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 30, 2017, 5:53 pm
#316
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
The site design is clumsy. It sounds as if you were trying to use the boxes which appear to the left of the fare display after it searches.
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
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
Jul 31, 2017, 6:52 am
#318
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,784
I found this thread after spending 45 minutes trying to pick anything other than Economy (or ALL) and failing. For flights from New York (all airports) to London (all airports) next May, there was nothing but economy offered on any itinerary. Then I searched Toronto to Chicago because I actually booked this trip in business class last year on the UR portal, but now only economy was offered. The boxes for higher classes were there, but they would not respond to clicks.
It baffles me that Chase's travel agent does not offer anything above economy to people holding the Sapphire Reserve card. For that matter, it baffles me that Chase's travel agent does not offer anything above economy to everyone. It seems to me that a sale would be a sale, and someone who just holds a free card might want to travel in premium, business, or first.
It baffles me that Chase's travel agent does not offer anything above economy to people holding the Sapphire Reserve card. For that matter, it baffles me that Chase's travel agent does not offer anything above economy to everyone. It seems to me that a sale would be a sale, and someone who just holds a free card might want to travel in premium, business, or first.
Jul 31, 2017, 8:40 am
#319
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: flyover country
Posts: 2,434
Since I got further in the process than before, I looked at some seat maps. One map (for a 777?) showed two seats (A, D), an aisle, one seat (G), an aisle, and one seat (J). (There were 15 rows of seats.) How should I interpret that? Another seat map (for a Canadair?) showed three rows of three seats (A, D, F) with no aisle. How should I interpret that?
Thanks for any insight.
Jul 31, 2017, 9:27 am
#320
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Jul 31, 2017, 9:28 am
#321
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,784
Since I got further in the process than before, I looked at some seat maps. One map (for a 777?) showed two seats (A, D), an aisle, one seat (G), an aisle, and one seat (J). (There were 15 rows of seats.) How should I interpret that? Another seat map (for a Canadair?) showed three rows of three seats (A, D, F) with no aisle. How should I interpret that?
Thanks for any insight.
Thanks for any insight.
Jul 31, 2017, 11:57 am
#322
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: flyover country
Posts: 2,434
Thanks, mia and Need.
Where does Seat Guru get its information? From the airlines' web sites? From the airlines, but not the web sites? From user feedback?
Where does Seat Guru get its information? From the airlines' web sites? From the airlines, but not the web sites? From user feedback?
Jul 31, 2017, 12:19 pm
#323
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
I don't know where they get the base diagrams, probably from a variety of sources, but the ratings come from users. Read here:
https://www.seatguru.com/about.php
Competing site: http://www.seatexpert.com/
https://www.seatguru.com/about.php
Competing site: http://www.seatexpert.com/
Jul 31, 2017, 7:45 pm
#324
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 13
I'm interested in using my Chase UR Points (have a CSR/Ink Preferred) for a flight from LAX-HNL-OGG-LAX. What's the best possible way to use the UR points for this trip?
I've been looking online and from my research, I should be transferring the UR points to either British Airways (American or Alaska) or Korean Air (Delta) to get a roundtrip flight for 25k miles. Not sure if it's also 12.5k each way? But it seems like I have to call in order to book these flights. How exactly does that work, are the flights always going to be 12.5k miles or is that only for select dates/times?
For HNL-OGG, it seems my best bet would be booking through the Chase portal with my CSR (1.5x).
Any tips/pointers would be greatly appreciated!
Edit: I realized this may have fit better with the other stickied thread about transfer partners? Sorry!
I've been looking online and from my research, I should be transferring the UR points to either British Airways (American or Alaska) or Korean Air (Delta) to get a roundtrip flight for 25k miles. Not sure if it's also 12.5k each way? But it seems like I have to call in order to book these flights. How exactly does that work, are the flights always going to be 12.5k miles or is that only for select dates/times?
For HNL-OGG, it seems my best bet would be booking through the Chase portal with my CSR (1.5x).
Any tips/pointers would be greatly appreciated!
Edit: I realized this may have fit better with the other stickied thread about transfer partners? Sorry!
Last edited by FlyerLoop; Jul 31, 2017 at 7:59 pm
Aug 1, 2017, 10:44 pm
#326
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Programs: Alaska MVPG, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, CX Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 225
Aug 2, 2017, 2:50 pm
#327
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: DCA
Programs: UA Gold, IHG Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 49
I'd like to book a room using UR, but I am traveling with my small dog, and I don't see a spot to add him to the reservation. I know the hotel is dog friendly (with a pet fee). Has anyone done this? Should I book directly through the hotel website instead, so that there is no risk? Or can I simply call them after booking to let them know I'll have my pet?
Aug 2, 2017, 6:57 pm
#328
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Aug 3, 2017, 7:28 am
#329
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: DCA
Programs: UA Gold, IHG Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 49
Aug 3, 2017, 8:13 am
#330
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
I think it would work just as well to contract the property directly to notify them, however you may find that the property does not have any record of a reservation made through Chase's site until a day or two before the stay begins. If advance notice is critical to securing a suitable room this is probably not the best way for you to book.