Chase Travel: How To Maximize Your Benefits

Chase Ultimate Rewards is a credit card rewards program that allows cardholders to earn points on purchases. These points can be redeemed in a variety of ways, including for travel. The Chase travel portal is a platform where cardholders can book hotels, flights, cars, activities, cruises and tours using their points. The portal offers a range of benefits, such as the ability to book travel without blackout dates or capacity restrictions, and the opportunity to earn extra rewards. However, there are also some limitations, such as the inability to earn reward points through hotel loyalty programs when booking through the portal. Overall, the Chase travel portal provides a convenient and flexible way for cardholders to redeem their rewards points for travel.

Chase Ultimate Rewards® points can be redeemed for travel via the Chase Travel Portal

Chase Ultimate Rewards® is a credit card rewards program offered by Chase that turns your everyday purchases into rewards points. As a cardmember, you can earn rewards points while you shop, dine, or travel. The program is designed to be flexible, allowing you to earn and redeem or transfer your points with ease.

One of the most popular ways to use your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points is for travel. There are two ways to do this:

Booking Through the Chase Travel Portal

You can book your travel directly through the Chase Travel Portal using your points. This includes booking flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, tours, and other activities. The portal is accessible via the Chase Ultimate Rewards® account dashboard.

The value of your points can vary depending on the card you have. For example, with the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card, your points are worth one cent each, while with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Ink Business Preferred® cards, your points are worth 1.25 cents each. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card offers the highest value, with points worth 1.5 cents each in the travel portal.

One of the benefits of booking through the Chase Travel Portal is the opportunity to earn additional points on paid reservations. For instance, with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you can earn 5x points on airfare and 10x points on hotels and rental cars booked through the portal.

Transferring Points to Travel Partners

Another option is to transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to Chase's travel partners, such as airlines and hotels. The transfer ratio is typically 1:1, so you'll have the same number of points with the partner as you do with Chase.

Other Redemption Options

While travel is a popular option, there are other ways to redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. These include:

• Redeeming for cash back
• Purchasing gift cards
• Special experiences or exclusive events
• Amazon or Apple purchases

You can transfer points to an airline or hotel partnered with Chase

One of the most valuable parts of the Chase Ultimate Rewards program is the built-in flexibility that allows you to earn rewards, then easily redeem or transfer them when you’re ready.

You can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to an airline or hotel that has a partnership with Chase. This is one of the two ways to use your points to help pay for travel. The other way is to book your travel through the Chase Travel Portal and use your points toward the purchase.

To transfer points to a partner, log in to the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal and choose the “Transfer to Travel Partners” section. There, you can choose from among the list of airline and hotel travel partners.

The transfer ratio depends on the partner. For example, Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Air France-KLM Flying Blue, British Airways Executive Club, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, United Airlines MileagePlus, and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club at a 1:1 ratio.

The right combination of Chase cards can help you earn tons of points thanks to the numerous bonus-earning categories. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card earns 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries, 2x points on all other travel purchases, and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

Chase Ultimate Rewards points do not expire as long as your credit card account remains open and in good standing. If you choose to close your account, you may lose any unredeemed points.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card offer higher point values

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card are two of the most talked-about travel credit cards on the market. They are both part of the Chase Ultimate Rewards® program, which allows cardholders to earn points on everyday purchases and redeem them for travel.

The key difference between the two cards lies in the value of the points earned. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers 1.25 cents in value per point when redeeming through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® travel portal, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card offers 1.5 cents in value per point. This means that for the same number of points, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card provides a higher value when redeeming for travel.

In addition, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card also offers a higher earning rate for travel and dining purchases. It provides 10 points per dollar on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through Chase Travel, compared to 5 points per dollar offered by the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Similarly, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card offers 5 points per dollar on eligible flights, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers 2 points per dollar on other travel purchases.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card also comes with additional benefits such as a higher annual travel credit, access to airport lounges, and elevated travel protections. These benefits make it a more attractive option for frequent travelers who can take advantage of the perks to offset the higher annual fee.

On the other hand, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a better choice for those who don't travel as often and prefer a lower annual fee. It still offers accelerated points earning for travel and dining, making it a great option for those who want a good balance of perks and a lower fee.

Both cards provide excellent opportunities to earn and redeem points for travel, with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card offering a higher value per point and more extensive benefits.

Chase Freedom Flex® and Chase Freedom Unlimited® offer bonus points on travel

The Chase Freedom Flex® and Chase Freedom Unlimited® cards offer bonus points on travel. The Chase Freedom Flex® card offers 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, while the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card offers 1.5% cash back on all travel purchases. Both cards also offer bonus points on dining and drugstore purchases.

The Chase Freedom Flex® card has rotating 5% bonus categories that change each quarter, while the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card offers a flat rate of 1.5% cash back on all purchases outside of the bonus categories. The Chase Freedom Flex® card also offers a sign-up bonus of $200 after spending $500 in the first three months, while the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card offers an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy in the first year.

Both cards are great options for earning bonus points on travel, but the Chase Freedom Flex® card offers higher bonus rates on specific categories, while the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card offers a simpler rewards structure with a flat rate on all purchases. The Chase Freedom Flex® card is ideal for optimizers who are willing to put in the work to keep track of its rewards structure, while the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card is better suited for those who prefer a no-fuss card with less maintenance.

Overall, the Chase Freedom Flex® and Chase Freedom Unlimited® cards are excellent choices for earning bonus points on travel, and the best option depends on your spending habits and preferences for rewards structures.

You can book flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises and more through the Chase Travel Portal

The Chase Travel Portal is a great way to book your next trip. Through the portal, you can book flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, and more. You can also use the portal to book activities such as tours and experiences, both at home and at your destination.

Booking through the Chase Travel Portal is simple. You can access the portal by logging into your Chase Ultimate Rewards account and clicking on the "Earn/Use" button, where your points are listed. From there, choose "Travel" from the options, and you will be taken to the travel portal.

Once in the portal, you can search for flights, hotels, rental cars, and cruises. For flights, you can filter your search by cost, airline, departure/arrival time, and departure airport. For hotels, you can narrow your search by filtering for price, amenities, ratings, type of property, number of bedrooms, neighbourhood, and more.

When booking, you can use your Chase card or redeem your Ultimate Rewards points to pay for all or part of your purchase. The value of your points will depend on the credit card you have. For example, with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, your points are worth 1.5 cents per point, while with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, they are worth 1.25 cents per point.

In addition to booking travel, the Chase Travel Portal offers other benefits. Depending on your card, you can earn bonus points on your bookings. For instance, Sapphire Preferred cardholders earn 5 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals purchased through Ultimate Rewards, while Sapphire Reserve cardholders earn 10 points per dollar.

So, the next time you're planning a trip, be sure to check out the Chase Travel Portal. With its wide range of booking options and the ability to use your rewards points, it's a convenient and rewarding way to plan your travels.

Frequently asked questions