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Definitive Guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

Updated
Lyle Daly
By: Lyle Daly

Our Credit Cards Expert

Eric McWhinnie
Check IconFact Checked Eric McWhinnie
Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of the best and most popular credit card rewards programs. It's great for travelers, as it has a long list of airline and hotel partners where you can transfer your Chase points. There are also plenty of other ways to redeem your points.

It's easy to earn points in this program, too. Chase offers several credit cards with huge sign-up bonuses and high rewards rates, as well as other useful benefits. It usually doesn't take long to earn a large number of points. But how you use those points is important, because some redemptions offer more than double or triple the value of others.

This guide will teach you all about the Chase Ultimate Rewards program. By the end, you'll know which cards you can use to earn as many points as possible, and how to use your points for the travel you want.

How does the Chase Ultimate Rewards program work?

The Chase Ultimate Rewards program allows you to earn points you can redeem for rewards. You'll have access to the program as long as you have at least one of the best Chase credit cards with Ultimate Rewards.

When you use your Ultimate Rewards card, you earn points on eligible purchases. Chase adds these points to your Ultimate Rewards account, and you can redeem your points at any time. Redemption options depend on the card you have, but they include travel, cash back, and gift cards.

Which credit cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points?

The following Chase consumer credit cards earn Ultimate Rewards points:

Chase travel cards, meaning the Chase Sapphire cards, offer the most ways to use your points. Even though the Chase Freedom cards technically also earn Ultimate Rewards points, they're considered cash back cards. They don't let you transfer points to Chase travel partners, like the Chase Sapphire cards do.

However, if you have multiple Ultimate Rewards cards, you can move points from one to another. Let's say you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. You could move your Chase points from your Chase Freedom Unlimited® to your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Then, you'd have all the redemption options available, including transfers to travel partners.

For business owners, there are also Chase business credit cards in the Ultimate Rewards program:

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is the only business travel card in the Ultimate Rewards program. The rest are cash back cards. The Ink Business Premier® Credit Card is also unique in that it earns Ultimate Rewards points, but those points can't be moved to other Chase cards.

Chase Ultimate Rewards travel credit cards

Here's a closer look at Chase's travel credit cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points.

As of Nov. 27, 2023
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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Chase Sapphire Reserve®
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= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Reserve®

On Chase's Secure Website.

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. 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 Ultimate Rewards®.

60,000 bonus points

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. 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℠.

60,000 bonus points

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.

5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. 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.

5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠.

Intro APR: Circle with letter I in it. N/A

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Intro APR:

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR:

21.49%-28.49% Variable

Regular APR:

22.49%-29.49% Variable

Annual Fee: Circle with letter I in it. N/A

$95

Annual Fee: Circle with letter I in it. N/A

$550

Highlights:

  • 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 Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. 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

Highlights:

  • 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®
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
  • Member FDIC
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Reserve®

On Chase's Secure Website.

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Chase Ultimate Rewards cash back credit cards

Here's a side-by-side comparison of Chase's cash back credit cards.

As of Nov. 27, 2023
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Chase Freedom Unlimited® Chase Freedom Flex℠

Chase Freedom Rise℠ Credit Card

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5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Flex℠

On Chase's Secure Website.

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good (670-850)

Good (670-850)

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. 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 Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.

Up to $300 cash back

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening!

$200 bonus

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $25 statement credit after signing up for automatic payments within the first three months of opening your account

$25

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases

1.5% - 5% cash back

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.

5% cash back offer

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

1.5% cash back

Intro APR: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months

Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months

Intro APR: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR on Purchases

Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months

Intro APR:

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR:

20.49% - 29.24% Variable

Regular APR:

20.49%-29.24% Variable

Regular APR:

26.74% (Variable)

Annual Fee: Circle with letter I in it. N/A

$0

Annual Fee: Circle with letter I in it. N/A

$0

Annual Fee:

$0

Highlights:

  • INTRO OFFER: 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!
  • Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, 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 unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
  • No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
  • Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
  • No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
  • Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
  • Member FDIC

Highlights:

  • Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
  • 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
  • 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
  • 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.
  • No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex℠ card
  • Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
  • Member FDIC

Highlights:

  • Having a Chase checking account with a balance of at least $250 will increase your chances of getting approved for Chase Freedom Rise℠. See offer details.
  • Start building credit while earning 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
  • Earn a $25 statement credit after signing up for automatic payments within the first three months of opening your account.
  • As a Chase cardmember, you'll be evaluated for a credit line increase in as soon as 6 months.
  • Free credit score
  • No annual fee
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Flex℠

On Chase's Secure Website.

