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)
Mar 29, 2018, 7:58 pm
#151
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,606
I would like to buy a plane ticket for a friend. I have enough UR points for the proposed trip. Is there a transfer partner I can use that will let me purchase a R/T ticket for someone else with the transferred points? The destination is HNL and the trip origin is PIT. Obviously, the specific booking to HNL could start from the West coast, but a westward flight is necessary anyway from PIT.
Thanks,
Thanks,
Mar 29, 2018, 10:10 pm
#153
Moderator: Travel Buzz
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 3,099
You won't have any problems using your miles to book tickets for a friend using your FF or UR accounts. You can't transfer UR's to their account (unless they live with you), but you can buy/book a ticket for anyone using your points and through your account.
You won't need to use the Excursionist perk, which was an update for RTW (aRound The World). Your booking is pretty straightforward and no fancy tricks are needed. As suggested upthread, do a search on United to see if you find something suitable. If you find something that works, transfer the points into your UA account and book the ticket using his/her information for "Passenger". You won't be able to select a seat until after the ticket is purchased.
Mar 30, 2018, 12:08 pm
#154
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,606
Welcome to FT, treadlightly. I've just merged your inquiry into the master thread on the topic.
You won't have any problems using your miles to book tickets for a friend using your FF or UR accounts. You can't transfer UR's to their account (unless they live with you), but you can buy/book a ticket for anyone using your points and through your account.
You won't need to use the Excursionist perk, which was an update for RTW (aRound The World). Your booking is pretty straightforward and no fancy tricks are needed. As suggested upthread, do a search on United to see if you find something suitable. If you find something that works, transfer the points into your UA account and book the ticket using his/her information for "Passenger". You won't be able to select a seat until after the ticket is purchased.
You won't have any problems using your miles to book tickets for a friend using your FF or UR accounts. You can't transfer UR's to their account (unless they live with you), but you can buy/book a ticket for anyone using your points and through your account.
You won't need to use the Excursionist perk, which was an update for RTW (aRound The World). Your booking is pretty straightforward and no fancy tricks are needed. As suggested upthread, do a search on United to see if you find something suitable. If you find something that works, transfer the points into your UA account and book the ticket using his/her information for "Passenger". You won't be able to select a seat until after the ticket is purchased.
Mar 30, 2018, 9:30 pm
#155
Moderator: Travel Buzz
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 3,099
Good point, guv1976, and a very nice tip for a newbie looking to get the best redemption for an award booking. I wish you'd remind me next time I go to book a UA award!
Apr 9, 2018, 12:05 pm
#156
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 144
I've been having an issue with a transfer from Chase to British Airways and was wondering if anyone has had a similar problem. On the transfer page, after entering my BA member ID, I get the "Special handling required, please call" message. After several calls, including one where we conferenced in a BA rep, we narrowed it down to probably a middle name issue (as my BA account is NAME MIDDLE SURNAME but my Chase account is NAME INITIAL SURNAME). We then added my full middle name to my Chase account to match the BA account, but three agents could still not get the transfer to work or think of any other solution. The error message they are getting is "account invalid or not allowed to participate", and none of them seem to have ever seen that before. My BA account is totally active and has Avios in it. I can log in without problems and the BA rep confirmed it is fully functioning. I've double and triple-checked all of the account numbers, spelling, etc. I successfully made a transfer to Korean Air from Chase last month.
As of today the issue has been "escalated" by Chase, and they said to call back in 3-5 business days. Has anybody encountered this before, or have any ideas other than just wait and hope? The tickets I'm booking are a popular route with just two business class seats left, so I really need to resolve it ASAP. It is extremely frustrating that I am unable to use a key benefit of my Reserve card and this could jeopardize our entire itinerary.
As of today the issue has been "escalated" by Chase, and they said to call back in 3-5 business days. Has anybody encountered this before, or have any ideas other than just wait and hope? The tickets I'm booking are a popular route with just two business class seats left, so I really need to resolve it ASAP. It is extremely frustrating that I am unable to use a key benefit of my Reserve card and this could jeopardize our entire itinerary.
Apr 9, 2018, 1:01 pm
#157
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,959
Apr 11, 2018, 3:15 pm
#159
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 43
Transferring UR's to Korean Skypass with different names
Hi all,
Can anyone advise whether I will have a problem transferring UR's from Chase to Korean's Skypass if my Chase account is listed as John A Doe and my Korean account is just John Doe? I think I read somewhere that the names need to be an exact match even down to the middle initial.
Many thanks!
Can anyone advise whether I will have a problem transferring UR's from Chase to Korean's Skypass if my Chase account is listed as John A Doe and my Korean account is just John Doe? I think I read somewhere that the names need to be an exact match even down to the middle initial.
Many thanks!
Apr 11, 2018, 4:39 pm
#160
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,089
Hi all,
Can anyone advise whether I will have a problem transferring UR's from Chase to Korean's Skypass if my Chase account is listed as John A Doe and my Korean account is just John Doe? I think I read somewhere that the names need to be an exact match even down to the middle initial.
Many thanks!
Can anyone advise whether I will have a problem transferring UR's from Chase to Korean's Skypass if my Chase account is listed as John A Doe and my Korean account is just John Doe? I think I read somewhere that the names need to be an exact match even down to the middle initial.
Many thanks!
Apr 15, 2018, 8:35 am
#161
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: LAX
Programs: UA 1K MM, AS MVPG, SPG PLAT 100
Posts: 1,497
Chase UR to Korean delay/problem?
Have done a ton of UR to Korean transfers. Yesterday did a tiny 2000 transfer to top off an award redemption. Nothing has posted in 24 hours whereas longest prior time was a few minutes. Secure messaged Chase and they say 24 hours is typical (its been that) and up to 1 week. I'm sure something went wrong (had an SPG transfer to Korean also hit yesterday, could that be an issue?). Any tips or advice?
Apr 18, 2018, 12:17 pm
#163
Join Date: May 2015
Programs: Membership Rewards, Chase
Posts: 24
I initiated a transfer from my Ultimate Rewards to Korean Air Skypass and I thought it would be instantaneous. This morning the miles are not yet in my account. I called chase and was told it could take 1 to 7 business days. My reservation with Korean Air is good until April 30th so I am optimistic the miles will transfer soon.
Apr 18, 2018, 10:18 pm
#164
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 66
I also made an UR transfer to Korean tonight and was surprised when it didn't post immediately.
Hoping they get this thing sorted out promptly over there but after the drastic cuts to award space over the past couple of weeks my spider-sense is tingling ...
Hoping they get this thing sorted out promptly over there but after the drastic cuts to award space over the past couple of weeks my spider-sense is tingling ...