Feb 8, 2017, 9:00 am
Last edit by: mia
This thread covers how to use Ultimate Reward Points for booking all types of travel via the Ultimate Rewards portal.
1) How do I book a ticket? Choose my airfare class?
Login to ultimaterewards.com
Click: Use points > Explore and Book Travel
Click the button that defaults to [1 Traveler, All]
Change "Class" (the first entry in the pull-down) from All to Business
Click: Close
2) How far in advance can I book?
In mid-November 2017 it was reported that airline reservations are available only 270 days in advance. Read HERE.
3) How do I book hotels?
Follow the steps above to log on. There are standard looking search engines offered for airfare, hotel, etc at that point.
4) How do I get the better redemption rate offered on some Chase cards?
The upper left corner of the UR page will show you which card you are logged in with. If you hold a Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you will be shown a better price on points bookings, as a 1.5 redemption rate is offered as one of the benefits of this card. If you log in to the UR portal from a different UR card, such as the Ink, you will not be offered this rate.
5) Where else can I find information?
This thread is a consolidated resource which covers topics including:
Fare buckets, here
Price differences between open market air fares and UR bookings, here
Selecting seat classes
Using cash and points to pay for tickets
and more.
The previous discussion, through 2016, can be found here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chase...ly-2015-a.html
1) How do I book a ticket? Choose my airfare class?
Login to ultimaterewards.com
Click: Use points > Explore and Book Travel
Click the button that defaults to [1 Traveler, All]
Change "Class" (the first entry in the pull-down) from All to Business
Click: Close
2) How far in advance can I book?
In mid-November 2017 it was reported that airline reservations are available only 270 days in advance. Read HERE.
3) How do I book hotels?
Follow the steps above to log on. There are standard looking search engines offered for airfare, hotel, etc at that point.
4) How do I get the better redemption rate offered on some Chase cards?
The upper left corner of the UR page will show you which card you are logged in with. If you hold a Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you will be shown a better price on points bookings, as a 1.5 redemption rate is offered as one of the benefits of this card. If you log in to the UR portal from a different UR card, such as the Ink, you will not be offered this rate.
5) Where else can I find information?
This thread is a consolidated resource which covers topics including:
Fare buckets, here
Price differences between open market air fares and UR bookings, here
Selecting seat classes
Using cash and points to pay for tickets
and more.
The previous discussion, through 2016, can be found here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chase...ly-2015-a.html
Booking Flights, Rooms, Cars, etc. w/ Ultimate Rewards Points, 2014-2017
Jul 12, 2017, 8:01 pm
#286
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,399
THIS post suggests that Delta may not allow this.
I called the diamond desk earlier and was told that it wouldn't be an issue providing it was within 24 hours of ticketing. I've never bought an E ticket but back when SWU's required a certain fare class and if inventory opened up I was able to call and just pay the fare difference and no change fee providing I stayed on the same flights. I don't know why Delta would care as long as they are getting the revenue.
I was also assured by Delta that providing it wasn't an E fare I could sit in C+ and would be on the upgrade list for first class the same as if it was a purchased ticket.
Jul 14, 2017, 6:25 am
#287
Join Date: Feb 2002
Programs: UA *G 1MM, AA Gold, MR Lifetime Titanium, IHG Platinum, HH Diamond
Posts: 288
Plus $50USD because it's an agency ticket
Booked a DL economy fare through the UR portal and wanted to upfare to G/A after ticketing. No problem (and no change fee other than fare difference) but DL would not budge on the $50 fee to take over the agency-issued ticket, even on an upfare.
The phone agent sounded quite confident, but if she was not correct and the fee to takeover an agency-issued ticket is waived for an upfare, could someone point me to a source? Thanks!
The phone agent sounded quite confident, but if she was not correct and the fee to takeover an agency-issued ticket is waived for an upfare, could someone point me to a source? Thanks!
Jul 16, 2017, 12:11 am
#288
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 240
Does anyone have any experience with a changed/canceled flight booked through UR? I don't have this problem yet but anticipate it being an issue before long. I have several flights booked on Delta through UR and they usually end up changing or canceling our flights before departure. I have read that we need to work with UR rather than the airline to reschedule the flight. It usually hasn't been too much of an issue with the airline, but I'm afraid of what may happen when going through a third party. I don't usually book third party flights I hope someone has a good story.
Jul 16, 2017, 11:05 am
#289
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,955
Jul 16, 2017, 5:37 pm
#290
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 240
It was a round trip flight San Diego to Cabo for 2 passengers on Alaska airlines. Alaska has a 60 day before departure no change fee. If under 60 days then $125 per change. I called Alaska 56 days prior to my departure and asked them in a super nice way if they could change it so I could fly out a day earlier and waive the $125 per ticket change fee. They said no and I continued to sweet talk the agent. Agent got a supervisor involved who approved waiving the $250 of change fees. I only paid the fare difference of $21 per ticket. Was very happy and the Alaska team was very good to deal with. The agents are very competent compared to other airlines.
