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

Katie Seemann

Senior Content Contributor and News Editor

365 Published Articles 66 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 28 U.S. States Visited: 29

Senior Editor & Content Contributor

140 Published Articles 763 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 41 U.S. States Visited: 28

Table of Contents

Why book travel through the chase travel portal, cards that earn chase ultimate rewards points, what are chase ultimate rewards points worth, earning chase points by booking travel, how to access the chase travel portal, how to book a flight through chase travel, how to book a hotel through chase travel, how to book a rental car through the chase travel portal, how to book activities through chase travel, how to book a cruise through the portal, how do the prices compare to other sites, other ways to use the chase travel portal, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

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 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 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 Travel portal.

Flexibility

Flexibility is not often available with points bookings. Unlike an award booking, booking through Chase Travel 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 Travel portal will earn frequent flyer miles and accrue status points. Unfortunately, hotel and car rental bookings still won’t earn points.

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 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 Travel portal.

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

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance . With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
• Member FDIC
• APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  None

Chase Ultimate Rewards

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve ®  is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access , with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck ®
• APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable

The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.

The Ink Business Preferred ® Credit Card is a powerhouse for earning lots of points from your business purchases , especially for business owners that spend regularly on ads.

Plus the card offers flexible redemption options, including access to Chase airline and hotel transfer partners where you can achieve outsized value.

Business owners will also love the protections the card provides like excellent cell phone insurance , rental car insurance, purchase protection, and more.

• 3x Ultimate Rewards points per $1 on up to $150,000 in combined purchases on internet, cable and phone services, shipping expenses, travel, and ads purchased with search engines or social media sites
• Cell phone protection
• Purchase protection
• No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access
• Earn 120k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,200 cash back or $1,500 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
• Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
• Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
• With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
• Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
• Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
• Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
• APR: 21.24%-26.24% Variable

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

• Chase Freedom Flex℠
• Chase Freedom Unlimited ®
• Chase Freedom ® card (no longer open to new applicants)
• Ink Business Cash ® Credit Card
• Ink Business Plus ® Credit Card (no longer open to new applicants)
• Ink Business Unlimited ® Credit Card
• Ink Business Premier ® Credit Card

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.

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 dashboard and select Combine Points .

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.

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

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. 

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.

You can log into your 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.

Then choose the card you want to use.

From here you can access Chase Travel 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.

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.

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.

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.

1. To book a hotel through the Chase 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.

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 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.

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.

When booked through the Chase Travel portal, these properties offer the following benefits:

• Daily breakfast for 2
• Special amenity (varies by property)
• Room upgrades (based on availability)
• 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.

1. To rent a car through the Chase 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 .

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.

Did you know you can also book activities through Chase Travel?

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.

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.

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 Travel portal, including airport transfers!

If you’re a fan of cruises, you’ll be pleased to know you can book them through your Chase 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.

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 Travel but you’ll have to call to make your reservation as they can’t be booked online.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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:

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 Travel 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 Travel 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.

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

Earn Bonus Ultimate Rewards Points

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

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.

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 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 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 Travel portal, and a lot more when transferring to airline and hotel partners.

Experiences

This is a really cool section of the Chase Travel 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.

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.

If you prefer gift cards, you can purchase them through the Chase Travel 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.

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 Hotel Transfer Partners

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.

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

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 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 ® 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

Do chase ultimate rewards points expire.

No. As long as you keep your Chase credit card open, your points will not expire.

Can I transfer my Chase points to someone else?

Yes. You can transfer your points to another member of your household who also has a Chase Ultimate Rewards account.

What are Chase Ultimate Rewards points worth?

When redeeming points through the Chase travel portal, the credit card you hold will determine your points’ value.

When redeeming for travel, your points have the following value:

• 1 cent : Freedom card, Freedom Flex card, Freedom Unlimited card, Ink Business Cash card, Ink Business Premier card, Ink Business Unlimited card
• 1.25 cents : Chase Sapphire Preferred card or Ink Business Preferred card
• 1.5 cents : Chase Sapphire Reserve card

When using your points to shop through Amazon or Chase Pay, they are worth 0.8 cents per point.

