TPG Readers Reveal Their Dream Chase Loyalty Program Features
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
While Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of the most popular travel points programs around, no program is perfect. So we recently asked our TPG Lounge readers to sound off on the Ultimate Rewards features they'd love to see added, removed or changed. Here’s what they had to say. (Some responses have been lightly edited for style and clarity).
Special Perks to Add
Unsurprisingly, the majority of our readers mentioned special perks they'd like to see added to the Chase loyalty program, including special lounge access, CLEAR and features similar to those offered to cardholders with The Platinum Card® from American Express...
"I'd love to see transfer bonuses!" — Branden B.
"Bonus points for charity contributions made on the credit card." — Moshe A.
"United Club access just like Amex Platinum has with Delta." — Steve D.
"I'd like to see a Chase version of Amex Offers." — Alex G.
"Add something like Citi has with Price Rewind. I wish it could be automatic. Hotel status like Amex Platinum [gives you], so Hyatt, IHG and Marriott gold status." — Sunny K.
"CLEAR has Delta as a major investor, so without them as a transfer partner, it probably won’t happen. But yes, I’d love to see this." — Albert G.
"If they had Delta Sky Club access, I'd dump the Amex Platinum today." — David F.
"Hotel status and 2x points on gas would make it my ONLY card." — Chris S.
"Hmm. How about linking up Ultimate Rewards points to be used [to book] Airbnb/VRBO stays?" — Matt S.
"Would be great if they’d add American Airlines as a transfer partner." — Angie S.
"Better transfer rates to travel partners. One Hyatt point or United mile isn’t the same as one Marriott point. You should get at least two Marriott points for every Chase UR point. I can only transfer to a select few partners because often times it’s better to book through the Chase portal rather than transferring points through their partners." — Jake P.
"CSP [Chase Sapphire Preferred Card] should get Priority Pass lounge access cards like CSR [Chase Sapphire Reserve]." — Pollyanna B.
"If they can add ANA for a partner!" — Chie K.
"CSR — some sort of hotel loyalty status, legacy airline lounge access and annual point bonus." — Joey B.
"For me, it’s everything Amex gives that CSR doesn’t: [access to] airport lounges or hotel status. Airline status would be a huge plus and close me out of other eco-systems." — Philip W.
"More promotional offers. For example, certain airline credit cards offer a companion fare. If you had an authorized user, they should offer this through partner airlines. It would incentivize flying more, even if only offered once a year and for domestic flights only." — Shannah L.
"Sapphire Reserve Airport Lounges, a la The Centurion Lounge. It's a long shot, but rational if Chase wants to go head-to-head with Amex. Launch them in NYC first." — Jordan C.
"4th night free, which is the only reason I hold onto the Citi Prestige Card. I use it three to four times a year, so my CSR would get all that business if Chase offered that sweet little perk." — Nick G.
"Free nights at a transfer partner property for the premium cards (CSR/CSP/CIP [Ink Business Preferred]) to offset the annual fee after year one." — Jeff S.
"More direct airline transfers to international partners instead of having to book through Star Alliance through United." — Mary A.J.
"Alaska Airlines transfers would be neat." — Marc E.L.
"A fuel surcharge credit for award redemptions — maybe up to $200 a year — would be clutch. Lufthansa or Asiana as a transfer partner, too, so I can try out the First Class Terminal in Frankfurt!" — Christopher B.
"CLEAR + JAL Mileage Bank + Boingo + Hyatt status + price protection. Also, separated bills for authorized users." — Marc L.
"An effective way to contact their UR travel agents other than via the phone. Calling them and waiting in the queue each time is a real P.I.T.A." — Kathy R.
"Double points for medical expenses!" — Beth M.S.
"Same-day booking through the portal!" — Sarah T.
"1:1 transfer to SPG." — Spencer K.
"I would like the ability to earn hotel points or nights toward status when booking through Chase's portal!" — Shana G.
"Gas in the travel category and any hotel status with CSR." — Clark B.
"Increased reward structure for those who do more business with Chase, similar to what Bank of America offers." — Ben H.
Benefits to Change or Update
A few readers offered helpful suggestions that would make the Chase loyalty program an even better asset.
"Make it easier to file Visa Signature claims, especially for trip and luggage delays. The amount of paperwork they require is absurd and sometimes impossible to acquire. It could be vastly improved." — Bevin C.
"I’d be happy with a more functional rewards website. It’s so clunky sometimes." — Gloria L.
"Bring back price protection and return protection, and be as good as — if not better than — AMEX in that regard. I second and third the hotel and airline status request, please. If they're going to compete, those would be good ones [to have]." — Michelle H.
Removing Rules or Fees
Of course the number one thing TPG Lounge members would like to see removed is the Chase 5/24 rule, though it's highly unlikely that'll be disappearing anytime soon — nice try, guys!
"I’ve suggested this before, but I think a good compromise would be if Chase waived 5/24 if you are willing to waive the sign-up bonus. Personally, I could care less about the Chase Freedom Unlimited bonus. I just want the card." — Grant G.
"Remove the CSR $75 fee for authorized users." — Ryan B.
"Removals: Virgin Atlantic and the 1:1 hotel transfers are ones that no one really uses. [For the Chase Sapphire Reserve], they could probably get away with lowering the sign-up bonus even further — but that's true of the Chase Sapphire Preferred as well — or with lowering the travel credit to $250, but going much beyond that would prompt many people to return to the Preferred." — Barukh R.
