Chase Ultimate Rewards® at a Glance
- The Chase Ultimate Rewards® program is a highly-regarded credit card rewards program.
- You can earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points by spending with Chase credit cards.
- Chase points can be redeemed in many ways, like cash back, travel bookings through the Chase Travel portal, or transferring points to participating travel partners.
What is Chase Ultimate Rewards®?
Chase Ultimate Rewards® is a credit card rewards program available to Chase cardholders. When you make purchases with a Chase credit card, you’ll earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, travel and more.
The Chase Ultimate Rewards® program is well-rated because of its flexibility and vast redemption options. Some of the most popular Chase credit cards that earn Chase points include the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, and the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
Redemption Options
While not an exhaustive list, here are some ways you can redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points:
- Cash back: You can redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points for cash back. You can request a paper check, have your earnings deposited into a bank account, or apply them as a statement credit to your credit card account. With this redemption method, you can expect a value of $0.01 per point.
- Chase Travel travel bookings: Another option is to redeem your rewards for travel through the Chase Travel portal. You can use your points to book hotels, flights, rental cars, cruises, and more. This redemption provides a minimum of $0.01 per point, but those with select Chase cards can get a 25% to 50% points boost when redeeming their Chase Ultimate Rewards® points for Chase Travel bookings.
- Transfer partners: Some Chase travel rewards credit cards allow cardholders to transfer their Chase points to participating Chase Ultimate Rewards® transfer partners. Once transferred, you can use your rewards to book flights and hotel stays.
Related: Compare some of our best-rated travel rewards cards.
Top Partners
You can transfer your points to participating Chase Ultimate Rewards® travel partners if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card, or the Chase Ink Business Preferred® Card. Let's explore some hotel and airline loyalty programs that partner with Chase.
- Air Canada (Aeroplan): You can transfer your Chase points to the Air Canada’s Aeroplan program at a 1:1 ratio. Air Canada is a member of the Star Alliance, so in addition to booking Air Canada flights, you can redeem your rewards for flights operated by other partner airlines, like United, Singapore Airlines, and Air New Zealand.
- World of Hyatt: World of Hyatt is another major travel partner. Points transfer at a 1:1 ratio. This hotel loyalty program publishes an award chart, so you can easily verify how many points you'll need for a free night. During the off-peak season, a standard hotel room begins at 3,500 points a night for category 1 properties.
- Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club): You can transfer your points to the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club at a 1:1 ratio. Virgin Atlantic is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, so you can book partner flights with airlines like Delta, TAP Air Portugal, and Air New Zealand as well.
Expert Intel: Sarah Cash, points advisor with points and miles search engine, point.me, illustrates why transferring points to travel partners can be a valuable choice, “You could book a hotel like the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme starting at 35,000 points per night if you transfer Chase points to Hyatt. Normally, that hotel costs between $1,000 to $2,000 per night. That's a fantastic use of 35,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points.” [Source: LinkedIn]
How to Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards®?
Here are some tips to help you earn more Chase Ultimate Rewards® points:
Spend with Chase credit cards
The easiest way to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points is by making purchases with Chase credit cards. Most of them allow you to earn at least one point per dollar spent. But many Chase credit cards offer bonus rewards in select spending categories. Co-branded cards like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card and the United Explorer Card don't earn Chase points. Instead, they earn rewards through the partner's loyalty program.
Optimize your spending
By being strategic when using your credit cards, you can maximize the rewards you earn. Consider which credit card will offer the most rewards every time you buy something. If you have credit cards that earn bonus rewards in select spending categories, make sure the bonus categories align with your top spending categories to boost your rewards potential.
Expert Intel: Want to maximize your earnings? Sarah Cash, points advisor at point.me shared, "The most important thing to consider when looking to earn more points is whether you're earning the most points per dollar on the categories where you spend the most. So, for example, if you do a lot of online/miscellaneous shopping, a card that earns 2 points per dollar on all purchases may be the best fit. Look at what credit cards earn points on the things you spend money on, and get that card.” [Source: LinkedIn]
Don’t ignore welcome bonus offers
A great way to maximize your rewards potential is to take advantage of welcome bonus offers. If you’re considering applying for a new Chase credit card, check if a welcome offer is available. You can earn bonus points by meeting the minimum spending requirements within the offer timeline. You can earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points faster thanks to bonuses like this.
Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred Review
How to Use Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Here are a few tips to redeeming your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points effectively:
Compare redemption options
Explore all your options before redeeming your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. Some redemptions provide greater value, which can allow you to stretch your points further. Here's an example: Many travelers avoid cash back redemptions. Instead, they transfer their points to Chase Ultimate Rewards® transfer partners to get more value from their rewards. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and the Chase Ink Business Preferred® are the only Chase credit cards that can access Chase’s travel transfer partners.
Expert Intel: Deryn Rusell, luxury travel and credit card rewards expert and founder of Inside the Upgrade, shares why Chase's travel partners are so valuable, "You can transfer Chase points to 14 different hotel and airline partners, which is incredibly valuable. An Air France business-class flight might cost $3,000, or close to 300,000 points to book in the Chase travel portal. But that same flight probably costs around 60,000 points to book directly through Air France. Because Chase lets you transfer your points to partners (like Air France), all of a sudden you're getting way more value for your points." [Source: insidetheupgrade.com]
Don’t ignore the opportunity to get more value from your redemptions
You can combine points between Chase credit card accounts. If you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or Chase Ink Business Preferred® Card, moving your points from other Chase cards to these cards can be advantageous. You can do this within your account through the "Combine Points" tool.
Doing this can allow you to get more value from your points when booking through the Chase Travel portal. Plus, you have the ability to redeem your rewards with Chase Ultimate Rewards® travel partners.
Get more value when making Chase Travel portal bookings
Planning to redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points through the Chase Travel portal? You can get more value from your rewards with the right Chase credit card. With the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Business Ink Preferred Card®, Chase points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Travel. Meanwhile, Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders get 50% more value from their points with this redemption method.
Take advantage of transfer bonuses
Occasionally, travel partners promote transfer bonuses, allowing you to earn bonus rewards. For example, if an airline partner promotes a 25% transfer bonus, and you transfer 100,000 Chase points to its rewards program, you’ll get an additional 25,000 points. You’ll end up with 125,000 points after the transfer, even though you only transferred 100,000 points. Transfer bonuses can help you maximize the value of your Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Related: Chase Sapphire Reserve Review
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Access Chase Ultimate Rewards®?
You can access the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal by logging into your credit card account through the Chase website or mobile app. Once logged in, you can redeem your rewards in multiple ways.
How Much Are 50,000 Chase Points Worth?
The value of Chase Ultimate Rewards® points varies depending on which credit card you have and the redemption method you choose. Generally, you can expect a starting value of around $0.01 per point, so 50,000 Chase points would be worth $500. But you can maximize the value of your rewards with premium Chase cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
Can I Convert Chase Ultimate Rewards® to Cash?
Yes, you can redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards® points for cash or a statement credit to your account. You can expect a value of $0.01 per point when redeeming your Chase points for cash.
Disclosure: Non-Monetized. The information related to Chase Ultimate Rewards® was collected by Bestmoney.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product. Product details may vary. Please see the issuer website for current information. Chase does not receive commission for this product/card.
