Mar 30, 2018, 8:02 am
Last edit by: 747FC
This thread covers how to use Ultimate Reward points for booking all types of travel via the Ultimate Rewards portal.
In 2018 Chase changed the outsourced booking portal operator from Connexions to Expedia. Posts from January to mid-October 2018 have been archived to a separate thread. Those posts discussed the portal as operated by Connexions, -and- the transition process to Expedia.
There is another thread to discuss booking by transferring to airline of hotel programs: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chas...tc-2017-a.html
Pay special attention to booking via Chase UR/Expedia with regard to rewards and benefits. Chase UR + Expedia is considered OTA (Online Travel Agency). Travelers purchase or pre-pay travel with the OTA and is subject to the T&C from the OTA. In general, travelers receive miles rewards on flights, but do not receive night credit on hotel stays. Also, in general, travelers lose the airline or hotel status and do not receive the associated benefits (free breakfast, room upgrade etc).
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.
3.5) How to book cruises?
Chase outsources this to a travel agency specializing in cruises. (I believe they are available solely by telephone.) Agents there can book cruises for you using your URs for payments from initial deposit to final payment. It's also possible to transfer an existing cruise booking to that travel agency. That agency can then make payments (full or partial). However, to transfer a booking, there are some constraints to be aware of. A) The booking and deposit has to be made directly with the cruise line. If you use another agency, you're out of luck. B) The cruise lines limit the window when you can transfer a booking from their control to an agency's. It closes as early as 30 days after initial deposit up to final deposit due date (typically 75-120 prior to sail date) depending on the particular cruise line's rules (which are subject to change).
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 or JPMR 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.
4.5) How do Refunds Work?
When cancelling a booking (and a refund is due), points will be added back to your UR balance and dollars will be refunded to the credit card account used.
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 2017, can be found here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chas...14-2017-a.html
In 2018 Chase changed the outsourced booking portal operator from Connexions to Expedia. Posts from January to mid-October 2018 have been archived to a separate thread. Those posts discussed the portal as operated by Connexions, -and- the transition process to Expedia.
There is another thread to discuss booking by transferring to airline of hotel programs: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chas...tc-2017-a.html
Pay special attention to booking via Chase UR/Expedia with regard to rewards and benefits. Chase UR + Expedia is considered OTA (Online Travel Agency). Travelers purchase or pre-pay travel with the OTA and is subject to the T&C from the OTA. In general, travelers receive miles rewards on flights, but do not receive night credit on hotel stays. Also, in general, travelers lose the airline or hotel status and do not receive the associated benefits (free breakfast, room upgrade etc).
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.
3.5) How to book cruises?
Chase outsources this to a travel agency specializing in cruises. (I believe they are available solely by telephone.) Agents there can book cruises for you using your URs for payments from initial deposit to final payment. It's also possible to transfer an existing cruise booking to that travel agency. That agency can then make payments (full or partial). However, to transfer a booking, there are some constraints to be aware of. A) The booking and deposit has to be made directly with the cruise line. If you use another agency, you're out of luck. B) The cruise lines limit the window when you can transfer a booking from their control to an agency's. It closes as early as 30 days after initial deposit up to final deposit due date (typically 75-120 prior to sail date) depending on the particular cruise line's rules (which are subject to change).
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 or JPMR 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.
4.5) How do Refunds Work?
When cancelling a booking (and a refund is due), points will be added back to your UR balance and dollars will be refunded to the credit card account used.
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 2017, can be found here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chas...14-2017-a.html
Booking Flights, Rooms, Cars, Cruises, Activities through Chase/Expedia portal.
Nov 11, 2020, 11:56 am
#721
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: YKM
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 135
Luckily they have this pay yourself promo going on now where you for each UR for groceries or dining for the past several months you apply towards your bill, you get 1.5˘ back, so same as URs. I did that and got my tickets....more than one way to skin a cat today.
Beat the Ducks.
Beat the Ducks.
Nov 29, 2020, 9:20 am
#722
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 1,431
UA ticket booked with UR, UA changed flight, cash refund?
I bought two tickets on United for travel in December and paid using Ultimate Rewards points. United made a significant change to my flight (changed nonstop to one stop) and is offering me a refund if I want to cancel the trip. If I request the refund through United, will I get money back on my Chase card, refund of the UR points, or something else?
