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The Complete Guide To Using the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal — Maximize Your Options

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Katie Seemann

Katie Seemann

Senior Content Contributor

Countries Visited: 27U.S. States Visited: 27

Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure an...
Edited by: Juan Ruiz

Juan Ruiz

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Countries Visited: 40U.S. States Visited: 27

Juan has been involved in credit cards, loyalty, travel, and personal finance for more than 10 years. He has worked for several outlets including The Points Guy and Forbes and was previously Editor-in...

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Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of the major transferrable points programs and a favorite among many travelers. Points are easy to earn and can be transferred to many different hotel and airline partners. But you can also book travel directly through Chase’s travel portal using Ultimate Rewards points.

Booking travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal is simple and can be a great way to use your points.

We’ll show you everything you need to know about how to redeem your points, including the benefits, how to know what your points are worth, and how to book airlines, hotels, and more through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal.

Why Book Travel Through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal?

Generally, you can get maximum value from your Chase Ultimate Rewards points by transferring them to the Chase airline and hotel partners, so why are we talking about using points through a travel portal? While it’s true that the only way to get the highest value redemptions is by transferring, there is still a lot of value to be had by booking directly through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.

Flexibility

Flexibility is not often available with points bookings. Unlike an award booking, booking through Chase Ultimate Rewards is like using any other online travel agency (OTA). There are no blackout dates or limited inventory award seats. If a flight or hotel is available, you can book it with points through the Chase travel portal.

You Can Earn Frequent Flyer Miles

One of the major bummers of booking flights with frequent flyer miles is that you don’t earn miles on award bookings. You can end up doing a lot of travel without earning miles. However, any booking you make with your Chase Ultimate Rewards points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal will earn frequent flyer miles and accrue status points. Unfortunately, hotel and car rental bookings still won’t earn points.

Simplicity

We have talked to so many people over the years that love the idea of collecting points and miles but don’t want to deal with the hassle. While many don’t mind putting a little work into getting an awesome redemption, others are just looking for a simple way to book travel and hopefully save some money in the process.

That’s where the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal comes in. With this method of redeeming points, there is no transferring, comparing points values, blackout dates, limited award availability, or multiple travel accounts. You only have to deal with 1 type of point and 1 travel portal but can still retain many of the benefits of collecting points and miles in the first place.

Bottom Line: You can book flights, hotels, rental cars, activities, and cruises through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal.

Cards That Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

If you like the idea of using the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, you’ll need a credit card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points:

There are also some great cash-back cards from Chase that can be used to book travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal. The points earned on these cards can be converted into cash-back or alternatively, they can be used in the Chase travel portal.

What Are Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Worth?

It’s easy to earn lots of Chase Ultimate Rewards points, but do you know how much they are worth? If you’re transferring your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to a travel partner, their value will go up or down depending on the type of redemption.

However, when you are booking your travel directly through Chase’s travel portal, each Chase Ultimate Rewards point has a set value that won’t change. The credit card you have will determine the value of your Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Chase Credit CardValue of UR Points (Booking Through Travel Portal)Chase Credit CardValue of UR Points (Booking Through Travel Portal)
Chase Sapphire Reserve card1.5 centsFreedom Flex Card1 cent
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card1.25 centsFreedom Unlimited Card1 cent
Ink Business Plus Card1.25 centsInk Business Cash Card1 cent
Ink Business Preferred Card1.25 centsInk Business Premier Card1 cent
Freedom Card1 centInk Business Unlimited Card1 cent

Transfer Your Points Between Credit Cards for Maximum Value

If you have multiple Chase credit cards, it makes sense to transfer your points to the card with the most valuable redemption rate. The only exception to this is the Ink Business Premier card because points earned on this card can’t be transferred to any other card.

1. To transfer your points between 2 cards, log on to the Chase Ultimate Rewards dashboard and select Combine Points.

You can easily transfer your points between different credit cards. Image Credit: Chase

2. Then you will be able to select the card you want to transfer points from and the card you want to receive the points. After you choose, click Next.

You can choose to transfer points between all of your Chase Ultimate Rewards points earning cards. Image Credit: Chase

3. You can transfer all of your points or just what you need. Click Review to continue.

You can choose how many points you want to move. Image Credit: Chase

4. Double-check the details and click on the Submit button to complete the transfer.

Bottom Line: Your credit card will determine the value of your Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Your points are worth between 1 to 1.5 cents each depending on which credit card you’re redeeming points through. 

Earning Chase Points by Booking Travel

What if you’d prefer to pay for your travel with a Chase credit card to earn Ultimate Rewards points? The number of points you’ll earn through the Chase travel portal is dependent on which credit card you have and what type of travel you’re purchasing.

Credit CardPoints/Cash-Back Earned on FlightsPoints/Cash-Back Earned on HotelsPoints/Cash-Back Earned on Car Rentals
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card5x points per $15x points per $1
5x points per $1
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card5x points per $110x points per $1
10x points per $1
Freedom Flex Card5% cash-back5% cash-back
5% cash-back
Freedom Unlimited Card5% cash-back5% cash-back
5% cash-back
Ink Business Cash Card1% cash-back1% cash-back
1% cash-back
Ink Business Preferred Card3x points per $1 (up to $150,000 then 1x points per $1)3x points per $1 (up to $150,000 then 1x points per $1)3x points per $1 (up to $150,000 then 1x points per $1)
Ink Business Premier Card5% cash-back5% cash-back
5% cash-back
Ink Business Unlimited Card1.5% cash-back1.5% cash-back
1.5% cash-back

How To Access the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal

You can log into your Chase Ultimate Rewards account in 2 ways.

First, you can go directly to the Ultimate Rewards website to log in or you can log in through your Chase account.

If you’re in your Chase account, click on one of your Ultimate Rewards credit cards and then click on Redeem next to the card’s Ultimate Rewards balance.

You can access Ultimate Rewards through your online credit card account. Image Credit: Chase

Then choose the card you want to use.

From here you can access the Ultimate Rewards travel portal by clicking on Travel in the top search box or you can switch to another card’s account by clicking on the 3-line icon in the upper left-hand corner.

