Chase Ultimate Rewards Transfer Partners

Introduction

Chase Ultimate Rewards points become significantly more valuable when you transfer them to airline and hotel partners rather than redeeming through the Chase travel portal. Understanding which Chase transfer partners offer the best value for your specific travel goals is essential for maximizing your points and booking premium cabin flights or luxury hotel stays at a fraction of the retail cost.

The Chase Ultimate Rewards program maintains partnerships with 13 airline and hotel loyalty programs as of 2026, each offering different redemption values, transfer times, and booking opportunities. The right partner depends on your route, travel dates, cabin preference, and award availability – not just which program offers the highest theoretical cents per point (CPP).

This guide provides a practical decision framework for evaluating Chase transfer partners, identifying best-use scenarios, and executing transfers without common mistakes that waste points or lock you into suboptimal redemptions.

Helpful Tools

Before transferring points, use the Credit Card Transfer Partners table to verify current transfer ratios, partner programs, and any active transfer bonuses across all major issuers. After identifying potential redemptions, use the Award Travel Calculators to calculate cents per point value and compare transfer bonus scenarios—the calculators page includes a Cents Per Point (CPP) Calculator and Bank Points Transfer & Bonus Calculator.

Key Takeaways

• Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to 13 airline and hotel partners at 1:1 ratio for most programs, with transfers typically processing instantly or within minutes
• Airline partners like United, Southwest, and Hyatt offer the strongest redemption value for domestic and international premium cabin bookings
• Always confirm award availability before transferring—Chase transfers are one-way and cannot be reversed once completed
• Transfer bonuses (typically 20-30% extra points) can improve value, but should not override fundamental route availability and pricing considerations
• The best Chase transfer partner varies by specific route, dates, and cabin class—no single partner wins across all scenarios
• Common mistakes include transferring speculatively, ignoring fuel surcharges, and failing to compare cash prices before committing points

Chase Transfer Partners: What You Get

Chase Ultimate Rewards points earned with cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Ink Business Preferred can be transferred to 13 loyalty programs. The transfer ratio is 1:1 for most partners, meaning 1,000 Chase points are converted to 1,000 airline miles or hotel points in the partner program.

Current Chase transfer partners:

Access to transfer partners requires holding a premium Chase card. The Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Freedom Flex earn Ultimate Rewards points but cannot transfer to partners unless you also hold a Sapphire or Ink card. Points can be combined across Chase cards within the same household before transferring.

The value proposition centers on flexibility. Rather than booking through Chase’s travel portal at fixed redemption rates (typically 1.25 to 1.5 cents per point depending on your card), transfers unlock partner award charts where points can deliver 2-10+ cents per point value on premium cabin international flights or luxury hotel stays.

Transfer irreversibility matters. Once you move points from Chase to a partner, they cannot return to Chase. This creates execution risk—you must confirm award availability and pricing before transferring, not after. Speculative transfers that assume availability will appear later frequently result in orphaned points in programs you may not use again.

Airline vs Hotel Transfers: Where Chase Wins

Chase’s transfer partner portfolio shows clear strength in specific categories and notable gaps in others. Understanding where Chase transfer partners excel helps you prioritize which cards to carry and where to supplement with other transferable currencies.

Airline partner strengths:

United MileagePlus offers the broadest Star Alliance access among Chase partners, with particularly strong value on long-haul business- and first-class awards to Europe, Asia, and South America. United’s dynamic pricing can be problematic for domestic economy, but partner awards (especially on ANA, Lufthansa, and Swiss) often price reasonably at saver levels.

Southwest Rapid Rewards offers unique value for domestic travelers due to no blackout dates, points refundability, and the Companion Pass benefit. Southwest awards price dynamically based on cash fares, but transfer flexibility means you can book last-minute domestic flights without the typical award seat scarcity.