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Chase Ultimate Rewards business credit cards

Here are the Chase business credit cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points (minus the Ink Business Premier® Credit Card, since its points can't be moved to other Chase cards).

As of Nov. 27, 2023
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Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Earn 100,000 bonus points

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Earn $750 bonus cash back

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. 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.

Earn up to $750 bonus cash back

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases-with no limit to the amount you can earn.

Earn 3 points per $1 in select business categories

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business

Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn.

Earn 5% cash back in select business categories

Intro APR: Circle with letter I in it. N/A

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Intro APR: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR on Purchases

Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 12 months

Balance Transfers: N/A

Intro APR: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR on Purchases

Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 12 months

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR:

21.24%-26.24% Variable

Regular APR:

18.49% - 24.49% Variable

Regular APR:

18.49% - 24.49% Variable

Annual Fee: Circle with letter I in it. N/A

$95

Annual Fee: Circle with letter I in it. N/A

$0

Annual Fee: Circle with letter I in it. N/A

$0

Highlights:

  • 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.
  • Member FDIC

Highlights:

  • Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
  • No Annual Fee
  • Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
  • 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.
  • 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
  • Member FDIC

Highlights:

  • 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
  • Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
  • Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • 10% Business Relationship Bonus If you have the Ink Business Cash card plus a Chase Business Checking account on your first card anniversary
  • With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
  • Member FDIC
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Maximizing your points with multiple Chase credit cards

If you want to earn as many Chase points as possible, the best option is to get multiple Chase cards. There are a couple of big advantages to doing this:

  • You can earn more sign-up bonuses. These are normally the fastest way to earn points.
  • You can earn bonus rewards across more spending categories. Chase's cash back cards offer high earning rates in areas that its travel cards don't, and vice versa.

Carrying multiple credit cards is more complicated, and you shouldn't do it if you think you'll overspend or miss payments. But if you're confident you can manage it, you can earn far more points this way.

One of the most common strategies is to have three Chase Ultimate Rewards cards, normally with at least one being a travel card. On each purchase, you pick the card that will earn the highest rewards rate. Then, you transfer all the points you earn onto your Chase travel card. There's even an unofficial name for this strategy -- the Chase Trifecta.

READ MORE: What Is the Chase Trifecta?

How to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points

Chase offers quite a few ways to redeem Ultimate Rewards points:

  • Travel: Book travel through the Chase Travel portal or transfer points to Chase travel partners
  • Shopping & Experiences: Pay with points at checkout, shop Apple products, book dining, or book experiences
  • Convert to cash: Get cash back or redeem points as a statement credit through Pay Yourself Back

It might seem like a lot of options, but you can safely ignore most of them, because only a select few are a good deal. If you have a Chase travel card, it's almost always best to stick to travel redemptions. If you only have a Chase cash back card, then it makes sense to use your points for cash back.

Here are more details on the ways to redeem your Chase points.

1. Transfers to travel partners

You can transfer your points to the loyalty programs of airlines and hotels that partner with Chase. Transfers to most partners process instantaneously, and all transfers are final. The transfer ratio is 1:1 with every partner, although there are sometimes bonuses available. After you transfer points, you can use them with the partner to book airfare or a hotel stay.

This redemption method offers the most potential value. There is, however, a learning curve to finding the best transfer options for the travel you want to book.

These are the current loyalty programs where you can transfer your Ultimate Rewards points:

Airlines:

Hotels:

Pro tip: Don't forget about airline partnerships and alliances. When you have points with one airline, you can also use those points to book flights with any of that airline's partners and fellow airline alliance members.

The biggest airline alliances are SkyTeam, Star Alliance, and Oneworld. Chase has transfer partners in all three. So even though there are 10 frequent flyer programs in the Ultimate Rewards program, you could use points to book flights with more than 60 airlines thanks to partner bookings.

Those partners include American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, the other two major domestic carriers that aren't directly partnered with Chase. You won't find many airline credit cards that give you more flight-booking options.

