Unlocking the value of Chase Ultimate Rewards
Unlocking the Value of Chase Ultimate Rewards
Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) points are a powerhouse in the world of travel hacking, offering amazing value and flexibility. Understanding how to maximize Chase UR points can significantly up your award travel game. Let’s explore why these points are so valuable, how to earn them, and our family’s favorite ways to redeem them.
Why Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Are So Valuable
Flexible Redemption Options:
Transfer Partners: Chase UR points can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to numerous airline and hotel partners, including United MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards, British Airways Avios, World of Hyatt, and Marriott Bonvoy. This flexibility allows you to find the best deals and maximize your points' value. It’s our favorite way to use them!
Chase Travel Portal: Points can be redeemed through the Chase travel portal for flights, hotels, car rentals, and more. With the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, your Chase UR points translate to 1 cent each. So if you have 75,000 points, you could cash them in for $750 worth of travel booked through the Chase portal.
Cash Back & Gift Cards: While not the best value, points can also be redeemed for cash back, statement credits, or gift cards.
Experiences: You can also choose to redeem your points for unique experiences like concerts, events, and dining experiences through the Chase Experiences tool.
Points Won't Expire:
As long as your account remains open and in good standing, your Chase UR points will not expire, giving you the freedom to save them for a future big trip.
Bonus Categories:
Many Chase cards offer bonus points for spending in specific categories such as travel, dining, groceries, and more. This helps you rack up points quickly in areas where you already spend money.
Combine Points:
If you hold multiple Chase cards, you can combine points into one account. You can also combine your points with anyone else in your household, it just takes a one-time call to Chase to link the accounts. This is really useful if you have a player 2!
How to Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Sign-Up Bonuses:
If you’re new around here, our favorite way to earn a large number of points is through credit card welcome bonuses. Many Chase cards offer substantial bonuses when you meet a minimum spending requirement within the first few months.
Everyday Spending:
Use your Chase cards for everyday purchases and pay attention to the bonus categories. For example, Chase Sapphire Preferred gives you 3x on restaurants, so if we’re not currently working on a minimum spend for another card, we always use our CSP when dining out. The Chase Freedom Unlimited offers 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases, so it’s a good option for a “daily driver” if you’re looking to earn more Chase UR points.
Refer-a-Friend:
Earn bonus points by referring friends and family to Chase cards. This one takes a little more effort, but each successful application earns you a small kickback in the form of additional Chase UR points. Just make sure your friends and family use your unique referral link to submit their credit card application!
If you’re looking to apply for a new Chase card, we would so appreciate you using our referral links to help support Plan it Petersons! Use this link to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred or contact us directly if you’re planning to apply for another Chase card. We have referral links for all of them. :)
Our Favorite Ways to Maximize Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Transfer to Hyatt:
Our love of Hyatt hotels runs deep! Hyatt has a wide array of brands ranging from affordable and family-friendly to luxury and splurge-worthy. They are also priced very well from a points perspective, so you get amazing value when redeeming Chase UR points for Hyatt stays. Also, Hyatt waives all taxes and resort fees when you book with points, so you can stay at Hyatt hotels for literally $0.
Transfer to Southwest:
Southwest Airlines is our favorite way to fly as a family. While we have several Southwest credit cards that earn Southwest points (and we typically like to save our Chase UR points for Hyatt stays), we sometimes transfer Chase UR points to Southwest too. When booking Southwest flights on points, you are only responsible for paying the taxes which amounts to $5.60 per person per way. Imagine flying cross-country for $11.20 per person!
Book Through the Chase Travel Portal:
We will occasionally book through the Chase travel portal if we have a travel expense that’s not easily covered by points. For instance, when we need to book a rental car or when we need to book a hotel outside of the Hyatt brand. Also, if you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred card, one of the benefits is a $50 annual credit when booking travel through the portal. You can book through the portal using a combination of cash and points, so we will occasionally do that as well.
Conclusion
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are the cornerstone of award travel, at least in our world! They offer incredible value and flexibility that simply can’t be beat. By understanding how to earn and redeem these points strategically, you can unlock amazing travel experiences and get the most out of every point. Start maximizing your Chase UR points today and see where they can take you!
❤️ Liz
Friendly reminder: We are not financial advisers, we are simply sharing our method and approach with you. Of course, it's important to use credit cards responsibly. Pay off your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges, and never spend more than you can afford just to earn rewards.
