mmoroz

I was planning to transfer Chase Sapphire points to ANA or JAL miles (so I can finally try flying business class), but I just noticed the estimated value on https://thepointsguy.com/guide/monthly-valuations/ is 2 cents for Chase and 1.4 cents for ANA (they don't have JAL). Is there a much better way to spend Chase points?

What puzzles me is that I come up with a much higher valuation for ANA miles. Looking at SFO-TYO this summer, I see non-stop business is $8k, first class $20k (30% cheaper with a stopover and a less nice airline).

The mileage requirements are:

• ANA
  • Business 75-85-90k (low-mid-high season)
  • First 150-150-165k (low-mid-high season)
• JAL
  • Business 50k
  • First 70k

So the $8k business fare and the 180k ANA points for the return flight suggest 1 ANA mile = 4.4 cents, not 1.4. Why such a discrepancy? I guess I'm wrong somewhere, because by my calculation 1 JAL = 8 cents, which is too insane to be real.

I understand that the miles value is lower for the economy class, but IIUC business (or upgrades to business) is considered the sweet spot for miles usage.

angetenar

Chase can't transfer points to JAL. Don't read too much into the valuations that other people assign; if you've found a good redemption, go for it. Obligatory warning about Japan not being open for general tourism.

mmoroz

Ah oops somehow I just assumed Chase transfers to all airlines Thanks!

​​​​​​I'll plan to transfer for ANA then. If someone has any recommendations for a more efficient use of Chase points for SFO/TYO business tickets, please share!

Mwenenzi

USA issued card?

• Chase UR Ultimate Rewards - Airline and Hotel Transfer Partners, Rules, Timeline, etc (2017)
  
• Chase UR Ultimate Rewards - Which airline/hotel should I transfer points to?

guv1976

Don't overlook the possibility of transferring UR points to Virgin Atlantic, and then redeeming for travel on ANA:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/ana-pa...-now-possible/

Edited to add:

See also this thread in the Virgin Atlantic forum:

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/virg...ub-points.html

Yoshi212

UR don't transfer to ANA nor JAL so your plan won't work there. UR do transfer to partners of both airlines that allow for redemption when Saver level award space is available.

When evaluating costs of 1-way tickets you'll get an overinflated valuation as 1-ways are generally much more expensive and can even be pricier than a return ticket. If you want a realistic valuation look at the cost of a return ticket and divide in half.

mmoroz

Ah, thank you! I don't know where I got this idea that UR is universal points --> miles transfer machine.

Yes, I did do that (the numbers I quoted were for return flight and I converted them to return-flight-miles).

Thanks, yes, US.

That is my main option at this point, seeing as the only good airlines flying this route non-stop are JAL and ANA. I guess one more alternative is fly from LAX, and transfer points to Singapore Airlines. An extra 1 hour Southwest flight is not a big deal.

Mwenenzi

Airlines flying a route and *available* business class awards are very different things.
You need to check the ffp's you are considering. Some take a dim view of newbie's joining, transferring in credit card points and immediately redeeming for premium awards.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haneda_Airport
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narita...tional_Airport

mmoroz

Ouch. Does it mean they have a right to simply not honor my miles because they are too new?

And how would I even check that? Do I call them and ask whether, if I transfer points tomorrow, they would honor them a month later?

MSPeconomist

Some airline FF programs have audited/closed accounts over this issue. You can't use an account that's under audit and typically you can't do anything to impact the speed or outcome of the audit. When an account is closed, you lose all points and any status. You might be prohibited from every again participating in that airline's FF program.