How to book your travel and maximize points with Chase Travel

Editor's note: This post is updated regularly with the latest information and offers.

Chase Ultimate Rewards stands out as one of the top flexible rewards programs, offering you great value for your Ultimate Rewards points. Additionally, Chase provides the Chase Travel℠ portal, where you can earn and redeem points while enjoying benefits like credit card statement credits. This option can lead to savings, especially when traditional award space is limited, as it allows you to book nearly any available flight and a diverse selection of hotels through Chase Travel.

Here’s what you should know about Chase Travel.

What is Chase Travel all about?

Chase Travel serves as an online booking platform where you can explore and reserve flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, and more. You can utilize your Ultimate Rewards points to pay for these reservations directly, or earn bonus points when you opt for cash bookings via Chase Travel.

To get the most out of your Ultimate Rewards points, it's often advisable to transfer them to partner programs such as United MileagePlus, World of Hyatt, or British Airways Executive Club for award bookings. However, be sure to compare the points needed for direct bookings through Chase Travel with those needed for partner award reservations. Occasionally, booking through the portal can save you points, as the points cost is linked to the cash price of the flight or hotel, potentially leading to lower point requirements.

Keep in mind that you'll need to have some Chase points before you can book with points through Chase Travel. If you're new to Chase's most popular cards and welcome offers, here are some well-known options.

Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a top choice for TPG enthusiasts. It currently features one of the largest sign-up bonuses from Chase — 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 within the first three months of account opening.

According to our September 2024 valuations, these bonus points alone can be worth $1,845 when transferred to travel partners. Alternatively, you can redeem them through Chase Travel at a fixed value of 1.25 cents each.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is another excellent option for your wallet. Currently, it offers 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening, along with a $300 statement credit for Chase Travel℠ purchases made in the first year. The total bonus is valued at $1,530 (including the $300 travel credit) based on TPG valuations.

Similar to the Ink Business Preferred, the Sapphire Preferred allows you to get a value of 1.25 cents per point when booking directly through Chase Travel. Additionally, you can earn 5 points for every dollar spent on paid travel through Chase Travel (excluding the first $50 in hotel purchases that qualify for the card's annual hotel credit).

Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® grants you 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening, which equates to $1,230 based on TPG valuations.

This card comes with extra benefits, such as a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit, Priority Pass lounge access, and a $300 annual travel credit. It also enhances your Chase Travel redemption rate to 1.5 cents per point, offering an additional 0.25 cents per point compared to the Sapphire Preferred. When booking travel through Chase with the Sapphire Reserve, you'll earn 10 points per dollar on hotel and car rentals and 5 points per dollar on flights (excluding purchases that qualify for the $300 travel credit).

Cash-back cards

Chase offers a variety of cash-back credit cards, such as the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, and Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card. The rewards from these cards are valued at 1 cent each for travel bookings made through Chase Travel. However, by combining your earnings into one account, you can effectively transform these cash-back rewards into fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points if you also hold the Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, or Ink Business Preferred.

How to utilize Chase Travel

You can book flights, accommodations, car rentals, cruises, and various travel options via Chase Travel, and accessing it is quite straightforward. Start by logging into your Chase account, then head to the right side of the page where you'll find a box displaying your total Ultimate Rewards balance. Click on that box, and it will direct you to the Ultimate Rewards dashboard, which appears like this:

Select "Travel" and then click "Book travel" from the dropdown menu to reach the travel homepage, where you can search for flights, hotels, and more. Once you choose your travel options, you'll have the choice to pay with either cash or points.

Keep in mind that when booking hotels through the portal, you generally won't earn hotel points or elite credits, and you might miss out on elite status perks as this is regarded as a third-party reservation. However, flights booked through the portal usually earn frequent flyer miles and count towards elite status qualifications.

How to purchase flights with Chase Travel

Once you're on the travel page of the portal, booking your flights is quite simple. Enter your departure and arrival airports along with your travel dates, then click the search button. For instance, I searched for a one-way flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

You will then see a list of available flight options. When you find a flight that suits you, choose your desired fare type and click the blue "Add to trip" button.

After selecting your desired flights, you'll proceed to the next page where you can review the details of your flight and opt for any upgrades you wish to add.

Next, you'll arrive at the checkout page, where you can pay using cash, points, or a combination of both. Points associated with a Chase Sapphire Reserve account hold a value of 1.5 cents each. For those with a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred, points are valued at 1.25 cents each.

