Feb 14, 2017, 7:47 am
Last edit by: beltway
This thread is for discussing the mechanics of points transfer: qualifying Chase cards, eligible partners, and typical speed of transfer. For advice on which partner to transfer to for a given travel goal, see Ultimate Rewards - Which airline/hotel should I transfer points to? and the master threads compiled there.
Holders of non-premium Chase UR cards,
Q. What airline or hotel programs can I transfer UR points into?
A. UR points may be transferred at no charge to these airline programs at a 1:1 exchange rate:
ONEWORLD
Transfers to Amtrak were previously available, but ended permanently on December 8, 2015. See Announcement regarding Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Q. Are transfers instant?
A. In many cases, yes, although transfers to at least one partner (Marriott) may take several days. A summary:
Q: After I transfer, when will my miles expire at that airline/hotel program? Is there anything I can do to avoid expiration there?
The Miles/Points that Do and Don't Expire wiki now lists all of the above Chase UR airline/hotel transfer partners and their respective expiration policies.
Q. Can I transfer to another person's airline or hotel program account?
A. Ultimate Rewards rules explicitly permit transfers to a spouse or domestic partner's frequent traveler account, and prohibit all other transfers. On November 13, 2015, Chase announced the further complication (and perhaps additional restriction) that effective November 15, 2015, as a holder of a UR-earning business card "you can only transfer points to yourself or an owner of the company who is listed as an authorized user on your card account." For discussion of this policy statement and its impacts, see this thread.
Transferring UR points from one household member to another's FF account:
If, for instance, you'd like to transfer UR points from your spouse to your United Airlines account, here are the rules: To transfer directly from [her] UR account to your UA account you would have to be members of the same household -and- you would have to be an Authorized User on [her] Chase card account.
Points can only be transferred to yourself, or one additional household member who is listed as an authorized user on your card account. Once you transfer points to an authorized user, that person will be the only authorized user on your account eligible to receive point transfers.
Combining UR point accounts: To combine points from a UR account with your UR account you would have to be members of the same household. Here are the rules:
You can move your points, but only to another Chase card with Ultimate Rewards belonging to you, or one member of your household. If we suspect that you've engaged in fraudulent activity related to your credit card account or Ultimate Rewards, or that you've misused Ultimate Rewards in any way (for example by buying or selling points, moving or transferring points with or to an ineligible third party or account, or repeatedly opening or otherwise maintaining credit card accounts for the sole purpose of generating rewards) we may temporarily prohibit you from earning points or using points you've already earned. If we believe you've engaged in any of these acts, we'll close your credit card account and you'll lose all your points.
Q. I heard that Chase has closed accounts for unauthorized transfers. What's the story?
A. Those reports involve sharing (aka combining) points from one Ultimate Rewards account to another Ultimate Rewards account. Ultimate Rewards rules explicitly permit combining points with a spouse's or domestic partner's UR account, and prohibit all other internal sharing of UR points. See this thread:
Chase closed my Sapphire Preferred account due to transfers to other UR accounts.
Credit card and rewards accounts may also be closed if Chase decides to close your personal or business bank accounts for any reason.
For the pre-2017 version of this thread, go here.
Q. Can I transfer UR points to airline/hotel programs?
A. Yes, but only from a UR account tied to one of the following premium (i.e., fee-based) Chase cards:
Q. Can I transfer UR points to airline/hotel programs?
A. Yes, but only from a UR account tied to one of the following premium (i.e., fee-based) Chase cards:
- Sapphire Reserve
- Sapphire Preferred
- JP Morgan Reserve
- JP Morgan Palladium (discontinued)
- JP Morgan Select (discontinued)
- INK Preferred
- INK Plus (discontinued)
- INK Bold (discontinued)
Holders of non-premium Chase UR cards,
- Freedom
- Freedom Unlimited
- Freedom Flex
- Sapphire (discontinued; different from Sapphire Preferred)
- INK Cash
- INK Classic (discontinued)
- INK Unlimited
Q. What airline or hotel programs can I transfer UR points into?
A. UR points may be transferred at no charge to these airline programs at a 1:1 exchange rate:
ONEWORLD
- British Airways Executive Club (BA)
- Iberia (IB)
- Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) (AF)
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (VS)
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (SQ)
- United Airlines MileagePlus (UA)
- Air Canada Aeroplan (AC)
- Chase Aeroplan credit cardmembers get a 10% transfer bonus after transferring 50,000 or more Ultimate Rewards points in a single transaction from an eligible Chase credit card to their Aeroplan account. Maximum of 25,000 bonus points per calendar year. This offer was previously scheduled to end on 12/31/23, but has now been made permanent.