You can access your other cards’ accounts or go to the travel portal from the main Ultimate Rewards dashboard. Image Credit: Chase

How To Book a Flight Through Chase Ultimate Rewards

1. In the Travel section of your Ultimate Rewards account, click on Flights to start your search for a flight. As with any other OTA, you begin your search by inputting basic information such as departure and arrival city, travel dates, and the number of passengers.

You’ll start your flight search on the main Ultimate Rewards travel page. Image Credit: Chase

2. Next, you will be able to narrow your search results. At the left-hand side of the page, you can filter your results by things like airline or flight times. Then you can sort your results by price, trip duration, or times using the drop-down box at the top of the search results.

3. For each flight option, you’ll be able to see the price in dollars and in points on the right-hand side of the results box.

You’ll be able to see your flight price in dollars and points. Image Credit: Chase

4. Once you’ve found the flight you want, click the blue Select button. Next, you can choose your return flight using the same process as you did for selecting the outbound flight. Click the blue Select button once you have made your choice.

5. From here you can confirm your flight details and select a fare upgrade if you wish. Then, you’ll be able to choose how to pay for your flight. You can pay for the entire purchase with points or a Chase credit card, or you can split your payment between points and a Chase credit card.

6. Finally, input your passenger information next. Don’t forget to add a frequent flyer number, a Known Traveler Number, or a Redress number if you have them.

Hot Tip:When purchasing travel through the Chase travel portal, you can split your payment between Chase Ultimate Rewards points and a Chase credit card.

How To Book a Hotel Through Chase Travel

1. To book a hotel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, you’ll need to start by clicking on the Hotels tab in the main search box. Then, input your destination, check-in and check-out dates, and the number of travelers. Next, click on the blue Search button.

2. Your search results will look like other sites that you may be familiar with. You’ll see filtering options to the left and sorting options above your search results.

3. Each search result will show the price in both dollars and Chase Ultimate Rewards points. These prices include taxes and fees with the exception of resort fees.

You’ll see the price in both cash and points. Image Credit: Chase

4. Once you select your hotel, click on Add to Itinerary. You can choose to pay for all or part of your hotel cost using Ultimate Rewards points. Click Begin Checkout to input your reservation details and finalize your booking.

Hot Tip: When booking a hotel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, you won’t be eligible to earn points in the hotel’s loyalty program or take advantage of any elite status you may have.

The Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection

The Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection (LHRC) is exclusively for Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders. From the Ultimate Rewards travel home page, just click on The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection tab.

You can access Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection properties through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Image Credit: Chase

Once you are on the LHRC homepage, type in your destination and click Search to view available properties. Each listing will display the property’s unique cardmember benefits. Click on the listing for more information and to continue the booking process.

Each listing will show the property’s LHRC benefits. Image Credit: Chase

When booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, these properties offer the following benefits:

  • Daily breakfast for 2
  • Special amenity (varies by property)
  • Room upgrades (based on availability)
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Early check-in and late checkout (based on availability)

The Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection properties are reservation-only bookings. You’ll make your reservations online and payment doesn’t happen until you check out from the hotel. These bookings will not take Chase Ultimate Rewards points as payment.

Bottom Line: Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection properties are only available to Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers. These properties can’t be booked with points.

How To Book a Rental Car Through the Chase Travel Portal

1. To rent a car through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, start by clicking on the Cars tab in the main search box. Then, input your pick-up location, drop-off location, dates, times, and age of the driver. Click on the blue Search box to continue.

2. You can then narrow your search with the filtering options on the left-hand side of the page.

3. For each car option, you will be able to see the car details, rental company, and price in both dollars and Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Once you have selected the car you want to rent, click on Add to Itinerary.

You can book a rental car through Chase using cash or Ultimate Rewards points. Image Credit: Chase

4. You can pay for the entire purchase with points or a Chase credit card or split your payment in any amount. Double-check all of the details before completing your purchase.

How To Book Activities Through Chase Ultimate Rewards

Did you know you can also book activities through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards travel portal?

1. Click the Activities tab on the Ultimate Rewards travel homepage to get started. Then, input your destination and travel dates and click the Search button to continue.

You can book activities through the Chase travel portal. Image Credit: Chase

2. You can narrow your search by selecting 1 or more categories at the left-hand side of the page. Categories can include things like:

  • Classes & workshops
  • Cruises & sailing
  • Food & drink
  • Outdoor activities
  • Seasonal & special occasions
  • Tickets & passes
  • Tours & sightseeing
  • Transfers & ground transport
  • Unique experiences

3. Each activity will show the price in both dollars and points to the right side of the screen. Click on Show Details and Pricing for more information and to book the activity.

You can book activities using money or points. Image Credit: Chase

6. Double-check all of the details on the final page before completing your purchase. Click the box confirming you understand the travel disclosures, then click Complete Checkout to finish your purchase.

Bottom Line: You can book lots of activities through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, including airport transfers!

How To Book a Cruise Through the Portal

If you’re a fan of cruises, you’ll be pleased to know you can book them through your Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal. To get started, click on the Cruises tab on the Ultimate Rewards travel homepage.

This will bring up a list of available cruises, but there’s also a search box at the top of the screen, so you can input a specific destination or cruise line.

You can search for a specific cruise or browse a list of options. Image Credit: Chase

Each listing will display the cruise line, ship, ports of call, sailing dates, and baseline pricing for an interior or oceanview cabin. Unfortunately, if you want any more specific information or if you want to book, you will need to call 855-234-2542.

You’ll notice that only cash prices are listed for cruises, however, they can be booked using your Chase Ultimate Rewards points, too.

Hot Tip:You can book a cruise through Chase Ultimate Rewards but you’ll have to call to make your reservation as they can’t be booked online.

How Do the Prices Compare to Other Sites?

Are you getting a good deal by booking through Chase? Let’s look at how the prices available through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal stack up to other OTAs and search engines including Hotwire, Kayak, and Expedia.

Flights

We did some flight searches and found there’s no clear-cut pattern on prices between the Chase portal to other websites.

Example #1: Round-trip flight between Philadelphia (PHL) and San Francisco (SFO) for 1 person in economy.

