How to Use Chase Ultimate Rewards Points for Travel (Complete 2026 Guide)
The most popular points program in America, explained like a friend would explain it — clearly, patiently, and with zero jargon.
Target Keywords: how to use Chase Ultimate Rewards points, Chase points for travel beginners, Chase Sapphire Preferred points guide, how to redeem Chase points for flights, best way to use Chase points 2026
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Category: Educational (Points 101)
Cluster: Cluster 1 — Beginner's Guide
Schema: Article, FAQ
If there's one points program in America that deserves the word "best," it's Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Not because it's the flashiest. Not because it's the most complicated. But because it hits the rare combination of being genuinely powerful and genuinely simple to use — which, if you've spent any time reading about credit card rewards, you know is not a given.
Here's the thing: roughly 80 million Americans carry at least one Chase credit card. Many of them — maybe you — have tens of thousands of points sitting right there in their account, earning nothing, doing nothing, waiting for someone to notice them.
Consider this your notice.
Whether you have 20,000 points or 200,000, this guide will walk you through exactly how to use them for travel. Step by step. No tricks, no insider lingo, no assumptions about what you already know. Just the clear, practical answers that Chase's own website makes surprisingly hard to find.
First Things First: How Much Are Your Chase Points Actually Worth?
This is the question everyone asks first, and the answer is: it depends on how you use them.
Chase points don't have a single fixed value. They're more like a flexible currency — the smarter you are about spending them, the more each one is worth.
Here's the quick breakdown:
| How You Use Them | Value Per Point | 50,000 Points = |
|---|---|---|
| Statement credit (cash back) | 1.0¢ | $500 |
| Chase Travel Portal (Sapphire Preferred) | 1.25¢ | $625 |
| Chase Travel Portal (Sapphire Reserve) | 1.5¢ | $750 |
| Transfer to airline/hotel partner | 1.5–5¢+ | $750–$2,500+ |
See why we don't recommend cashing out for statement credits? That same 50,000 points could be worth $500 or $2,500 depending on how you play it. The difference isn't luck — it's knowledge.
And that's exactly what you're getting right now.
The Three Ways to Use Chase Points for Travel
Think of these as three doors. Door 1 is the easiest. Door 2 gives you more value. Door 3 is for when you're ready to unlock the real magic. Most people start at Door 1 and never leave. By the end of this article, you'll understand all three — and you'll know exactly which one fits your next trip.
Door 1: Book Through the Chase Travel Portal (Easiest)
The Chase Travel Portal is essentially an online travel agency built right into your Chase account. It looks and works a lot like Expedia or Booking.com, except you pay with points instead of dollars.
How it works:
- Log into your Chase account at chase.com
- Click "Travel" in the left menu (or find "Ultimate Rewards" in the app)
- Search for flights, hotels, rental cars, or cruises — just like any travel website
- When you find what you want, pay with your points instead of your credit card
What you need to know:
- With a Sapphire Preferred card, your points are worth 1.25¢ each in the portal. A $500 flight costs 40,000 points.
- With a Sapphire Reserve, that jumps to 1.5¢ each. The same $500 flight costs just 33,334 points.
- With a Freedom Flex or Freedom Unlimited (no annual fee), points are worth only 1¢ each. But here's a helpful trick — if you also have a Sapphire card, you can combine your Freedom points with your Sapphire points and use them all at the higher rate.
Best for: Domestic flights, straightforward hotel bookings, rental cars, and anyone who wants a simple "search, click, book" experience.
This is where most WanderWise members start. And honestly, if this is as far as you ever go, you'll still save hundreds — even thousands — on travel. No shame in Door 1.
Door 2: Transfer Points to Airline and Hotel Partners (Best Value)
This is where Chase points go from "pretty good" to "genuinely incredible."
Chase has partnerships with 11 airlines and 3 hotel programs. When you transfer your points to one of these partners, they convert 1:1 into that partner's currency — and in many cases, the value per point jumps dramatically.
Think of it this way: The Chase portal is like shopping at retail price. Transferring to a partner is like getting the wholesale deal.
The most useful transfer partners for our audience:
| Partner | Type | Why It's Great |
|---|---|---|
| United MileagePlus | Airline | Book United flights or partner airlines like Lufthansa business class to Europe |
| Hyatt (World of Hyatt) | Hotel | Consistently the best value in hotel points — luxury stays for modest points |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards | Airline | Perfect for domestic trips and visiting grandkids |
| British Airways (Avios) | Airline | Short-haul flights at incredible rates — great for East Coast to Caribbean |
| Air Canada (Aeroplan) | Airline | Excellent business class options to Europe on Star Alliance carriers |
A real example: A round-trip business class flight from the East Coast to London might cost $4,200 in cash. Through the Chase portal, that's about 280,000 points with a Sapphire Reserve. But transfer those points to British Airways or Aeroplan, and you might book the same route for 80,000–115,000 points.
Same flight. Same seat. Fewer than half the points. That's the power of Door 2.
