Few rewards currencies are as prized as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. Our team of rewards experts has over 65 years of combined experience in earning and redeeming these points and has maximized their value to pay for trips on all seven continents. Whether you’re new to Ultimate Rewards or looking to level up your points game, our in-depth guide has everything you need to make the most of these coveted points.
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What Is Chase Ultimate Rewards?
Chase Ultimate Rewards is a flexible reward currency earned through several Chase credit cards. Due to its flexibility and value, it’s extremely popular with points and miles enthusiasts. Chase Ultimate Rewards can be earned and redeemed in various ways, with some options being more valuable than others.
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How Much Are Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Worth?
Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be redeemed through Chase Travel℠ to cover the cost of flights, hotels and car rentals. They can even be used toward the cost of experiences, including theme park tickets or special events. If you have an eligible card, Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to airline and hotel partners and redeemed through their loyalty programs.
The value of Chase Ultimate Rewards depends on how they’re used. On the low end, Ultimate Rewards can be cashed out for statement credits at 1 cent per point. Travelers could double that value with strategic redemptions, though. Some flight and hotel bookings designated as “Points Boost” reservations in Chase Travel are worth up to 2 cents per point. Additionally, some 1:1 transfers to partner airline and hotel programs could also be worth 2 cents—or more—per point.
Read more. Best Rewards Credit Cards of 2025
How To Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards
Chase offers four personal cards and four business cards open to new applicants that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards. Each card has a different earning structure, but generally speaking, they all earn Ultimate Rewards through two primary methods: a one-time welcome bonus for new cardholders and ongoing earnings for your standard credit card spending.
Chase Ultimate Rewards can also be earned by referring friends to Chase credit cards, shopping online with Shop Through Chase, using targeted spending offers and more.
1. Personal Credit Cards
| Card | Annual Fee | Welcome Bonus | Spending Categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| $795 | 100,000 bonus points, plus a $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening | 8 points per dollar on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠, 4 points per dollar on flights and hotels booked direct, 3 points per dollar on dining worldwide and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases | |
| $95 | 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening | 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases | |
| $0 | $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening | 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in categories that rotate quarterly (requires activation), 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on dining and drugstores and 1% cash back on all other purchases | |
| $0 | $200 cash back after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening | 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on eligible dining and drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases |
2. Business Credit Cards
| Card | Annual Fee | Welcome Bonus | Spending Categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ | $795 | 200,000 bonus points after spending $30,000 on purchases in the first six months from account opening | 8 points per dollar on Chase Travel℠ purchases, 5 total points per dollar spent on eligible Lyft rides (through Sept. 30, 2027), 4 points per dollar on flights and hotels booked direct, 3 points per dollar on social media and search engine advertising, 1 point per dollar on all other purchases |
| $95 | 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening | 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases | |
| $0 | $350 bonus cash back after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening | 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 and 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 | |
| $0 | $750 bonus cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening | 1.5% cash back rewards on every business purchase |
Chase also offers the Ink Business Premier® Credit Card, a $195 annual fee card that earns 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 2.5% cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more and 2% cash back on all other purchases. However, unlike the other Ink cards, the rewards earned with this card cannot be combined with another Ultimate Rewards-earning card.
Ink Business Premier® Credit Card
Up to 5% Reward Rate
5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 2.5% cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more, and 2%Read More
Welcome Bonus
$1,000 cash back
Annual Fee
$195
Regular APR
Flex for Business Variable APR: 18.49% - 26.49%
Credit Score
Good/Excellent (670 - 739)
The Chase Ink Business Premier is a charge card that offers big spending power for businesses that can pay in full each month, as well as a generous rewards rate on large purchases.
- Strong welcome offer
- Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 2.5% cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more and 2% cash back on all other purchases
- No annual fee for employee cards
- Several travel and purchase protections
- High annual fee
- Designed to be paid in full each month
- Points can’t be transferred to airline or hotel programs
- Points can’t be transferred to other Ultimate Rewards-earning cards
- Earn $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn unlimited 2.5% total cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more and unlimited 2% cash back on all other business purchases.
- Travel Benefits: Unlimited 5% total cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, No Foreign Transaction Fees and Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance.
- The only business credit card with 2.5% cash back on every purchase of $5,000 or more.
- Get the buying power you need to make large purchases, cover monthly expenses and help your business grow. While you must pay your Pay In Full balance each month, this card has built-in flexibility. The Flex for Business feature allows for qualifying purchases to be paid over time with interest.
