Booking Flights, Rooms, Cars, Cruises, Activities with UR (Jan-Oct 2018)

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Apr 18, 2018, 1:39 am

#106

txviking

Join Date: Jul 2015

Location: Florida

Programs: Delta SkyMiles; Hilton HHonors; NEXUS; National Emerald Club Executive

Posts: 365

UR redemption value

I don't have hard numbers, but it seems to me that the prices offered through the UR portal are consistently higher than what I can find elsewhere, including directly from the airline, rental car company, hotel web site.

Am I just having bad luck with the things I'm searching for, or is Chase inflating prices through the UR portal to reduce the hit of the 1.5x multipler for redemption through the portal? Would like to hear of other people's experiences.

Apr 18, 2018, 6:28 am

#107

pallhedge

Join Date: Sep 2011

Posts: 1,857

Quote:

Originally Posted by txviking

For hotels, the prices generally match what you would find using other OTAs like Expedia. For chain hotels, I've found prices to be better booking directly with the chain. For boutiques, the prices are more likely the same either way.

For airlines, every time I've checked, the price has been identical, though I have read complaints to the contrary.

For car rentals, the Chase UR price is often better than anywhere else. YMMV.

Apr 18, 2018, 3:31 pm

#108

slickness123

Join Date: Sep 2015

Posts: 30

FWIW, I booked an American flight through Chase 40 hours before departure, and cancelled it 12 hours later for a full point refund.

Apr 22, 2018, 10:02 am

#109

edealinfo12345

Join Date: Jul 2016

Posts: 495

Which travel agency does Chase use for Ultimate Rewards?

Which travel agency does Chase use for administration of its Ultimate Rewards travel benefit?

Apr 22, 2018, 11:01 am

#110

philemer

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2002

Location: Intermountain West

Programs: Too many to list

Posts: 12,080

Quote:

Originally Posted by edealinfo12345

Which travel agency does Chase use for administration of its Ultimate Rewards travel benefit?

Connexions Loyalty. Connexions Loyalty ? Customer Loyalty Programs | Travel Leaders | Rewards Content

Apr 22, 2018, 11:26 am

#111

mia

Moderator

Join Date: Jun 2003

Location: Miami, Mpls & London

Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold

Posts: 48,954

Quote:

Originally Posted by philemer

Connexions Loyalty. ....

...which Citi also uses. American Express uses Orbitz, which is part of the Expedia empire. Connexions seems to process its own airline booking, but Connexions hotel booking are often placed through Expedia (shortly before the stay begins).

Apr 22, 2018, 3:02 pm

#112

edealinfo12345

Join Date: Jul 2016

Posts: 495

Quote:

Originally Posted by mia

Quote:

Originally Posted by philemer

Connexions Loyalty. Connexions Loyalty ? Customer Loyalty Programs | Travel Leaders | Rewards Content

Thank you

Apr 22, 2018, 7:19 pm

#113

destroycarthage

Join Date: Apr 2018

Posts: 2

I know this particular thread is about using ultimate rewards points, but is there any value in using an airline branded card for every flight purchase?

Apr 22, 2018, 8:24 pm

#114

zhangg

Join Date: Feb 2016

Location: DCA in the winter, SJC in the summer

Posts: 81

Has anyone had experience purchasing a post-purchase Delta upgrade to Y+ or F? eg. use UR points to purchase the ticket in Y, then going to delta.com to purchase Y+. Is this possible?

Apr 23, 2018, 5:58 am

#115

pallhedge

Join Date: Sep 2011

Posts: 1,857

Quote:

Originally Posted by destroycarthage

I know this particular thread is about using ultimate rewards points, but is there any value in using an airline branded card for every flight purchase?

I don't think there's one global answer to that question. There may be benefits of a certain airline card (like United MPE free checked bags) that require you to use the card for the airfare. You would need to weigh those benefits vs. what you would get from using a different card.

Apr 26, 2018, 8:29 pm

#116

AspiringEnthusiast

Join Date: Jul 2014

Posts: 24

What is your process for looking for good deals with UR transfer partners?

Hi,

I'm trying to book a trip to somewhere tropical/beachy from NYC for the last week of may into june. I'm mostly looking for somewhere in the Caribbean or maybe even hawaii if thats possible. I'm also open to locations in the US

I have 90k points trying to book economy flights for two people.

There is just so many travel partners out there and i'm a little overwhelmed...

Thank you in advance for the help!

How do you guys go about searching for good deals?

Apr 26, 2018, 10:13 pm

#117

Diplomatico

Join Date: Aug 2007

Location: Truth or Consequences, NM

Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium

Posts: 6,192

Quote:

Originally Posted by AspiringEnthusiast

Pick the destination. Go to AwardHacker to see which program offers the best redemption value for the route you desire. (Make sure you "show off-peak award" from the drop-down menu.) Then try to find availability on the partner airline with which you want to redeem. (4-6 weeks in advance is a bit of a tight window, IMO.)

Good luck.

Apr 27, 2018, 8:31 am

#118

sea_flyer_17

Join Date: Oct 2010

Posts: 397

Call for other price options?

A hotel we wanted to book only is showing one roomtype on Chases Ultimate Rewards site, but has a cheaper options available on other OTAs. Is there an option to call into Chase to have them book it at the lower rate to be able to use points but at cheaper price?