Chase Ultimate Rewards: The Complete Guide

Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) is the most flexible points currency in credit cards. You can redeem for cash, book travel, or transfer to 14+ airline and hotel partners—often getting 2-3x the value of cash redemption.

This guide covers everything: earning, redeeming, and maximizing your Chase points.

Chase Ultimate Rewards Cards

Premium Cards (Transfer Capability)

Only these cards unlock transfer partners:

Card	Annual Fee	Earning Rates	Portal Value
Sapphire Preferred	$95	3X travel/dining, 2X all travel	1.25¢/point
Sapphire Reserve	$550	10X hotels/cars via Chase, 5X flights, 3X dining	1.5¢/point
Ink Business Preferred	$95	3X shipping/travel/internet/ads	1.25¢/point

Cash Back Cards (Pool with Premium)

These cards earn UR points that can be transferred to a premium card:

Card	Annual Fee	Earning Rates
Freedom Unlimited	$0	1.5X everything, 5X travel via Chase
Freedom Flex	$0	5X rotating categories, 3X dining
Ink Business Unlimited	$0	1.5X everything
Ink Business Cash	$0	5X office/phone/internet, 2X gas/dining

Key strategy: Earn on no-fee cards, transfer to Sapphire for premium redemptions.

How to Redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards

Option 1: Cash Back (1¢ per point)

Simple but lowest value. 50,000 points = $500.

When to use: Only if you need cash immediately and won’t travel.

Option 2: Chase Travel Portal (1.25-1.5¢ per point)

Book travel directly through Chase:

• Sapphire Preferred: 1.25¢ per point
• Sapphire Reserve: 1.5¢ per point

50,000 points = $625-$750 in travel

When to use: For straightforward bookings when transfer options aren’t significantly better.

Option 3: Transfer to Partners (Variable, often 1.5-2.5¢+)

Transfer points 1:1 to airline and hotel partners, then book award travel.

50,000 points transferred to Hyatt = potentially $1,000+ in hotel value

When to use: For maximum value, especially on premium cabin flights and aspirational hotels.

Best Chase Ultimate Rewards Redemptions

Best Hotel: World of Hyatt

Hyatt consistently delivers the best value for hotel redemptions.

Sweet spots:

• Category 1-4 hotels: 5,000-15,000 points/night (often $200-400 value)
• Park Hyatt properties: 25,000-40,000 points (often $500-1,000+ value)
• All-inclusive resorts: Points cover everything

Value example:

• Park Hyatt Maldives: 30,000 points/night (cash rate $1,500+)
• Value: 5¢+ per point

Best Domestic Flights: Southwest or United

Southwest:

• No award charts (points = dollars)
• ~1.5¢ per point value typically
• Companion Pass makes it even better

United:

• Dynamic pricing but deals exist
• 10,000-25,000 points for domestic flights
• Good for Star Alliance partners

Best International Flights: Transfer Partners

Business class to Europe:

• Virgin Atlantic: 50,000 points on Delta One
• Air France: 55,000 points on their own metal
• Value: 3-5¢ per point

First class to Asia:

• Singapore Airlines: 85,000-95,000 points
• ANA via Virgin Atlantic: 55,000-60,000 points
• Value: 5-15¢ per point

Pooling and Transferring Points

How Pooling Works

All UR-earning cards in your name can pool points:

1. Earn on Freedom cards (no annual fee)
2. Transfer to Sapphire (has transfer partners)
3. Redeem at premium values

Household Transfers

You can transfer points to household members who have their own UR-earning card. This allows couples/families to combine points for big redemptions.

Transfer Process

1. Log into Chase
2. Go to Ultimate Rewards
3. Select “Transfer to Travel Partners”
4. Choose partner and amount
5. Confirm transfer

Timing: Most transfers are instant. Some partners take 24-48 hours.

Warning: Transfers are one-way and irreversible. Only transfer what you’ll use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Chase points expire? No, as long as your account is open and in good standing.

Can I transfer points between my Chase cards? Yes. Points can be pooled among your own UR-earning cards.

What’s the best card to hold for Chase points? Sapphire Reserve for maximum value; Sapphire Preferred for lower fee with transfer access.

Can I cancel my Sapphire and keep my points? If you downgrade to a Freedom card, you keep the points but lose transfer capability. To maintain transfers, you need a Sapphire or Ink Business Preferred.

How long do transfers take? Most are instant. United, Hyatt, Marriott are typically immediate. Some partners take up to 24-48 hours.

Can I transfer points to someone else’s loyalty account? No. Transfers must go to accounts in your name (with matching name and address).

Last updated: January 2026

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