Air France-KLM Flying Blue excels for travel to Europe and Africa, with monthly Promo Rewards that offer 25-50% discounts on select routes. Flying Blue uses dynamic pricing but frequently prices SkyTeam partner awards (Delta, Virgin Atlantic, Korean Air) more favorably than those airlines’ own programs.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club provides exceptional value for ANA business and first class between the U.S. and Japan, and for Delta One Suites to Europe (when Delta releases partner availability, which is inconsistent). The program also offers competitive pricing on Air France long-haul premium cabins.

Hotel partner strengths:

World of Hyatt consistently delivers the highest and most predictable value among Chase hotel partners. Hyatt’s award chart remains category-based (not dynamic), with free night awards starting at 5,000 points for Category 1 properties and topping at 40,000 for top-tier resorts. Point transfers, combined with Hyatt’s generous redemption rates and a strong property portfolio, make this the default hotel transfer for most Chase users.

Where Chase shows gaps:

Chase lacks an Oneworld alliance partner beyond British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus (all Avios programs with identical award charts). This creates challenges for booking Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, or Qantas awards without paying British Airways’ high fuel surcharges.

Chase has no transfer partner for Hilton or Marriott properties at favorable ratios. While Marriott Bonvoy is technically a partner, the 1:1 transfer ratio delivers poor value given Marriott’s inflated award pricing—almost never recommended.

Chase lacks access to several valuable airline programs available through Amex or Capital One, including Avianca LifeMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan, and Turkish Miles&Smiles. For specific routes where these programs excel, Chase points alone may not suffice.

Transfer Times: What “Instant” Means in Practice

Chase advertises instant transfers for most partners, but actual processing times vary by program and can impact booking strategy, especially when award seats are limited and competition is high.

Truly instant transfers (seconds to 2 minutes):

• United MileagePlus
• Southwest Rapid Rewards
• World of Hyatt
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

These partners typically process transfers within seconds during business hours. You can search award availability, initiate the transfer, and complete the booking within 5-10 minutes total. This speed provides tactical advantage when a desirable award space appears unexpectedly.

Usually fast but occasionally delayed (2 minutes to 24 hours):

• British Airways Executive Club
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Emirates Skywards

Most transfers to these programs are completed within minutes, but occasional delays of several hours to one business day occur. System maintenance, high transfer volume, or account verification issues can cause delays. Always transfer at least 24-48 hours before you need to book if possible.

Transfer timing strategy:

For time-sensitive bookings—such as limited award space on popular routes or during transfer bonus promotions—transfer only after confirming availability. Use the partner’s website or app to search awards, note the exact flight numbers and dates, then transfer the precise number of points needed plus a small buffer for potential pricing changes.

For planned future travel where you’ve already identified available awards, transferring 2-3 days before booking provides a safety margin without excessive speculation. This approach works well for Hyatt hotel bookings where you’ve confirmed standard room availability at a specific property.

Avoid transferring points “just to have them” in a partner account unless you have a specific redemption planned within the next 3-6 months. Points sitting in airline programs face devaluation risk, expiration policies, and opportunity cost if better redemption options emerge elsewhere.

Transfer Bonuses: How to Use Them (Without Overvaluing Them)

Chase periodically offers transfer bonuses, typically 20-30% extra points when transferring to specific partners. A 25% bonus means 1,000 Chase points become 1,250 partner miles. These promotions can meaningfully improve redemption value but require careful evaluation to avoid poor decisions.

Transfer bonus decision framework:

First, calculate the bonus impact on your specific redemption. A 25% bonus on a 70,000-point business class award effectively reduces the cost to 56,000 Chase points. Compare this adjusted cost against alternative redemptions and cash prices to determine if the bonus creates genuine value or simply makes a mediocre redemption slightly less poor.

Second, confirm the bonus applies to your intended redemption timeline. Transfer bonuses typically run 1-3 months. If you cannot book within the promotion window due to lack of availability or uncertain travel dates, the bonus provides no value and may pressure you into a suboptimal transfer.

