Main Credit Card Reward Programs Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Ultimate Rewards is one the four major credit card reward programs in the US. We refer to these four rewards programs as super-programs, as they all combine over a dozen major rewards programs into one.

The most valuable benefit of the program is the ability to transfer to 10 airlines with a 1:1 ratio. You can also transfer to 3 hotel programs. This may also be valuable when redeeming for stays in those hotels. This partner transfer benefit is only available to the holders of Chase Sapphire cards (both Reserve and Preferred) and Chase Ink cards. If in addition to Sapphire or Ink, you have other Chase cards that earn Ultimate Rewards such as Chase Freedom, you may be able to transfer those points as well by moving the points to one of those eligible cards first.

Chase Ultimate Rewards airline transfer partners are:

Chase Transfer Partner

Min Transfer

Transfer Ratio

Transfer Time

Aer Lingus AerClub

1,000

1:1

Usually Instant

Air Canada Aeroplan

Expected to 

Join in late

2021

Air France / KLM Flying Blue

1,000

1:1

Usually Instant

British Airways Executive Club 

1,000

1:1

Usually Instant

Emirates Skywards

1,000

1:1

Usually Instant

Iberia Plus

1,000

1:1

1-2 Days

True Blue 

1,000

1:1

Usually Instant

Singapore Airlines Krisflyer

1,000

1:1

1-2 Days

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards*

1,000

1:1

Usually Instant

United MileagePlus*

1,000

1:1

Usually Instant

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

1,000

1:1

Usually Instant

*Not available through any super-program

You can also transfer to the following 3 hotel programs

Chase Hotel Transfer Partner

Min Transfer

Transfer Ratio

(Chase > Partner)

Transfer Time

World of Hyatt

1,000

1:1

Usually Instant

IHG Rewards Club

1,000

1:1

Usually Instant

Marriott Bonvoy

1,000

1:1

Usually Instant

Lately, following the lead Amex and Citi, Chase has started offering limited time transfer bonuses. We observed a 30% bonus to British Airways twice (2019 and 2020) and a 60% bonus to IHG once in 2020.

Chase also offers bonuses when booking travel through their Chase Travel portal which is powered by Expedia. If you hold Chase Sapphire Reserve, you get a 50% bonus on top of penny per mile redemption rates. With Preferred and Ink cards the bonus is 25%. The bonuses make Chase points more valuable on average than Citi or Amex (and definitely more valuable than Capital One points) since you have more opportunities to redeem the points by paying for travel with a better exchange rate improved by the bonus.

Chase Sapphire Reserve is definitely the way to go with Chase for travelers. See our article:

Every Road Warrior should have at least one of these in their wallet: A Review of Citi Prestige, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Amex Platinum for more info and analysis about the Chase Sapphire Prestige card and how it stacks up against others.

 

 

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