Nov 29, 2020, 9:41 am
#723
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Summary of refund policies and procedures is here:
https://travel.chase.com/service/?ea.../myTrips/22260
https://travel.chase.com/service/?ea.../myTrips/22260
Dec 5, 2020, 7:38 pm
#724
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 77
Lots of Questions re Booking a Big Trip
I've got a lot of UR points, and a lot of airfare to buy. I need help. I'm not sure if this is the right place to post, but since I'll be using UR points for a lot of it, I figured I might start here.
We're planning a 2 week trip to South America for the last two weeks of May 2021. Flying ICT to CUZ departing on Friday, May 14. Google Flights says my best flight is $515 for Delta from ICT to ATL, ATL to LIM (spend night in hotel), and then LATAM the next morning from LIM to CUZ. BUT, the LATAM flight leaves way too early in the morning 4:40am! No problem, because LATAM runs 5 or 6 flights a day from LIM to CUZ - I'll just use Google Flights multi-city function to build an itinerary first from ICT to LIM, and then from LIM to CUZ. Problem is, when I do that, the price goes way up even though every LATAM flight, including the one included in the $515 package, are the same price!
Question 1: What's the deal with that? If I book through UR can a representative get me the same $515 price and just swap out a later LATAM flight?
Ok so then we trek the Inca Trail, blah blah blah, and on Friday, May 21 we fly from CUZ to GIG (Rio) via Santiago for $350. That all looks good. Then we tour Rio for a few days, chill for a few days in Ilha Grande, then return to fly home fron Rio on Friday night, May 28. This time, when I use the multi-city feature on Google Flights, booking first from Rio to ATL, and then from ATL to ICT, I get a way better price than if I book all the way through from Rio to ICT, even though the flights are exactly the same!
Question 2: Why? Again, can Chase UR help me put it together?
Question 3: Should I try to book all three legs of the trip together? Obviously I want a good price, but I'd also to keep things together from a cancellation standpoint. Which brings me to....
Question 4: How does cancellation work? If I booked everything together and one of the two countries closes, can I cancel the whole works? What if I book the legs seperate?
Question 5: Is there anything I can do to protect all the points spent on airfare if the trip needs to be rescheduled not because COVID cancels the flights, but because COVID shuts down the Inca Trail? That's our whole reason to go to Peru. I really need the ability to reschedule flights in the event something like that happens.
Alright - so with everything above in mind, how would you go about booking this trip with UR points so that I retain the flexibility to reschedule if necessary?
We're planning a 2 week trip to South America for the last two weeks of May 2021. Flying ICT to CUZ departing on Friday, May 14. Google Flights says my best flight is $515 for Delta from ICT to ATL, ATL to LIM (spend night in hotel), and then LATAM the next morning from LIM to CUZ. BUT, the LATAM flight leaves way too early in the morning 4:40am! No problem, because LATAM runs 5 or 6 flights a day from LIM to CUZ - I'll just use Google Flights multi-city function to build an itinerary first from ICT to LIM, and then from LIM to CUZ. Problem is, when I do that, the price goes way up even though every LATAM flight, including the one included in the $515 package, are the same price!
Question 1: What's the deal with that? If I book through UR can a representative get me the same $515 price and just swap out a later LATAM flight?
Ok so then we trek the Inca Trail, blah blah blah, and on Friday, May 21 we fly from CUZ to GIG (Rio) via Santiago for $350. That all looks good. Then we tour Rio for a few days, chill for a few days in Ilha Grande, then return to fly home fron Rio on Friday night, May 28. This time, when I use the multi-city feature on Google Flights, booking first from Rio to ATL, and then from ATL to ICT, I get a way better price than if I book all the way through from Rio to ICT, even though the flights are exactly the same!
Question 2: Why? Again, can Chase UR help me put it together?
Question 3: Should I try to book all three legs of the trip together? Obviously I want a good price, but I'd also to keep things together from a cancellation standpoint. Which brings me to....
Question 4: How does cancellation work? If I booked everything together and one of the two countries closes, can I cancel the whole works? What if I book the legs seperate?