Third, compare the bonus partner against other Chase transfer partners for the same route. A 30% bonus to British Airways may still deliver worse value than a non-bonus transfer to Virgin Atlantic for the same flight if British Airways charges higher fuel surcharges or requires more miles for the same route.

Common transfer bonus scenarios:

Flying Blue bonuses (historically 25-30%) can create excellent value for transatlantic business class, especially when combined with monthly Promo Rewards. A 30% bonus effectively prices Air France business class to Paris at around 35,000 Chase points instead of 50,000—competitive with any program.

British Airways bonuses require careful surcharge analysis. Even with a 30-40% bonus, short-haul Avios redemptions may deliver better value than long-haul awards where fuel surcharges of $400-800 per ticket eliminate the points savings.

Hyatt bonuses (less frequent, typically 20-30%) provide straightforward value since Hyatt lacks fuel surcharges and maintains predictable award pricing. A 30% bonus effectively reduces a 25,000-point Hyatt redemption to 19,230 Chase points—simple math with clear value.

When to ignore transfer bonuses:

Skip bonuses when they don’t align with your actual travel plans. Transferring speculatively because “it’s a good deal” creates orphaned points in programs you may not use optimally. Award availability, route network, and your specific travel needs matter more than bonus percentages.

Ignore bonuses that push you toward programs with high surcharges unless you’ve calculated total out-of-pocket costs. A 40% transfer bonus that still results in $600 in fuel surcharges may cost more overall than a non-bonus transfer to a low-surcharge program.

Best-Use Scenarios (Common Booking Patterns)

Understanding where Chase transfer partners deliver exceptional value helps you prioritize earning strategies and transfer decisions. These scenarios reflect real-world redemption patterns among experienced points users, not theoretical maximums.

Long-haul business class to Europe:

United MileagePlus: 77,000 miles roundtrip for business class to Europe on United or partners (Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, Brussels). Minimal surcharges on United-operated flights ($100-150 roundtrip). Best for travelers near United hubs with flexible dates who can find saver-level space.

Air France-KLM Flying Blue: 50,000-110,000 miles roundtrip depending on dynamic pricing and Promo Rewards availability. Moderate surcharges ($200-400 roundtrip on Air France/KLM). Best when Promo Rewards discounts apply to your route and dates.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: 50,000 miles one-way for Delta One Suites to Europe when Delta releases partner space (inconsistent availability). Moderate surcharges on Delta ($150-250). Best for travelers with flexible schedules who can wait for Delta to release seats.

Premium cabin to Asia:

United MileagePlus: 80,000-90,000 miles one-way for business class to Japan, Korea, or Southeast Asia on ANA, Asiana, or EVA. Low surcharges on ANA ($100-200). Best for travelers seeking consistent availability and predictable pricing.

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer: 79,000-92,000 miles one-way for business class to Southeast Asia or beyond on Singapore Airlines. Moderate surcharges ($150-300). Best for premium product experience and routing through Singapore.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: 95,000 miles roundtrip for ANA business class or 110,000 for First Class between the U.S. and Japan. Low surcharges ($150-200). Best value for Japan travel when you can find ANA availability at least 2-3 months out.

Domestic U.S. travel:

Southwest Rapid Rewards: Variable pricing matching cash fares, typically 7,000-25,000 points one-way for domestic flights. No surcharges, points fully refundable. Best for domestic travelers who value flexibility and the ability to book at the last minute.

United MileagePlus: 12,500-50,000+ miles one-way, depending on dynamic pricing. Best for long-haul transcons in premium cabins where United prices reasonably (often 25,000-35,000 one-way for domestic first).

Luxury hotel stays:

World of Hyatt: 5,000-40,000 points per night, depending on property category. No resort fees on award stays at most properties. Best for travelers seeking predictable pricing, strong property quality, and straightforward redemptions. Hyatt’s footprint is strong in major cities and resort destinations, and is increasingly present in lifestyle/boutique properties through the Small Luxury Hotels partnership.

