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You’ve diligently collected Chase Ultimate Rewards points, one of the most valuable point currencies in the travel world. Now comes the exciting part: using them. While the Chase travel portal offers a simple way to book flights and hotels, it’s a bit like trading a gold bar for pocket change. The real, game-changing value of this program is hidden one step deeper. This guide will teach you exactly how to transfer Chase points to airline and hotel partners—a strategy that can instantly double or even triple their value.
Moving your points from Chase to a partner loyalty program like World of Hyatt or United MileagePlus allows you to book award travel directly, accessing sweet spots that can turn 100,000 points into a $5,000 luxury hotel stay or a business class flight. This isn’t a complicated process, but it does require a little know-how. We’ll break down the entire process with a step-by-step guide, show you the math behind why it’s so powerful, and reveal some of the best ways to use Chase points for truly unforgettable travel experiences.
Full Comparison: Portal Booking vs. Partner Transfer
The fundamental choice every Chase cardholder has is whether to book through the portal or transfer their points. The difference in value is stark, especially for premium redemptions.
| Method | How It Works | Point Value (CPP) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booking via Chase Portal | Your points are used like cash at a fixed rate (1.25 or 1.5 cents each) to book travel through Chase’s Expedia-powered site. | Fixed at 1.25 – 1.5 cents. Reliable, but limited. | Economy flights when cash prices are low; booking non-chain hotels. |
| Transferring to Partners | You move your Chase points directly into an airline or hotel loyalty account (e.g., World of Hyatt) at a 1:1 ratio. | Variable from 1.5 – 10+ cents. Unlocks significantly higher value. | Booking luxury hotels and international business or first-class flights. This is one of the best ways to use Chase points. |
How to Transfer Chase Points: A Step-by-Step Guide
Ready to unlock the true potential of your points? Here’s the exact process for transferring your Ultimate Rewards to a travel partner.
- Log in to your Chase Account: Navigate to the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. If you have multiple cards, select the premium card that allows transfers (e.g., your Sapphire Preferred®).
- Navigate to the Transfer Page: In the main menu, click on the “Travel” dropdown and select “Transfer Points to Travel Partners.”
- Select Your Partner: You will see a list of all available airline and hotel partners. Click on the program you want to transfer your points to, such as “World of Hyatt.”
- Link Your Loyalty Account: If this is your first time transferring to this partner, you will need to enter your loyalty program account number to link it to your Chase account. This is a one-time step.
- Enter the Point Amount: Specify how many points you wish to transfer. Points must be transferred in increments of 1,000.
- Confirm the Transfer: Review the details on the final confirmation screen. Remember, once you click submit, the transfer is irreversible.
Best Ways to Use Chase Points: Top Transfer Partners
Knowing how to transfer Chase points is only half the battle. Knowing *where* to transfer them is what creates incredible value. Here are the top partners for different travel goals.
Best for Luxury Hotels: World of Hyatt
This is, without a doubt, the single best transfer partner in the entire Chase ecosystem. Hyatt’s reasonable award chart allows for redemptions at stunning properties like the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme or the Alila Ventana Big Sur for a fraction of their cash price. It’s common to get 2, 3, or even 5 cents per point in value, making it one of the absolute best ways to use Chase points for aspirational stays. For a deeper look, check out our guide to why World of Hyatt is a travel hacker’s favorite.
Best for Domestic US Flights: Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
For domestic travel within the U.S. (including Hawaii), Southwest is a fantastic option. Since the points price is tied to the cash price, you’ll always get a solid, predictable value (around 1.4 cents per point). The real value comes from the airline’s perks: two free checked bags per person and no change fees. If you have the Southwest Companion Pass, you can book a flight with points and your companion flies for just the cost of taxes, doubling the value of your points instantly.
