Earning and redeeming rewards points for travel and cash back can be a fun way to optimize your spending. The Chase Ultimate Rewards program is among the best rewards programs in the space. Chase points are flexible, typically don’t expire, and can be transferred to various popular hotel and airline partners. Not all redemption options carry the same value, though. If you’re looking for the best ways to use Chase Ultimate Rewards points, this guide offers helpful tips to maximize the value of your redemptions.
Best ways to redeem Chase points
Chase points are typically most powerful when you redeem them for travel. You can either transfer points to a partner or book via the Chase Travel℠ portal when it makes sense to use Points Boost.
Transfer to airline partners for premium flights
Flying is expensive, especially if you like to travel internationally or have multiple people flying. Done strategically, you can use Chase points to book premium flights, including international business or first-class tickets. Rewards pricing can provide a more reasonable spend in miles if you have flexibility and use multiple frequent flyer programs.
The key is to determine how much your desired route costs in cash. That’s what you’re trying to beat in researching your flight options. Embracing flexibility is a good way to maximize value.
This may include searching nearby departure/arrival airports to identify a good option. For example, if you’re flying out of Los Angeles, consider John Wayne Airport or Ontario International Airport to find space and multiple premium options. Once you find a flight that offers value, you can transfer Chase points to the given frequent flyer program. On most occasions, transfers happen instantly. Transfer points only when you’re ready to book, as you typically can’t transfer points back to Chase.
Use hotel partners like World of Hyatt
One of the best ways to use Chase points is to transfer them to World of Hyatt. Hotel stays can be expensive, but the Hyatt program offers significant value when you use points wisely, and more value than what’s available through Marriott or IHG.
World of Hyatt commonly uses a fixed award chart, with properties ranging from Category 1 to Category 8. The higher the Category, the more points you can expect to use.
For example, you can get a Category 1 room for as low as 3,500 points per night. Category 8 rooms can cost up to 40,000 points or more. Strategically using points can save substantial cash, especially in high-cost cities. And if you book a stay on the Hyatt website, you can view all available properties in a city, with points listed for each. Like booking airfare, only transfer points to Hyatt or your chosen hotel program when you’re ready to book your stay.
Book travel through Chase Travel with Points Boost
In summer 2025, Chase introduced Points Boost for Sapphire and Ink cardholders as part of the overhaul of its travel portal. Instead of getting 25% or 50% more value for travel booked through the portal, you now receive up to 2X value for eligible redemptions. Unfortunately, Points Boost only applies to select flights and hotels.
It’s not difficult to book travel with Points Boost. Simply log in to your Chase account and access the Chase Travel portal as usual. When you search for a flight or hotel, it will list all available options, including any Points Boost bookings that may be available.
There’s no guarantee that Points Boost will offer better value than booking through a specific partner. You will want to compare the two to find the best value. Transferring points to a rewards program may offer the best use of Chase points, but when that’s not possible, Points Boost can be advantageous.
How to use Chase points for flights and hotels
Often, the best way to use Chase Ultimate Rewards points is to redeem points for flights or hotels. Not all redemptions are equal, though.
How to find Saver Award space
Saver Award space is typically one of the best ways to maximize Chase point value when booking flights. You don’t find it within the Chase Travel portal, but on an airline website. Saver Award space is the lowest-priced tier of awards. Understandably, this tier has limited inventory, making it challenging to find the best deals.
Flexibility is essential to finding the right flight. You may need to shift your travel by a day or two, or consider a nearby airport, to find what you want. However, you don’t typically want to be logged into the chosen airline, United, for example, when searching for Saver Award space.
When searching on United’s site, consult its calendar to identify possible flights, but don’t stop there. Select a specific itinerary to confirm it’s bookable and learn the final cost, with fees. This may take some time as inventory does change. Alternatively, credit cards like the United(SM) Business Card provide access to Saver Award space.
When to use Points Boost vs. transfer
Points Boost is a relatively new part of Ultimate Rewards. Many view it as a devaluation. If your flight or hotel booking doesn’t qualify, you receive a redemption value of just 1 cent per point. In light of that, determining when it’s best to transfer to a partner to book is important.
Transferring points is best when you find a saver award that offers strong value, with minimal fees, especially in premium cabins. Using Points Boost is best when your booking receives value. If you get more value via Points Boost or a transfer won’t work because awards options are scarce, it makes sense to book via Points Boost.
Points Boost generally only applies to more expensive properties. You also can’t use them for car rentals, excursions, or any other travel-related activities via the Chase Travel portal.
Avoiding low-value redemptions
Chase makes it easy to redeem Ultimate Rewards points, but not all options are worthwhile. Here are some choices to avoid when trying to determine how to get the most out of Chase points.
Why Amazon and Apple redemptions offer poor value
Amazon and Apple make it easy to use Chase points to pay at checkout. The simplicity may seem helpful, but you sacrifice points. Amazon values points at 0.8 cents per point, and Apple values them at 1 cent.
