While you're guaranteed at least a 1.25 cent
per point redemption when booking through Chase Travel, your redemption rate through the travel partners will vary so you'll need to be on the lookout.
Clearly this is an attempt by Amex to compete with the Chase Sapphire Reserve's 1.5 cents
per point redemption benefit, which is by far the most valuable aspect of that card (and the one I think is most likely to be cut back sooner rather than later).
I'll illustrate why I prefer looking at this as a 1.67 cents
per point redemption by using that same $ 400 hotel rate example.
I personally think the Sapphire Reserve is far too loaded to be sustainable in the long run, and I have my doubts about how long the 3X on both dining and travel, unlimited guests on Priority Pass, and 1.5 cents
per point redemptions through the Chase travel portal will hang around.
With the addition of 1.5 cent
per point redemption towards travel for Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders cheap airfare, cruises, and hotels all become solid redemptions.
However, if you use your points at Sheraton Princess Kaiulani in Oahu you will get a meager 1.16 cents
per point redemption value.
The Prestige comes close in competing with the Reserve, but after losing its 1.6 cents
per point redemption rate on American Airlines, it now sits at second place behind the Reserve.
Although I always transfer my points out to travel programs, 1.5 cents
per point redemption on any travel is solid and very tempting, especially when compared to what you're given with the Platinum.
For those who regularly fly American Airlines, the changes brought a huge loss in value with no Admirals Club access and loss of the 1.6 cents
per point redemption option.
For example, combining the Chase Freedom Unlimited card's 1.5 points per dollar on all spend with the Sapphire Reserve's 1.5
cents per point redemption value would result in a return of 2.25 % on all Freedom Unlimited spend.
Every 7,500 points that you earn is enough for a $ 100 statement credit toward travel purchases made on the Card (1.33 cents
per point redemptions)
The Curio property with the best cents
per point redemption rate was the Amway Grand Plaza, Curio Collection by Hilton with.72 cents per point.
However, I still like to think of it as a 1.67 cents
per point redemption.
Cardholders should make sure they are getting at least 1.5 cents per point on any award, or else they would be better off booking through Chase'a portal given the Sapphire Reserve's 1.5 cents
per point redemption value.
I used 20,000 Avios for a 10 cent
per point redemption, a great value that you usually find on higher - end first class suites.
Its highlights consist of: 3X on dining and travel, 1.5 cents
per point redemptions, Priority Pass access (with unlimited guests), solid travel and purchase protections, and a very easy to use $ 300 travel credit.
Since the cash price would have been $ 4,000 for 2 rooms for 5 nights I thought it was a solid $ 0.05
per point redemption.