Short-haul positioning flights:

British Airways Executive Club: 7,500-13,000 Avios one-way for short flights under 1,150 miles on American Airlines, Alaska, or British Airways. Minimal taxes on domestic flights ($5.60). Best for positioning flights to major hubs or regional travel where cash fares are expensive.

Common Mistakes to Avoid Before You Transfer

Transfer errors waste points and create frustration. These mistakes appear repeatedly among both new and experienced users, often due to rushing the booking process or misunderstanding program rules.

Transferring before confirming availability. The most common and costly error. Award space disappears quickly, especially on popular routes and dates. Always search the partner program’s website or app to verify that the exact flights you want are bookable before transferring points. Take screenshots showing availability, flight numbers, and point requirements.

Ignoring fuel surcharges and taxes. Some Chase transfer partners (British Airways, Virgin Atlantic on certain routes, Emirates) impose significant carrier-imposed surcharges—sometimes $400-800 per ticket on long-haul premium awards. These surcharges appear during the booking process, not during award search. Calculate total out-of-pocket costs before transferring by booking through to the final payment screen (without confirming).

Failing to compare cash prices. Points have opportunity cost. A business-class award costing 100,000 points when the cash fare is $1,800 yields 1.8 cents per point—potentially worse than redeeming those points for a different redemption worth 3-4 cents per point. Always check cash prices and calculate cents per point value before committing to transfers.

Transferring to the wrong partner for your route. Multiple Chase transfer partners may fly your desired route, but pricing and surcharges vary dramatically. Example: New York to London can book through United (77,000 roundtrip, low surcharges), British Airways (26,000 one-way, high surcharges), or Virgin Atlantic (50,000 one-way on Delta, moderate surcharges). The “cheapest” option in miles may cost more overall.

Not accounting for close-in booking fees. Some partners (United, for example) charge fees for award bookings within 21 days of departure unless you hold elite status. These fees ($75-125) add to your out-of-pocket costs and may make alternative partners or cash bookings more attractive.

Transferring exact point amounts without a buffer. Award pricing can occasionally differ between your search and your actual booking, especially on dynamic pricing programs like Flying Blue or United. Transfer 5-10% more points than the displayed requirement to avoid situations where you’re 500 points short and must initiate a second transfer or abandon the booking.

Overlooking partner award availability vs. own-airline availability. Programs like United and Flying Blue show more availability on their own flights than partner airlines. If you’re specifically seeking a partner award (e.g., booking Lufthansa through United), confirm that partner space is available before transferring, as it’s often more limited.

Step-by-Step: Transfer Checklist (Decision + Execution)

This framework outlines the complete decision-making and execution process for Chase transfer partners, reducing errors and improving redemption value.

Step 1: Define your travel goal specifically. Identify exact or near-exact dates, origin/destination cities, preferred cabin class, and number of passengers. Vague goals (“Europe sometime next summer”) make it impossible to accurately evaluate award availability and partner pricing.

Step 2: Research which Chase transfer partners serve your route. Check which airlines fly your route and which are bookable through Chase transfer partners. Use airline route maps and alliance partnerships to identify options. Example: New York to Tokyo can be booked through United (ANA, United), Singapore (Singapore Airlines), or Virgin Atlantic (ANA).

Step 3: Search for award availability on each relevant partner. Log in to each partner program (create a free account if needed) and search for your exact dates and route. Note which partners are available, the required miles, and the cabin class offered. Take screenshots showing availability and pricing.

Step 4: Calculate total out-of-pocket costs, including surcharges. For each available option, complete the booking process through the final payment screen to view the total taxes and surcharges. Do not confirm—just record the total cash required. Add this to the points cost for an accurate comparison.

Step 5: Compare against cash prices and alternative redemptions. Check cash fares for the same flights on Google Flights or the airline’s website. Calculate cents per point value (cash price minus taxes/fees, divided by points required). Compare this value against your alternative uses for those Chase points.

Step 6: Verify transfer time and account details. Confirm your Chase Ultimate Rewards account and partner loyalty account have matching names (required for transfers). Check the expected transfer time for your chosen partner. Ensure your partner account is active and not locked or restricted.

