The Chase Ultimate Rewards program is one of the most flexible credit card rewards programs available -- and a strong competitor to American Express Travel. You can earn Chase Ultimate Rewards with select Chase credit cards, though you may be able to transfer rewards between certain Chase cards if one card qualifies for a boosted rewards rate.
There are a few ins and outs to getting the most out of your rewards, like paying close attention to redemption value and travel partner programs. But with the right strategy, Chase’s system can help you save on hotels and flights while giving you the flexibility to choose how, when and where you want to redeem your rewards.
Here’s everything you need to know about Chase’s Ultimate Rewards, plus how to earn and redeem them at the best value possible.
What are Chase Ultimate Rewards?
Chase Ultimate Rewards is a credit card rewards system where you can redeem any rewards you’ve earned for specific Chase cards.
You can redeem points for gift cards, cash back, travel, merchant purchases and transfer them to one of Chase’s travel partners. Some premium Chase cards also let you redeem your points at a 25% to 50% boosted rate, when you redeem them for travel through Chase Travel℠.
How you earn and redeem Chase’s Ultimate Rewards will depend on which Chase card you have and its redemption options.
Credit cards that offer Chase Ultimate Rewards
Currently, nine credit cards qualify for Chase Ultimate Rewards -- five personal credit cards and four business credit cards:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- Chase Freedom Flex℠*
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
- Chase Freedom®️ Student credit card
- Ink Business Premier® Credit Card
However, only three of these cards offer a boosted rate of 1.25 cents to 1.5 cents per point for travel redeemed through Chase Travel℠:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve – up to 1.5x per point
- Chase Sapphire Preferred – up to 1.25x per point
- Ink Business Preferred – up to 1.25x per point
Chase’s rewards portal may still come in handy if you have a Chase cash-back card. However, your redemption options and value may vary.
How to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards
If you have one of Chase’s annual fee credit cards, you can typically earn rewards from select categories at a higher rate.
For example, if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you can earn 3x on dining, takeout and delivery. If you spend $150 at a restaurant, you should earn 450 points on the meal. Generally, you’ll earn the most rewards on travel with the Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve. But you can also earn points on purchases through the Shop through Chase® portal.
The best way to earn rewards is to choose a Chase card that aligns with your spending habits to earn rewards on purchases you’re already making. You may be able to pair two Chase cards together to earn more points. And you can add a Chase cash-back card to the mix to create a trifecta to earn even more rewards.
How to pool points with Chase Ultimate Rewards
If you and another household member both have Chase credit cards, you can combine or pool your rewards.
For instance, you may use the Freedom Flex to earn 5% cash back in the quarterly bonus category (on up to $1,500 in combined quarterly purchases, then 1%), then use the Sapphire Preferred to earn 3x points on dining. You’ll then want to transfer the cashback from the Freedom Flex to your Sapphire Preferred account to redeem it as 1.25 cents per point when redeemed for travel through the Chase portal.
Since pooling and credit card policies have the tendency to change often, make it a habit to transfer your points every few weeks just in case you’re no longer to combine rewards in the future. You’ll need the last name and credit card number for the account you’re transferring to. And the account holders must be household members.
You may also be able to pool points from co-branded Chase cards, but it’s best to check your credit card agreement first to know your redemption value and any limitations. If you plan to open multiple credit cards for more rewards and perks, remember Chase’s 5/24 rule -- you can’t have more than five new credit card accounts opened within 24 months, regardless of the card issuer. So it’s best to time your applications strategically.
What’s the value of Chase Ultimate Rewards?
How much your Chase points are worth depends on the credit card and how you redeem them. Here are some points valuations for common redemption methods.
Travel
Typically, you’ll get the best value out of your points if you redeem them for travel. Depending on your card, your points are worth 1 cent to 1.50 cents when redeemed for travel through Chase Travel℠.
Here’s a breakdown:
| Chase credit card | Point value |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | 1.50 cents |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | 1.25 cents |
| Chase Ink Business Preferred | 1.25 cents |
| Chase Freedom Flex | 1 cent |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | 1 cent |
| Ink Business Unlimited | 1 cent |
| Ink Business Cash | 1 cent |
Dining
You can also redeem your Chase points through the Chase Dining portal. You can redeem your rewards for takeout and other culinary experiences, such as a once-in-a-lifetime dinner at select restaurants in your area.
Amazon purchases
You can also use your points to pay for eligible Amazon.com purchases. However, one point will be worth $0.008. That’s far less than redeeming for travel or statement credits. As an example, if you redeem 500 points toward an Amazon purchase, your redemption value will be $4. If you redeem the same 500 points for cash back with Chase, you’ll get $5 since it’s worth 1 cent per point.
Gift cards and statement credits
If you redeem points for gift cards, through the Apple® Ultimate Rewards Store or via a statement credit with Chase, they’re typically worth 1 cent per point. It’s still a good value if you don’t want to pay out of pocket for a purchase, such as headphones or a new computer. You also may be able to redeem your points for cash back at a rate of 1 cent per point.
Travel partners
You may also get a good deal when you redeem your rewards with a Chase travel partner. Here’s a list of all 14 travel partners Chase offers. Keep in mind that booking through Chase is still a good option if your preferred hotel or airline isn’t on the list.
- Aer Lingus
- Air Canada
- Air France KLM
- British Airways
- Emirates
- Iberia
- JetBlue
- Singapore Airlines
- Southwest
- United
- Virgin Atlantic
Hotel partners include:
- IHG Rewards
- Marriott Bonvoy
- World of Hyatt
It’s best to check the travel partner’s point ratio before booking. Partners redeem rewards at different rates, which sometimes makes your hard-earned points worth less when transferring them.
Read more: Best Travel Credit Cards for February 2023
The bottom line
Chase Ultimate Rewards offers a flexible way to redeem your points and lets you pool points together to potentially increase their value. To maximize your earnings, you’ll need a Chase rewards credit card with an annual fee. If you’d rather earn rewards without paying an annual fee, you might prefer the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card. You won’t have to worry about offsetting the annual charge, and the card will still come in handy if you add a rewards card later.
*All information about the Chase Freedom Flex has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
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