- Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be used for travel, cash back, gift cards, and experiences.
- Because miles never expire as long as your account is open, you can accumulate points until you’re ready to turn them in for Chase rewards.
- Redeem your points by transferring them to travel partners like United MileagePlus or through retail gift cards like Amazon or Best Buy.
- You can also redeem points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal for a 20 percent discount on redemptions.
- The best way to earn these points is to sign up for a Chase credit card such as Sapphire Preferred, a Chase Visa card.
How would you like to fly to your favorite destination and stay at a top hotel for free, and then get cash back for your vacation spending? The Chase Ultimate Rewards program lets you do exactly that. Here’s how it works.
Earning Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
You earn points that you can redeem for rewards by applying for an affiliated Chase card and then charging your expenses to it.
Chase Sapphire Preferred offers 50,000 bonus points when you sign up and spend $4,000 in purchases within the first three months after you open your account. You then earn two points per dollar spent on such travel expenses as airfare, hotel, taxes, and on restaurant dining around the world.
All other purchases earn one point per dollar. This card costs $95 a year, but the annual fee is waived for the first year. It also grants typical charge card benefits such as no foreign transaction fees, collision damage waivers for auto rentals, and trip interruption insurance.
Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
This credit card scheme gives you 80,000 bonus points if you spend $5,000 in the first three months after opening the account.
You earn three points per $1 spent on travel, shipping, the internet, cable, phone, and advertising on social media and search engines.
You get $1 per point on everything else. This card charges $95 annually and also offers typical benefits such as no foreign transaction fees.
Redeeming Rewards
You can redeem your rewards in multiple ways. Points can be used on the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal. As with any travel booking site, you can reserve flights, hotels, car rentals, and cruises.
However, you receive a 20 percent discount, so those 50,000 bonus points can purchase up to 60,000 points worth of travel. If you value a point at one cent, a $500 bonus is now worth $600 in travel.
The portal lets you redeem points for gift cards at such retailers as Best Buy, The Home Depot, Amazon, and Sears with 500 points generally equal to $5 (Amazon requires 625 points for $5).
You can also transfer points at a 1:1 ratio to Chase’s travel partners, which include such airlines as British Airways Executive Club, Korean Air SKYPASS, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, and United MileagePlus as well as such hotels as IHG Rewards Club, Marriott Rewards, and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards.
If you make a booking through Skyscanner with one of the Chase travel partners then you can transfer your points. Using a Chase Credit Card to complete your booking can earn further points.
Chase Airline Cards
If you do most of your traveling on one airline, you may prefer a Chase card that earns points for that airline, such as the United MileagePlus Explorer card or the Southwest Chase Rapid Rewards Credit Card. Both offer sign-up bonuses of 50,000 or 40,000 points respectively for minimum spending in the first three months as well as points for dollars spent.
Points only apply to flights for that airline but offer additional benefits. For example, the United card gets you two United Club passes each year, priority boarding, and a free checked bag. You can earn points when you book flights with those airlines through Skyscanner.
