United MileagePlus Now a Chase Ultimate Rewards Transfer Partner
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Update: As of April 2013, Chase Ultimate Rewards has added Virgin Atlantic as a new airline transfer partner.
The Chase Ultimate Rewards program, the points program behind their popular Sapphire Preferred and Ink Bold cards, just added United as a 1:1 instant transfer partner. This is a great addition because it guarantees that there will be a Star Alliance transfer partner once the Continental Onepass program is officially rolled into the United MileagePlus program in 2012. United has a pretty good frequent flyer program, allowing one-way awards - including on Star Alliance partners. No program is perfect, but I highlighted the best ways to take advantage of United awards here.
Ultimate Rewards is a direct competitor of American Express' Membership Rewards program and while Amex has a long history and more redemption partners, Ultimate Rewards has been gaining steam - especially with this announcement and with their recent addition of Korean Airlines as a transfer partner. The next transfer partner I'd like to see is Southwest, which isn't completely out of the question since Chase issues the Southwest credit cards ( like the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card). I'd also like to see Chase start running transfer bonuses, like Amex frequently does with their transfer partners (like the recent 50% British Airways and Delta promos).
This announcement isn't a complete surprise. In fact, a savvy TPG reader recently tipped me off after they saw United as transfer partner on the ultimaterewards.com website. While it wasn't a full roll-out and they took it down soon after I blogged about it, I took it as a good sign of things to come. While this isn't that huge of a deal right now because Continental is currently an Ultimate Rewards transfer partner, Continental Onepass will no longer exist in 2012, so it's good to know that United will be a part of the program. It would have been embarrassing for Chase to not have a Star Alliance transfer partner, especially since they issue United's credit cards.
Hat tip to Mommy Points!
Related posts:
Why I Love Ultimate Rewards
Amazing Deal Alert: 50,000 Points for Chase Sapphire Preferred
Chase Launches 50,000 Point Sign-up Bonus for Ink Bold
My Experience Getting the Sapphire Preferred Card
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.