We searched this route in the Chase travel portal and the cheapest option was a flight that was split between Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines for $526.20. This worked out to be the cheapest price we found, and Priceline had the same low price. Expedia and Hotwire both charge booking fees, making the price a little higher. Each airline’s own website couldn’t split the itinerary between different airlines, so those ended up being much more expensive.

WebsiteExample #1: Round-trip Flight Price Between PHL and SFO
Alaska Airlines Website$809.20
Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal$526.20
Delta Air Lines Website$706.20
Expedia$530.66
Hotwire$530.66
Priceline$526.20

If you are in doubt or would like to check prices yourself, Kayak is a great place to start. Kayak will show you prices for a flight on all of the OTAs as well as the airline’s website. It’s a great one-stop shop to compare flight prices.

Example #2: Round-trip flight between New York City (JFK) and Paris, France (CDG) for 1 person in economy.

We searched this route in the Chase travel portal and the cheapest option was a flight that was split between American Airlines and British Airways for $689.78. This wasn’t the overall best price we found, though. That award goes to Expedia and Priceline.

WebsiteExample #2: Round-trip Flight Price Between JFK and CDG
American Airlines$759.88
British Airways$759.88
Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal$689.78
Expedia$661.18
Hotwire$730.28
Priceline$661.18

Hot Tip: You will earn frequent flyer miles when you book your flight through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal.

Hotels

Example #1: Here’s how prices looked for a week-long stay at the JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa in Mexico for 2 people including all taxes and fees. The $291.55 resort fee can’t be paid with points.

WebsitePrice for a 7-Night Stay in USDPrice for a 7-Night Stay in Points
Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal$3,425.17
208,908 to 313,362 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points + $291.55
Expedia$3,425.17N/A
Hotels.com$3,425.17N/A
Hotwire$3,425.17N/A
Marriott’s Website (Marriott Bonvoy Member Rate)$3,266.83 (includes $50 daily resort credit)
~366,000 Marriott Bonvoy points + $291.55

In this example, the best cash rate by far was through Marriott. However, if you wanted to pay with points, booking with Chase Ultimate Rewards points through the travel portal would be your best bet.

Keep in mind that Marriott doesn’t have an award chart, so different time periods can have different point costs. A 7-night stay at this hotel can dip down to 240,000 points for a 7-night stay. If you’re going to pay for your hotel stay in points, it’s always smart to calculate how many points it would cost to book through Chase versus transferring points. This information can help you make the best and least expensive choice.

Hot Tip:You won’t earn hotel loyalty points when booking a hotel through Chase and any elite status you have may not be recognized.

Example #2: Let’s look at an example of a hotel that doesn’t have a loyalty program. We priced out a 2-night stay at Almond Tree Inn Hotel in Key West, FL for 2 people. The highest prices were direct via the hotel with all other websites surveyed being cheaper.

Here’s how the prices stacked up:

WebsiteCost of a 2-Night Stay at the Almond Tree Inn
Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal$1,555.20
Expedia$1,555.20
Hotel’s Website$1,652.40
Hotels.com$1,555.20
Hotwire$1,555.20

Chase’s low price matched the other online travel websites and was actually lower than the hotel’s own website, so it would be a great option in this case. It also affords the opportunity to use points for a hotel that doesn’t have its own loyalty program.

Car Rentals

In many cases, car rental prices found through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal were similar to prices found on the rental agency’s own website.

The main difference in booking through Chase vs. directly through a car rental agency is that the car rental agency often has the ability to book the car without paying up front. With the Chase portal, you will be paying at the time of booking and there may be change or cancellation fees if you need to modify your reservation.

In both of these examples, Chase Ultimate Rewards didn’t offer the lowest price, however, that won’t always necessarily be the case. Of course, the advantage of booking through Chase is the ability to use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points. It’s always a good idea to price out your car rental on a few different websites before booking to ensure you’re getting the best price.

Car TypeEconomyStandard SUV
Chase Ultimate Rewards$127.46 (Alamo)$175.71 (Thrifty)
Rental Agency’s Website$121.56$175.71
Hotwire$100.15 (Dollar)
$139.57 (Dollar and Hertz)
Expedia$74.20 (Easirent)$100.02 (Easirent)

Activities

Chase actually offered the lowest prices on activities for both examples:

ActivityWacky Walks Scavenger Hunt in Dallas
Maui Butterfly Farm Tour
Price per Person Through Chase$9.84$37.81
Price per Person Direct$10$39.60
Price per Person Through Viator$10$39.99

Other Ways To Use the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal

Earn Bonus Ultimate Rewards Points

The Chase Ultimate Rewards portal also helps you earn bonus points. With the Shop through Chase feature, you can earn extra Ultimate Rewards points through your online shopping.

You can earn extra points using Shop through Chase. Image Credit: Chase

Just click Earn Bonus Points in the top search bar to access the shopping portal. Click on a featured store or search for a specific one. Then simply click through the portal to your website of choice to make your purchase. Your bonus points will be added to your Chase Ultimate Rewards points total within 3 to 5 days in most cases.

Pay With Points

Did you know you can use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to make purchases at Amazon and PayPal? Click on Pay with Points in the top search bar, then select either Amazon or PayPal to enroll and shop.

You can use Chase points to shop at Amazon and PayPal, but you won’t get great value this way. Image Credit: Chase

Unfortunately, the redemption value you get when shopping through Amazon or PayPal is pretty bad — only 0.8 cents per point. While it’s great to have this as an option, we don’t recommend using points to shop at Amazon or PayPal as your main use of Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Bottom Line: The value of using your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to shop through Amazon or PayPal isn’t great: you will only get 0.8 cents per point!

Apple Purchases

By clicking on Apple in the main search box in your Ultimate Rewards account, you can use your Chase points to make purchases. Normally, you’ll get 1 cent per point in value when using your points for Apple purchases, but there are occasional bonuses offered to get a better redemption rate.

You can purchase Apple products with your Chase points. Image Credit: Chase

Cash-back

You can also redeem your Ultimate Rewards points for cash-back. To do this, simply select Cash-back from the main search bar at the top of the screen. You will then be able to see choose how many points you’d like to redeem for cash-back at a value of 1 cent per point.