When redeeming your points for cash back, gift cards, or experiences they are worth 1 cent per point.

What airline partners can I transfer my Chase Ultimate Rewards points to?

Chase airline partners include Air Canada, Air France-KLM, British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Emirates, JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic.

What hotel partners can I transfer my Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to?

You can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to the following hotels at a 1:1 ratio: IHG, Marriott, and Hyatt.

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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, Forbes Advisor, and Fortune Recommends.

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How to use chase ultimate rewards® for travel.

Whether you're a longtime cardholder or just starting your credit card journey with Chase, you may be wondering: What is the best way to use Chase points ? The answer will be different for everyone, but if you like to travel, you may find that using your points on your trips is your favorite way to spend them. Learning how to use Chase Ultimate Rewards to make the most of your points could help you pack in a few extra adventures when planning your next getaway.

How to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are redeemable points you can earn through welcome bonus offers or when making purchases with your Chase-branded cards, such as:

• Chase Sapphire
• Chase Freedom
• Chase Ink Business

You may also earn Ultimate Rewards at an accelerated rate on certain purchases or bonus categories — the typical rate is one point earned per dollar spent.

Redeeming Chase Ultimate Reward points

As a general rule of thumb, one point equates to $0.01 in redeemable value. This can fluctuate, however, depending on how you decide to redeem your points. When it comes to travel there are three main ways to redeem Ultimate Rewards points:

• Booking travel directly through the Chase travel portal.
• Transferring your points to Chase travel partners, such as airlines and hotels.
• Redeeming your points for gift cards or statement credits.

Using Ultimate Rewards points for travel

If you decide to redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards to book travel, you may want to know what your options are. The main way you can redeem your points is through the Chase travel portal. There, you can directly find, book and pay for travel expenses such as flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, tours and other activities or transfer points to hotel and airline partners.

When transferring your Ultimate Rewards to Chase travel partners, i.e. airlines and hotels, the transfer ratio is typically 1:1. That means that however many Ultimate Rewards points you have, you'll have the same amount in partner points with whichever Chase Ultimate Rewards travel partner you choose.

Why book through Chase Travel portal?

Something to note when using the portal is that the value of your points can change depending on which card you have.

For instance, if you have the Chase Freedom Unlimited ® card, your points are worth one cent each. With the Chase Sapphire Preferred ® or Ink Business Preferred ® cards, your points are each worth 1.25 cents. You'll get the highest value with the Chase Sapphire Reserve ® , as points are worth 1.5 cents each in the travel portal with that card.

If you have multiple eligible cards, you can combine your points to get the most out of them.

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

You can book flights, hotels and rental cars directly through the travel portal, but if you want to book a cruise using Ultimate Rewards points, you'll have to call Chase directly.

There's no right or wrong when it comes to how to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points. However, if you've been bitten by the travel bug, you may find the best way to use them is by transferring them to Chase partners or booking through the Chase travel portal. Take some time to compare points transfers and the travel portal and see which one helps you make the most out of your points.

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Should You Use Chase Points for Flights — Or Cash?

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One question that we often get is, when should you use your miles or pay cash for flights?

In the case of airline miles, the decision depends on your valuation of those miles , and then it comes down to a bit of math. However, the answer is a lot more complicated when considering transferrable point currencies like Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

That's because Chase points are very flexible. You can transfer Ultimate Rewards® points to 11 airline and three hotel partners, or you can redeem points for travel through the Chase's travel portal. Alternatively, you can redeem points at an elevated rate for gift cards. Worst case, you can redeem points for cash back at 1 cent per point.

Whether you took advantage of an excellent sign-up bonus or have built your point balance over time, you'll want to use those points wisely. So, should Chase cardholders use points or cash to book flights? Let's review some aspects to consider when making that decision.

» Learn more: How to earn and use Chase Ultimate Rewards®

Factors to consider

Your travel goals.

When deciding between booking travel through Chase's travel portal or paying out-of-pocket, consider what you want to get out of your points and miles.

In short, what is your main motivator for collecting travel rewards in the first place?

If your goal is to save money on travel, default to using your points whenever you can. If redeeming the points as airline miles via a transfer doesn't provide much value, book through the Ultimate Rewards® portal instead.

