How to Transfer Chase Points to Travel Partners (And Fly First Class for Cheap)

I was sitting at my kitchen table, coffee in hand, browsing flight prices to Europe. I had just gotten a job offer in Spain and wanted to celebrate with a first-class experience. But when I saw that the round-trip business class ticket from New York to Madrid was $4,700, I nearly spit out my coffee.

That’s when I remembered something I’d heard in a Reddit travel thread:

Don’t spend your Chase points in the travel portal. Transfer them to an airline partner—it’s the travel hacker’s best-kept secret.”

So, I opened my Chase app, logged into Ultimate Rewards, and transferred 90,000 points to Air France/KLM Flying Blue. Within 15 minutes, I had booked the same exact flight—in business class—for the equivalent of $100 in taxes and fees.

It felt like magic.

But it wasn’t luck. It was simply knowing how to transfer Chase points to travel partners the right way.

Let’s break it down so you can do it too.

What Are Chase Sapphire Travel Partners?

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are like currency—but when you transfer them to Chase travel partners, their value can multiply. Instead of getting a fixed rate (like 1.25 cents per point in the travel portal), you can get 2–5 cents or more per point by booking directly through airline loyalty programs.

Current Chase Transfer Partners (2025)

Airline Programs:

1-United MileagePlus

2- Southwest Rapid Rewards

3- British Airways Avios

4- Emirates Skywards

5- Air France/KLM Flying Blue

6- Singapore KrisFlyer

7- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Hotel Programs:

1-World of Hyatt

2- Marriott Bonvoy

3- IHG One Rewards

Most transfers happen at a 1:1 ratio. So, 50,000 Chase points = 50,000 partner points.

How to Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to Travel Partners

You must have a Sapphire Preferred®, Sapphire Reserve®, or Ink Preferred® to be eligible for transfers , make sure you already have loyalty program accounts set up.

Here we go :

1. Login to Your Ultimate Rewards Dashboard

Go to Chase log in, and select your Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve account.

2. Choose “Transfer to Travel Partners”

You’ll see a list of all available airline and hotel partners. These include United, Air Canada, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, and more.

3. Link Your Loyalty Account

If you haven’t already, sign up for that airline or hotel’s reward program (it’s free) and link it to your Chase account.

4. Enter the Amount and Confirm

Choose how many points you want to transfer. Transfers are usually instant, but some partners may take up to 24 hours.

Portal vs Partner Transfer: Which One Is Better?

Best Ways to Use Chase Points with Travel Partners

For Flights:   Virgin Atlantic → ANA: Fly round-trip business class to Tokyo for ~85K points , air France/KLM: Book Europe flights with low taxes and United Airlines: Great for domestic and international Star Alliance flights

For Hotels:

- World of Hyatt: Get hotel rooms that usually cost $300+/night for just 15K points

- Marriott Bonvoy: Use points for luxury brands like Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Transfer Points to Someone Else’s Account?

Yes, but only to a spouse or household member with the same address.

How Long Do Transfers Take?

Most transfers are instant, especially for United, Hyatt, and Virgin Atlantic.

What Happens If I Cancel an Award Booking?

That depends on the airline or hotel. Some refund your points, some don’t. Always check their policy.

Final Thoughts: Chase Points Aren’t Just Points—They’re Possibilities

Learning how to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to travel partners can turn your ordinary spending into extraordinary travel. It’s one of the most valuable tools in the world of credit card rewards—and once you understand how it works, the sky is literally the limit.

If you’re still booking through Expedia and paying full price… it’s time to level up.

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