You can redeem your Chase points for cash at a value of 1 cent each. Image Credit: Chase

You can choose to have your cash direct deposited into a checking or savings account or as a statement credit. The deposit or statement credit will be posted within 3 days.

Bottom Line: Your Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed as cash-back. We do not recommend this as a primary redemption option because you can get more value via the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, and a lot more when transferring to airline and hotel partners.

Experiences

This is a really cool section of the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. When you click on Experiences in the main search bar, you’ll see a list of exclusive events, preferred seating, and other offers for select Chase cardmembers.

You can book unique experiences through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Image Credit: Chase

Experiences can be purchased with a credit card or with points. You will get 1 cent per point in value when redeeming points for experiences. Some experiences are only available to cardholders of specific cards so be sure to check all of your cards if you have more than 1 to make sure you don’t miss anything.

Gift Cards

If you prefer gift cards, you can purchase them through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal using points. Just click Gift Cards in the main search bar to get started. From here, you will be able to scroll through all of the available gift cards. You’ll get 1 cent per point in value, with occasional sales offering better redemption rates.

You can purchase gift cards with your Ultimate Rewards points. Image Credit: Chase

Hot Tip: Points redeemed for gift cards have a 1-cent per point value. However, you might notice some cards offer discounts, so there is the opportunity to get a bit more value!

Pay Yourself Back

Another way to use your Ultimate Rewards points is through the Pay Yourself Back feature. This allows you to redeem your points for a statement credit for purchases in select categories. The current categories include groceries, dining, select charities, credit card annual fee, internet, cable, phone, and shipping and the redemption value varies by card.

Transfer To Travel Partners

Transferring points to travel partners is the best way to get the most value out of your points. By transferring, you can potentially get 2, 3, or more cents per point value.

Chase Airline Transfer Partners

Chase Airline Transfer PartnerMin TransferTransfer Ratio
(Chase > Airline)
Transfer Time
Aer Lingus AerClub1,0001:1Almost Instant
Air Canada Aeroplan1,0001:1Almost Instant
Air France-KLM Flying Blue
1,0001:11 hour
British Airways Executive Club1,0001:1Almost Instant
Emirates Skywards1,0001:1Almost instant
Iberia Plus1,0001:1Almost Instant
JetBlue1,0001:1Almost Instant
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
1,0001:11-2 days
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards1,0001:1Almost Instant
United Airlines MileagePlus1,0001:1Almost Instant
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club1,0001:1Almost Instant

Chase Hotel Transfer Partners

Chase Hotel Transfer PartnerMin TransferTransfer RatioTransfer Time
IHG One Rewards1,0001:11 day
Marriott Bonvoy1,0001:12 days
World of Hyatt
1,0001:1Almost Instant

To transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to any of the above airline and hotel partners, log on to your account and click on Transfer To Travel Partners in the top search box. Choose your airline or hotel and then select Transfer Points. You’ll need to fill out your frequent flyer information or hotel loyalty membership number to complete the transfer.

You can easily transfer your points to hotel and airline partners. Image Credit: Chase

Bottom Line: You can currently transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to 14 different hotel and airline partners.

Final Thoughts

There are many ways to use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points. While transferring points to one of Chase’s airline and hotel travel partners can get you maximum value, there are a lot of benefits for booking travel directly through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal.

In addition to hotels and flights, you can book car rentals, activities, and cruises. Or, you can use your points for cash back, shopping, gift cards, or Chase exclusive experiences. With so many ways to use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points, your next trip is only a few clicks away!

The information regarding the Chase Freedom Flex℠ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Chase Freedom Unlimited® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Chase Freedom® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Ink Business Plus® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. 

Frequently Asked Questions

About Katie Seemann

Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure and Forbes Advisor.

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85 comments

Carol Leventen Duane

May 14, 2018

When I book award flights with British Air (Avios) points, I can cancel the trip if necessary and have my points redeposited for a nominal fee. (This is important because to book overseas flights, you need to do so 10-11 months in advance and things can happen.) When I inquired about doing this with my Sapphire Reserve points, I learned that no such option was available. In other words, I could lose 100,000 hard-won points if some unforeseen event occurred several months after booking with Chase Ultimate Rewards. Any suggestions? Any way around this? Or was I misinformed?

Michael McHugh

May 15, 2018

Hi Carol

If you are transferring the points from UR to British Airways, BA will charge a $55 re-deposit fee. Here’s the service fee info on their website. .

If you are booking the flight through the portal, the process is different. If you book a non-refundable ticket, you will not get your points back. If you book a refundable ticket, Chase will be the one to issue a refund. You can call Chase at 866-951-6592, which it sounds like you’ve already done.

The specific language on the UR website reads as follows:

If I canceled my nonrefundable flight, can I still use the ticket towards another flight?

Most Economy Class fares are non-refundable and non-transferable. Changes or cancellations must be made by calling a Chase Travel Specialist at 1-855-234-2542. Changes to your itinerary may result in a fare adjustment and will incur a per ticket airline change fee.

If I canceled my refundable flight, when will I receive my credit?

If your ticket is fully refundable, in most cases, your credit will appear on your next monthly billing statement from the time you request the credit. If you don’t see the proper credit, call 1-855-234-2542 to speak to a Chase Travel Specialist who will be happy to assist you. Advisors specializing in flights are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Pam

July 23, 2018

I just tried to book 3 SW roundtrip tickets, redeeming points on both the SW site and the Chase UR travel center site. I spoke to a person to do the Chase Travel Center redemption. On the SW site, it would cost me 46.5K SW points for the three tickets. Chase said it would charge me 48.5k UR points for the same three tickets — 2,000 points more! The Chase agent also said I would NOT get SW points for the flights by booking through the portal instead of using SW points. Am I doing something wrong?

Katie Seemann

July 24, 2018

Hi Pam,
No, you aren’t doing anything wrong. The prices in points on the Southwest site vs the Chase portal are independent of each other so it’s expected that they would be a little different (the value of Chase points is different than the value of Southwest points). In this case it appears that it’s a better deal to book directly on Southwest!
I am surprised to hear the agent said you would not earn Southwest points by booking through the Chase travel portal. Honestly, it sounds like it might be a misinformed agent. If you book a SW flight through Chase, as far as Southwest knows, you paid cash and therefore would earn points. You might want to call back and talk to a different person…although since it costs less points to book through Southwest directly, I would probably just go ahead and book direct.

