💡 Best Ways to Redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards® Points

One of the biggest reasons I love Chase Ultimate Rewards® points is their flexibility — you’re never locked into just one airline or hotel program. Here are a few of my favorite ways to stretch those points for maximum value:

✈️ 1. Transfer to travel partners

This is where the real magic happens. This is number one way I recommend you use your Ultimate Reward points. You can transfer points to 13 travel partners, including:

• Airlines: Southwest, United, JetBlue, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and more

• Hotels: Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, and IHG Rewards

  
  

Pro tip: Hyatt offers some of the best redemption rates in the game — think luxury stays for as little as 12,000 points per night!

🧳 2. Book directly through Chase Travel

If you’d rather skip transfers, you can book flights, hotels, or rental cars right in the Chase Travel portal. When you pay with points, each point is worth 1.25¢ if you have the Sapphire Preferred, meaning 80,000 points = $1,000 toward travel.

This option is great for simple redemptions or when you’re booking low-cost flights that don’t make sense for partner transfers. I must do my due diligence and tell you about this option BUT it’s often not the best if you’re looking to maximize the value of your points.

🍽️ 3. Redeem for experiences or Pay Yourself Back

Chase sometimes offers limited-time Pay Yourself Back® categories — allowing you to use points to erase purchases on things like dining or Airbnb stays. You’ll often get 1.25¢ per point in value here too.

And for something fun? You can even use points for exclusive experiences — think wine tastings, concert access, or private tours through Chase Experiences®.

🌍 4. Mix and match for maximum value

The best strategy? Combine points across all cards that earn Ultimate Rewards®. Just remember, you'll need to hold one of the premium cards like Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve or Ink Business Preferred to transfer to travel partners to unlock the full potential of the Ultimate Rewards® system.