
  - Southwest Airlines
  - United Airlines
  - Virgin Atlantic

• Chase Hotel Partners List

  - Hyatt
  - IHG
  -Marriott

Related Article

10 Ways to Redeem 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points for Travel

Read More

Earning Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

When using your card, here are the main ways to earn and accumulate points:

• Regular purchases: Chase cards typically give a bonus on categories such as travel and restaurants while offering one point per dollar on general purchases.
• Bonus rewards: If you meet minimum spending requirements within the published timeframe, usually three months, you can earn a sign-up bonus worth up to 60,000 points. Sometimes higher bonuses are available.
• Shopping bonuses: If you shop through the Chase Ultimate Rewards website, you can earn additional rewards with a list of supported retailers.
• Converting cash back: If you pair an Ultimate Rewards card with a Chase cash-back rewards card, you can move cash back into Ultimate Rewards at a rate of one cent to one point.

The Top 3 Chase Credit Cards for Earning Points (over 1 cent / point)

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

• Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
• APR21.99% - 28.99% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$550
• Sign-Up Bonus 60,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points More Info

  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℠. Dollar Equivalent: $1,320 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.022 base)

This card features an annual credit for travel purchases, which can offset the annual fee, plus bonus points when you sign up. You'll also get free access to tons of Priority Pass lounges and restaurant options around the world, along with access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge network.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

If you’re looking to elevate your travel experience, look no further than the Chase Sapphire Reserve. When you first get approved, you’ll earn a generous sign-up bonus that can be used for travel-related spending booked through Chase Travel℠. Transfer the points to one of Chase’s airline or hotel partners and they’re potentially worth even more.

Pros

• An array of premium travel perks including access to Priority Pass lounges
• Easy-to-use $300 travel credit that helps offset card's annual fee
• Generous rewards rates for spending

Cons

• High annual fee may be a deterrent for some
• Perks are starting to get stale relative to newer competition

Chase Sapphire Preferred®

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

• Our Rating 5/5 How our ratings work
• APR20.99% - 27.99% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$95
• Sign Up Bonus 60,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points More Info

  Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,320 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.022 base)

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the gold standards for earning travel rewards. It has a generous sign-up bonus and you can earn points on travel and dining expenses. The card does have an annual fee, but you can continue earning points through bonus categories and an anniversary points boost.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is pretty flexible as it lets you transfer rewards points into miles or points several airlines and hotel programs. You can take advantage of strong transfer partners such as United, Southwest, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Hyatt. Similarly, you can book any reservation you want through the Chase Travel℠ portal. Although the card might not be ideal for the most frequent travelers, it has a built-in upgrade path, so when it’s time to level up your travel rewards game, you won’t have to start from scratch.

Pros

• Points are easily transferable to airlines and hotel partners
• Accelerated earnings on dining, travel & household purchases
• Excellent travel and purchase protections
• No foreign transaction fees

Cons

• Not ideal for the highest spenders
• $95 annual fee

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

• Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
• APR20.74% - 25.74% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$95 More info

  This fee includes extra cards for authorized users, such as employees, at no additional charge.

• Sign Up Bonus 90,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points More Info

  Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,980 (90,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.022 base)

Those with travel and advertising expenses will like the high earning rates in these categories, plus cardholders can eke out even more value with fully transferable rewards through the Chase Travel℠ portal. One drawback is the modest annual fee, though many can offset this with the card’s earning potential.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

This card offers a whopping 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 in the first three months — with the card’s 25% bonus on travel booked through Chase, that’s worth $1,125. But you could potentially get more through one of the bank’s transfer partners. The rewards you earn from the Ink Business Preferred Card can be transferred to 10 different airline partners including United, Southwest, Virgin Atlantic, Singapore and British Airways, as well as hotel partners Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott.

Unlike the other two Ink Business cards, you can use this card to transfer your rewards directly to airline miles and hotel points. Travelers may also like this card’s cellphone protection policy that will cover up to $600 per claim.

Pros

• 3x points on 5 different categories (up to $150,000)
• Robust travel, purchase and cellphone protections
• Ability to earn transferable points to use on travel partners
• No additional charge for extra cards for additional authorized users

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• Businesses that don't spend on the category bonuses won't benefit

Other Chase Cards Worth Considering

Chase Freedom Flex℠

This product is currently not available via Slickdeals. All information about this product was collected by Slickdeals and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

• Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
• APR19.99% - 28.74% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$0
• Sign-Up Bonus $200Cash Bonus More Info

  Receive a $200 bonus after you spend $500 in the first three months.