For example, 10,000 points are worth roughly $80 at checkout with Amazon. That’s $20 less than what you will receive if you redeem points as a statement credit. If you’re trying to follow the best way to spend Chase points, saving them for travel often provides more value.
Gift cards and cash back: When they make sense
Redeeming points for gift cards or cash back is straightforward; it puts money in your pocket, and it’s predictable. You only receive 1 cent per mile, so you may sacrifice value with this strategy.
If you have no future travel plans or you’re strapped for cash, redeeming for cash or a gift card may be the best way to use Chase Sapphire points. But if you do plan to travel, you may get more value through a transfer partner or by using Points Boost.
How to calculate point value before redeeming
Doing the math is important when determining how to best use Chase points. A simple formula is to take the cash price you will pay, divide it by the points required, and convert it to cents-per-point by multiplying by 100.
For example, if the cash price of a booking is $1,200 but it takes 60,000 points plus $80 in taxes and fees, here’s how you will calculate the point value.
(1200-80)/60,000 X 100
1120/60,000 X 100
This will result in 1.866 cents per point. It depends on how you value Chase points, but generally, anything below 1 cent per point is an unwise redemption.
How to earn more Chase Ultimate Rewards points
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are some of the most lucrative in the rewards space. Earning more points unlocks more opportunities to book rewards, travel, and more.
Welcome bonuses from Chase Sapphire and Ink cards
Earning welcome bonuses is one of the best ways to earn Chase points. Various Chase cards let users earn welcome bonuses, but the Sapphire and Ink card lines are typically the most lucrative. Users earn a welcome bonus after meeting the minimum spend requirement upon receiving the card.
Sapphire and Ink cards include:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred(R) Card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve(R)
- Sapphire Reserve for Business(SM)
- Ink Business Preferred(R) Credit Card
All of these cards offer cardholders the opportunity to access Points Boost and tend to offer increased points earning opportunities, depending on the spending category.
Everyday spending and bonus categories
Strategic spending is helpful when using a Chase credit card. It’s common to receive 1X points per dollar spent on many spending categories, but some categories earn more. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred(R) Card rewards 3X points on dining and 2X on travel. If you travel a lot and dine out when you do, you can maximize your earnings.
It’s best to do a spending audit to see what you spend monthly and identify the categories you spend the most. Match those up with the card you have that pays the most points. This only works, though, if you pay your balance in full each month.
Using the Shop Through Chase portal
The Shop Through Chase portal is an easy way to earn more Ultimate Rewards points. Before shopping online, log in to your Chase account to learn the current qualifying retailers.
This lets you stack points, as the participating retailer typically pays bonus points per dollar spent, and you also earn points from Chase. You may not always earn a lot of points, but large planned purchases can add thousands of points quickly.
Referral bonuses and authorized users
Another simple way to maximize earning Chase points is by referring a friend or family member to get a card. Chase usually rewards users for referring new cardholders if they’re approved for a new card. Just be aware that Chase typically caps how much you can earn annually via referral bonuses.
Don’t overlook adding an authorized user to increase point-earning capabilities. Establish clear expectations with usage, though, to avoid surprises.
Advanced tips to maximize Chase points
Earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points is exciting, but optimization can help boost earnings. Strategic action can maximize your points.
Combining points across Chase cards
If you have multiple Chase credit cards, combining points into a single account can be an effective way to optimize your rewards. You can still use each Chase card you have, but you combine the Ultimate Rewards points into one.
It’s best to combine points onto the card with the strongest redemption options, which is often a transfer-capable card. For example, if you have both the Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Sapphire Preferred®, you will want to combine points from the former to the latter.
Chase also lets you combine points with one member of your household. If you and your partner both have Chase cards, this can be a helpful way to manage points across multiple cards.
Using the Chase Trifecta strategy
The Chase Trifecta is a powerful way to earn more points through your spending. In short, the Trifecta uses three complementary cards to let you earn multipliers across your major spending categories. Doing so lets you reduce the spending that earns just 1X points per dollar spent.
Cardholders can implement this strategy using cards like the Chase Freedom Unlimited(R), Chase Freedom Flex, and the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Business owners can substitute one with an Ink card for business purchases. If you don’t want to manage three cards, you can accomplish much of the same with only two cards.
Timing redemptions with transfer partner promos
Ultimate Rewards points transfer at a 1:1 ratio with Chase’s transfer partners. In certain circumstances, a partner may offer a promotion giving 1.25 or 1.5 points, for example, per Chase point transferred.
A strategic redemption can be the best way to use Chase points for flights, as it reduces the amount of Ultimate Rewards you need. Keep in mind, this is only wise if you’ve already identified reward space and the trip makes sense. Otherwise, you risk losing flexibility.
Conclusion
Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of the most versatile rewards programs for cardholders. You can use Chase points to book travel around the world or simply to help manage your travel budget. There are various ways to earn and redeem points, but make sure to follow best practices to maximize your points. You don’t need to be an expert to manage your Chase points, but due diligence can go a long way towards optimizing your efforts.