Question 5: Is there anything I can do to protect all the points spent on airfare if the trip needs to be rescheduled not because COVID cancels the flights, but because COVID shuts down the Inca Trail? That's our whole reason to go to Peru. I really need the ability to reschedule flights in the event something like that happens.
Alright - so with everything above in mind, how would you go about booking this trip with UR points so that I retain the flexibility to reschedule if necessary?
Dec 5, 2020, 8:55 pm
#725
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Why are you surprised that the price for a flight at an unpopular time is less than for later flights? Prices reflect supply vs demand. There is less demand for a flight at 4:40am, and less expensive seats are available.
Dec 5, 2020, 10:29 pm
#726
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: PDX, OGG or between the two
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 2,863
Dec 6, 2020, 7:28 pm
#727
Join Date: May 2013
Location: DTW
Programs: AMEX, Ritz LT-Plat Prem, Hyatt Plat, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond, Delta Plat, United Gold, Sixt Plat
Posts: 866
I've got a lot of UR points, and a lot of airfare to buy. I need help. I'm not sure if this is the right place to post, but since I'll be using UR points for a lot of it, I figured I might start here.
We're planning a 2 week trip to South America for the last two weeks of May 2021. Flying ICT to CUZ departing on Friday, May 14. Google Flights says my best flight is $515 for Delta from ICT to ATL, ATL to LIM (spend night in hotel), and then LATAM the next morning from LIM to CUZ. BUT, the LATAM flight leaves way too early in the morning 4:40am! No problem, because LATAM runs 5 or 6 flights a day from LIM to CUZ - I'll just use Google Flights multi-city function to build an itinerary first from ICT to LIM, and then from LIM to CUZ. Problem is, when I do that, the price goes way up even though every LATAM flight, including the one included in the $515 package, are the same price!
Question 1: What's the deal with that? If I book through UR can a representative get me the same $515 price and just swap out a later LATAM flight?
Ok so then we trek the Inca Trail, blah blah blah, and on Friday, May 21 we fly from CUZ to GIG (Rio) via Santiago for $350. That all looks good. Then we tour Rio for a few days, chill for a few days in Ilha Grande, then return to fly home fron Rio on Friday night, May 28. This time, when I use the multi-city feature on Google Flights, booking first from Rio to ATL, and then from ATL to ICT, I get a way better price than if I book all the way through from Rio to ICT, even though the flights are exactly the same!
Question 2: Why? Again, can Chase UR help me put it together?
Question 3: Should I try to book all three legs of the trip together? Obviously I want a good price, but I'd also to keep things together from a cancellation standpoint. Which brings me to....
Question 4: How does cancellation work? If I booked everything together and one of the two countries closes, can I cancel the whole works? What if I book the legs seperate?
Question 5: Is there anything I can do to protect all the points spent on airfare if the trip needs to be rescheduled not because COVID cancels the flights, but because COVID shuts down the Inca Trail? That's our whole reason to go to Peru. I really need the ability to reschedule flights in the event something like that happens.
Alright - so with everything above in mind, how would you go about booking this trip with UR points so that I retain the flexibility to reschedule if necessary?
We're planning a 2 week trip to South America for the last two weeks of May 2021. Flying ICT to CUZ departing on Friday, May 14. Google Flights says my best flight is $515 for Delta from ICT to ATL, ATL to LIM (spend night in hotel), and then LATAM the next morning from LIM to CUZ. BUT, the LATAM flight leaves way too early in the morning 4:40am! No problem, because LATAM runs 5 or 6 flights a day from LIM to CUZ - I'll just use Google Flights multi-city function to build an itinerary first from ICT to LIM, and then from LIM to CUZ. Problem is, when I do that, the price goes way up even though every LATAM flight, including the one included in the $515 package, are the same price!
Question 1: What's the deal with that? If I book through UR can a representative get me the same $515 price and just swap out a later LATAM flight?
Ok so then we trek the Inca Trail, blah blah blah, and on Friday, May 21 we fly from CUZ to GIG (Rio) via Santiago for $350. That all looks good. Then we tour Rio for a few days, chill for a few days in Ilha Grande, then return to fly home fron Rio on Friday night, May 28. This time, when I use the multi-city feature on Google Flights, booking first from Rio to ATL, and then from ATL to ICT, I get a way better price than if I book all the way through from Rio to ICT, even though the flights are exactly the same!