Jan

October 15, 2018

Re Hotel Search – Hot Tip! – Search via Map

You mention the map will display all available hotels but for me it always just displays the same 25 Hotels Results List, e.g. for Paris 1 to 25 (of 500 Results). This means I have been unable to search by preferred location. I have tested this on Mac in Safari and Firefox.

Any advice how to find available hotels in the 12th arrondissement, Paris?

Katie Seemann

October 17, 2018

Hi Jan,
I looked into this and you are correct – the map feature is only showing you the 25 hotels that are showing in the search results. If you filter the search results it changes the hotels you will be able to see on the map. I’ll update the post so it’s more clear.

Since you are looking specifically for hotels in the 12th arrondissement, I might suggest checking out the map feature on a site like Kayak. They do show all hotels on the map and you can zoom in and out to find a hotel in a specific neighborhood. Once you know what hotel you want, you can then pull that up in the Chase portal to finish the booking.

Hope this helps – have a great trip to Paris!

Natalie

February 13, 2019

If I book travel on my sapphire preferred card through a cash back site like ebates, etc, will I still get travel points?

James Larounis

February 13, 2019

Hi Natalie! As long as the eBates sites directs you back to the hotel’s site or the airline’s site directly, it usually will be no problem to earn the points. If the site directs you to a third party website, such as hotels.com, usually in those cases you won’t earn the points with the hotel, for example.

sage

May 15, 2019

Can you buy a ticket for your non card-holding spouse and use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points? Also why no American as partner!!!!!

Yes, Sage, you can use book a ticket for anyone on the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal and use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points, cash and points, or cash. We don’t have an answer as to why American is not a transfer partner but or course you can book American flights using the travel portal.

Tom

June 07, 2019

When booking a hotel via UR portal using points, you say ‘Elite status may not be recognized’. Does that mean some hotels will give you your elite benefits, or are you saying it’s the norm for hotels not to recognize elite benefits? I’m booking a Hilton property if you have experience redeeming for one of their properties.

Jarrod West

June 07, 2019

Hi Tom,

When you book a hotel through a third party source, like the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, traditionally they will not recognize your elite benefits for the stay.

Frank yeung

August 06, 2019

This is simply not true. I have always received elite nights/miles for hotels (Hyatt and Marriott) or United flights since I received my card in 2016.

Jarrod West

August 07, 2019

Hi Frank,

It sounds like you may have really lucked out here as that is definitely not the case with others. In fact, I can attest personally that I have not received my elite benefits when making a booking through Chase. The fact is that Chase’s travel portal is powered by Expedia, so this would functionally be the same as booking through Expedia or any other third party booking service. When you book through a third party, hotels are well within their rights to now award points for the stay or recognize your elite status, but of course, your mileage may vary.

Bobby

August 10, 2019

I understand the statements around hotels and elite status, but does the same apply to airlines? Will my airline elite status be recognized (e.g., free checked bags, early boarding, economy plus seat selection, etc.) if I book through Chase UR?

Jarrod West

August 10, 2019

Hi Bobby,

Airlines are actually more generous than the hotels when booking through the UR portal. In most cases, you will still earn miles and get your elite benefits recognized when you book airline tickets.

Thanks for reading!

SAL

August 21, 2019

If we can book flights on a non-partner airline like ANA using the UR points through the UR portal, am I maximizing the use of my points? Or is there another way? Thanks for your help.

Jarrod West

August 22, 2019

Hi Sal,

Generally, you will get the highest value out of your Ultimate Rewards points by utilizing the Chase transfer partners, instead of booking through the portal. If you’re interested in learning more about those, check out our dedicated guide here: /credit-cards/chase-ultimate-rewards-transfer-partners/

Ashley

August 25, 2019

Every place I look I see this is the best card for travel but I can never use my points. Literally none of the flights line up with what’s on the airlines site and they are about 4 times the cost. Also I continually see that spirit is available to book on these blog posts but it doesn’t exist in my portal. Am I better off calling to book flights?

Katie Seemann

August 27, 2019

Hi Ashley,
The Chase Travel Portal is powered by Expedia, so you should be able to see the same flights as any other online travel agency (these won’t necessarily be the same prices available on the airline’s website). Spirit Airlines flights should be bookable through the portal, so I am not sure why you are having trouble. If you continue to have problems, it might be worth it to call Chase directly. Good luck!

Kirk Benson

September 07, 2019

If a hotel stay through the portal is cancelled, does Chase handle the refund/redeposit?

Katie Seemann

September 09, 2019

Hi Kirk,
Since Chase would be acting as the travel agent in this situation, they should be handling any cancellations/refunds too. But, you are still bound by the hotel’s cancellation policy.

Kathy

September 25, 2019

When booking flights through the Ultimate reward site, if I choose basic economy for a united flight and I have the United Explorer card, will I still get free bags, etc?

Jarrod West

September 26, 2019

Hi Kathy,

Yes, you will still get the free bag benefit since your Explorer card is tied to your MileagePlus number.

Thanks for reading!

Jesus

October 26, 2019

Hi Jarrod, I believed that to also be the case and even called Chase to confirm this prior to booking flights, but I recently purchased two basic economy tickets through the ultimate rewards portal and am having trouble getting the baggage benefits despite having paid a portion of each ticket with my united explorer card.

Do you have any thoughts/advice? I’ve literally been on the phone for over an hour with various departments from United and Chase, but no one can seem to resolve the issue.

Thanks,

Jarrod West

October 26, 2019

Hi Jesus,

Can you clarify what you mean when you say you’re “having trouble getting the baggage benefit..”? Were you told by a customer service agent from Chase or United that you would not be able to bring a checked bag?

Jim

January 22, 2020

Is there a way to book/pay for Economy Plus seats on United in the UR portal? I seem to be able to pick my regular economy seat just fine, but would like to buy/redeem for Economy Plus. Thoughts?

