How TPG's points and miles experts maximize Chase Ultimate Rewards points
There's never been a better time to consider applying for one of the Chase Sapphire cards.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. The Sapphire Preferred has no foreign transaction fees and has many travel perks, including delayed baggage insurance, trip interruption/cancellation insurance and primary car rental insurance.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers 125,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, but also comes with some additional perks. For example: an easy-to-use annual travel credit worth $300, a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (up to $120 once every four years) and Priority Pass Select lounge access; it also offers entry to the growing list of new Sapphire lounges. Cardholders get primary car rental coverage, trip interruption/cancellation insurance and other protections.
If you are new to redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards points or are considering opening a Chase card to help pay for some of your travels, this stress-free beginner guide will show you how to easily redeem so many points.
If you want to get the maximum value from your Chase points (in most cases, at least 2 cents per point value), we've asked our team of points and miles experts to share the most aspirational ways they have redeemed their Chase points.
As you'll see, you'll generally get the most value from these points by transferring them to airline and hotel partner programs — especially the World of Hyatt loyalty program.
A luxury all-inclusive stay in Austin
Senior points and miles writer Katie Genter redeems hundreds of thousands of points and miles every year as a full-time digital nomad. She has redeemed 75,000 Chase points for a last-minute getaway to Mexico, but her most aspirational Ultimate Rewards redemption was when she transferred her Chase Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt at 1:1 rates.
While she usually redeems Hyatt points for cheap and lower-tier Category 1 and 2 stays, she recently decided to book a stay at one of Hyatt's most luxurious all-inclusive properties: Miraval Austin Resort & Spa. The hotel offers plenty of wellness-focused activities, including sound healing sessions, yoga and meditation classes; food is served at the Hilltop Crossings Kitchen, and it's designed to be calming, healthy and nourishing.
Rates at Miraval Austin start around $1,200 or 57,500 World of Hyatt points per night, based on double occupancy. Every award booking includes a $175 resort credit per person.
Related: An all-inclusive Central Texas oasis: A review of Miraval Austin Resort and Spa
Singapore Airlines A380 business class from Australia to Europe
Credit cards writer Danyal Ahmed transferred points to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program so he could travel in style on the marathon journey from Australia to Europe. Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to KrisFlyer at a 1:1 rate.
Back in 2019, he redeemed 105,000 KrisFlyer miles for more than 20 hours of business-class travel. He flew from Sydney Airport (SYD) to Zurich Airport (ZRH) via Singapore Airlines award-winning hub in Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) — all aboard the world's largest commercial aircraft, the Airbus A380.
While the redemption cost has increased slightly since 2019, you can still book this for 130,500 Krisflyer miles per person each way, plus minimal fees and taxes or just $84. With cash fares for this itinerary starting from $4,000 one-way, this is a great way to save thousands and travel long-haul in style.
Related: Which Singapore Airlines business class is better? A380 versus A350
7-day hotel stay in Hawaii
Associate points and miles writer Rachel Craft redeemed 105,000 Ultimate Rewards points to book seven nights in Maui at Hyatt’s Lahaina Shores Beach Resort. Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 rate.
While she admits this is not the most luxurious of Hyatt's properties, hotel prices in Maui are often sky-high. This property was perfect for her as it offered beachfront accommodations and allowed her to snorkel (with friendly turtles). It had a kitchenette, which allowed her to save money on dining out for every meal.
Rachel saved $330 nightly by redeeming 15,000 Hyatt points per night thanks to Hyatt's attractive award charts. This gave her a redemption rate of 2.2 cents — above both our valuation of Ultimate Rewards and World of Hyatt points.
Sadly, this hotel is no longer bookable due to the 2023 Lahaina fires. However, Maui fans could look at alternate Hyatt properties, including the Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach (15,000 Hyatt points or $260 per night in October), the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach (20,000 Hyatt points or $304 per night) or the Hyatt Vacation Club at Ka’anapali Beach (30,000 Hyatt points or $723 per night).
Related: The 18 best hotels in Maui, from luxury stays to family-friendly resorts
Hotel stays in Europe this summer
TPG's managing credit cards editor, Matt Moffitt, also appreciates the ability to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 rate.