Step 7: Transfer points with 5-10% buffer. Log in to Chase Ultimate Rewards, select your partner, enter the point amount (including buffer), and confirm the transfer. Note the confirmation number and timestamp. Most transfers are complete within minutes, but wait for a confirmation email from the partner program.

Step 8: Book immediately after transfer confirmation. Once points appear in your partner account, complete the booking quickly. Award space can disappear even in the minutes between transfer and booking. Have payment method ready for taxes and fees.

Step 9: Document your booking. Save confirmation emails, take screenshots of itinerary details, and note any special requests or seat assignments. Set calendar reminders to check seat assignments closer to departure and monitor for schedule changes.

Step 10: Monitor for schedule changes and devaluations. Airlines occasionally change award pricing or schedules. Set alerts for your booking and check periodically to ensure your flights remain as booked. Most programs allow free changes if the airline modifies your schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer Chase points to someone else’s airline account?

No. Chase requires the Ultimate Rewards account name to match the airline or hotel loyalty account name exactly. You cannot transfer your points to a partner account under your spouse’s, family member’s, or friend’s name. However, you can transfer points between your Chase cards and your partner accounts. Some couples maintain separate Chase and partner accounts in each person’s name to maximize flexibility.

How long do transferred points stay in partner accounts?

This varies by partner program. Most airline programs require account activity (earning or redeeming miles) every 12-24 months to prevent expiration. Hyatt points don’t expire as long as you have account activity every 24 months. Singapore KrisFlyer miles expire after three years regardless of activity. Check each program’s specific expiration policy before transferring, especially if you won’t book immediately.

Can I transfer points back to Chase if I don’t use them?

No. All Chase transfers are one-way and permanent. Once points are moved to a partner program, they cannot be returned to Chase Ultimate Rewards. This irreversibility makes confirming award availability before transferring critical. Only transfer points when you have a specific redemption ready to book.

Do Chase transfer bonuses apply automatically?

Yes. When Chase offers a transfer bonus promotion, the bonus applies automatically when you transfer to the specified partner during the promotion period. You don’t need to enter codes or opt in separately. The bonus points typically appear in your partner account within the same timeframe as the base transfer—often within minutes.

Which Chase card is best for earning points that can be transferred?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred both earn transferable Ultimate Rewards points with access to all transfer partners. The Reserve earns 3x on travel and dining (vs. 2x on Preferred for travel, 3x for dining) but carries a $550 annual fee vs. $95 for Preferred. For business owners, the Ink Business Preferred earns 3x on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone, and advertising up to $150,000 annually. All three cards allow transfers; choose based on your spending patterns and fee tolerance.

How do I find award availability before transferring?

Create free frequent flyer accounts with Chase transfer partners, then use their websites or apps to search award flights. Most programs show availability to logged-in members. For United, use United.com and search “Award travel.” For Hyatt, search hotels on Hyatt.com and filter by “Use Points.” For Air France-KLM, use the Flying Blue website. Some programs (e.g., Singapore, Virgin Atlantic) require a call to confirm partner availability, but most show searchable online inventory.

Conclusion

Chase transfer partners provide access to valuable award redemptions across airlines and hotels, but maximizing value requires understanding which partners excel for specific routes, how to evaluate transfer bonuses, and how to avoid common mistakes that waste points. The best Chase transfer partner varies by your specific travel goal—no single program wins across all scenarios.

Focus on confirming award availability before transferring, calculating total out-of-pocket costs, including surcharges, and comparing the redemption value to both cash prices and alternative uses for your points. The transfer decision framework and step-by-step checklist in this guide provide a repeatable process for evaluating options and executing transfers confidently.

Start by identifying your next specific travel goal, researching which Chase transfer partners serve that route, and searching for award availability before moving any points. This methodical approach prevents speculative transfers and ensures your Chase Ultimate Rewards points deliver maximum value for real trips you’ll actually take.

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