Katie Seemann

January 24, 2020

Hi Jim,
Yes, you should be able to book classes other than Economy through the Chase Travel Portal. You’ll need to first select basic economy (which is all that is displayed), and then you can select an upgrade before you check out. Hope that helps.

Sandy

March 11, 2020

Any idea how to cancel or change a flight booked through the Chase portal other than calling them? As I type this I am currently on hold and have been on hold for five hours and 48 minutes but it’s now 11 p.m. EST. I need to make a change to an American Airlines flight that is leaving in three days and American says the only way to cancel or change is through Chase. This seems to be an incredible downside of using the portal.

Jarrod West

March 12, 2020

Hi Sandy,

Unfortunately, if the booking was made through the portal, that is the only way to make many adjustments to your flight. It seems as though every company is experiencing extremely long wait times with many people calling in with questions.

I hope you’re able to get it resolved soon!

JoeT

March 14, 2020

I’m on hold right now! What a tremendous inconvenience! Should have transferred the points to United!

Kevin R Sutter

March 15, 2020

Have repeatedly called Chase Ultimate Rewards phone number (18663454003) to cancel a flight itinerary on March 13, 14, and today March 15 with no luck speaking to a travel specialist who can assist me. Duration of “on hold” times are in the hours if/before your call is dropped…what up Chase🤔

Christine Krzyszton

March 15, 2020

Hi Kevin. I hear you. Had 2 itineraries to cancel with Chase and invested 9 hours on hold plus speaking with a rep. The volume of travelers calling is staggering so wait times are long. It’s not just Chase as every airline, Amex Travel, Citi, etc. all have a huge back up. We just have to be patient and keep trying. You will get through eventually and all will be resolved.

Mel

March 17, 2020

We booked two non-refundable airline tickets with our Ultimate Reward points to Italy in October. The first time we called we were told because there was a travel ban to Italy and we could cancel and get out points back. We decided to think about it and have now called back multiple times with no success with taking to a rep. We are on hold for hours and in some cases we get disconnected. After reading info on the site it looks like we may not get our points back. That would be terrible. Italy is not a safe place to travel and doubt that in a October it will be any better. What can I do?

Christine Krzyszton

March 18, 2020

Hello Mel. I would go to the website of the airline and read their latest policy on cancellations as Ultimate Rewards will follow the airline’s policy.There is also an option now to complete a form on the Ultimate Rewards website to request a refund. You need to sign in to your account and look under “Trips”. When the list of trips populates, you will see the cancellation form. Please read the instructions and only use the form if you are sure you want to cancel the reservation. If you are not able to get a full refund, you could wait to see if policies change, since your trip is not until October.

Jane Val

March 19, 2020

I had a trip paid with points from Austin TX to London to Florence. As of today, all flights are cancelled and one of the options on BA site states refund is an option.
I held on line with Chase Travel two times – one for 1hr and 10 min the other for 1hr and 46 mins. Both times the line just disconnected.
Supposedly one should be able to process the refund of points on the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel site. I cannot connect- says try later .

Lee

March 20, 2020

Hi! I booked a flight with my Chase Freedom Unlimited points and card through the rewards program, using the points for most of it and the balance on the card. The flight price has dropped significantly and I was wondering if I would be able to get a price adjustment. If that’s possible, who do I call? The airline (United) or Chase? I have the United number, but not the Chase. If price can be adjusted and is more than the card was actually charged, is the balance also refunded to the card in money or points?
(Example: original cost $421; current cost $176; points used for original purchase totaled $181, balance to card $239. Price adjustment $245 less.) Thank you for any assistance.

Jarrod West

March 21, 2020

Hi Lee,

Since it was booked through the Ultimate Rewards portal you would need to call Chase. You likely need to pay any applicable change fees with United and then you will be refunded the difference in points.

bmjudsonjr@gmail.com

March 22, 2020

How can I change the dates?

Jarrod West

March 22, 2020

Hi!

Are you attempting to change the dates of a flight you have already booked? Or are you trying to change the dates while searching for flights on the travel portal?

Joan Haefle

April 02, 2020

I have a flight through American Airlines June 3-11, 2020 to Bermuda booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards. I want to change this trip to similar dates in June 2021. Do I do this thru American or Chase? Will I get credit for points used on original flight dates? This change is due to the virus. If I need to do this through Chase, how do I contact them?

Jarrod West

April 02, 2020

Hi Joan,

You will need to make the change through Chase Ultimate Rewards since that is who your ticket was booked with. You can contact them by calling 1-(866)-951-6592.

Lynette F

April 16, 2020

We got the Chase Sapphire Preferred cards with the 60K bonus if $3000 charged in 3 months. We paid towards a cruise in March 2021 so we got the 60K plus double points for a travel charge . We have enough points to now get business class to Asia. If we cancel the cruise, will our miles earned be effected, as almost all of them were for the bonus? We still want to take the cruise, but who knows what is going to happen at this point in time.

Stephen Au

April 16, 2020

Hi Lynette,

If you’re planning on getting that amount refunded, there’s a chance that Chase will take back the bonus. For this reason, it might be best to charge the full spending requirement not including the cruise to the card.

Adam C

April 27, 2020

Chase UR (Expedia) just canceled my air for a trip to the UK in Sept. I called United asking what was going and they said my “travel agent” canceled it. I checked the flights as if creating a new reservation and those flights no longer exist, presumably due to COVID slow-downs, and there are no reasonably close in time substitute flights.

Per the email, Chase UR is giving me a “flight voucher.” As they canceled my reservation, I want a refund. It is IMPOSSIBLE to reach them by phone (they hang up on you if the travel isn’t within 72 hours) and there is no email or chat available. Is there ANY way to reach them. I don’t want to wait 5 months before trying to get a refund? Thanks.

Christine Krzyszton

April 29, 2020

Hi Adam. You can try the live chat. Log in to your Ultimate Rewards account, have the itinerary # and the last 4 digits of the card you used for the purchase ready. You can then start the chat using the icon in the lower right-hand corner of the page that lists your trip itineraries. I used it this morning and was able to get my question answered right away. I hope this helps. Good luck.

Adam C

April 30, 2020

Thanks. I’ll give it a try. I’m almost certain that chat link wasn’t there a few days ago.

