Key Takeaways
Chase Ultimate Rewards is our most valued point system.
- These points are the most flexible of any credit card points. You can transfer points to their partners (the most valuable way to redeem)
- Or you can book travel directly through the Chase portal, including cruise, car rental, or specialty hotels.
- The quality of their transfer partners (Hyatt, United & Southwest) is unmatched. As is the value you can get when you transfer.
- You can get a “multiplier effect” on your Chase Ultimate Rewards points when you have either of Chase’s Sapphire cards by taking advantage of Points Boost.
- We view Ultimate Rewards as the points “savings account” to top off a partner reward system for a flight or hotel. Or to book travel items directly through the Chase travel portal.
Reward Program Ratings
Hobby Score
8.3Travel Partner Transfers
Transfers In
Transfers Out
Points Transfer Guide
How to Earn Points
Chase offers many different credit card options for earning points. Welcome offers are the easiest way to earn a large lump sum at once, and the most valuable cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Other cards instead offer cash back, and Chase’s business card lineup also unlocks strong miles-earning potential.
Owning one of Chase’s Sapphire cards (the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred) is crucial in this hobby. These cards allow you to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to airline and hotel partners, maximizing their value.
If you own a Sapphire card, you can also transfer rewards from other Chase cards, converting cash back earned from both personal and business cards into Chase Ultimate Rewards. On the business side, the Chase Sapphire Reserve Business and Chase Ink Business Preferred also earn transferable Ultimate Rewards points.
Our Favorite Cards
Chase Sapphire Reserve Business
Other Cards for this Point System
Annual Bonuses & Big Spend Bonuses
- Spend requirement: Earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total spend from the previous year.
- Our take: A nice perk, but not worth spending extra solely to earn the bonus.
- Spend requirement:
- 5% back on combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services on the first $25,000 spent
- 2% back on combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants on the first $25,000 spent
- 1% back on all other purchases (no limit)
- Our take: Helpful bonuses, but not worth going out of your way to max out. Put spend toward a new card’s welcome offer instead.
- Spend requirement: If you spend $75,000 or more each year, you earn:
- $500 credit for Southwest Airlines (booked through Chase) plus A-List status
- IHG One Rewards Diamond Status
- $250 credit for purchases through The Shops
- Our take: Your spending power goes further opening new cards and earning welcome bonuses.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Business
- Spend requirement: Spend $120,000 annually to receive:
- $500 Southwest Airlines Chase Travel statement credit
- $500 in statement credits for The Shops at Chase
- Complimentary Diamond Elite Status with IHG One Rewards
- A-List Status with Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
- Our take: The required spend is too high to justify the return. New card welcome bonuses provide better value.
Breaking Points
Special Offers Related to Chase Ultimate Rewards. Click the arrow to see more.
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Apr. 10, 2023
- Citi Premier MasterCard - Limited Time Offer - 75,000 Points, after spending $4000 in 3 months, $95 Annual fee.
- Citi AAdvantage Platinum - Special Offer - $75,000 AA Miles, after spending $3500 in 4 months, $0 Annual fee for the first year, then $99.
- Chase Sapphire Visa - Limited Time Offer - 80,000 Points, after spending $4000 in 3 months, $95 Annual fee.
- Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard - Limited Time Offer - 70,000 Points, after spending $2000 in 3 months, $89 Annual fee.
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Oct. 19, 2022
Now with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, earn 80,000 Bonus points after spending $4000 in 3 months. Annual fee is $550 with a $300 annual travel credit. This offer is ending soon, so if you haven't tipped the 5/24 rule you may want to consider this one.
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Oct. 19, 2022
For a limited time get 80,000 bonus points after spending $4000 in 3 months. There is a $550 annual fee that's not waived but can be offset by the $300 annual travel credit every anniversary that comes with this Chase Sapphire Reserve Card.
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Jul. 21, 2022
Chase Sapphire Reserve card is offering 60,000 Ultimate Rewards after spending $4000 in 3 months. This card comes with a $300 annual travel credit to offset the $550 annual fee.
How to Redeem Points
Chase is the most popular rewards system in the hobby thanks to its high-value transfer partners. You’ll get the best value by transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards to airline or hotel partners, especially when taking advantage of the sweet spots listed at the top of the page. There is a learning curve, but the payoff is worth it.
If you don’t want the time commitment of partner bookings, you can still get strong value by redeeming through the Chase Travel Portal, especially with a Sapphire card.
