In that case, you can combine the United MileagePlus Explorer Card and Chase Sapphire Preferred (which has
United as a transfer partner).
In that case, you can combine the United MileagePlus Explorer Card and Chase Sapphire Preferred (which has
United as a transfer partner).
Let's take a look at a round trip flight from LAX - JFK in September and evaluate the costs in cash, points using Chase's program, and points using
United as a transfer partner.
Not exact matches
Note: When leveraging travel
partners by
transferring Ultimate Rewards to programs such
as United or Hyatt, points
transfer at a 1:1 ratio in 1,000 - point increments.
Chase travel
transfer partners include major US airline frequent flyer programs such
as Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards,
United MileagePlus and US hotel chains such
as Hyatt, Marriott and the Ritz - Carlton.
You also have the option of
transferring points on a 1:1 basis for valuable miles at frequent travel program
partners such
as British Airways,
United MileagePlus, and Marriott Rewards.
Or, you could
transfer them to an airline or hotel
partner — such
as United, Southwest, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, or Marriott - to stretch them even further.
You can
transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio to 11 airline and hotel
partners such
as United MileagePlus, British Airways Executive Club, Southwest Rapid Rewards, Marriott Rewards, and more.
You also have the option of
transferring points on a 1:1 basis for valuable miles at frequent travel program
partners such
as British Airways,
United MileagePlus, and Marriott Rewards.
> Valid on: Any airline / hotel (points
as dollars), or use 1:1 instant point
transfer (
transfer to your
United / British Airways / Southwest / Korean Airlines / Hyatt / Marriott accounts 1:1 and using the miles to book with them or
partners).
Just like the Chase Freedom, you can
transfer the Ultimate Rewards points to the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Ink Bold, Chase Ink Plus or the JP Morgan Select card and from there to airline or hotel
partners such
as Hyatt, Southwest, British Airways, or
United.
Then you can either
transfer the points 1:1 to a travel
partner such
as Hyatt Hotels and
United Airlines OR get 20 % off travel when you redeem your points for airfare, hotels, and car rentals through Chase Ultimate Rewards ®.
If you do opt for this travel - rich rewards card, you'll be able to
transfer your rewards points to popular travel
partners such
as United and Southwest at a 1:1 ratio.
United, in comparison,
as a Star Alliance Ultimate Rewards
transfer partner would charge 25,000, 22,500 and 40,000 miles for the same awards, respectively.
There are many ways to use the Chase Ultimate Reward points earned by these two similar cards, but two of the most profitable are to use the points by booking travel through Chase or
transferring them to hotel and airline
partners such
as United, Hyatt, British Airways, Singapore, Marriott and more.
But you can
transfer the Ultimate Rewards points to the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Ink Bold or the Chase Ink Plus card and from there to airline or hotel
partners such
as Hyatt or
United.
If you don't already have a stash of Aeroplan points, you can
transfer American Express Membership Rewards points from your Business Platinum Card from American Express Open to Aeroplan, or book an Air Canada flight
as a
partner award through
United.
Or you can
transfer the Chase Ultimate Rewards points to the Chase Sapphire Preferred, (no longer offered) Chase Ink Bold, or Chase Ink Plus cards and from there to certain airline or hotel
partners such
as Hyatt, Southwest, British Airways, or
United Airlines.
A great thing about the Sapphire Preferred card is the ability to
transfer Chase points to airline and hotel
transfer partners (such
as United and Marriott).
And that is being able to
transfer your rewards point - for - point to travel - loyalty
partners such
as United Airlines and Hyatt.
1:1 point
transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs and the Ultimate Rewards ® travel
partners and the participating programs include airline travel
partners such
as: British Airways Executive Club, Flying Blue AIR FRANCE KLM, Korean Air SKYPASS, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards ®,
United MileagePlus ®, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, and more.
Or
transfer the points to
partners like
United Airlines for travel such
as a round - trip award ticket within the US and Canada or a 1 - way flight to Europe.
Several benefits that are unique to this card include the 1 to 1
transfer of points to Chase's travel
partners, including airlines such
as Southwest (one of his loyalty program memberships),
United, Korean Air, British Airways, and hotel chains such
as Hyatt, Ritz - Carlton, Marriott (another one of his loyalty program memberships), and Priority Club.
Note that you'll need the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Ink Bold or Ink Plus to
transfer points out to Ultimate Rewards
partners such
as United and Hyatt
Points are worth 1.25 cents apiece when used to book travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards ®; they can also be
transferred on a 1:1 basis to travel
partners such
as United, Southwest, Marriott and Hyatt.
Capital One Venture lets you earn 2x miles on all your purchases, but Chase Sapphire Preferred allows you to
transfer your rewards into real airline miles at airline
transfer partners such
as United and Southwest.