2. Book travel through the Chase Travel portal

Chase offers a travel booking platform for cardholders. When you use the Chase Travel portal, you have the option of paying in cash, points, or a combination of the two. The value of your points on travel bookings depend on which Chase credit card you have:

  • Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: $0.0125 per point
  • Chase Sapphire Reserve®: $0.015 per point

There are a few extra perks with this method. Booking through the Chase Travel portal is usually considered a cash purchase by the airline or hotel. That means you can earn points in their own loyalty program. If you had transferred your points to make an award booking, you wouldn't earn anything.

Your booking will qualify for any travel insurance and protections your Chase card offers. When you transfer points and make an award booking, your Chase card's travel protections don't apply.

It's also possible to book more types of travel this way. In addition to flights and hotels, the travel portal offers car rentals, activities, and cruises.

3. Chase Dining

The Chase Dining program, powered by Tock, offers the following (some options depend on which Chase card you have):

  • Sapphire Private Dining series events
  • Table reservations
  • Pickup
  • Delivery

You can pay in cash or with Chase Ultimate Rewards points. With most Chase credit cards, you only get $0.01 per point. But with the Chase Sapphire cards, you get the same $0.0125 to $0.015 per point that you do on travel rewards bookings, so this is another redemption option that can be worth using.

4. Other redemption methods

You can also redeem Ultimate Rewards points for cash back or gift cards. If you have a travel card with Chase, you're almost always better off avoiding these methods. You only get $0.01 per point (unless there's a special gift card offer). Since you can get more value from other redemptions, it makes sense to stick to those.

Choosing a credit card

Don't you wish you could take a peek inside a credit card expert's wallet sometimes? Just to see the cards they carry? Well, you can't look in anybody's wallet, but you can check out our experts' favorite credit cards. Get started here:

What are Chase Ultimate Rewards points worth?

Chase Ultimate Rewards points have a base value of $0.01 per point and can be redeemed for cash back at that rate. With Chase travel cards, you can get 25% to 50% more value on travel reward redemptions. That gives them a value of $0.0125 to $0.015 per point when redeemed through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal.

It's possible to get even more value by transferring your points to Chase's airline and hotel partners. With points transfers, the value you get depends on what you end up booking. Some award airfare and hotel stays will get you $0.01 per point or less. But you can also find redemptions worth $0.03 per point or more.

Do Chase Ultimate Rewards points expire?

Chase Ultimate Rewards points don't expire as long as the credit card with the points is open. If the card is closed, any remaining points will be lost. That's why you should never cancel your credit card without redeeming your unused rewards points first or moving them to another one of your Chase cards.

You'd also lose your points if Chase decided to close your account. Although credit card companies can close an account at any time, it doesn't happen often. The most common reasons Chase would cancel your card are if you:

  • Don't make your minimum payment for at least 90 days
  • Declare bankruptcy
  • Commit fraud, either with your Chase card or with its rewards program

LEARN MORE: Do Chase Ultimate Rewards® Points Ever Expire?

Can you buy Ultimate Rewards points?

No, you can't buy Ultimate Rewards points. Chase used to allow cardholders to purchase points, but it discontinued this feature in 2012.

Combining your Chase points onto one credit card

If you have multiple Chase credit cards, here's how to move points between cards:

  1. Log in to your Chase Ultimate Rewards account.
  2. Select "Rewards details," and then choose "Combine points" from the dropdown menu.
  3. Choose the card that has the points you want to move and the card that will receive the points.
  4. Enter the amount of points you want to move.
  5. Submit the transfer.

Your points will be transferred instantly. If you're wondering why you'd do this, there are several potential reasons:

  • To use your rewards for travel. If you have a Chase cash back card, you can transfer its rewards to a Chase travel card. This turns your cash back into travel points.
  • To get more for your points. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has the best rate ($0.015 per point) with the Ultimate Rewards travel portal, Pay Yourself Back, and Chase Dining. If you have that card, you should move your points onto it before redeeming them through those methods.
  • To simplify redemptions. It's more time-consuming to redeem points when they're spread across multiple credit cards. You can redeem more points at once by combining them onto a single card.

How to use your Chase points to book the travel you want

The challenge with Chase points is figuring out the best way to use them for the trip you want. Here's a simple method that will help you book travel with your Chase points.

1. Start in the Chase Travel portal

Decide what type of travel you want to book with your points, and search for it on Chase's travel portal. For flight and hotel bookings, we're going to compare how much you'd pay in the travel portal versus transferring your points.