For an upcoming trip to Europe on peak summer dates, Matt reduced his accommodation costs by booking Category 1 and 2 properties in Slovakia and Poland; they cost him just 3,500 to 5,000 points per night. He decided to "splurge" in Austria by booking a TPG favorite, the Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere, for 12,000 points per night.
Overall, he saved $1,012 after booking hotel rooms for eight nights using 51,000 Hyatt points. The average cost per night was less than 6,500 points; therefore, he obtained almost 2 cents each from his Chase points.
As summer is a popular time to travel to Europe, it's notable that he can save more than $1,000 on more than a week's accommodation by using Chase points.
Related: Why my favorite use of Hyatt points is a Category 1 airport hotel
Promo Rewards for cheap business-class flights to Europe
Senior points and miles writer Ben Smithson loves a good deal and keeps his eye on monthly Promo Rewards offered by Air France-KLM's Flying Blue program. This offer provides generous discounts on select short-haul and long-haul routes each month. Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Flying Blue at a 1:1 rate.
Business-class flights to Europe start from just 50,000 miles each way on regular dates (a great deal in itself). However, Ben was able to fly from Miami International Airport (MIA) to London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) via Air France's hub in Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) for just 39,750 Ultimate Rewards points after transferring to Flying Blue; he paid around $221 in fees, taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges.
A frequent traveler between the U.S. and Europe, Ben ranks Air France's business class as one of the best ways to travel to Europe. He appreciates its stylish onboard product, gourmet cuisine and excellent lounges. With cash fares starting from $4,000 one-way, he obtained around 10 cents from each of his Chase points this way.
Flying to Europe in business class for under 40,000 Chase points is a spectacular deal worth monitoring the monthly Promo Rewards.
Related: Private suites and high-tech touches: What it's like flying Air France's new business class
Oceanfront views on the California coast
Credit cards editor Emily Thompson typically favors inexpensive redemptions, whether with her favorite airline, Southwest, or World of Hyatt. She ranks her favorite Hyatt stay at Hyatt Carmel Highlands, which is on a cliffside facing the Pacific Ocean overlooking Big Sur in California.
An older property welcoming guests for over 100 years, this has been a go-to destination for artists and writers, and Emily describes the views as "killer." She paid just 25,000 World of Hyatt points per night, saving $527 points per night. This gave her Chase points a value of around 2 cents each.
Related: A review of Hyatt's Carmel Valley Ranch
Maximizing Aeroplan's generous award charts
Ben is a huge fan of Air Canada's Aeroplan program, as the carrier has retained award charts for flights operated by partner airlines. This is an increasingly rare perk of a major loyalty program in 2024. Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Aeroplan at a 1:1 rate.
Ben is especially excited about Aeroplan's Atlantic zone award chart, which generously covers countries from South Africa right up to Norway and Iceland in the north.
This allows him to transfer Chase points to Aeroplan and book long-haul business-class flights from as low as 45,000 points for itineraries of 2,001 to 4,000 miles in length. He had already flown an itinerary from London to Kenya's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) via Addis Ababa Bole International Airport; he flew Ethiopian Airlines for 60,000 Aeroplan points — all in business class — for the 4,400-mile journey.
His Ethiopian Airlines business class experience wasn't without its faults. However, he also booked an upcoming nonstop flight on Turkish Airlines (another Star Alliance partner of Aeroplan) from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Banjul International Airport (BJL) in West Africa for just 45,000 points; he only paid $65 in taxes and fees for the 3,350-mile journey.
Ben looks forward to returning to Turkish Airlines' flagship business-class lounge in Istanbul, which he rates as one of the world's best. He's also eager to experience a lie-flat bed for the almost eight-hour overnight journey.
Bottom line
If you're ready to get the maximum value from your Chase Ultimate Rewards points, we hope this guide has given you some inspiration. You should be able to obtain at least 2 cents per point by transferring points to airline and hotel partners.
With great welcome bonuses available on both the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® card, it is a great time to consider how to get the most value from your points.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.