How long does it take for Chase Ultimate Rewards points to transfer to partner programs?

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are an excellent building block for any award traveler's collection. Similar to other transferable loyalty currencies, these points can be exchanged for highly valuable rewards through various airline and hotel transfer partners.

Like any transferable points program, a key factor in using Chase Ultimate Rewards points is understanding the transfer times to your chosen partners. Extended transfer durations complicate award planning and booking, especially when availability is tight. For example, American Express Membership Rewards provides some instant transfers, while Citi ThankYou Rewards can take up to a week.

Here’s what to expect regarding the transfer times for your Chase points.

Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer durations

To find out how long it takes for Chase Ultimate Rewards points to transfer to partners, we consulted several team members at TPG. Over the past few months, we collected data on transfers made by staff to their respective airline and hotel partner accounts, then monitored how quickly the points appeared. Here’s what we discovered:

Out of 14 programs, Ultimate Rewards transferred instantly to 13 partners, with no delays exceeding two days for points to appear in any program. In most instances, any transfer bonuses also showed up immediately — though Nick Ewen, TPG's senior editorial director, experienced a 24-hour wait for his Aeroplan bonus in December 2023.

These transfer times reflect our experiences and should not be viewed as strict rules. However, others have reported similar timelines when transferring points from Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Your transfer times may vary, particularly if it's your first transfer or you’ve just joined a loyalty program, but you can use these experiences as a reference when planning your travels.

Considerations before transferring Ultimate Rewards

While these findings set a high standard for any transferable points program, there's still a risk that award availability may change while you wait for points to show up in your account. Transfers are permanent, so you might find yourself with a significant number of points in a program that doesn’t suit your needs if the flight or hotel you were counting on becomes unavailable.

Although Ultimate Rewards typically offers instant transfer times, here are some tips to help you avoid missing out on award availability while your points are transferring.

• Ensure the name on your Chase credit card exactly matches the name on your loyalty program account.
• If allowed by the program, place your award reservation on hold before transferring.
• Select flights with multiple available award seats to safeguard against someone else booking before your points arrive. You can search for three or four passengers to see how many seats are available.
• Have an alternative plan. If your initial itinerary falls through due to unavailability, consider other options (or several) so you can still make a booking when your points arrive.

If your original flights vanish, stay calm. Remember that award availability fluctuates frequently and can improve significantly as your departure date approaches. Keep checking and be prepared to act swiftly when seats become available.

Is it possible to transfer Ultimate Rewards to someone else's account?

Chase allows you to transfer points freely between your own accounts. You can even convert cash-back rewards from cards like the Chase Freedom Flex® or Chase Freedom Unlimited® into transferable Ultimate Rewards points. To access this transfer option, you need to hold an Ultimate Rewards-earning card.

Additionally, you can transfer your points to another Ultimate Rewards account belonging to your spouse or a household member. If you possess a business card such as the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you can also transfer points to an Ultimate Rewards account owned by a co-owner of the business.

Ways to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points

If you’re looking to enhance your Ultimate Rewards account, there are currently three Chase cards available that provide generous rewards and significant welcome bonuses:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earn 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account, along with a $300 statement credit for Chase Travel℠ purchases during your first year.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Ink Business Preferred Credit Card: Earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months post account opening.

Be aware that Chase implements a 5/24 rule, meaning if you’ve opened five or more cards with any bank in the past 24 months, your application is likely to be denied by Chase.

Bottom line

Transferring Ultimate Rewards points to airline and hotel partners is frequently the most effective way to maximize the value of your points.

Whether you aim to secure an affordable domestic flight with Southwest Airlines or embark on a first-class journey with Star Alliance, this program facilitates your travel goals. With points transferring instantly at a 1:1 ratio to almost all partners, earning Ultimate Rewards points is beneficial for nearly any traveler.