If your motivation is to travel in ways that you wouldn't pay cash for, consider saving your points to use for that next incredible experience.

Say that flying Singapore Airlines first class is on your travel bucket list. This isn't an experience that you want to book with cash. For example, a Singapore first-class flight from New York to Frankfurt costs $6,563. That same flight can be booked on points for just 86,000 KrisFlyer miles (an Ultimate Rewards® transfer partner ) plus $5.60 in taxes and fees. That's a redemption rate of over 7.6 cents per mile.

For Chase Sapphire Reserve® holders, those 86,000 points are worth $1,290 when redeemed in the travel portal .

That's still more than many may want to pay for a single flight.

So, make sure that you value the experience of sipping champagne in a private suite on Singapore Airlines at more than $1,290 before giving up the opportunity to use those points to book a lot of other travel.

» Learn more: AmEx points vs. Chase points

How often you travel

If you jet off to a new destination each month, you'll want to be more strategic about when you use points versus paying out-of-pocket for flights. After all, you may be able to use your points at a higher redemption rate on your next trip. You may even build an upcoming trip to take advantage of a redemption sweet spot.

Use the NerdWallet travel calculator to quickly see if you should book an award with cash or miles.

However, for travelers who travel once or twice a year, there's less of an incentive to save your points for the next trip. Rather than sitting on a points balance, it's better to redeem them and save now .

Just make sure to weigh the best use of your points. Perhaps it's best to pay cash for your flights so you can maximize your Chase points through a hotel redemption.

» Learn more: The secret to booking 5,000-point hotels in major cities

Your points earnings

Another factor to consider is how many points and miles you earn through credit card spending and travel.

Are you a high spender or small-business owner who's able to earn a ton of points and miles? If so, you may have more points than you know what to do with. If that’s the case, you don't need to worry about saving your points for a better redemption. Instead, just focus on the best way of using your points for each booking — whether that's via the travel portal or by transferring to travel partners.

If your earning rate is low, you may want to be a lot more strategic about using your existing points and miles balance. Rather than redeeming points for a fixed redemption rate through the Ultimate Rewards® portal, consider waiting until you can redeem points for an outsized value.

» Learn more: What's the (actual) value of Chase points?

Elite status benefits and goals (or lack thereof)

For frequent travelers, another consideration is elite status earnings and benefits. When booking a flight using airline miles, you won't earn credits toward elite status. And you may not even be able to enjoy all of your elite status perks.

For example, you can book American Airlines awards through British Airways for as few as 7,500 Avios each way. However, American's terms and conditions restrict AAdvantage members from utilizing their elite benefits when booking awards through partner airlines. By booking an award through British Airways, AAdvantage elites won't get elite perks like upgrades, priority boarding and extra-legroom seats.

This aspect may tilt the scales on how you book your flights. Thankfully, you still have a couple of options. You can either use Ultimate Rewards® points to book a flight through the travel portal or use your credit card to earn more points. You'll earn elite status credits either way.

» Learn more: How to maximize Chase Ultimate Rewards®

Whether it might be better to earn points instead

In the past, Chase travel purchases were pretty straightforward. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card cardholders earned 2x points and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® earned 3x on travel purchases.

That's not the case anymore. Chase recently improved the earning rates for Sapphire cardholders when booking travel with cash through the Chase Travel ℠ portal.

Now, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns 5x points on travel purchases through the Chase Travel ℠ portal — excluding hotel purchases where you use the $50 Anniversary Hotel Credit.

Those with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® will earn 5x points on flights — after using the $300 annual travel credit — and a whopping 10x points on hotel purchases on travel purchases in the Chase Travel ℠ portal.

These improved earning rates may change your math on when to use points or cash. If you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve® , you may want to redeem points for your flights but book your hotel through the Chase Travel ℠ portal to earn 10x points. Just remember that you won't be able to earn elite status credits or enjoy elite perks when booking through the portal.

» Learn more: The full list of Chase transfer partners

How to use Chase points for flights smartly

There are many factors to consider before you redeem Chase points for travel. For many travelers, the default should be to use your points for a trip — whether that's by transferring points to travel partners or redeeming through the Chase Travel ℠ portal.

