How to use the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal for maximum value

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• The Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal works like an online travel agency, and you can use points, cash, or a combination of both to book flights, hotels, rental cars, and more. 
• Several Chase credit cards offer a better redemption value through the Chase portal, including the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
• While transferring points to airline and hotel partners can often get you better value, the Chase travel portal is simple to use — and you won’t have to worry about blackout dates or award charts.
• Read Business Insider’s guide to the best Chase credit cards.

Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of the most flexible and lucrative credit card rewards programs, and its benefits can be even greater depending on the Chase cards you have. With a no-annual-fee card like the Chase Freedom Flex℠ or Chase Freedom Unlimited®, your points are worth 1 cent each toward travel booked through the portal.

But if you have a Chase travel credit card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you’ll get 25% to 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel, plus the ability to transfer your points to Chase airline and hotel partners. 

Here’s everything you need to know about booking airfare, hotels, and more through the Chase travel portal — and how to make the most of your Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

The Chase travel portal works like any other Online Travel Agency (such as Travelocity or Priceline), and because it’s currently run by Expedia (for now), the searches you do for hotels, airfare and more will produce similar results to what you see on that OTA. 

However, Chase recently announced it will acquire the rewards division of cxLoyalty Group, which specializes in travel technology solutions. This means the Chase travel portal should see updates and improvements in the coming months as the issuer transitions to the new platform.

You must be a Chase credit card customer to use Chase travel to book with cash or with points. In fact, you’ll only access the Chase travel portal when you log into your account management page with Chase.

Chase travel lets you book travel directly with Ultimate Rewards points, use your credit card to pay, or combine the two). This is one of the main benefits of using Chase travel — you can spend the rewards points you earn directly on the travel you want without having to worry about dealing with specific hotel or airline loyalty programs. 

There are a few other key benefits to know:

• You’ll still earn airline miles and work toward elite airline status: You won’t earn points or elite night credits when you book a hotel stay with Chase travel because it’s considered a third-party booking. However, you can earn airline and elite-qualifying miles on flights you book as long as your frequent flyer number is attached to the reservation. 
• Your points are worth more with certain Chase credit cards: Also be aware that some Chase credit cards give you more than the standard rate of 1 cent per point when you redeem your rewards for travel through Chase. We’ll go into more details on the cards that offer this perk below.
• The Chase travel portal is easy to use: If you don’t want to deal with a bunch of hotel and airline award charts, booking through Chase travel can help keep your rewards game simple. You’ll always be able to use your points for any booking you want without having to worry about blackout dates or capacity controls you would normally encounter with loyalty programs.

To be eligible to use the Chase travel portal, you’ll need a Chase credit card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points. 

No-annual-fee Chase cards open to new applicants (points are worth 1 cent each through the Chase travel portal):

Chase travel rewards cards open to new applicants (points are worth more with Chase travel, plus these cards allow you to transfer points to airline and hotel partners):

If you have more than one Chase card, you can transfer your Ultimate Rewards points between accounts. It makes the most sense to pool your points in the account that gives you the best redemption value — for example, if you pair the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and Chase Sapphire Reserve®, moving all of your Ultimate Rewards to your Sapphire Reserve account will increase the value of your points when you redeem through the Chase travel portal.

To pool your points onto one card, log into your Chase online account, navigate to the “Redeem” section for your Ultimate Rewards card, then select the option to combine points in the “Earn/Use” tab:

From there, you can move your Chase points between accounts in any increments you want. 

Some Chase credit cards give you a bonus when you redeem points through the Chase travel portal. Here’s a summary of how much your points are worth with each Chase card:

Using the Chase travel portal is a breeze, but it all starts with logging into your online account management page. From there, you’ll click on the right side of your screen where it shows your Chase Ultimate Rewards account balance. 

Once you click on the account balance, you’ll have the option to select the card you want to access. And remember, this step can be important because some cards give you more value from your points when you redeem them for travel.

How to book a flight through Chase travel

Once you are logged into your Chase Ultimate Rewards account, you’ll see different travel options to search for at the top of the page.

To search for a flight, make sure the prompt is on “Flights” and begin searching for the flight you want. Enter your departure airport, destination, travel dates, and the number of passengers.

Once your flight options pop up on the screen, you can filter your results by the number of stops, the airlines you want to fly, and arrival times.

Note that each of your flight options will include a payment amount in points as well as a cash price. 

You can also click on “Details and baggage fees” in order to find out the cost of carry-on luggage or checked baggage, as well as whether your flight charges any change fees.

When you click to “Select” a flight option, you’ll get a rundown of what is and isn’t included in the fare you selected. You may also get a note that you can upgrade before you check out.

Once you settle on a flight you want, you’ll be taken to the “Trip Details” page that shows the final cost of your flight in points or in cash, as well as a summary of the added costs you may be charged for baggage or change fees.

After you agree to the terms, you’ll be taken to a final payment page where you can decide how you want to pay. You have the option to cover your flight entirely in points if you want, but you can also choose to pay with your Chase credit card or with a combination of points and your credit card.

During the booking process, make sure to add your frequent flyer number to your reservation. That way, you can earn miles on your booking and your flight will count toward elite status requirements. You’ll also want to add your Known Traveler Number or Redress number if either applies to you.

If you forget to do it during your booking, however, you can add your frequent flyer information to your flight later on using the airline’s website.

How to book a hotel through Chase travel

Booking a hotel through Chase is similarly easy, and you’ll find a lot of different types of lodging options available. For example, you’ll find properties from major hotel brands, but you’ll also find rental condo options and boutique hotels similar to those listed on Expedia.

To search for a hotel,  enter the destination, dates, and the number of people you want to have in your room. Once you’re presented with your options, you can filter hotels based on the hotel name you’re looking for, the area or neighborhood, price point, guest rating, property type, and more. 