- 20% bonus on transfers ended Jan. 15, 2024
- Aer Lingus (EI)
- Emirates Skywards (EK)
- JetBlue (B6) - 25% bonus on transfers ended on Jan. 10, 2024
- Southwest Rapid Rewards (WN)
- IHG Rewards Club - 60% bonus on transfers through March 1, 2024
- Marriott Bonvoy
- World of Hyatt
Transfers to Amtrak were previously available, but ended permanently on December 8, 2015. See Announcement regarding Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Q. Are transfers instant?
A. In many cases, yes, although transfers to at least one partner (Marriott) may take several days. A summary:
- AC: Variable. Generally posts instantly (as noted in this July 2023 post). On the other hand, a report from August 2021 indicated a delay of 72-96 hours and a June 2023 post reflects a delay of roughly 30 hours.
- BA: usually Instant
- SQ: "Most Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer point transfers process within 2 business days." Several reports suggest it takes 24-48 hours, although there appears to be a lot of variation.
Post #128 reports 7 business days; post #214 reports a turnaround of 2hrs 15mins. NOV 2017 - 24 hours - WN: Normally Instant but see posts starting at #451 about delays
- UA: Normally instant, but see this thread: UR to United transfer is not reliably instant
- AF: Instant
- VS: Instant.
- Hyatt: Occurs within a minute or less (numerous reports)
- IHG:
One business day.Instant on 10/30/19. Instant on 9 March 2022. - Marriott: Transfers "will process by the next business day"; actual experience is approx. 2 business days
- Ritz:
Q: After I transfer, when will my miles expire at that airline/hotel program? Is there anything I can do to avoid expiration there?
The Miles/Points that Do and Don't Expire wiki now lists all of the above Chase UR airline/hotel transfer partners and their respective expiration policies.
Q. Can I transfer to another person's airline or hotel program account?
A. Ultimate Rewards rules explicitly permit transfers to a spouse or domestic partner's frequent traveler account, and prohibit all other transfers. On November 13, 2015, Chase announced the further complication (and perhaps additional restriction) that effective November 15, 2015, as a holder of a UR-earning business card "you can only transfer points to yourself or an owner of the company who is listed as an authorized user on your card account." For discussion of this policy statement and its impacts, see this thread.
Transferring UR points from one household member to another's FF account:
If, for instance, you'd like to transfer UR points from your spouse to your United Airlines account, here are the rules: To transfer directly from [her] UR account to your UA account you would have to be members of the same household -and- you would have to be an Authorized User on [her] Chase card account.
Points can only be transferred to yourself, or one additional household member who is listed as an authorized user on your card account. Once you transfer points to an authorized user, that person will be the only authorized user on your account eligible to receive point transfers.
Combining UR point accounts: To combine points from a UR account with your UR account you would have to be members of the same household. Here are the rules:
You can move your points, but only to another Chase card with Ultimate Rewards belonging to you, or one member of your household. If we suspect that you've engaged in fraudulent activity related to your credit card account or Ultimate Rewards, or that you've misused Ultimate Rewards in any way (for example by buying or selling points, moving or transferring points with or to an ineligible third party or account, or repeatedly opening or otherwise maintaining credit card accounts for the sole purpose of generating rewards) we may temporarily prohibit you from earning points or using points you've already earned. If we believe you've engaged in any of these acts, we'll close your credit card account and you'll lose all your points.
Q. I heard that Chase has closed accounts for unauthorized transfers. What's the story?
A. Those reports involve sharing (aka combining) points from one Ultimate Rewards account to another Ultimate Rewards account. Ultimate Rewards rules explicitly permit combining points with a spouse's or domestic partner's UR account, and prohibit all other internal sharing of UR points. See this thread:
Chase closed my Sapphire Preferred account due to transfers to other UR accounts.