Best for International Business Class: Air Canada Aeroplan
Aeroplan is a powerful program for booking flights on Star Alliance partners, which includes major airlines like United, Lufthansa, Swiss, and ANA. Aeroplan has a reasonable award chart and doesn’t pass on fuel surcharges from most partners. It’s also one of the few programs that allows you to add a stopover on a one-way award ticket for just 5,000 extra points, a phenomenal deal. If you want to learn more about this strategy, read our guide to booking stopover flights with points and miles.
Realistic Math Examples
Let’s illustrate the difference between a portal booking and a partner transfer with a real-world example: a two-night stay at a luxury hotel.
The Portal Booking Method (Limited Value)
Using a Chase Sapphire Preferred® (1.25 CPP).
- Hotel: Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort (a Hyatt property)
- Cash Price: $1,100 per night (Total: $2,200)
- Portal Points Price: $2,200 / $0.0125 = 176,000 points
- Value: Fixed at 1.25 cents per point.
The Transfer Partner Method (Maximum Value)
Learning how to transfer Chase points to World of Hyatt.
- Hotel: Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort
- Cash Price: $1,100 per night (Total: $2,200)
- World of Hyatt Points Price: 45,000 points per night (Total: 90,000 points)
- Action: Transfer 90,000 Chase points to your Hyatt account.
- Value: ($2,200 / 90,000) * 100 = ~2.44 cents per point!
By transferring your points, you used 86,000 fewer points for the exact same stay.
Gotchas You Shouldn’t Ignore
- Transfers are Final: This is the most important rule. Once you transfer Chase points to an airline or hotel, they cannot be moved back to Chase. Only transfer points when you have found available award space and are ready to book.
- Confirm Award Availability First: Before you transfer, always search on the partner airline or hotel’s website to confirm that an award seat or room is actually available for your dates. A great tool for checking Star Alliance availability is the United Airlines award search.
- You Need a Premium Card: The ability to transfer points is only available to holders of Chase’s premium cards: the Sapphire Preferred®, Sapphire Reserve®, and Ink Business Preferred®. While you can earn points on no-annual-fee cards like the Freedom Flex℠, you must also hold one of the premium cards to unlock transfers.
- Transfer Times Vary: Most Chase transfers are instant, but a few can take a day or two. Be aware of this if you are trying to book a time-sensitive award.
How We Picked
The partners and strategies recommended in this guide were chosen to represent the absolute best ways to use Chase points. Our selection process was based on a rigorous analysis of:
- Redemption Value: We prioritized transfer partners that consistently deliver high cents-per-point (CPP) values, particularly for premium and luxury travel experiences.
- Program Quality: We evaluated the strength of the partner loyalty programs themselves, considering factors like reasonable award charts, good availability, and valuable elite benefits.
- Ease of Use: We gave preference to partners with user-friendly websites and booking processes. We also noted which high-value bookings might require calling the airline.
- Real-World Application: The examples and strategies are based on thousands of real-world award bookings made by our team, ensuring the advice is practical and repeatable.
FAQ
Which Chase cards allow you to transfer points?
To transfer points to airline and hotel partners, you must hold one of Chase’s premium Ultimate Rewards cards: the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
How long does it take to transfer Chase points?
Most transfers are instant. When you transfer points to partners like World of Hyatt, United MileagePlus, and Southwest Rapid Rewards, the points typically appear in your loyalty account within seconds. A few programs, like Marriott Bonvoy, may take up to one or two business days.
Can I transfer my Chase points to someone else’s account?
Chase has a generous but specific policy. You can transfer your points to the loyalty account of one authorized user on your card or one member of your household who shares the same address. You cannot transfer them to a friend or family member who does not live with you.
Is it ever a good idea to book through the Chase portal instead of transferring?
Yes, in specific situations. If you are booking a cheap economy flight, the portal can sometimes be a better deal. For example, a $100 flight would cost 8,000 points in the portal (with Sapphire Preferred), whereas it might cost 12,500 miles if transferred to an airline. It’s always worth comparing the two options for low-cost redemptions.