Jeremy

September 07, 2020

Anyone have any insight regarding room inventory on the portal? There is a hotel I was looking to book, which is theoretically available on the portal but is listed as ‘sold out’ for every single random day/days I’ve searched – middle of the week, weekends, near future, far future. Curious why the hotel would be on the portal if they’re seemingly unwilling to release any inventory for booking at all.

Jarrod West

September 08, 2020

Hi Jeremy,

I came across this recently and, in my case, it was because the hotel was closed until further notice due to Covid-19 and were not accepting any new reservations for any time in the future. Have you contacted the hotel directly to see if they are both open and have availability for the days you’re considering?

Jeremy Muir

September 08, 2020

Yes, the hotel is open and available for direct booking – but you make a good point. Maybe they were closed and some process has broken down post-reopening and as a result no dates show available in the portal?

Jarrod West

September 08, 2020

That may very well be the case. Also, the Chase travel portal is powered by Expedia and traditionally, hotel inventory is directly connected from the hotel’s system to websites like Expedia/Chase and they receive a commission for sending bookings. So it might be the case that the hotel is blocking inventory from OTA websites during these lean times to encourage people to book direct and thus avoid having to pay out any commissions.

Jeremy

September 09, 2020

Didn’t realize it was Expedia behind the Chase portal. That’s interesting – the hotel is available on Expedia, but still not the Chase website. Definitely weird. Thanks for the insight!

Amanda

December 01, 2020

HI Katie. Fellow Ohio girl here. Is there a resource anywhere that allows you to see what hotels are available in the Chase UR portal without actually going into the portal? I don’t have any Chase UR points at the moment, so I can’t access the portal, but I would like to see which hotels are available to book through the portal before I decide if I want to go the Chase UR points route. Is that possible?

Christine Krzyszton

December 01, 2020

Hi Amanda. You can visit the Chase UR portal to search for hotels even without having UR points in your account. Log in to your account via http://www.chase.com/ultimaterewards, select TRIPS at the top right hand of the page and then select HOTELS. I just tested it with my Chase account that had no UR points in it and was able to search hotels, no problem. This is because you can also book hotels via the portal using your Chase card.

Katie Seemann

December 01, 2020

Hi Amanda,
It’s always good to hear from a fellow Buckeye!

Looks like Christine answered your question, but I just wanted to clarify. If you don’t have an Ultimate Rewards account at all you won’t be able to see what hotels are in the Chase portal. With that being said, it operates just like an online travel portal so you’ll be able to find basically any hotel you can find through a site like Expedia or Orbitz. I personally think Chase UR points are the best overall points out there so if you’re not sure, I would suggest going ahead and getting a Chase card. You won’t be disappointed with the number of ways you can use your points. Hope that helps!

Mary

November 01, 2021

There was a big change in the Ultimate Rewards Travel portal as of November 1st — interface is totally different, the hotel discounts aren’t as good, and fewer hotel options. Seems like it was taken over by TripAdvisor?

Christine Krzyszton

November 02, 2021

Hi Mary. Chase is transitioning to being operated by cxLoyalty and while the interface will change, the site still continues to be powered by Expedia for many users. When you click on a specific hotel, the reviews that are provided are TripAdvisor member reviews. I did see that Chase has a disclaimer at the bottom of the page stating this. I tried a search for this weekend for a hotel in Cancun and there were at least 150 options (I quit counting after that) so for my limited search, at least, did not see any major changes on the site. My access still shows operated by Expedia, however. Thank you for the information; we’ll keep an eye out to see if indeed there is a pattern of fewer hotel options/discounts as the changes roll out.

E

December 31, 2021

How do you earn points for flights you book with the credit card but not through the portal?

Christine Krzyszton

December 31, 2021

The number of points you earn on general travel purchases outside of the Ultimate Rewards Travel portal will differ depending on which Chase card you use to make the purchase. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card, for example, earns 2 points per dollar spent on travel. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card earns 3 points per dollar spent on travel.

Erin Brooks

February 15, 2022

Just sharing – I booked a domestic Southwest flight through the UR portal using my Chase points, but then canceled. I am now trying to redeem the travel credit for another Southwest flight to Mexico, but the UR system will not allow the international itinerary. Southwest support advised that my travel credit can be used to any destination that Southwest flies to, but getting Chase UR to rebook has been an absolute nightmare! I have been on the phone with them for over 10 hours total with 5 different agents over the past 5 days, and still no resolution. I do not recommend that anyone use the UR portal to book Southwest flights with UR points if you expect the same flexibility that Southwest affords its customers. Truly awful UR support.

Aby

April 20, 2022

Currently going through similar. Only difference is mine is with United airlines. They keep rebooking but never actually have it ticketed so united keeps canceling. my flight is in few days and i don’t have a confirmed ticket. This is my first time using UR portal and this will definitely be the last time!

CSue

March 26, 2022

Can’t imagine why anyone would use MR points on the AmEx Travel portal. It’s less value than 1:1. $265 = 37857 points. Every one I check is the same. And I’m a Business Platinum card member! Scratching my head.

Christine Krzyszton

March 27, 2022

Hi CSue. Yes, there are some poor redemption values when using the portal for general travel, but you can redeem your Membership Rewards points via the portal for 1 cent each for flights. And, while I can’t speak for others, I use the Amex Travel portal with my Amex Business Platinum card because I receive a 35% rebate when using Membership Rewards points for premium flights. If I book a $1,000 business-class flight that costs 100,000 Membership Rewards points, I receive a rebate of 35,000 points. That’s a net cost of 65,000 points for a $1,000 flight. And, I earn frequent flyer miles when I fly that flight. But I do love Ultimate Rewards points as well.

DaninMCI

September 08, 2022

I had heard that the Chase portal did away with vacation rentals when they changed from Expedia to the much more limited (on hotels) portal partner they have now so I was excited to see your post that you could reserve vacation rentals. However, I don’t see that option on my chase UR portal. Am I missing something?

Katie Seemann

September 08, 2022

Hi,
You’re correct. You can’t book vacation rentals anymore through Chase Ultimate Rewards. We’ll get this post updated asap. Thanks for pointing this out!

