How to Maximize Your Points When Booking Travel with Chase Travel℠

Chase Ultimate Rewards® is one of the most flexible and valuable rewards programs on the market. With the Chase Travel℠ portal, cardholders can easily book flights, hotels, car rentals, and more while earning and redeeming points. This can be especially valuable when award space is hard to come by through traditional airline or hotel loyalty programs.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to make the most of your Chase Travel℠ bookings and maximize your points, ensuring you get the best value for your hard-earned rewards.

What is Chase Travel℠?

Chase Travel is an online booking portal where Chase cardholders can search for and book flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, and other travel experiences. You can either use your Ultimate Rewards® points to pay for your bookings or pay with cash and earn bonus points.

Key Benefits:

• Redeem points for travel directly or combine with cash
• Earn bonus points on bookings made with cash
• Access a wide variety of flights and hotels, even when traditional award bookings are unavailable

Key Features of Booking Through Chase Travel℠

Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect when using Chase Travel℠:

1. Flexible Payment Options
   You can pay for your travel with points, cash, or a combination of both. Points are worth 1.25 cents each when you hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Ink Business Preferred® cards, and 1.5 cents each when you hold the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card.
2. Earning Points on Paid Travel
   • 5x points per dollar on flights (Chase Sapphire Reserve)
   • 10x points per dollar on hotels and car rentals (Chase Sapphire Reserve)
   • 5x points per dollar on all travel (Chase Sapphire Preferred, Ink Business Preferred)
3. Travel Flexibility
   The portal allows you to book almost any available flight or hotel, even when award space is not open through loyalty programs.
4. Convenient Access
   Easily book your entire trip—including tours, rental cars, and vacation packages—from a single platform.

How to Book Travel Through Chase Travel℠

Booking through the Chase Travel portal is simple:

1. Log into your Chase account.
2. Navigate to the Ultimate Rewards dashboard.
3. Click “Travel” and select “Book Travel” to start your search.
4. Browse available options for flights, hotels, or car rentals.
5. Select your travel preferences and choose to pay with points, cash, or a mix of both.
6. Finalize your booking and receive an email confirmation.

Maximizing Your Points Through Chase Transfer Partners

While booking directly through Chase Travel is convenient, transferring points to Chase’s travel partners can sometimes provide even better value.

Here are a few partner programs to consider:

• United MileagePlus®
• World of Hyatt®
• British Airways Executive Club®

Before booking, compare the points required for a direct booking through Chase Travel versus transferring points to a partner program. In some cases, transferring points can help you secure a cheaper award flight or hotel stay.

Key Chase Credit Cards for Booking Through Chase Travel℠

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
  • 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
  • 5x points on travel booked through Chase Travel
  • Points redeemable at 1.25 cents per point through the portal
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
  • 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
  • 10x points on hotels and car rentals, 5x points on flights through Chase Travel
  • Points redeemable at 1.5 cents per point through the portal
  • $300 annual travel credit
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
  • 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 in the first 3 months
  • Points redeemable at 1.25 cents per point through the portal

Additional Tips for Booking Through Chase Travel℠

• Check for Elite Status Benefits:
  When booking hotels through Chase Travel, elite status benefits from loyalty programs may not apply. Compare the perks you’ll receive from direct hotel bookings versus booking through Chase Travel.
• Compare Points and Cash:
  Always compare the cash price and point redemption cost to ensure you’re getting the best deal. Sometimes paying with cash and earning extra points is more valuable than redeeming points directly.
• Book Activities and Cruises:
  You can also book unique experiences such as tours, cruises, and vacation packages through Chase Travel. Some of these options require you to call Chase for booking.

Final Thoughts

Booking travel through Chase Travel℠ is an excellent way to earn and redeem points while enjoying a seamless travel planning experience. Whether you’re paying with points, cash, or a combination of both, you have the flexibility to tailor each trip to your preferences. With bonus points on bookings, access to almost any flight or hotel, and a user-friendly portal, Chase Travel adds tremendous value for cardholders.

However, to maximize your points, always compare the value of booking through Chase Travel versus transferring your points to a loyalty partner. Both options offer unique advantages depending on the type of travel you’re planning. By staying informed and comparing these choices, you’ll be well on your way to making the most of your Ultimate Rewards® points and ensuring that every trip provides the best possible value.

Happy travels!