The Chase Freedom Flex card expands on the already lucrative Chase Freedom card. The Freedom Flex also gives cardholders access to Chase Ultimate Rewards, which is arguably the most versatile rewards platform, and you’ll get plenty of redemption options at good rates. Plus, if you have one of the program’s travel cards, you can transfer points from your Freedom Flex to your travel card account and get even more value and flexibility with how you redeem.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

Getting more in cash back is a clear win for anyone who is considering the Freedom Flex card. This card is ideal for anyone who want to maximize cash-back rewards with the option to get more value with travel redemptions.

Pros

• Generous earnings on select rotating categories each quarter
• Cellphone and trip insurance coverage
• No annual fee
• Ability to convert rewards to transferable Ultimate Rewards points

Cons

• Can't transfer Chase points to travel partners unless paired with select products

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

• Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
• APR19.99% - 28.74% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$0
• Bonus Offer 1.5%Extra Cash Back More Info

  Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.

We like that the card offers a high flat rewards rate but also provides accelerated rewards on some common everyday spending categories. You’ll also get access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel portal, which allows you to use your cash-back earnings for travel rewards, gift cards and more. If you make this your primary card for most purchases you can quickly rack up a lot of rewards.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

The Chase Freedom Unlimited card is unique for a couple of reasons. First, it comes with purchase protection and extended warranty protection you don’t see with some other cash-back cards. Second, you earn cash back in the form of points (Chase Ultimate Rewards) and when paired with another annual-fee earning Chase product, you can get even more value if you love to travel by transferring to partners.

That’s because while the Freedom cards are marketed as cash-back credit cards, they actually offer points. You can use those points to book travel through Chase at a rate of 1 cent per point. But if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you’ll get 25% and 50% more value on those travel redemptions, respectively. (Plus, the ability to transfer your points, too.)

Read More

Pros

• No category bonuses to remember; earn at least 1.5% back on everything
• No annual fee
• Generous travel and purchase protection benefits

Cons

• Can't transfer Chase points unless paired with another annual-fee Chase product

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

• Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
• APR17.99% - 23.99% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$0
• Sign-Up Bonus $750Cash Bonus More Info

  Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.

Business owners looking to earn a high rate of cash back on common business expenses like office supplies and internet could get a lot of value from this card. The trade-off for the high cash-back rate, though, is a lower spend cap than you’ll find with other Ink Business cards.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

The Ink Business Cash® is legendary for its offer of 5% cash back for purchases at office supply stores and on many telecommunications services, with no annual fee. And while 5% cash back sounds great, these rewards can be much more valuable when paired with another Chase credit card that allows transfers to airline miles or hotel points. In addition to earning excellent cash-back rewards, it also includes competitive introductory offers and provides cards for employees at no additional charge.

Pros

• No annual fee
• 5x back on a broad array of business spending categories
• Robust travel and purchase protections
• Don't need a full-fledged business to apply

Cons

• Businesses that don't spend on the category bonuses won't benefit

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

• Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
• APR17.99% - 23.99% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$0
• Sign-Up Bonus $750Cash Bonus More Info

  Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

If you’re looking for a solid business credit card with unlimited earning potential, this could be it. With a 1.5% cash-back rate, it earns less than the other Ink Business cards, but you can put earning on autopilot with no spending limits or categories to juggle.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited® credit card is one of the best business credit cards on the market, and if you use it right by pairing it with a Chase card with an annual fee, you can unlock access to valuable transferable Ultimate Rewards points that you can move to travel partners.

Pros

• No annual fee
• Easy earning structure of 1.5X back on everything with no limits
• Robust travel and purchase protections

Cons

• Businesses that spend more on bonus categories won't earn more in rewards
• 1.5X isn't the highest earning rate

Bottom Line

Chase Ultimate Rewards is a popular credit card rewards program for a reason. It offers multiple ways to earn rewards points and then provides even more avenues to redeem those points for outsized value. While you can use your Ultimate Rewards for cash back, shopping and gift cards, redeeming your points — either through the Ultimate Rewards portal or transferring to a travel partner — will always be the best way to use your rewards.

However, if you're not convinced that it's the right program for you, consider other credit card rewards programs from issuers like Citi, American Express and Capital One. Additionally, airlines like Southwest, Delta and United also offer valuable rewards programs and credit cards.

Chase Travel Rewards Frequently Asked Questions

• Does Airbnb count as travel for Chase?

  If you book an Airbnb reservation with a Chase travel rewards card, the purchases are included in the travel category. Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders earn 2x points per dollar spent on Airbnb stays. Sapphire Reserve cardholders get 3x points per dollar. With any other Chase card, Airbnb is coded as a travel category purchase. Chase Ink Business Preferred cards offer 3x points on travel.

  If you have the Reserve version, you may use the $300 to reimburse yourself for spending with Airbnb automatically. If you’re on a budget weekend away, your Sapphire Reserve travel credit could cover the entire cost.