Bob Kresek

October 25, 2022

I would strongly advise not to use the Chase Ultimate Rewards website unless you are using Chase points. I booked an refundable international flight to get to get the additional points by booking through their website, but it took over a half hour and two different agents to cancel the flight (you cannot cancel on flight on their website). Two days later I am still waiting for the credit on my charge card. Their seating charts are useless and their customer service reps are not capable.

Rocco

January 03, 2023

Bob, My experience was even worse. Even though the T&Cs clearly said my fare for an international flight was refundable, they would only give me a credit. Worse still, the international flight was $1,300, but the credit must be used all at once. I would have a hard time spending $1,300 on a single domestic flight, so I will presumably get screwed out of the remainder. On a previous occasion, a domestic flight was canceled by the airline. Delta immediately refunded the fare to the “original form of payment,” which was Chase. It then took Chase several weeks to refund the money to my card. The 5X points for using the Sapphire card on the Chase site are tempting, but there are many other faults with the Chase travel site. 1) You do not earn loyalty point for booking a hotel or car through Chase. 2) The hotel prices are consistently $5-15 higher on Chase versus the hotel website, so you are paying for those 5x points. 3) Chase does not recognize any discounts from AARP, AAA, etc. I will never use the Chase Travel Portal again, and I have instructed all my employees to purchase all travel directly from the airline, hotel, or car rental company.

Kevin W

January 19, 2023

I just returned from a trip to London flying on Delta. I booked my trip through the Chase platform but now Delta is saying my miles will not show up against my rewards number.

Is this correct?

Katie Seemann

January 20, 2023

Hi Kevin,
You should still be able to earn miles when you book through Chase. Did you add your Delta SkyMiles number when you booked the flight?

Kevin W

January 20, 2023

I think because I booked the basic option. This is a total let down.

Judy

January 27, 2023

All this makes me really concerned about using the portal. I did it once in the very beginning and it was great. Got an $1800 business class ticket for 120,000. No problems.

But all these negatives takes away a lot from the values of the Reserve 1.5 conversion

Jeanie LoVetri

February 19, 2023

The departure and arrival time on the flights on American Airlines are different (for the same flights) are different (a small amount). The same flight numbers. When I go to actually purchase the tickets I want (NYC to Minneapolis) it won’t let me finish. I called for help and the rep couldn’t do it either. I’m stumped. What is my best action?

Shane

February 19, 2023

My fiance and I primarily fly Delta and American Airlines. We only fly first class and stay at high-end resorts or rent vacation homes. I’ve been looking at attaining a new credit card and was looking at the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Delta American Express Platinum card. My goal is to maximize my leverage on the total amount of money I spend yearly for the highest return be it airfare, resorts or cash back. What card do you recommend for obtaining these goals?

Jarrod West

February 28, 2023

Hi Shane,

If I were you, I would lean toward the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. I say this because the points you earn with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card are transferable, or can be redeemed with nearly any airline/hotel via the Chase travel portal, whereas Delta SkyMiles can only be redeemed with Delta and its partners. Chase points give you significantly more flexibility when making redemptions.

Paula

March 09, 2023

Hi. I’m planning a trip to Jamaica Moon Palace Resort in Jan 2024. If I select and book the room with flexible cancellation/no penalty through the Chase portal and need to cancel before the cancellation deadline, how would that work? Would I need to call Chase to cancel or is there an option to cancel online or call the resort to cancel?

Keri Stooksbury

May 16, 2023

Hi Paula, I’d suggest that you reach out to Chase Travel directly at 866-345-4003 for advice specific to the reservation you’re planning.

Beth Benson

April 16, 2023

I always use my Chase Sapphire card for travel because of the good trip insurance benefit. My question is, does that same benefit apply when I use UR to book travel, using points earned via my Sapphire card? I can’t find anything on the UR site about this. I don’t want to have to purchase separate travel insurance.

Jarrod West

April 17, 2023

Hi Beth,

As long as some portion of the ticket is paid using your card then you will receive the insurance coverage.

sylvie rasmussen

May 10, 2023

I’m planning on opening a Chase Sapphire Reserve card then using it to buy airline tickets that will cost me enough to qualify for the bonus offer points. Will I then be able to redeem those points towards my travel purchases, or will my best use of the points be to give myself cash back?

Hi Sylvie. Once you’ve completed the minimum spending required to qualify for the welcome bonus, the points will be deposited into your Ultimate Rewards account. This may not happen immediately but once the points are in your account, you can use them to purchase flights for 1.5 cents each via the travel portal. You would only receive 1 cent each in value if you redeem the points for a statement credit. You may receive much greater value than either of these options if you transfer the points to airline partners and purchase award tickets. Here’s how to do that: /credit-cards/chase-ultimate-rewards-transfer-partners/

Yvonne

May 17, 2023

I’ve had this card for 5 years and have booked a lot of flights on varying airlines through the portal previously. But now I’m trying to book flights and I’m noticing A) the portal is showing higher prices than the airlines’ direct sites (B) options are now limited to only a few airlines. That wasn’t the case before. I’m disappointed. It was a card with great perks but now they won’t let us use our points freely like before, limiting our options for “pay yourself back,” and they’ve increased the annual fee since I got the card. It’s a shame and turning into a sham.

Matt

May 25, 2023

Hello. Could someone please confirm if you book a hotel through the the Chase Travel portal, whether you get points for the entire charge including taxes and fees, or do you only get points for the actual room rate? Cheers.

Hi Matt. You will receive points for the total charge made to your Chase card which should include taxes/fees. If you’re referring to any hotel rewards program loyalty points or elite benefits, you may or may not receive any as booking through Chase is considered a “third party” booking and may exclude these benefits.

Colleen

August 02, 2023

Hi! I have seen it mentioned several times that the best way to get maximum value for your points is usually to transfer to a travel partner– rather than booking through the Chase portal. I was under the understanding that Chase Reserve points were worth 1.5x when redeemed through the Chase portal, but that they only transfer at 1:1.

Jarrod West

August 03, 2023

Hi Colleen,

They are worth 1.5 cents per point when you redeem through the Chase travel portal, but when using transfer partners you can often get even more value than 1.5 cents per point depending on your redemption.

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