Credit card and rewards accounts may also be closed if Chase decides to close your personal or business bank accounts for any reason.
Ultimate Rewards - Airline and Hotel Transfer Partners, Rules, Timelines, (2017 on)
Jun 30, 2017, 12:17 pm
#91
Moderator: Travel Buzz
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 3,099
The rules are slightly different for INK (business) cards.
I assume the rules for transferring to airline/hotel programs from a business account include similar wording, but I do not currently hold a qualifying INK card to copy and paste the language. Anyone who has INK Bold, Plus or Preferred could find it.
I don't think we have information about the evidence of business ownership that Chase accepts.
I assume the rules for transferring to airline/hotel programs from a business account include similar wording, but I do not currently hold a qualifying INK card to copy and paste the language. Anyone who has INK Bold, Plus or Preferred could find it.
I don't think we have information about the evidence of business ownership that Chase accepts.
It's already in the wiki:
Q. Can I transfer to another person's airline or hotel program account?
A. Ultimate Rewards rules explicitly permit transfers to a spouse or domestic partner's frequent traveler account, and prohibit all other transfers. On November 13, 2015, Chase announced the further complication (and perhaps additional restriction) that effective November 15, 2015, as a holder of a UR-earning business card "you can only transfer points to yourself or an owner of the company who is listed as an authorized user on your card account." For discussion of this policy statement and its impacts, see this thread.
Jul 5, 2017, 1:37 am
#92
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,141
I've always transferred my UR points to UA, and know the UA system pretty well. I am now anticipating needing to look for other options to find J or F award travel, and I am hoping this community can help me with tips to use my UR points on carriers, for example, as American Airlines.
As I understand it, AA travel would involve me needing to:
1. Open an account with BA's FFP. Is this simple to do by just logging onto their website?
2. Ascertain whether award inventory exists between points A and B, by using the BA website. There may be BA-codeshare space on AA. Is there any problem with phantom inventory?
3. Transfer my UR points to my BA account and make the reservation. Can award reservations be done both online and with an agent's assistance? Do agents have the ability to find other options that are not shown on the FF site?
I guess I am worried about transferring tons of points and then finding out that I had insufficient system knowledge, and end up not being able to use them. Any advice to help me avoid this problem?
I am also assuming the the BA/AA issues would be similar on AF/DL? Any major differences?
Many thanks for your help!
As I understand it, AA travel would involve me needing to:
1. Open an account with BA's FFP. Is this simple to do by just logging onto their website?
2. Ascertain whether award inventory exists between points A and B, by using the BA website. There may be BA-codeshare space on AA. Is there any problem with phantom inventory?
3. Transfer my UR points to my BA account and make the reservation. Can award reservations be done both online and with an agent's assistance? Do agents have the ability to find other options that are not shown on the FF site?
I guess I am worried about transferring tons of points and then finding out that I had insufficient system knowledge, and end up not being able to use them. Any advice to help me avoid this problem?
I am also assuming the the BA/AA issues would be similar on AF/DL? Any major differences?
Many thanks for your help!
Jul 5, 2017, 7:59 am
#93
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Ignore the quantity of AAdvantage miles required. You will redeem according to BA's chart. Ignore "AAnytime" seats, they are not available to any partner program.
Everything you need to know should be here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...7-edition.html
Last edited by mia; Jul 5, 2017 at 8:05 am
Jul 5, 2017, 8:53 am
#94
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
This is not relevant. To use BA points to travel on flights operated by AA, I would look on aa.com.
[...]
Everything you need to know should be here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...7-edition.html
[...]
Everything you need to know should be here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...7-edition.html
Jul 5, 2017, 2:20 pm
#95
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,141
This is not relevant. To use BA points to travel on flights operated by AA, I would look on aa.com. If aa.com shows "Award SAAver" seats available they can be used by partner programs, including BA. The same seats should be shown on ba.com, if not you will need to book with BA by phone.
Ignore the quantity of AAdvantage miles required. You will redeem according to BA's chart. Ignore "AAnytime" seats, they are not available to any partner program.