Finally, you'll be taken to a page where you can enter the traveler's details (you can book flights for others as well as yourself) and complete your booking process.

How to reserve hotels through Chase Travel

Booking hotels on the Chase Travel portal follows a similar process to booking flights. While not all hotels are listed, your choices might be limited, especially in smaller towns or lesser-known areas. However, if you discover a hotel you like on the portal, there are numerous benefits to making your reservation this way.

For example, when considering boutique or independent hotels, you can earn bonus points even if they're not part of a major hotel loyalty program like Hyatt or Marriott. If you prefer accumulating transferable Ultimate Rewards points instead of, say, World of Hyatt points, it can be beneficial to book a Hyatt property via Chase Travel rather than directly through the hotel.

However, be aware that prices on Chase Travel may not always align with those on the hotel's website or other booking sites, so it's wise to compare rates to ensure you’re getting the best price. The same applies if you plan to book a hotel that is part of Chase's transfer partners (IHG, Marriott, or Hyatt)—make sure to compare the award rates of these loyalty programs with the points needed on the Chase Travel portal before finalizing your booking.

While you typically won't enjoy elite benefits at point hotels booked through Chase Travel, having a card that grants access to The Edit by Chase Travel allows you to enjoy elite-like perks at over 1,000 luxury hotels around the globe. Eligible cards include the Chase Sapphire Reserve, United℠ Explorer Card, United Club℠ Infinite Card, United Quest℠ Card, and United℠ Business Card.

Here's an example search for accommodations in Oslo, which primarily features boutique hotels.

The search results will display each hotel's nightly rate and the total cost in cash and points at the bottom. You can refine your search by brand, price, ratings, neighborhood, and more. Click on a property that interests you to select an available room, then click "Add to trip."

On the checkout page, you have the option to pay with cash or indicate how many points you'd like to use. Then follow the on-screen instructions to complete your booking, and you'll receive an email confirmation.

As a Sapphire Preferred cardholder, don't forget you can enjoy up to $50 in statement credits each year for hotel bookings made through Chase Travel.

How to book car rentals, cruises, and other travel through Chase Travel

Through Chase Travel, you can rent cars, utilize your points, and still benefit from the excellent primary car rental insurance provided by both the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred cards. Renting a car follows a similar process to booking flights and hotels — simply head to the "Cars" section from the main page, enter your travel details, and click "Search."

After selecting your car from the results, you will be asked to choose any add-ons. Next, you'll proceed to the booking page, where you can enter your personal details and decide how many points to use. Keep in mind that to be eligible for your card's rental car insurance, you must waive the rental company's collision damage waiver and ensure that all drivers are listed on the rental agreement.

You can also reserve activities through Chase Travel, such as exciting tours like a night monument tour in Washington, D.C. and a heritage food tour in Singapore. Similar to booking flights, hotels, and cars, you can use Ultimate Rewards points at a value of 1.25 or 1.5 cents per point, or earn bonus points when paying with cash. This approach can help you plan an entire vacation for free using points and miles, not just for accommodations and flights.

Cruises, tours, and vacation packages are also available, although you'll need to call to make those bookings.

Additional considerations for using Chase Travel

It's advisable to compare the points required through Chase Travel against those needed for redemptions with transfer partners, taking into account any taxes and fees. If you're seeking hotel elite status, it's best to avoid booking through the portal, as such stays typically do not count towards status or offer elite benefits.

Booking with cash through Chase Travel can yield bonus points. Holders of the Ink Business Preferred and Sapphire Preferred cards earn 5 points per dollar on all travel purchases, while Sapphire Reserve cardholders earn 5 points per dollar on flights and 10 points per dollar on hotel and rental car bookings. While direct bookings with travel providers might offer better rates, if your plans are fixed and rates are similar, using the portal can be beneficial for accumulating extra points.

Keep in mind that using third-party sites for bookings can lead to complications if you need to change your plans. Travel providers tend to be more accommodating to customers who have booked directly with them.

In summary

Chase Travel is an excellent resource that allows you to earn and redeem Ultimate Rewards points across a variety of travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, and activities. If award flights are unavailable or you come across a budget-friendly fare requiring fewer points, using the portal could be a smart choice. Additionally, it's a fantastic way to earn points on boutique hotels or to secure award stays at a lower cash rate when prices are favorable. Always make sure to compare your choices to determine whether booking through the portal or transferring points to partners for an award is the better option.