Chase Ultimate Rewards remains one of the most versatile and valuable rewards programs available today. With 1:1 transfers to a wide range of airline and hotel partners, cardholders can transform everyday spending into incredible travel experiences. Whether you want to fly business class to Europe, book a luxury resort stay, or stretch your points for maximum value, knowing how each partner works is essential.
Today, we’re going to break down each Chase transfer partner in detail, so you can walk away with the knowledge to maximize your rewards with confidence.
Not every Chase card works with the full suite of transfer partners. The “transferable” cards are those that allow you to transfer your Ultimate Rewards points into airline or hotel programs at a 1:1 value. There are only three main Chase cards for consumers and businesses that offer transferable Ultimate Rewards.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the flagship premium travel card in the Chase line, built around heavy travel users. It not only earns Ultimate Rewards points but also increases the redemption value when booking travel through Chase’s portal (1.5 cents per point). On top of that, you can transfer points at a 1:1 ratio to airline and hotel partners.
Because of its elevated benefits — Priority Pass lounge access, travel credits, higher earnings on travel/dining, and bonus redemption value — it often makes sense for serious travelers who can justify the higher annual fee.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is the more moderate, lower-fee option in the Sapphire family. It also allows 1:1 transfers to airline and hotel partners. It doesn’t give the 1.5× portal boost that the Reserve does; instead, you redeem at the base rate (1.25 cents per point) when booking travel through Chase. But because the annual fee is lower, it appeals to many who want flexibility without the premium price.
If you don’t travel enough to extract full value from a Reserve but still want the power of transferable points, the Preferred is often the “sweet spot.”
On the business side, the Ink Business Preferred® is the primary “transferable” option. It allows cardholders to transfer Ultimate Rewards to airlines and hotels. This card is perfect for small-business owners who can concentrate spending in key categories.
Because it often earns higher multipliers in certain business categories, it can accelerate your point accumulation, making it a strong complement to a Sapphire Preferred or Reserve in your wallet.
Now that we’ve covered which cards allow you to earn transferable Chase points, it’s essential to know that all Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers occur at a 1:1 ratio and must be made in increments of 1,000 points. Most transfers are instant, though a few programs can take longer.
We strongly recommend confirming availability before transferring points, as they cannot be moved back into your Chase account once transferred. Used wisely, this flexibility lets you unlock tremendous value across both flights and hotels.
Chase partners with 11 airlines across multiple alliances, as well as key independent carriers. This enables access to nearly every major destination worldwide.
Aer Lingus AerClub uses Avios, the same currency as British Airways and Iberia. This allows you to pool or move Avios between programs for greater flexibility. Aer Lingus is particularly strong for transatlantic flights between the US and Ireland, especially during off-peak dates, where business class can be booked for fewer Avios than many competitors. Taxes and surcharges are also lower compared to some European carriers.
Air Canada’s Aeroplan program is one of the most valuable in the Star Alliance, with access to dozens of airline partners. A key advantage is Aeroplan’s stopover policy, which allows you to add a stopover for just 5,000 additional points. That’s perfect for multi-city international trips.
Award pricing is dynamic but often competitive, and Aeroplan’s broad partner network makes it easy to find availability, whether you’re flying across North America or between continents.
Flying Blue is well-known for its monthly Promo Rewards, which discount select routes by 25% to 50%. This makes it possible to fly from the US to Europe for as few as 11,250 miles one way in economy or under 40,000 miles in business class.
The program has wide coverage across Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and award availability is often better than competitors. While fuel surcharges can add up, Flying Blue remains a flexible, high-value option for transatlantic travel.
British Airways Club also uses Avios, which are priced based on distance rather than region. This makes them especially powerful for short-haul flights on Oneworld partners like American Airlines and Alaska Airlines within the US or for quick hops around Asia and Europe.
While long-haul BA flights to London often carry heavy surcharges, British Airways Club is still one of the best ways to maximize short-distance flights at low point costs.
Emirates Skywards gives you access to one of the world’s most luxurious airlines, renowned for its A380 first-class suites and business class.
Award rates aren’t the cheapest, and surcharges can be high, but Skywards miles unlock experiences that are otherwise cost-prohibitive. Unfortunately, you can only book first-class awards if you have Emirates elite status.