Everything you need to know should be here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...7-edition.html
Ignore the quantity of AAdvantage miles required. You will redeem according to BA's chart. Ignore "AAnytime" seats, they are not available to any partner program.
Everything you need to know should be here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...7-edition.html
The wiki in that thread is beautifully laid out, but it's aimed at general BA redemption activity. For a targeted discussion of using BA Avios to redeem on AA metal--including several tips/tricks/caveats not present in the general BA guidance--see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showwiki.php?t=1630304.
Jul 5, 2017, 2:40 pm
#96
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
Jul 8, 2017, 7:45 am
#97
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
Retaining Ability to Transfer to Partners When Cancelling Sapphire Reserve Card
TSMRSRNE has a Sapphire Reserve card that is about to be hit with the second-year annual fee. We don't want to pay that, so our plan is to cancel it. However, my wife's only other UR card is the regular Freedom card (which she's going to keep). TSMRSRNE is an authorized user on my Reserve card, so she can continue to earn 3x points on my account when she travels/dines out, etc. But, how would she do partner transfers with UR points earned on her Freedom card?
Option 1: Ask Chase to downgrade her Reserve card to Preferred. However, that too has an annual fee, albeit lesser.
Option 2: She can periodically transfers her UR points to me and I can transfer them to partners as needed.
I'm thinking the latter option is best, but I thought I'd seek opinions. Feel free to opine.
Option 1: Ask Chase to downgrade her Reserve card to Preferred. However, that too has an annual fee, albeit lesser.
Option 2: She can periodically transfers her UR points to me and I can transfer them to partners as needed.
I'm thinking the latter option is best, but I thought I'd seek opinions. Feel free to opine.
Jul 8, 2017, 10:24 am
#98
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
This will allow you to transfer points earned by her Freedom card to YOUR airline and hotel accounts, but if you want to transfer to HER airline or hotel accounts she must be an Authorized User on your Reserve account, and that will cost you $75/year.
Jul 9, 2017, 9:51 am
#99
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
Jul 12, 2017, 10:48 am
#100
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 72
It's already in the wiki:
Q. Can I transfer to another person's airline or hotel program account?
A. Ultimate Rewards rules explicitly permit transfers to a spouse or domestic partner's frequent traveler account, and prohibit all other transfers. On November 13, 2015, Chase announced the further complication (and perhaps additional restriction) that effective November 15, 2015, as a holder of a UR-earning business card "you can only transfer points to yourself or an owner of the company who is listed as an authorized user on your card account." For discussion of this policy statement and its impacts, see this thread.
Q. Can I transfer to another person's airline or hotel program account?
A. Ultimate Rewards rules explicitly permit transfers to a spouse or domestic partner's frequent traveler account, and prohibit all other transfers. On November 13, 2015, Chase announced the further complication (and perhaps additional restriction) that effective November 15, 2015, as a holder of a UR-earning business card "you can only transfer points to yourself or an owner of the company who is listed as an authorized user on your card account." For discussion of this policy statement and its impacts, see this thread.
1) I currently don't have accounts with any of the loyalty programs that are UR transfer partners, and it looks like I need that just to check award availability, so I guess my first step is setting up accounts with all the various transfer partners?
2) Then check a site like Kayak to see who has flights to AMS that would work for me.
3) Go to the individual loyalty sites and login and check award availability and how many points are needed?
I currently don't have a huge number of points, just around ~80K, and am trying to look into various strategies to minimize my out of pocket expenses for travel over the next year and a half.
Jul 12, 2017, 11:14 am
#101
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
You will likely want to join United Airlines program, for access to Star Alliance flights; and KLM's program (FlyingBlue) for access to SkyTeam flights.
Jul 13, 2017, 11:24 am
#102
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 72
Not all. Perform step 2 first. Identify the airlines that fly the route(s) in which you are interested. If you are only interested in nonstop flights the list will be short. If you will consider connecting the list will be very long. You won't necessarily transfer to the program operated by the same carrier as operates the flights, because most airlines belong to alliances or have partnerships.
You will likely want to join United Airlines program, for access to Star Alliance flights; and KLM's program (FlyingBlue) for access to SkyTeam flights.