Once again, you’ll see a price listed in points as well as a cash price per night.

These prices do not include taxes and fees, however, so your price in points or cash will be higher by the time you get to the final booking page. Also be aware that the price listed is the lowest you can get for the property, but that better or upgraded rooms and suites will cost more in points.

The major downside to booking a hotel through the Chase portal is that you won’t earn hotel points or elite night credits for your stay, because it’s considered a third-party booking. There’s also a risk that the property won’t recognize your hotel elite status or give you the perks you’d normally be entitled to, like late checkout or free breakfast. This shouldn’t be an issue if you’re booking an independent or boutique hotel, but if you’re looking for hotel points or status, it’s something to be aware of.

You’ll have the option to select a hotel you want as well as a room type at the property you’re considering. You can also pay with your booking with points, your Chase credit card, or a combination of the two. 

How to book a rental car through Chase travel

You can also book a rental car through Chase travel using the same set of steps. Once you log into your Chase Ultimate Rewards account, click on “Cars” then select the destination and dates.

Once you are presented with your search results, you can select the types of cars you prefer, like an economy car or an SUV. You can also filter results based on a price range, the number of passengers you have, the rental car company, and the type of transmission you prefer (manual or automatic), as well as the total area you want to search in. 

Note that, once again, taxes and fees are not included on the initial search page. Instead, they are added to your total cost when you select a rental car. You can also pay for a rental car through Chase with points, your credit card, or a combination of the two.

How to book activities with the Chase travel portal

Chase also lets you book a variety of activities through the portal, which they refer to as “Things to Do.” Chase activities can include excursions like snorkeling or scuba diving, as well as tours of museums and historic sites. But you can also book more practical options through their activities tab, including airport pickups and other types of transportation.

To search for activities, enter the destination and dates for your trip. You’ll be shown a price in points and in cash that does include taxes and fees. You can also filter options based on the type of activity, your interests, and more. Once again, you have the option to pay for activities with your points, your credit card, or a combination of the two.

How to book a cruise through Chase travel

If you’re a cruise enthusiast, you should know you can also book cruises through Chase travel. When you select “Cruises” at the top of the Chase Ultimate Rewards search page, you’ll be presented with a list of featured cruises and cruise specials.

You can also search for cruises based on the destination or the name of the cruise line. Note, however, that only cash prices are listed for each cruise on the portal, and that you’ll have to call Chase to make a booking.

Either way, you can absolutely use your Chase points to pay for all or part of your cruise. Just have your credit card number handy and call their customer service line at 855-234-2542.

How to book a vacation rental through Chase

Chase also offers a selection of vacation rentals, which can include vacation condos, luxury villas, and more. To search, click on “Vacation Rentals” on the top of the main page, then enter your destination, dates, and the number of people in your party.

Once you start your search, you’ll have the option to filter results based on the local neighborhood you want, star ratings, price range, guest rating, property type, and more. Like hotels through Chase, the price you are shown excludes taxes and fees, but they will be added to your total once you make a selection.

Also be aware that the price shown in your search results is for the lowest-tier option for each property, and that a larger rental or upgraded rental may cost more in points.

When you book vacation rentals through Chase, you can pay with points, your Chase card, or a combination of the two. 

Use the Chase portal to book Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection properties

If you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you can book properties within the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection. This list of more than 1,000 properties can be reserved ahead of time, and you’ll get extra benefits with each stay such as:

• Daily breakfast for two
• A special benefit worth up to $100
• Complimentary internet access
• Room upgrades when available
• Early check-in and late checkout

One detail to note with this program is the fact that you cannot pay with points. Instead, your online booking will reserve your room, and you’ll be charged for the stay when you check out from the hotel. 

While you can book travel through the Chase portal directly, many people prefer to transfer points to Chase airline and hotel partners instead. Doing so could let you get more value for each point you redeem, but you’ll have to run the numbers to find out for sure.

Here’s a good example of how transferring points to a Chase airline or hotel partner can be a better deal, as well as the math you’ll need to do to figure this out on your own. Take this one-way flight on Air France from Chicago to Paris, for example, and assume you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card, so you’re getting 50% more value when you redeem points through the Chase travel portal.

If you were to book this flight through Chase Ultimate Rewards, you would owe 39,607 points with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, compared with the cash price of $594.10.

However, you could book an award ticket on the exact same flight through Flying Blue (Air France’s loyalty program) directly if you transferred your Chase points there first. In this case, the identical flight would set you back 22,000 miles plus $109.44. This means you would transfer 22,000 miles from Chase to your Flying Blue account, and pay the taxes and fees in cash, or by redeeming points for a statement credit to your account.

When you compare, you’ll find that booking with miles directly is a better deal. After you subtract the taxes and fees from the cost of booking through Flying Blue, you wind up with a value of around 2.2 cents per mile.

With the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, on the other hand, you’re forking over 39,607 points for the same flight, and you’re getting a value of 1.5 cents for each point if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. 

Keep in mind that, no matter which Chase credit card you have, there are other ways you can use your rewards points. You can redeem Chase points for statement credits or cash back, or cash them in for gift cards or merchandise. And if you have a premier Chase travel credit card, you can transfer your points to Chase airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio.

However, booking travel through Chase can make your life considerably easier — especially if you don’t like dealing with complicated hotel and airline programs. You may not get as much value from your points as you would if you booked a premium flight with airline miles, but the Chase travel portal does offer the flexibility to book the flight you want without any blackout dates or hoops to jump through.

The Chase travel portal offers yet another way to maximize rewards earned with a Chase credit card. Just make sure to consider all your options and the value you’re getting for your points before you pull the trigger.