- Purchase with confidence with built-in protections like Fraud Protection, Zero Liability Protection, Purchase Protection, Cell Phone Protection, and Extended Warranty Protection.
- There’s no additional cost for employee cards. Monitor spend with digital tools like purchase alerts, set spending limits, reporting, and more.
- Member FDIC
3. Shop Through Chase
Shop Through Chase is a shopping portal that can boost your Chase Ultimate Rewards balance. Instead of starting your shopping session by going directly to your retailer’s website, log in to your Chase account and navigate to the Shop Through Chase portal and click the hyperlink to your intended store from there. This tracks your purchase so you can earn additional Chase Ultimate Rewards points based on your purchase amount (on top of the rewards you typically earn from spending on your credit card).
Note that different cards can offer different retailer earning rates, so if you have more than one Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning card, it’s worth it to check each card to compare the rates.
4. Refer-A-Friend
Chase allows you to earn bonus points when referring other customers to apply for a Chase credit card. To send a referral, enter your card information on Chase’s Refer-A-Friend website. If your card is eligible, the website will show a link you can send to your friends to apply for a card. Referral bonuses and offers vary by card. Not all cards are eligible for referral bonuses.
Chase also offers a similar referral program for its small business cards. Small business owners who refer other small businesses can earn up to 100,000 bonus points per year: 20,000 points for each business (up to five) approved for any eligible Chase Ink card.
5. Chase Offers
Chase periodically sends cardholders targeted offers. These offers can include increased earnings on categories outside of the usual bonus categories on their respective cards. For example, Chase Freedom Unlimited® cardholders have previously been targeted to earn 5% cash back on select purchase categories, rather than the usual offer of 1.5% cash back.
You’ll also find statement credit offers in your account, which you can find online in your Chase Offers panel. Though activating these offers can be great savings, they typically do not earn increased Ultimate Rewards points.
6. Buying Gift Cards To Leverage Points Earning Opportunities
One way to earn more points for your spending is to buy gift cards at retailers in bonus categories and then use those gift cards to make purchases. It’s an extra step, but one that can add up in the form of Ultimate Rewards.
For example, both the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and the Chase Freedom Flex®* earn 3% cash back at drugstores, which often sell a variety of gift cards. Instead of using your Freedom card to pay for something at Best Buy directly, you could earn 3 points per dollar by purchasing a Best Buy gift card at a drugstore and then using the gift card to complete payment on your intended purchase.
Similarly, the Chase Freedom Flex®* credit card offers 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in categories that rotate quarterly (requires activation), 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on dining and drugstores and 1% cash back on all other purchases. The 5% rotating categories often include retailers that sell third-party gift cards, including gas stations, home improvement stores and Amazon.com.
If you’re a small business owner holding a Chase Ink card, you can take advantage of third-party gift cards sold at office supply stores. The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card earns 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 and 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.
How To Use Chase Ultimate Rewards
1. Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to Travel Partners
Holding a Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card gives you the ability to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to participating airline or hotel partners at a rate of 1:1. That means that 1 Chase Ultimate Reward point is equivalent to 1 point with the airline or hotel loyalty program.
Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners include:
| Airlines | Hotels |
|---|---|
| AerClub, loyalty programme of Aer Lingus | IHG® Rewards Club |
| British Airways Executive Club | Marriott Bonvoy™ |
| Emirates Skywards® | World of Hyatt® |
| Air France KLM Flying Blue | |
| Iberia Plus | |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | |
| Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® | |
| United MileagePlus® | |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | |
| Air Canada Aeroplan |
Before transferring, make sure to confirm award availability at the travel partner’s loyalty site—transferring points to a program is permanent and can’t be reversed. You’ll also want to confirm that by doing so you’ll achieve a better yield per point compared to simply redeeming points for cash back at 1 cent per point.
Points can be transferred in 1,000-point increments. Most transfers are completed instantly but can sometimes take longer. Learn more about how to transfer Ultimate Rewards to airlines and hotels.
2. Use Chase Travel
Redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards points through Chase Travel is a simple approach to points redemption. With Chase Travel acting as an online travel agency, you’ll have the option to book flights, hotels, rental cars, attractions, vacation rentals and cruises and pay fully or partially in points.