You will likely want to join United Airlines program, for access to Star Alliance flights; and KLM's program (FlyingBlue) for access to SkyTeam flights.
Jul 14, 2017, 10:51 am
#103
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 45
Super annoyed. Have not been able to transfer points to United MP because of a name discrepancy between my CSR and my MP account.
I have two first names and a middle name, and my CSR is the only card (including my other chase cards) that lists my name as (first name) (2nd first name initial) (MI])(Last).
All my other credit card accounts (including my other Chase accounts) either show both first names in full, or skip out my 2nd first name altogether. Despite the latter being technically incorrect, this setup has never stopped me from being able to transfer between accounts, including back when my premium UR card was my CSP (now since closed).
My CSR, my only premium UR card right now, won't allow me to add the MP account online (shows an error), and then when I called Chase about it, they told me it wouldn't work in their system either, and the rep had to send my request to Online Marketing (?) and would get back to me within 7-10 business days (this was about 5 business days ago).
I tried changing my United account name but they warn that they'd need proof of ID to change, which I won't do since they have my name RIGHT.
UPDATE: Luckily I just got approved for a CIP just now and was able to just move points from my CSR over to the CIP and transfer out of the CIP (which has my correct full name). Hopefully the CSR thing resolves itself eventually though since I'd probably be planning on keeping the CSR in the long run.
I have two first names and a middle name, and my CSR is the only card (including my other chase cards) that lists my name as (first name) (2nd first name initial) (MI])(Last).
All my other credit card accounts (including my other Chase accounts) either show both first names in full, or skip out my 2nd first name altogether. Despite the latter being technically incorrect, this setup has never stopped me from being able to transfer between accounts, including back when my premium UR card was my CSP (now since closed).
My CSR, my only premium UR card right now, won't allow me to add the MP account online (shows an error), and then when I called Chase about it, they told me it wouldn't work in their system either, and the rep had to send my request to Online Marketing (?) and would get back to me within 7-10 business days (this was about 5 business days ago).
I tried changing my United account name but they warn that they'd need proof of ID to change, which I won't do since they have my name RIGHT.
UPDATE: Luckily I just got approved for a CIP just now and was able to just move points from my CSR over to the CIP and transfer out of the CIP (which has my correct full name). Hopefully the CSR thing resolves itself eventually though since I'd probably be planning on keeping the CSR in the long run.
Last edited by greasypig; Jul 15, 2017 at 2:36 pm
Jul 18, 2017, 12:19 am
#104
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,066
For me, UA is currently the best place to transfer UR to as I found the rountrip SE Asia-NZ with a stopover in Australia redemption to be of excellent value for 35k miles. When the aforementioned redemption rises to 50k miles this Nov, UA miles will be worth far less as that's about the only sweet spot for me. The 80K UR for SE Asia - USA return with a stopover is probably what I would go for after the devalution (however, both AA and AS are cheaper for SE Asia - USA awards). Hence, my current valuation of UA at 1.5c/mi will drop to 1.2-1.3c/mi.
I have thought about BA - however, it seems like the sweet spots are for short-haul flights within Europe which I don't have much need for so I value BA at 1.2/mi.
Would it make sense to just do a straight 1.25c/UR redemption for flights through the travel center? or would you suggest something else?
I have thought about BA - however, it seems like the sweet spots are for short-haul flights within Europe which I don't have much need for so I value BA at 1.2/mi.
Would it make sense to just do a straight 1.25c/UR redemption for flights through the travel center? or would you suggest something else?
Jul 18, 2017, 7:57 am
#105
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 615
To transfer directly from her UR account to your UA account you would have to be members of the same household -and- you would have to be an Authorized User on her Chase card account.
To combine points from her UR account with your UR account you would have to be members of the same household:
To combine points from her UR account with your UR account you would have to be members of the same household:
Additionally, there was a post above that talked about restrictions in transferring Ink UR from one household member to another's CSR UR (spouse to spouse).
Am I reading these correctly? I'm sitting on a bunch of UR and I want to be sure I don't mess anything up with Chase before transferring from spouse to spouse on UR portal.