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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.
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Chase Travel Rewards: Ultimate Rewards® Program Review
Pros
- Easy to earn points: Earn points with every purchase and start out with a generous sign-up bonus.
- Valuable points for travel rewards: Points are easily worth 25% more when booked through Ultimate Rewards.
- Points are flexible with many redemption options: Book flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, vacation rentals and more.
- Chase Ultimate Rewards points never expire.
Cons
- Credit card annual fees: the best Ultimate Rewards cards have annual fees.
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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.
Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Value (When Booked Through Chase)
| Card Name | Points Value |
|---|---|
|
Chase Freedom Branded Cards |
1 cent / point |
|
Ink Business Cash |
1 cent / point |
|
Ink Business Unlimited |
1 cent / point |
|
Ink Business Preferred |
1.25 cents / point |
|
Chase Sapphire Preferred |
1.25 cents / point |
|
Chase Sapphire Reserve |
1.5 cents / point |
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.
Quick Tip
Chase Ultimate Rewards gives you access to all of the three big airline alliances with Airline transfer partners. This means you can transfer Chase points to British Airways points, and then book flights on American Airlines.
Hotel partners include mega-brands Hyatt, IHG and Marriott. Marriott has the biggest list of properties of any hotel chain in the world. The Hyatt program has gained popularity, and IHG also offers a large list of popular and luxury brands.
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10 Ways to Redeem 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points for Travel
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.
Quick Tip
Points earned on different Chase credit cards can be pooled into a single travel credit card account and redeemed together. These card-to-card point transfers allow you to move points earned from a Freedom card or an Ink card into one of the Sapphire cards or the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card to redeem for outsized value.
For example, if you have the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you cannot redeem points earned with that card for travel at the higher rewards rate. But if you also have the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can transfer your Chase Freedom FlexSM points to either of those cards and redeem for the higher value (or transfer pooled points to once of Chase’s travel partners for even more value).
Pairing the Freedom Unlimited or Freedom Flex with either the Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve is a common and effective points-earning strategy. Both the Sapphire Preferred and Reserve earn accelerated rewards for travel spending, while the Freedom cards offer accelerated points earning in other spending categories including gas, groceries and online spending.
The Top 3 Chase Credit Cards for Earning Points (over 1 cent / point)
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
- APR21.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
- Annual Fee$550
-
Sign-Up Bonus
60,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
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
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.
Chase Sapphire Preferred®
- Our Rating 5/5 How our ratings work
- APR20.99% - 27.99% (Variable)
- Annual Fee$95
-
Sign Up Bonus
60,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
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
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.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
- APR20.24% - 26.24% Variable
- Annual Fee$95
This fee includes extra cards for authorized users, such as employees, at no additional charge.
-
Sign Up Bonus
90,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
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
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.
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
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
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.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
- APR18.99% - 28.49% (Variable)
- Annual Fee$0
-
Sign Up Bonus
$250Cash Bonus
Limited Time Intro Offer: Earn a $250 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
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 TravelSM 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
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 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.)
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
- Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
- APR17.49% - 25.49% Variable
- Annual Fee$0
-
Sign-Up Bonus
$750Cash Bonus
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
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.
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
- Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
- APR17.49% - 23.49% (Variable)
- Annual Fee$0
-
Sign-Up Bonus
$750Cash Bonus
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
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.
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
Eric Rosenberg
Eric Rosenberg is a finance, travel, and technology writer in Ventura, California. He is a former bank manager and corporate finance and accounting professional who left his day job in 2016 to take his online side hustle full-time. He has in depth experience writing about banking, credit cards, investing, business, and other financial topics. When away from the keyboard, Eric enjoys exploring the world and spending time with his wife and little girls. You can connect with him at Personal Profitability or EricRosenberg.com.