Question 2: Why? Again, can Chase UR help me put it together?
Question 3: Should I try to book all three legs of the trip together? Obviously I want a good price, but I'd also to keep things together from a cancellation standpoint. Which brings me to....
Question 4: How does cancellation work? If I booked everything together and one of the two countries closes, can I cancel the whole works? What if I book the legs seperate?
Question 5: Is there anything I can do to protect all the points spent on airfare if the trip needs to be rescheduled not because COVID cancels the flights, but because COVID shuts down the Inca Trail? That's our whole reason to go to Peru. I really need the ability to reschedule flights in the event something like that happens.
Alright - so with everything above in mind, how would you go about booking this trip with UR points so that I retain the flexibility to reschedule if necessary?
Dec 8, 2020, 9:31 am
#728
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Chicago
Programs: AAdvantage EXP | United Silver | HH Diamond | Bonvoy Platinum | Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 718
I was really bummed to find that even though the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal uses Expedia, some hotel / vacation rental options did not show up in the portal. Has anyone experienced this and found a way around it (possibly by calling in)? Really sucks because I really wanted to stay at a particular property that shows up as available on expedia but not the chase portal
Dec 8, 2020, 9:52 am
#729
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Dec 15, 2020, 1:23 pm
#730
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DFW
Posts: 1,145
I have been calling 888-511-5323. I'd love to be able to call another number that isn't a call center out of the US and speak with people that understand travel. I've had nothing but horrible experiences calling them, spending hours on the phone and escalating every single time once I realize a 5th grader has more travel sense than they do. Last time I called, they thanked me for calling United, so its obvious they work for more than one company (might flights were not on United).
Dec 15, 2020, 4:18 pm
#731
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: PDX, OGG or between the two
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 2,863
This isn't their travel rep number...have you been able to book a trip through this number?
I have been calling 888-511-5323. I'd love to be able to call another number that isn't a call center out of the US and speak with people that understand travel. I've had nothing but horrible experiences calling them, spending hours on the phone and escalating every single time once I realize a 5th grader has more travel sense than they do. Last time I called, they thanked me for calling United, so its obvious they work for more than one company (might flights were not on United).
I have been calling 888-511-5323. I'd love to be able to call another number that isn't a call center out of the US and speak with people that understand travel. I've had nothing but horrible experiences calling them, spending hours on the phone and escalating every single time once I realize a 5th grader has more travel sense than they do. Last time I called, they thanked me for calling United, so its obvious they work for more than one company (might flights were not on United).
Dec 21, 2020, 6:45 pm
#732
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,269
Possible outcomes?
Good evening,
I had an upcoming, February 23-March 1, 2021, reservation at the Palihotel Seattle using just over 59k points from my CSR card.
I went to cancel the reservation today, and firstly noticed for some dumb reason I booked a non-cancelable reservation. Yeah dumb. Never done that before and don't know how I missed it, buy that's neither here nor there.
However, when checking deeper (trying dummy bookings on at least 5 different sites) it appears the hotel is closed until March 1, 2021 and upon trying to call them the number shows out of service.
I've called Ultimate Rewards to try to get the points redeposited and they've had to forward the request to higher ups, but am wondering if the hotel is just going to try to pass on a future credit to me, or some other option I'm not fond of.
Has anyone else ever had this happen, and what was the outcome?
Thank you for your time.
CJ
I had an upcoming, February 23-March 1, 2021, reservation at the Palihotel Seattle using just over 59k points from my CSR card.
I went to cancel the reservation today, and firstly noticed for some dumb reason I booked a non-cancelable reservation. Yeah dumb. Never done that before and don't know how I missed it, buy that's neither here nor there.
However, when checking deeper (trying dummy bookings on at least 5 different sites) it appears the hotel is closed until March 1, 2021 and upon trying to call them the number shows out of service.
I've called Ultimate Rewards to try to get the points redeposited and they've had to forward the request to higher ups, but am wondering if the hotel is just going to try to pass on a future credit to me, or some other option I'm not fond of.
Has anyone else ever had this happen, and what was the outcome?
Thank you for your time.
CJ
Dec 21, 2020, 7:23 pm
#733
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Dec 21, 2020, 7:43 pm
#734
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,269
Thank you for the response.