If you want a step-by-step walkthrough of booking business class to Europe using transfers, our Complete Guide to Flying Business Class on Points covers every detail.
Door 3: Transfer to Hotel Partners for Outsized Value (The Sweet Spot)
We're giving this its own section because it's the single most underrated use of Chase points — especially for our audience.
World of Hyatt points, transferred from Chase at a 1:1 ratio, are routinely worth 2–3¢ each. Sometimes more.
That means 25,000 Chase points can get you a night at a Hyatt that would cost $400–$600 in cash. A four-night stay that would run $2,000? That's 100,000 points — achievable with a single sign-up bonus and a few months of normal spending.
Hyatt properties include Park Hyatt (luxury), Grand Hyatt (upscale), Hyatt Regency (solid mid-range), and all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean through their Inclusive Collection.
Why this matters for you: If your travel style leans toward "comfortable hotel with a great location" rather than "cheapest option available," Hyatt transfers are your best friend.
How to Actually Transfer Your Points (It Takes 5 Minutes)
If you've never transferred points before, the process is almost anticlimactically simple:
- Log into your Chase account and go to the Ultimate Rewards section
- Click "Transfer to Travel Partners" — you'll see the full list of airlines and hotels
- Select the partner you want (you'll need to have an account with them — it's free to join any loyalty program)
- Enter the number of points you want to transfer
- Confirm the transfer — points arrive in your partner account within minutes (sometimes instantly)
One important note: Transfers are permanent and irreversible. Once you send 50,000 points to United, they're United miles now. You can't send them back to Chase. So make sure you've found the flight or hotel you want before you transfer.
This is a good habit: search first, find availability, then transfer, then book.
Which Chase Card Should You Start With?
If you don't yet have a Chase card that earns Ultimate Rewards, here's the short version:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is our top recommendation for most adults over 55. The annual fee is $95, the sign-up bonus is typically 60,000–80,000 points, and the card earns 3x on dining and 2x on travel with no foreign transaction fees. It's the best balance of value and simplicity.
For a detailed breakdown of why — and how it compares to the other options — read our 5 Best Travel Credit Cards for Adults 55+.
Not sure which card is right for your spending patterns? Our Travel Score Quiz takes 60 seconds and gives you a personalized recommendation.
The WanderWise Strategy: Match Your Points to Your Trip
Here's how we recommend approaching it:
- Weekend trip to visit family? Use the Chase Travel Portal. Simple, fast, no fuss.
- Beach vacation at an all-inclusive? Transfer to Hyatt for their Inclusive Collection resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean.
- Business class to Europe? Transfer to United or Aeroplan for the best availability and value. Our business class guide walks you through it.
- Domestic flights on Southwest? Transfer to Southwest Rapid Rewards — especially great because Southwest has no change fees and allows two free checked bags.
- A river cruise? Book through the Chase portal or combine points with cash. See our River Cruises on Points Guide for the full strategy.
The key insight: your Chase points are a Swiss Army knife. They're not locked into one airline or one hotel. They go wherever your next trip takes you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Chase Ultimate Rewards points expire?
No — as long as your account is open and in good standing, your points don't expire. There's no ticking clock. That said, we recommend using them rather than hoarding them, because points programs can change their values over time. A point earned today is best used sooner rather than later.
Can my spouse and I combine our Chase points?
Yes. If you're both authorized users on each other's Chase cards, or if you have your own Chase cards in the same household, you can transfer points between your accounts for free. This is one of the best features for couples — two sign-up bonuses can combine into one substantial travel fund.
Can I use points to book travel for my grandchildren?
Absolutely. When booking through the Chase Travel Portal, you can book flights and hotels in anyone's name. And if you transfer points to an airline partner like Southwest or United, you can book award tickets for family members.
For more on this, our guide to multigenerational travel on points has everything you need.
What if I don't have enough points for a full trip?
Chase lets you pay with a mix of points and cash through the portal. You can use 30,000 points and put the rest on your card. There's no minimum. Use what you have, and keep earning for next time.
Is the Sapphire Reserve worth the higher annual fee?
The Reserve costs $550 per year, but it comes with a $300 annual travel credit (automatic — just book travel on the card), airport lounge access through Priority Pass, and a higher points multiplier in the travel portal (1.5¢ vs. 1.25¢ per point). If you travel more than twice a year and value lounge access, the math usually works out. Our annual fee guide breaks down the exact calculation.
Your Next Step
Here's what we'd suggest you do right now — literally today:
- Log into your Chase account and check your points balance. Write it down.
- Think about your next trip. Where do you want to go? When?
- Match the trip to the right door. Simple domestic flight? Use the portal. Dream trip to Europe? Consider a transfer partner.
- Read the guide that fits. We've linked several throughout this article — pick the one that matches your goal.
You've been earning these points for years. Every grocery run, every dinner out, every utility bill. Those points are your travel fund. It's time to use them.
And if you ever get stuck, our community is here. That's what WanderWise is for.
Travel more. Spend less. Know better.