Like Aer Lingus and British Airways, Iberia Plus uses Avios. Its real strength lies in transatlantic redemptions between the US and Spain. Iberia offers off-peak business class awards starting at just 34,000 Avios one-way, one of the lowest rates available for business class to Europe.
Taxes and fees are also much lower than booking the same flights via British Airways. If you’re looking at Europe, Iberia is one of the smartest transfer choices.
JetBlue TrueBlue is primarily a revenue-based program where points are tied to ticket prices for JetBlue’s own flights, typically yielding consistent value around 1.3-1.4 cents per point. However, the program’s real value lies in its partner redemptions, particularly for premium cabins on international airlines.
Standout sweet spots include Japan Airlines business class to Tokyo (79,900 points), Qatar Airways Qsuites to Doha (90,000 points), and Icelandair economy to Reykjavík (17,000 points each way).
While these partner redemptions can yield exceptional value exceeding 3 cents per point, they’re subject to occasional unannounced devaluations, so it’s wise to book when you find availability.
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is the only program that consistently gives you access to Singapore’s own premium cabin inventory, including its famous Suites Class. While saver award space can be competitive, the ability to book directly with KrisFlyer is a major advantage.
Beyond Singapore-operated flights, KrisFlyer provides access to Star Alliance partners worldwide, though often at slightly higher redemption rates compared to programs like Aeroplan or United.
Southwest Rapid Rewards is unique because it doesn’t use a traditional award chart. Points are generally tied directly to the cash price of tickets. This means there are no blackout dates, and you’ll always find award availability as long as a seat is for sale.
With the possibility of combining with the Southwest Companion Pass, this partner can be a good option for US domestic travel and regional getaways.
United MileagePlus is a versatile Star Alliance program with generally strong award availability and no fuel surcharges. United has shifted to dynamic pricing, and sadly, the airline has increased prices on most routes. Still, MileagePlus can be an excellent choice for travelers piecing together complex international trips.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is famous for its sweet spots, such as redeeming for ANA first and business class flights to Japan at extremely low mileage rates.
While Virgin’s own flights often carry high surcharges, particularly in Upper Class, these niche redemption opportunities are among the best in the industry. Flying Club miles can also be used for Delta-operated flights, sometimes at lower rates than Delta itself charges.
Chase also partners with three major hotel loyalty programs. While hotel transfers generally offer less value than airline transfers, they can still be very worthwhile in the right situations.
World of Hyatt is the standout hotel partner and often regarded as the single most valuable Chase transfer option overall. With a transparent award chart, lower point requirements than competitors and excellent aspirational properties, Hyatt delivers consistently high value.
From boutique city hotels to luxury resorts, Hyatt redemptions often exceed 2 cents per point. For hotel stays, Hyatt is almost always the best use of your Chase points.
IHG One Rewards has a massive global footprint, with over 6,000 properties ranging from budget-friendly Holiday Inns to luxury InterContinental hotels. While its dynamic award pricing often leads to lower value per point, it can be useful in peak pricing scenarios where cash rates are inflated. Combining points with IHG’s elite status benefits or free night certificates can improve overall value.
Marriott Bonvoy is the largest hotel loyalty program worldwide. However, its award rates are often higher than Hyatt and dynamic pricing means less predictability. That said, Marriott Bonvoy points can be useful for high-demand destinations where Hyatt has no presence.
Transfers can also help top off your account for specific stays, especially if you’re aiming for luxury brands like The Ritz-Carlton or The St. Regis.
The most important rule when using Chase transfer partners is to transfer only when you’re ready to book. Because transfers are irreversible, moving points prematurely can leave you stranded in a less flexible loyalty program.
Always confirm award availability and compare the redemption value to what you could get by booking through the Chase Travel Portal, where you can redeem points at up to 1.5 cents each with the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Chase Ultimate Rewards is a favorite at Milesopedia USA, and it’s for good reason. With the right partner, you can book first-class international flights, stay at five-star resorts, or save hundreds on domestic trips.
By understanding how each airline and hotel program works, you put yourself in a position to consistently maximize your redemptions and get the most from every point you earn.
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