Chase’s Airline Transfer Partners

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are one of the most coveted currencies in the credit card and travel space. A pivotal aspect of this lies in their seamless transferability to a wide array of airline partners. Navigating this network of partners can be daunting, but this article is here to guide you. We’ll dive into the world of Chase airline transfer partners by understanding the current landscape and helping you use your points for unforgettable travel experiences.

Overview of Chase’s Point Currency

Chase Ultimate Rewards is a loyalty program offered by JPMorgan Chase. Launched in 2009, the program initially began with the introduction of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card. Over the years, it has evolved into a comprehensive rewards platform that offers various credit card products and many redemption options.

The program allows eligible Chase cardholders to earn Ultimate Rewards points on purchases, with bonus categories often tailored to travel, dining and other lifestyle expenditures. These points can be redeemed for a variety of rewards, including cash back and travel.

Speaking of travel, one of the standout features of the program is the ability to transfer points at a 1:1 ratio to one of Chase’s 14 travel partners, 11 of which are airlines. It’s here where you can get some amazing redemption value from your points, so make sure the Chase Ultimate Rewards program is on your radar if you’re looking for free travel.

List of Chase Airline Partners

Chase currently has 11 airline transfer partners, summarized in the table below:

This list of partners, as well as their specific transfer ratios and transfer bonus offers, can change over time. For the latest information, refer to the official list provided by Chase.

For all transfer partners, the minimum transfer is 1,000 points, and you can increase this in increments of 1,000. In addition, most Chase transfer partners are instantaneous, but it can take up to a few business days in the worst case.

Best Practices for Transferring Points

Here are some best practices to be mindful of when transferring your Ultimate Rewards points.

Confirm Award Availability First

Before transferring your points to an airline partner, remember that this conversion is irreversible. After converting your points into a specific partner’s currency, there’s no turning back.

Because of this, always verify the award availability for your intended travel before proceeding with any transfer request. Additionally, be mindful of potential expiration policies imposed by certain partner airlines on their miles (for instance, Emirates miles expire three years after transfer).

As a general rule of thumb, if the award availability isn’t there, refrain from transferring your Ultimate Rewards points. Retaining them in your Chase account preserves their flexibility, and they will remain valid as long as your account is open and in good standing.

Research and Compare Partners

It’s normal for multiple different airlines to offer your desired flight route. Just as you would when purchasing the flight with cash, research and compare the points cost for each airline. This can help you identify the most cost-effective points redemption for your journey.

Note that while Chase has only 11 direct airline partners, you get indirect access to many more thanks to airline alliances. For instance, since United is part of the Star Alliance, you can book any Star Alliance award seat through United.

Check for Transfer Bonuses

You can maximize the value of your Chase Ultimate Rewards points by capitalizing on ongoing transfer bonuses. Chase consistently offers periodic transfer bonuses to select airline partners.

While timing and luck play a role in aligning these bonuses with your preferred program, the potential gains are substantial. Securing a transfer bonus can result in an added 15% to 30% (or even more) value from your points. For instance, a 30% transfer bonus to British Airways Executive Club transforms 1,000 Ultimate Rewards points into 1,300 Avios.

Program Rules and Limitations

Transferring your points in the Chase Ultimate Rewards Program is pretty straightforward, but there are a few rules and limitations you’ll want to be aware of.

Eligible Cards

To access Chase’s transfer partners, you must have one of the following credit cards:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
• Chase Ink Business Preferred® Card

If you have at least one of these cards, you can combine Ultimate Rewards points that you earn with any other Chase cards to use with transfer partners. For example, if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you can transfer Ultimate Rewards points from a Chase Freedom Unlimited® Card to your Reserve. All of those Ultimate Rewards points can then be transferred to partners.

Note that you can only have one Sapphire card, so you cannot have both the Preferred and the Reserve at the same time.

Minimum and Maximum Transfer Limits

When working with Chase transfer partners, you must transfer in increments of 1,000. This means the minimum transfer amount is 1,000.

Chase doesn’t explicitly list maximum transfer limits for partners.

Expiration Policies

Chase Ultimate Rewards points don’t expire as long as your credit card account remains open and in good standing. You have the flexibility to retain as many points as you want within your account.

The scenario changes when you opt to transfer your points to an airline partner. Once the points hit the partner account, they become subject to the expiration policies outlined in that specific partner’s program terms and conditions. Given that many airline miles come with expiration dates, exercise caution before initiating any points transfer.

Restrictions and Blackout Dates

Transferring your Chase points can be done at any time. There are no limitations or blackout dates. It’s important to be aware, however, that individual airline partners may impose their own restrictions related to blackout dates and procedures for award bookings.

Earning Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

To earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, spend using any eligible Chase card from this list:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
• Chase Freedom Flex®
• Chase Freedom Unlimited®
• Chase Ink Business Preferred® Card
• Chase Ink Business Cash® Card
• Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Card

While all these cards earn Ultimate Rewards, only the three cards we mentioned earlier (Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, Ink Business Preferred) have access to travel partners.

Each card has different sign-up bonuses and bonus-earning categories. We recommend researching each card and applying for the one that best fits your current spending habits.

Chase also has a shopping portal called Shop through Chase. You can earn bonus Ultimate Rewards points for making purchases through this portal instead of directly with retailers. To access the portal, you’ll need to log into your Chase account (so you’ll need to have a Chase credit card first).

As with many other shopping portals, the rate you see for each retailer can change over time. If you have a specific item in mind that isn’t urgent, consider waiting for an increased earning rate before finalizing your purchase.

Conclusion

Chase’s roster of airline partners can help you explore the world for little out-of-pocket costs. A few Chase credit cards provide access to these partners, and many others can help you accrue the Ultimate Rewards points you need to make award bookings. Once you’ve accumulated a good amount of points, it’s easy to transfer them to your chosen airline partner and reap the benefits of complimentary travel.

Given the dynamic nature of the points and miles landscape, it’s important to note that Chase’s transfer partners, bonuses and program terms and conditions can change. It’s advisable to stay informed about updates within the Ultimate Rewards program to ensure you can always maximize the value of your points.