Jul 17, 2017, 7:09 pm
#291
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: I 35 south bound, finally stopped
Programs: LT Plt, 4mm, *A GLD, burned out medical provider, executing our estate plan
Posts: 1,665
Has anyone else noted the UR landing webpage cannot be reached? Actually I can log in but no page beyond that comes up. Any work arounds?
Jul 17, 2017, 10:24 pm
#292
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
Also when the UR site hang up / froze - which happens very often - do a refresh sometimes would bring it back.
The UR site is awfully clunky and unbelievably glitchy. Use Chrome or Opera seems to help a little bit.
Jul 18, 2017, 6:36 am
#293
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: I 35 south bound, finally stopped
Programs: LT Plt, 4mm, *A GLD, burned out medical provider, executing our estate plan
Posts: 1,665
Update- good call. I can sideload Android apps on this chromebook. Used Firefox and got right in to UR site. Thanks
Last edited by boerne; Jul 18, 2017 at 6:49 am
Jul 19, 2017, 7:44 pm
#294
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 2
Hotel Reservation made via Chase not honored - had to sleep in car
I booked a hotel room using the Chase website, three months in advance for Saturday night during the July 4th weekend, in a small town in the Colorado Rockies.
When I arrived to check-in, the hotel told me that the reservation was cancelled but I never cancelled it and the Chase website showed that the reservation was active.
I called Chase ultimate rewards. They said they would talk to the hotel and resolve the issue. They put me on hold and never got back to me again. I called them again to start at square one and they put me on hold again and never got back to me again. Finally, when I called again, they told me it was not their fault and that it was their vendor that messed up and offered to refund me what I paid for the room.
I ended up having to sleep in my car as all others hotels were booked that night and the inconvenience was immense - Am I entitled to get some UR points for the inconvenience I faced? If so, how many should I ask for?
When I arrived to check-in, the hotel told me that the reservation was cancelled but I never cancelled it and the Chase website showed that the reservation was active.
I called Chase ultimate rewards. They said they would talk to the hotel and resolve the issue. They put me on hold and never got back to me again. I called them again to start at square one and they put me on hold again and never got back to me again. Finally, when I called again, they told me it was not their fault and that it was their vendor that messed up and offered to refund me what I paid for the room.
I ended up having to sleep in my car as all others hotels were booked that night and the inconvenience was immense - Am I entitled to get some UR points for the inconvenience I faced? If so, how many should I ask for?
Jul 19, 2017, 9:09 pm
#295
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
No. For starter, Chase has no duty to indemnify. On that basis, you are entitled nil.
However, if you plead your case, I am sure that Chase will try to make whole as it is the fault of its vendor.
Not much.
It is not a case that you have to spend extra. Instead, this is a case of inconvenience, which you have to sleep in a car. And you got your refund back.
However, if you plead your case, I am sure that Chase will try to make whole as it is the fault of its vendor.
Not much.
It is not a case that you have to spend extra. Instead, this is a case of inconvenience, which you have to sleep in a car. And you got your refund back.
Jul 19, 2017, 9:42 pm
#296
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Grand County, Colorado
Programs: IHG Plat, HH D, UA GS, Perm BonVoyed
Posts: 2,013
This is why it's always best to garden your reservations.
Last edited by RoyalFlush; Jul 19, 2017 at 9:53 pm
Jul 20, 2017, 4:56 am
#297
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 2
I did garden my reservation through the chase website which kept showing the reservation as active.
Jul 20, 2017, 7:17 am
#298
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: FL
Programs: AA, BA, HH
Posts: 173
What are folks experiences when purchasing a business ticket (Intra Europe w/Czech) through the portal w/points and the airline putting you in coach and having you pay for your bags.... Everything via the Chase portal said I bought a business ticket and everything on the Czech side at the airport said I bought a coach ticket..... I've opened a claim with Chase and I'm awaiting a response.
Jul 20, 2017, 7:55 am
#299
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: flyover country
Posts: 2,435
Could I get a definition of "garden your reservation", please?
Jul 20, 2017, 10:52 am
#300
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
What are folks experiences when purchasing a business ticket (Intra Europe w/Czech) through the portal w/points and the airline putting you in coach and having you pay for your bags.... Everything via the Chase portal said I bought a business ticket and everything on the Czech side at the airport said I bought a coach ticket..... I've opened a claim with Chase and I'm awaiting a response.
You need to keep following up on your claim. Make sure to keep detailed records of each and every supervisor at the Help Desk you talked to, their names and location, and what they told you. Make sure they notated your booking on what you are told and what they would do. Would take multiple phone calls and many manhours to eventually get it sorted.
I just finished a claim with a hotel booking that did not even get a chance to materialzed, i.e. actual stay. Will give the details so others can learn something and be prepared the travel booking thru UR portal is full of traps and perils - it is VERY MUCH Buyer Beware situation, very unfortunately.