Drowning in Chase points and no clue how to spend them?
You can make the most out of your Chase points by booking travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. By using cards like the Chase Sapphire and Ink, your points can be up to 1.5 cents when you redeem them for traveling, while regular Chase points are typically 1 cent each.
There’s a way to squeeze the absolute most value out of every single one. If you play it right, your points could be worth way more than you think. Can’t wait to dive into the smartest way to turn those Chase points into epic experiences!
The best ways to use Chase points are these, and we’re going to dive deeper into the reasons why and show you how you can do it:
- Book Travel Through Chase
- Redeem for Gift Cards
- Shop with Points on Amazon
- Cash Back
- Travel Partners
- Unique Experiences
The greatest part about Chase is that they don’t penalize you by reducing the value of your points when you choose certain redemptions, like gift cards or cash back, unlike some other credit card companies.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are always worth at least 1 cent per point, and with some cards, you can get even more value, especially when you use them for traveling.
That’s why Chase Ultimate Rewards is famous for its travel redemption options, but they also offer a variety of other ways to use your points to the fullest, from cash to exclusive experiences for cardholders. Most redemptions will give you a value of 1 cent per point, but there are a few exceptions where you can get a bit more.
Keep reading to discover all the different ways you can redeem your Chase points!
1. Book travel through Chase
With most cards, you’ll get 1 cent per point, but if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you get 1.25 per point. Moreover, with the Chase Sapphire Reserve or J.P. Morgan Reserve, you get 1.5 per point.
A $200 flight, for example, or a hotel room, usually costs 10,000 points on most Chase cards, but you can take them for only 16,000 points with Preferred and 13,333 with Reserve. This worked for everything: from cruises to car rentals. What you need to do is book your travel directly through Chase so you can redeem points for travel purchases after they’ve appeared on your statement already. The good news is that you can book through Chase Ultimate Rewards with almost any travel provider.
2. Gift cards
Here, you’ll get 1 cent for each point. A $100 gift card, for example, will cost 10,000 points. Chase still offers discounts on certain gift cards, which allow you to stretch your points even further, and you can redeem points for cards from most major retailers. The increments will vary by brand. Gift cards are especially valuable, especially when you’re looking to shop and treat yourself without spending extra money.
3. Shopping with Points on Amazon
If you’re an avid Amazon shopper, we have the greatest news for you! You can use Chase Ultimate Rewards points directly on Amazon.com. In this category, the value of your points is a little lower—0.8 cents per point. However, it’s a convenient way to make purchases using your rewards; a $40 purchase on Amazon would only cost 5,000 points, for instance.
To use your points at Amazon, you need to link your Chase card to your Amazon account, and once connected, use it as a payment method directly during checkout. This allows you to redeem points without the hassle of converting them into cash or gift cards.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points can additionally be used for purchases through PayPal. This brings even more flexibility when it comes to using points for online shopping.
Here you can find the ways you can use your Chase points on Amazon.
4. Cash Back
If you’re someone who prefers a straightforward approach, a great option is cashback. With Chase Ultimate Rewards, at a rate of 1 cent per point, 10,000 points can bring you $100 cash back. You can apply this cash as a statement credit to reduce your bill, or you can simply deposit it into your bank account.
Cashback is an incredibly favored option for many Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Freedom Flex cardholders. These cards are designed especially for cashback rewards. They don’t offer the enhanced value of travel redemptions, so cashback is their best way to redeem points. You can use them for anything you need in a simple and flexible manner.
5. Travel partners
Chase Ultimate Reward points can be transferred to airlines and hotel partners, most of the time at a 1:1 ratio. This means that 1 Chase Ultimate Reward point is 1 point in the reward program of a participating partner, a thing that allows you to maximize the value of your points.
When it comes to their travel partners, the most popular airlines and hotel programs are included:
Airlines: Aer Lingus AerClub, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Flying Blue (Air France and KLM), Emirates Skywards, Iberia Plus, JetBlue TrueBlue, Singapore Airlines, Southwest Rapid Rewards, United MileagePlus, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Hotels: World of Hyatt, IHG Rewards Club, Marriott Bonvoy
The transfer feature is especially valuable for people who fly and stay in hotels frequently, and who want to top off their accounts with points for free flights, free hotel stays, and upgrades. By constantly transferring points, you might even find yourself with enough points to book your dream vacation or get high-value award redemptions.
A few things to keep in mind when you transfer points to travel partners:
- Transfers must be in increments of 1,000 points.
- Once the points are transferred, the action can’t be reversed.
- Each partner’s point program might have a different redemption option, so you need to check the rate and availability before you transfer your points.
6. Unique experiences
Chase Ultimate Rewards offers their cardholders access to VIP and exclusive experiences. These can include private dining experiences, exclusive sports events, and movie premieres. Chase offers these experiences as they collaborate with various luxury brands and event organizers.
You can enjoy once-in-a-lifetime events that are usually not available to the general public just by redeeming points for these unique experiences. These experiences often provide behind-the-scenes opportunities and VIP access, making it a memorable way to use your points.
With 1 cent per point value, isn’t it an amazing way to redeem your points for something truly special? If you want more than the typical travel and shopping redemption options, this might be your thing.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points come with a wide range of valuable redemption options that allow you to use your points how you feel best. Whether you choose to use it for booking travel, redeeming gift cards, or attending a VIP event, you have the flexibility and value to get the most out of your points.
When you understand the different ways to redeem your points, you can make sure you’re using them at their full potential. Whether you choose to book travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal, transfer points to travel partners, or even go for unique experiences, you’re free to unlock their value depending on the Chase card you hold. We mentioned them all before, so you know there are endless possibilities for making your Chase Ultimate Rewards points work for you.
Which one would you like to try next?
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