Most Ultimate Rewards redemptions made through Chase Travel will provide a value of 1 cent per point. However, some flight and hotel options will be labeled as Points Boost trips. If you select one of these curated options, your points could increase in value up to 2 cents per point.
When booking through Chase Travel, there are a few things to remember:
- Reservations booked through Chase Travel are considered cash bookings made with a third party. Chase Travel pays travel providers cash, and you pay Chase Travel points. That means you will earn rewards and earn (or enjoy) elite benefits with your travel provider based on their third-party guidelines. Most airlines provide miles and benefits on third-party bookings, but most hotels do not. That means you’ll be ineligible for loyalty benefits, elite-qualifying nights or points directly from the hotel program.
- Making reservation changes or cancellations must be completed through Chase Travel. This can be more tedious than directly contacting the hotel or airline.
3. Redeem for Cash Back
Cash back can be processed in two ways—as a statement credit or by deposit into a bank account.
If choosing a statement credit, the credit must be applied to the card you are redeeming your points from. If you select to deposit to a bank account, you can select any bank account. You must provide Chase with your bank routing and account number, and the direct deposit may take a few business days to process.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points redeemed for cash back are worth 1 cent per point.
4. Redeem for Gift Cards
Redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards points for gift cards is similar to using Chase Travel. However, instead of using points to purchase travel, the points are used to purchase gift cards.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed for gift cards. However, Chase sometimes offers discounts on gift card purchases. Barring any discount offers, 10,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points are needed to purchase a $100 gift card.
When sales occur, the value of points is slightly increased. Chase Ultimate Rewards points redeemed for gift cards with a 10% discount, for example, are worth 1.11 cents per point.
Which Credit Cards Allow You To Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards Points?
Not all Chase Ultimate Rewards credit cards allow you to transfer points to airline and hotel partners. This ability is reserved for Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Sapphire Reserve for Business or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. Note that a handful of older Chase cards that are no longer open to new applicants also retain this ability.
Fortunately, because Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be combined between credit card accounts, you only need to hold one of the above premium credit cards to transfer your points to partners.
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How To Combine Chase Ultimate Rewards
Moving points between cards is advantageous as a number of premium Ultimate Rewards cards offer redemption options that are not available on no-annual-fee cards.
It’s best to get in the habit of moving points from your no annual fee cards to your premium cards. This will allow you to receive the most value when redeeming your points.
How To Combine Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Between Two Chase Ultimate Rewards-Earning Cards
Log in to Chase Ultimate Rewards. You will be taken to a landing page that features all Chase Ultimate Reward-earning cards associated with your username and password.
- Select any card to proceed. You’ll be taken to the Chase Ultimate Rewards main page.
- Click the arrow next to your point total to access available actions.
- At the top of the page, click the arrow for “Rewards Details” and select “Combine Points” from the dropdown menu.
- Click the card you want to transfer points from, click the card you want to transfer points to, and then click “Continue.”
- Once you have made your selection, click “Review.”
- Click “Submit” once you have reviewed the information to ensure accuracy.
Points are combined instantly, and you will receive confirmation of completion. You’ll also see the new balances on each card updated immediately.
Check out our full guide to combining Chase points for a more detailed walkthrough (with screenshots).
How To Combine Chase Ultimate Rewards Points With a Household Member
Chase allows household members to combine points with each other, allowing spouses, partners or other household members to earn and redeem points toward a common goal.
To do so, call Chase member services to link accounts if you aren’t linked with authorized user cards. From there, you can combine points anytime online. Learn more about combining Ultimate Rewards with a household member.
Top Chase Ultimate Rewards Transfer Partners
United MileagePlus
United Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the world, so if you’re looking to travel far and wide, transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards to United MileagePlus opens up a host of possibilities.
United MileagePlus award prices roughly fluctuate with the cash prices it offers on its flights. While this means you may not be able to get increased value from your award redemptions domestically, it does mean you’ll generally get consistent, reasonable value for your miles. With award flights within the U.S. starting at around 5,000 miles, United MileagePlus may be one of the most useful transfer partners for Chase card members residing in the U.S.
United MileagePlus miles can be used to book flights on United Airlines’ global network of partners, which includes Star Alliance and other airlines. Inventory is set directly by the operating airline, rather than by United. This means some dates, routes or classes of service may not be available for redemption. However, when available, award pricing may be more reasonable than on United’s awards.