If you want to book anything besides a flight or hotel, the comparison isn't necessary. You can transfer points to book airfare or hotel stays, but the travel portal is your only option for other types of travel.

The following steps will cover what to do for flight and hotel bookings.

2. Look up prices for award airfare and hotel stays

Visit the websites for any Chase travel partners you could use for your trip. Plug in your trip details and select the option to pay in points/miles.

This will show you how much the various airlines and hotels would charge for award bookings, which is also how many Chase points you'd need.

3. See which option costs fewer points

Now you've checked prices in the Chase Travel portal and for award bookings, you can compare them and pick whichever costs less.

If there's not much of a difference, it's better to go with the travel portal. Since it will count as a cash travel purchase, you'll likely be able to earn rewards in the airline or hotel's loyalty program. Your Chase card's travel protections will also apply. Neither would happen with an award booking.

4. Book your travel

Either make your purchase through Chase's travel portal or select the option to transfer points to a partner.

If you transfer your points, you'll be able to book your award airfare or hotel stay once the transfer is complete. With most Chase travel partners, this happens instantly.

Best ways to use Chase Ultimate Rewards points

There are a few redemption options that tend to get excellent value for your points.

1. Business-class and first-class airfare

If you're aiming for peak value, expensive flights are where it's at. The absolute best deals are usually business-class and first-class seats on international flights. It's possible to get $0.03 per point or much more on those. First-class seats on domestic flights can also be a great deal.

2. Hyatt hotel stays

While value isn't great on most transfers to Chase hotel partners, Hyatt is the notable exception. Its awards chart has much better prices than most of the competition. When transferring Chase points to Hyatt, it's often possible to get $0.02 per point or more.

3. Redemptions through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal

The Ultimate Rewards travel portal offers a useful alternative to points transfers. If award bookings are too expensive or unavailable, you can still book through the travel portal. It's a good idea to get the Chase Sapphire Reserve® if you think you'll use this method often. That way you can take advantage of its $0.015 per point rate on travel redemptions.

Worst ways to use Chase Ultimate Rewards points

There are some spectacular redemption options available in the Ultimate Rewards program, but there are also those that get you very little per point. Without further ado, here's the Hall of Shame:

1. Award flights with high fees

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are the most notorious offenders here. The enormous surcharges they often tack on to award tickets make it so you're practically paying in points plus cash.

You can still find some good award ticket deals with these airlines. But make sure you check the fees first to see if you're really getting a deal.

2. Award stays with hotels other than Hyatt

IHG and Marriott are lackluster choices for award stays as you'll usually get around $0.01 per point.

Instead, go through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal to apply the cash value of your points toward bookings with these hotels. You'll get an equal or better value, and you'll earn points with the hotel on the booking.

3. Cash back and gift cards

The only time you should get cash back from Ultimate Rewards points is if it's an emergency. Otherwise, stick to using your travel card for travel rewards.

Gift cards are almost always a waste of time and points. Most of these offers get you $0.01 per point, and you can only use the gift card with one retailer.

See the world and pay with Chase points

The great thing about Ultimate Rewards points is their versatility. No matter where you're going, you can use your points to book a flight and a place to stay.

It may seem complicated at first, but it doesn't take that long to get the hang of redeeming your points. And as you search for award travel through the Ultimate Rewards program and its partners, you'll better understand how to get the most value on every redemption.

Still have questions?

Here are some other questions we've answered:

FAQs

  • If you like to travel, Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of the best credit card rewards programs to choose. It has several highly rated credit cards with big bonus opportunities, and the program itself offers great travel redemptions. You can redeem Ultimate Rewards points for airfare, hotels, and much more.

  • Chase points have a base value of $0.01 per point for cash back, so 50,000 Chase points are worth at least $500. With Chase travel cards, points are worth 25% to 50% more on travel bookings through Chase, giving 50,000 Chase points a value of $625 to $750.

  • Chase Ultimate Rewards is Chase's credit card rewards program, and it offers multiple redemption options. You can redeem points through Chase Ultimate Rewards to book travel, get cash back, buy gift cards, or you can transfer points to airline and hotel partners. Travel redemptions usually offer the most value.

  • Yes, you can cash out Chase Ultimate Rewards points by redeeming them for cash back. Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth $0.01 per point when redeemed this way. There are redemptions available that offer a greater value, so cashing out your points isn't the best way to use them.

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