However, you may want to book cash rates:

To save your points for an incredible redemption.

If you travel often and can use points for a higher redemption rate soon.

If you don't see yourself earning many points going forward.

If you want to earn elite status credits or enjoy elite status perks.

If you want to earn bonus points by booking travel through the Chase Travel ℠ portal.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1.5%-5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Up to $300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1%-5% Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Earn 5% on Chase travel purchased through Chase Travel®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.

$200 Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

Should you book flights on a travel portal? Comparing fares through Amex, Capital One, Chase and Citi

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

While booking a flight directly with an airline is often your best move, it's not always your best move. With many travel credit card programs, you have the ability to use points for flights or earn bonus points when booking through their respective sites.

Depending on the card you carry, issuers can offer up to 5 — or even up to 10 — bonus points per dollar to book flights through their respective travel portals rather than directly through the airline.

That's a great return that's hard to pass up.

Another common debate for cardholders is choosing between a travel credit and an airline credit card . For example, let's say you have both the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card in your wallet. The Sapphire Reserve offers 5 points per dollar on all flights booked through the Ultimate Rewards portal , while the Delta Reserve offers 3 SkyMiles per dollar on Delta flights booked directly through the carrier.

If you're purchasing a Delta flight that costs hundreds (or thousands) of dollars, the difference between earning 5 points per dollar vs. 3 miles per dollar can be significant.

But, here lies the question: Is it worth booking travel through these portals? Are you finding the lowest fare possible -- or are prices similar to booking directly?

We decided to put 20 routes to the test to see which of the four travel portals — American Express, Capital One, Chase and Citi — consistently gave us the lowest prices. Here's what we found.

New to The Points Guy? Sign up for our daily newsletter and check out our beginner's guide .

Crafting the test

We searched 20 round-trip routes of varying fare classes across the same trip dates. Here's what we found:

All four credit card travel booking portals were generally consistent in showing fares that were on par with booking directly, give or take a few dollars in most of cases.

Price differences became much more drastic when searching for international business- or first-class flights, so while it's always a good idea to price compare, it's pretty essential to compare prices for booking directly or via the portal if you're searching for any of these higher-cost fares. Additionally, sometimes, the Capital One portal didn't find any available international premium routes, as noted several times in the table above.

Each portal also has its quirks. For example, the Capital One portal does not show any JetBlue fares, while the Amex portal does not show any Frontier fares.

All things considered, these four portals were surprisingly consistent in pricing more often than not. But a quick cross-comparison can help you confirm that you are indeed getting the best price possible.

Should you book flights through a travel portal?

Booking through an issuer's travel portal is like booking through an online travel agency such as Expedia or Priceline. The biggest advantage of booking through these issuer portals is that you're likely to earn a great number of bonus points depending card you carry in your wallet, helping you achieve your next award trip much faster.

However, you'll want to weigh the opportunity to earn more rewards against the possibility of something going wrong with your trip, whether it's weather or pandemic-related issues .

Many TPG staffers and readers have found it much more difficult to change a flight or get a refund when booking via a third-party site, including one of these portals. When you don't book your flight directly with an airline , you'll have to reach out to the portal or agency you booked with for assistance, which can be a headache.

These travel portals do have other consumer-friendly features that may positively influence your choice. For instance, Capital One offers an automatic price protection benefit that can give you a refund if the price of your airfare drops after you book your ticket through its portal.

To sum it up, there are pros and cons to consider when booking your flights through a travel portal rather than through the airline itself. For some travelers, it's not worth the extra points or miles if something goes wrong with their trip, while others may be confident that their credit card issuer will help them in times of need — or are OK with dealing with extra hurdles if their plans change.

Best credit cards for booking flights

If you're looking to maximize your flight purchases , here are the best rewards credit cards that will get you at least a 5% return according to TPG's latest monthly valuations :

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply

Bottom line.

Issuers have been stepping up their game to improve their travel portals, and this test proved that most fares remained comparable to booking directly. There are times when the prices aren't identical, so it is a good idea to double-check prices directly with the airline or via Google Flights before booking. You'll also want to consider your game plan if you need to change or cancel a trip booked through a travel portal.

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, click here.

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