Some Chase cards allow you to
transfer points to select frequent travel programs (like airline
partners such
as United and Southwest, or hotel
partners such
as Hyatt and Marriott).
Note: When leveraging travel
partners by
transferring Ultimate Rewards to programs such
as United or Hyatt, points
transfer at a 1:1 ratio in 1,000 - point increments.
Similar to AmEx Membership Reward points, Chase Ultimate Reward points can be used at a fixed value to book travel through Chase or
transferred to popular hotel and airline
partners such
as United, Hyatt, Southwest and Marriott.
While you can't
transfer ThankYou Points directly to American Airlines or
United Airlines to book one of our example flights
as an award ticket, you can
transfer to one of their respective Oneworld or Star Alliance
partners.
Or, you could
transfer them to an airline or hotel
partner — such
as United, Southwest, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, or Marriott - to stretch them even further.
Then you can either
transfer the points 1:1 to a travel
partner such
as Hyatt Hotels and
United Airlines OR get 20 % off travel when you redeem your points for airfare, hotels, and car rentals through Chase Ultimate Rewards ®.
Chase travel
transfer partners include major US airline frequent flyer programs such
as Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards,
United MileagePlus and US hotel chains such
as Hyatt, Marriott and the Ritz - Carlton.
Some Chase cards allow you to
transfer points to select frequent travel programs (like airline
partners such
as United and Southwest, or hotel
partners such
as Hyatt and Marriott).
That being said there's a lot of value to be had in Amex, even the high annual fee cards, and even though
United is not a Membership Rewards
transfer partner,
as I highlight here.
Singapore is an alliance
partner as well, but since you can't redeem LifeMiles for Singapore First, I'd recommend just
transferring to Singapore Airlines directly since they are also a
transfer partner) Compared to
United or Air Canada redemptions, a key to LifeMiles is that they don't pass on any carrier's fuel surcharges.
Having the option to
transfer points over to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is a nice bonus
as Singapore Airlines has a habit of offering better award availability to its own rewards program members than it does to members of its airline
partners» programs (
United MileagePlus, Lufthansa Miles & More etc...)
For example, miles can be
transferred to ANA Airlines of Japan, and 104,000 ANA miles can be redeemed for a round - trip award flight in business class between the
United States and Africa on any of ANA's Star Alliance
partners such
as Lufthansa, Turkish, Ethiopian, or South African Airlines.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card also earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which can be redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal for 1.25 cents per point, or
transferred 1:1 to travel
partners such
as United Airlines or Hyatt.
But best of all those cards allow you to
transfer your points to travel
partners, such
as United, Southwest, Marriott, and also allow you to redeem Ultimate Rewards through the Chase Travel Portal at rates like 1.25 cents per point and 1.5 cents per point.
My reasoning is that most people get the Preferred card for the 2X points on all travel and dining,
as well
as the flexible and nearly instant
transfers to a variety of good travel
partners such
as United, Hyatt, and Southwest.
You can
transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio to 11 airline and hotel
partners such
as United MileagePlus, British Airways Executive Club, Southwest Rapid Rewards, Marriott Rewards, and more.
If you don't already have a stash of Aeroplan points, you can
transfer American Express Membership Rewards points from your Business Platinum Card from American Express Open to Aeroplan, or book an Air Canada flight
as a
partner award through
United.
Unlike other domestic carriers such
as United, Delta, Jet Blue, and Southwest, American is not a
transfer partner to any major rewards program (SPG aside).
United, in comparison,
as a Star Alliance Ultimate Rewards
transfer partner would charge 25,000, 22,500 and 40,000 miles for the same awards, respectively.
These points are incredibly valuable since you can either use them to book travel directly through the online portal or you can
transfer them to one of their rewards
partners such
as United, Southwest or British Airways where they become true frequent flyer miles in those programs.
Once upon a time, the best use of Ultimate Rewards points from the Sapphire Preferred was to
transfer them to
United to redeem for awesome premium cabin redemptions on
United's
partners such
as Lufthansa and Swiss Air.
I don't like the idea of building up an Amtrak balance, the program has too big a history of making changes with no advance notice whatsoever — whether changes to who their
partners are (
United dropped out overnight), changes in their redemption rates (making train redemptions more expensive) or changes to their rules (restricting
transfers out of the program to elites only)-- that I simply don't trust them
as a store of value.
Pairing this card with the Chase Sapphire Preferred ®, Chase Ink Bold ® Business Charge Card or Chase Ink Plus ® Business Card lets you
transfer the points you earn to airline
partners such
as United Airlines, British Airways and Hyatt, among others.
And
as transferable points currencies go, I prefer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Citi ThankYou points since it
transfers to additional travel
partners that I find useful: Singapore KrisFlyer, which Citi ThankYou points also
transfer to, and also Korean SkyPass, British Airways Avios,
United MileagePlus and Hyatt Gold Passport, among others.