  If you already have a Chase card, head over to the Chase Offers section of Chase.com or the Chase mobile app. You may see a bonus option for 5% back for purchases with Airbnb. That’s an addition to any rewards you would earn from the purchase. This offer has come and gone a couple of times in the past, so it’s worth looking at Chase Offers before booking.

• Does gas count as travel for Chase Sapphire?

  When using a Chase travel rewards card, gas station purchases get their own category. Unfortunately, that means you won’t earn travel category rewards for purchases at the gas station.

  If gas is one of your top purchasing categories, consider supplementing your Chase Ultimate Rewards card with either the Chase Freedom Unlimited or Chase Freedom Flex (or both). With Freedom Unlimited, you get the equivalent of 1.5x points per dollar on all purchases, including gas, and can merge the points into your Ultimate Rewards balance. With Freedom Flex, you get 5x rewards on rotating categories that change every three months. Gas is in the rotation regularly. Both cards have no annual fee.

  If you spend a lot on gas for your small business, there are opportunities to earn a regular bonus on gas purchases with the Ink Business Cash, worth 2% back or 2x rewards points.

• What Airlines does Chase partner with?

  You can book flights using points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal on nearly any major airline. Depending on the card in your wallet, you’ll get one cent to 1.5 cents per point when redeeming for flights, hotels, rental cars and other travel through Chase.

  However, you can get even more value in many cases when transferring points to an airline partner. When redeeming for premium rewards, such as international business class, you may find opportunities to get more than five cents per point. This is one of the best ways to use a Chase travel rewards card.

  Here’s the full list of airline partners: Aer Lingus AerClub, British Airways Executive Club, Emirates Skywards, Flying Blue (Air France/KLM), Iberia Plus, JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.

• What are Chase Travel Rewards?

  Chase travel rewards are among the most valuable of any rewards program. Chase travel rewards are earned through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program. When you use a card in the Ultimate Rewards program, you can earn points with every purchase. Depending on the card and the purchase, you’ll typically earn between 1x and 5x points per dollar.

  You can redeem Chase travel rewards points for cash back, but booking free and discounted travel is the best use of travel rewards points. Points are worth between one and 1.5 cents when booking travel directly through Chase. You can also transfer points to an airline or hotel partner for potentially higher values per point.

  In addition to travel, you can redeem Chase travel rewards points for experiences including sporting events, concerts and exclusive chef events, gift cards and shopping partners. But for most people, the best way to redeem for the best value per point is travel.

  You can earn Chase travel rewards with the popular Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve credit cards for individuals or the Chase Ink Business Preferred for small businesses. If you use any Chase cash back card, you can combine your cash back rewards with your Chase travel rewards. That gives you even more points to get to your favorite destinations.

• Do Chase Ultimate Rewards points expire?

  No, Chase Ultimate Rewards points don’t expire as long as your credit card account is open and in good standing. But if you cancel your Chase rewards cards — or Chase closes your account due to inactivity — your Ultimate Rewards points will be terminated. So be sure to redeem all available points before closing your account. Similarly, when you receive notification that Chase plans on closing your credit card account, be sure to redeem points before it does so.

• Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card hard to get?

  The Chase Sapphire Preferred typically requires “good” to “excellent” credit for approval. Since Chase does not publish the specific approval requirements, many people ballpark needing between a 700 to 720 score to qualify. Also, those who have applied for more than five lines of credit within the past 24 months will be denied regardless of credit score, due to Chase’s unofficial 5/24 rule. Yet, if you have a strong credit profile and few hard inquiries on your credit report within the past two years, you should qualify for the card.

• Can you convert Chase Ultimate Rewards points to cash?

  Yes, you can redeem your Ultimate Rewards points for cash or statement credits, but your ability to do so will depend on which Chase card you used to earn them. Currently, points earned via the Sapphire travel cards, Freedom cash-back cards, and Ink business cards can be redeemed for cash at a rate of one cent per point. Yet, using Chase’s cash-like “Pay Yourself Back” feature, you can redeem points to pay off eligible purchases made in the past 90 days. Redemption rates vary by card with this method, but you'll earn a minimum of 1.1 cent per point.

• How many Chase Ultimate Rewards points do I need to fly free on average?

  You’ll need between 10,000 and 40,000 points to book a free one-way economy flight through Ultimate Rewards Travel. You’ll need even more points to fly mixed class, premium economy, or business class. Keep in mind that the exact number of points you’ll need for a free flight depends on the destination, time of day, date of travel, demand, and other variable pricing factors. Also, you can redeem points for outsized value by transferring your Ultimate Rewards to one of Chase’s airline partners, but the average number of points you’ll need varies widely depending on the transfer rate and a specific airline’s rewards schedule.