Southwest Rapid Rewards
If you want to travel within the U.S. and to the Caribbean, Southwest Rapid Rewards represents an easy way to use Chase Ultimate Rewards points at a reasonable value. Southwest’s award prices strongly correlate with cash airfare, so you can always be assured that you’re getting a reasonable value when redeeming for flights.
One advantage of transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards to Southwest Rapid Rewards and booking award tickets with your Rapid Rewards points is that you can cancel your flight up to 10 minutes before departure for a full refund of your points and the taxes paid on your ticket. If you cancel a flight you booked with cash, you’ll receive a travel credit for future travel.
Iberia Plus
Iberia Plus awards are distance-based, which means that while the price will increase with the distance you fly, it is not tied to the cash price of the ticket. Transfers to Iberia Plus present opportunities to get increased value from your Chase Ultimate Rewards points by booking premium cabin long-haul travel, especially to Europe from the East Coast.
Iberia Plus Avios can be used for itineraries on American Airlines within the U.S. Avios may yield strong value on short-haul flights with high dollar prices.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is another way to score transatlantic travel using Chase Ultimate Rewards. Inventory can be generous and easy to find compared to other programs. The lowest-priced awards can represent fantastic value: Taxes and fees tend to be high, but the mileage required can be low enough to make up for that.
Virgin Points can also be used for travel within the U.S. on Delta. Because award prices for U.S. domestic travel on Delta are based on distance, some travelers may discover opportunities for more value by redeeming for shorter, more expensive flights.
Air France-KLM Flying Blue
Air France-KLM Flying Blue shines as a travel partner for its network of flights from North America to Europe and beyond and offers reasonably affordable award options on SkyTeam if you can find the award space.
In addition to offering reasonably priced award tickets, Flying Blue offers monthly Promo rewards at as much as a 25% discount off the lowest miles price, meaning you can sometimes score a business-class ticket from North America to Europe for under 50,000 miles each way.
World of Hyatt
World of Hyatt is by far the best hotel transfer partner offered by Chase Ultimate Rewards for those looking to extract maximum value from their points. Hyatt’s award night redemptions consistently provide a higher value per point than IHG or Marriott, Chase’s other hotel transfer partners.
Hyatt’s network of hotels may not be as large as other programs, but it has properties in most major cities and has plenty of all-inclusive and luxury properties in vacation destinations. Hyatt’s more than 30 brands include over 2,000 properties globally.
Although Hyatt uses a semi-dynamic model for its award redemptions, it still implements categories. Hyatt award night redemptions start at just 3,500 points per night for Category 1 standard rooms but increase for premium suites at high-end Category 8 properties. Knowing the price ranges for your preferred hotel can help you budget for a reward in advance and evaluate when (or if) it’s a good deal.
How To Maximize Chase Ultimate Rewards
To maximize the number of Chase Ultimate Rewards you earn, you’ll want to use your credit card for purchases that earn at an elevated rate. For example, some cards earn 2 to 5 points per dollar spent on select categories including travel, dining or office supplies.
When redeeming, you can maximize Ultimate Rewards by choosing redemptions that yield values of more than 1 cent per point. This can include travel booked through Chase, transferring points to partner airline and hotel programs or some Pay Yourself Back categories.
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Bottom Line
Chase Ultimate Rewards is a versatile transferable currency that offers several ways to earn points and flexible redemption options that make it easy to use points. Additionally, being able to transfer points between cardholders in the same household makes it easier to accumulate large numbers of points to earn aspirational awards.
No matter your travel goal, Chase Ultimate Rewards will help you travel more while spending less.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long do Chase Ultimate Rewards take to post?
Chase Ultimate Rewards typically post each month soon after your statement closes.
How do you book travel through Chase Travel?
The Chase Travel interface works similarly to other online travel agencies you may have used and is a straightforward, intuitive search engine. When you’ve selected specific travel arrangements, you’ll have the option to pay with points, charge the expenses to your Chase card or pay with a combination of both points and your card.
Do Chase Ultimate Reward points expire?
No. Your Ultimate Rewards points will not expire for as long as you keep your account open and in good standing. Closing your account before redeeming or transferring your Ultimate Rewards points will result in you forfeiting your points. If your account is closed for missed payments or any other reason initiated by the bank, you’ll forfeit your points.
How much are 50,000 Chase points worth?
You could redeem 50,000 Chase points for $500 in cash back. By transferring your points to travel partners, it’s possible to achieve significantly more value from your points.