Chase Travel Portal
You can use the Chase Travel Portal to book flights, hotels, rental cars, and more. Points values vary based on the card you hold:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Up to 2¢ per point through Points Boost
- Chase Sapphire Preferred: Up to 1.5¢ per point (or 1.75¢ per point on premium cabin airfare)
- No-annual-fee cards (Freedom, Ink Cash, etc.): 1¢ per point
Points Boost applies only to select airfare and hotel bookings when you hold a Sapphire card. When it is not available, all redemptions default to 1¢ per point.
Legacy Points Boost rules: If you held a Sapphire Reserve or Preferred before June 23, 2025, any points you earned before October 26, 2025 are eligible for:
- 1.5¢ per point (Reserve)
- 1.25¢ per point (Preferred)
These elevated values remain valid through October 26, 2027.
The Edit (Sapphire Reserve Only)
If you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can redeem points through The Edit, Chase’s luxury hotel collection. Every Edit booking is eligible for Points Boost at 2¢ per point.
Additional perks when booking The Edit with a Sapphire Reserve card:
- Earn 8x points when paying with your Reserve card
- You can use your $250 biannual travel credit
- You can stack cash + points: pay up to $250 in cash to trigger the travel credit, then redeem points for the remainder at 2¢ per point
You'll also receive the following benefits on every stay with The Edit through the Chase Portal, whether you redeem points or pay with your Reserve card.
- Breakfast for two
- $100 property credit
- Room upgrade when available
- Early check-in and late check-out when available
Pay Yourself Back
Pay Yourself Back allows cardholders to redeem points at an elevated rate on select, rotating categories.
- Categories change quarterly and vary by card.
- The maximum redemption rate is 1.5¢ per point.
- Less value than transferring to partners, but better than the standard 1¢ per point rate.
What You Shouldn’t Do
Some redemptions give far less value for your Chase Ultimate Rewards points and are best avoided:
- Gift cards: Redeem at only 1¢ per point
- PayPal: Apply points at checkout for just 0.8¢ per point
- Amazon: Apply points at checkout for just 0.8¢ per point
- Experiences and dining: Redeem for events or meals, but you’ll get 1¢ per point at best
Sweet Spots Finder
Discover your points' highest-value redemption options. Use the filters to find the optimal sweet spot for your next trip.
Booking Tips
Hyatt is almost always the top choice for partner bookings across all points programs. Its only drawback is a smaller global footprint compared to other major hotel chains
Who is it best for?
We rank Chase Ultimate Rewards as the top points system in the hobby. It appeals to both beginners and advanced users. Its value is strong for experts with access to high-value transfer partners like Hyatt, United, and Southwest Airlines. Chase also works well for beginners, offering an easy entry point with lower-level cards and the option to move up to higher-value cards after learning the basics.
Chase offers many different cards to use. Those cards often become the ones people build strategies around, as the 5/24 rule drives decision-making over time. If you are new and plan to stay in the points and miles world, learning all you can about Chase Ultimate Rewards will serve you well.
What to Know Before Canceling
Your Ultimate Rewards points are tied to your card, so you’ll need to transfer them out before canceling. The good news is that Chase offers many valuable transfer partners to choose from. You can also downgrade to a no-annual-fee card, and since that’s not considered opening a new account, it will not affect your 5/24 status. Note that you cannot transfer points to partners from a lower level card. You need a Sapphire or Ink Business Preferred to transfer to partners.
FAQs
- Is it better to use Chase points for travel or cash back?
- Cash back redemptions return only 1¢ per point. Booking travel through the Chase Travel Portal can be worth up to 2¢ per point with the Chase Sapphire Reserve for points boost redemptions. Transferring points to airline or hotel partners can deliver even higher value, up to 7–10¢ per point.
- What is the most efficient way to redeem Chase points?
- The most efficient way to redeem Chase points is to transfer them to travel partners. That is how you unlock outsized value, often well more than 2¢ per point. Booking through the Chase Travel Portal is easier, but learning partner awards maximizes long term value and flexibility.
- Which Chase card is best for rewards?
- The two Chase Sapphire Reserve cards, personal and business, offer the biggest signup bonuses and most perks, but they also carry higher annual fees. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is an excellent alternative for travelers who want strong value and transferable points with a lower fee.
- Can you book Airbnb through Chase Travel?
- You cannot book Airbnb through Chase Travel, as Airbnb is not a direct transfer partner. Chase does offer vacation rentals in its portal for select cardholders. Log in to Chase Travel, and if your card is eligible you will see options to search hotels or vacation homes.
- Who has more lounges, Chase or Amex?
- American Express provides access to more lounges than Chase through the Global Lounge Collection, which includes Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, and other partner lounges. The premium cards from both reward systems offer access to the most lounges.
