Feb 14, 17, 8:47 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) - 25% bonus on transfers expired November 30, 2023
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (VS) - 30% bonus on transfers expired November 15, 2023
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (SQ)
- United Airlines MileagePlus (UA)
- Air Canada Aeroplan (AC)
- Through 12/31/23, 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.
- Aer Lingus (EI)
- Emirates Skywards (EK)
- JetBlue (B6) - 25% bonus on transfers through Jan. 10, 2024
- Southwest Rapid Rewards (WN)
- IHG Rewards Club
- 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. May post 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.Instantly 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)
Dec 30, 16, 4:43 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 4
Ultimate Rewards - Airline and Hotel Transfer Partners, Rules, Timelines, (2017 on)
My transfer of 16,000 UR points finally posted on my Southwest account, 71 hours later. Wonder how long it's taking for everyone else? Certainly a far cry from the "instantaneous" promise that Chase's marketing makes. Definitely devalues UR if I don't know I'll be able to snag a good fare using them.
Dec 30, 16, 7:50 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Programs: Milege+, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,680
Calling Chase about anything lately is a waste of time.
Jan 2, 17, 1:39 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: North America
Posts: 2,257
Terrible excuse ... "overwhelming demand due to the holiday rush"
Terrible.
Jan 2, 17, 2:10 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Aiport hub - EWR
Programs: CSR
Posts: 15
Booking flight to india using miles. which airlines? probably lower mile usage.
I am looking to book a oneway tkt to a yoga retreat in india (i plan to travel to other countries after the retreat is over so this is just one way tkt to India )
I have almost 105k UR miles.
And another 35k miles with my chase sapphire.
what is the lowest number of miles to use for EWR / JFK to maa on Jan 17 or Jan 18 or Jan 19 ?
which airlines will give the best use of the miles for this one way?
I apologize is this has been already answered. I am looking for a fresh look on the lowest miles to use.
I have done some research and have read several threads and wikis.
- the chase UR portal consumes lot of miles ... so i am ruling that option out.
- the best way is to transfer to partner sites
---- which is the best partner site to transfer to for this scenario?
Kuwait Airways and Emirates have some cheap tickets from consolidated/aggregated deal sites for these dates.
having said that, which partner site is the best?
I have almost 105k UR miles.
And another 35k miles with my chase sapphire.
what is the lowest number of miles to use for EWR / JFK to maa on Jan 17 or Jan 18 or Jan 19 ?
which airlines will give the best use of the miles for this one way?
I apologize is this has been already answered. I am looking for a fresh look on the lowest miles to use.
I have done some research and have read several threads and wikis.
- the chase UR portal consumes lot of miles ... so i am ruling that option out.
- the best way is to transfer to partner sites
---- which is the best partner site to transfer to for this scenario?
Kuwait Airways and Emirates have some cheap tickets from consolidated/aggregated deal sites for these dates.
having said that, which partner site is the best?
Last edited by MagicAngel; Jan 2, 17 at 2:37 pm Reason: more
Jan 2, 17, 3:50 pm
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,218
Jan 2, 17, 3:55 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 28,517
I am looking to book a oneway tkt to a yoga retreat in india (i plan to travel to other countries after the retreat is over so this is just one way tkt to India )
I have almost 105k UR miles.
And another 35k miles with my chase sapphire.
what is the lowest number of miles to use for EWR / JFK to maa on Jan 17 or Jan 18 or Jan 19 ?
which airlines will give the best use of the miles for this one way?
I apologize is this has been already answered. I am looking for a fresh look on the lowest miles to use.
I have done some research and have read several threads and wikis.
- the chase UR portal consumes lot of miles ... so i am ruling that option out.
- the best way is to transfer to partner sites
---- which is the best partner site to transfer to for this scenario?
Kuwait Airways and Emirates have some cheap tickets from consolidated/aggregated deal sites for these dates.
having said that, which partner site is the best?
I have almost 105k UR miles.
And another 35k miles with my chase sapphire.
what is the lowest number of miles to use for EWR / JFK to maa on Jan 17 or Jan 18 or Jan 19 ?
which airlines will give the best use of the miles for this one way?
I apologize is this has been already answered. I am looking for a fresh look on the lowest miles to use.
I have done some research and have read several threads and wikis.
- the chase UR portal consumes lot of miles ... so i am ruling that option out.
- the best way is to transfer to partner sites
---- which is the best partner site to transfer to for this scenario?
Kuwait Airways and Emirates have some cheap tickets from consolidated/aggregated deal sites for these dates.
having said that, which partner site is the best?
My guess is that the lowest combined cost (miles plus surcharges) will come from redeeming UA miles on Star Alliance carriers. UA does not collect surcharges for award travel on any carrier, but does charge a close-in award booking fee.
Do an award search at united.com to see if there is availability on your preferred dates.
Aren't your Chase Sapphire "miles" also UR points?
Jan 3, 17, 3:16 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: North America
Posts: 2,257
Glad the points are in but not at all pleased with Chase at the moment.
For now Chase can't be trusted for last-minute transfers and I would recommend for others to plan accordingly. This unexpected delay messed up my own plans lovely. And Chase shows no love in these instances.
Jan 4, 17, 9:25 am
#12
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: RDU
Programs: AA EP, HH Diamond
Posts: 9
Adding another data point - I transferred 119K UR to British Airways on Jan 2. Points still haven't shown up on British Airways. Very frustrating since UR to BA have always transferred instantly in the past. I want to book a flight before the award space disappears. I contacted Chase and they weren't helpful at all - just a canned response that sometimes it can take days to complete.
Jan 5, 17, 5:35 am
#13
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Naples, Florida
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, Hyatt Platinum,Marriott Silver,Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 582
Adding another data point - I transferred 119K UR to British Airways on Jan 2. Points still haven't shown up on British Airways. Very frustrating since UR to BA have always transferred instantly in the past. I want to book a flight before the award space disappears. I contacted Chase and they weren't helpful at all - just a canned response that sometimes it can take days to complete.
Jan 5, 17, 7:39 am
#15
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: RDU
Programs: AA EP, HH Diamond
Posts: 9
Adding another data point - I transferred 119K UR to British Airways on Jan 2. Points still haven't shown up on British Airways. Very frustrating since UR to BA have always transferred instantly in the past. I want to book a flight before the award space disappears. I contacted Chase and they weren't helpful at all - just a canned response that sometimes it can take days to complete.
