Best Transfer Partners for Chase Ultimate Rewards Points in 2026
Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to 14+ airline and hotel partners, often yielding 1.5-2.5 cents per point value - far better than the 1-1.5 cent portal redemption. This comprehensi...
# Best Transfer Partners for Chase Ultimate Rewards Points in 2026
Last Updated: February 25, 2026
Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to 14+ airline and hotel partners, often yielding 1.5-2.5 cents per point value - far better than the 1-1.5 cent portal redemption. This comprehensive guide ranks the best transfer partners, shows real redemption examples, and reveals insider strategies for maximum value.
---
Quick Rankings: Best Chase Transfer Partners
| Rank | Partner | Type | Best For | Typical Value | Sweet Spots |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ๐ฅ | World of Hyatt | Hotels | **Luxury hotels** | 1.8-2.5ยข | Category 1-4 hotels |
| ๐ฅ | Southwest | Airlines | **Domestic US** | 1.4-1.6ยข | Companion Pass combo |
| ๐ฅ | United | Airlines | **International** | 1.5-2.0ยข | Saver awards to Europe/Asia |
| 4๏ธโฃ | Air France-KLM | Airlines | **Europe/Africa** | 1.5-2.5ยข | Promo awards, US-Europe |
| 5๏ธโฃ | Singapore Airlines | Airlines | **Premium cabins** | 2.0-3.0ยข | Business/First to Asia |
---
Complete Transfer Partner List
Airlines (10 Partners)
- United MileagePlus
- Southwest Rapid Rewards
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue
- British Airways Executive Club
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Emirates Skywards
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- Iberia Plus
- Aer Lingus AerClub
- JetBlue TrueBlue
Hotels (3 Partners)
- World of Hyatt
- IHG One Rewards
- Marriott Bonvoy
Other
- Cash back (1ยข per point)
Transfer ratio: 1:1 for all partners (1 Chase point = 1 airline mile or hotel point)
Transfer time: Instant to 2-3 days depending on partner
---
Detailed Partner Reviews
๐ฅ #1: World of Hyatt - Best Overall Transfer Partner
Why It's #1: Consistently delivers 1.8-2.5ยข per point value with excellent availability.
#### Transfer Details
- Ratio: 1:1 (1,000 Chase points = 1,000 Hyatt points)
- Transfer time: Instant
- Minimum: 1,000 points
#### Award Chart (Points per Night)
| Category | Standard | Peak | Off-Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | 5,000 | 6,500 | 3,500 |
| Category 2 | 8,000 | 10,000 | 6,000 |
| Category 3 | 12,000 | 15,000 | 9,000 |
| Category 4 | 15,000 | 19,000 | 12,000 |
| Category 5 | 20,000 | 25,000 | 16,000 |
| Category 6 | 25,000 | 31,000 | 20,000 |
| Category 7 | 30,000 | 38,000 | 24,000 |
| Category 8 | 40,000 | 50,000 | 32,000 |
#### Sweet Spots
Category 1-2 Hotels (Best value):
- 5,000-8,000 points per night
- Often $150-300/night hotels
- Value: 2.0-4.0ยข per point
- Great for extended stays
Examples:
- Hyatt Place properties: 5,000-8,000 points ($100-200 value)
- Hyatt House: 8,000-12,000 points ($150-250 value)
Category 3-4 Hotels:
- 12,000-15,000 points per night
- $200-400/night properties
- Value: 1.5-2.5ยข per point
Examples:
- Hyatt Regency properties: 12,000-15,000 points ($250-400 value)
- Grand Hyatt: 15,000-20,000 points ($300-500 value)
Category 7-8 Luxury (Peak season):
- 30,000-40,000 points per night
- $600-1,500+/night resorts
- Value: 2.0-3.5ยข+ per point
Examples:
- Park Hyatt Maldives: 30,000-40,000 points ($800-2,000/night value)
- Alila Ventana Big Sur: 40,000 points ($1,200+/night value)
- Park Hyatt Paris: 30,000 points ($700+/night value)
#### Why Hyatt Is Best
Consistent value:
- Rarely dips below 1.5ยข per point
- Often 2.0-2.5ยข per point
- Luxury properties can hit 3ยข+ per point
Good availability:
- Standard rooms usually bookable
- Better than Marriott/Hilton for award space
- Peak/off-peak flexibility
No dynamic pricing (yet):
- Fixed award chart
- Predictable redemptions
- Can plan ahead
Globalist status benefits:
- Suite upgrades
- Free breakfast
- Late checkout
- Lounge access
Verdict: Transfer to Hyatt for any hotel redemption. It's almost always the best value.
---
๐ฅ #2: Southwest Rapid Rewards - Best Domestic Airline
Why It's Great: Fixed point value (1.4-1.6ยข) + Companion Pass potential.
#### Transfer Details
- Ratio: 1:1
- Transfer time: Instant
- Minimum: 1,000 points
#### How Southwest Points Work
Fixed value:
- Points worth 1.4-1.6ยข each depending on flight
- Revenue-based (not award chart)
- No blackout dates
- Unlimited seats (if seat available for sale, can book with points)
Example:
- $300 flight = ~20,000 Southwest points
- Value: 1.5ยข per point
#### Sweet Spots
Companion Pass (Ultimate sweet spot):
- Earn 125,000 qualifying points in a calendar year
- Get Companion Pass for remainder of that year + next full year
- Your companion flies FREE on all Southwest flights
How to get it:
- Transfer 50,000 Chase points โ Southwest
- Open Southwest card with 50,000 point bonus
- Spend to earn 25,000 more points
- Total: 125,000 points = Companion Pass
- Every flight is now 2-for-1 for up to 2 years
Value calculation:
- Pay for one ticket with points
- Companion flies free
- Effectively doubles your point value to 3ยข+ per point
Domestic travel:
- Southwest flies to 100+ US cities
- No change fees
- 2 free checked bags
- Great for families
Examples:
- NYC to California: 15,000-25,000 points ($200-350 value) = 1.4-1.6ยข
- Chicago to Florida: 12,000-18,000 points ($150-250 value) = 1.5ยข
- With Companion Pass: Same cost, 2 people = 3ยข+ per point
#### Best Uses
Domestic family travel:
- Use Companion Pass for free companion
- 2 checked bags per person (family of 4 = 8 free bags)
- No change fees (flexibility)
Last-minute bookings:
- Southwest doesn't charge more for last-minute
- Fixed point value
- Better than United/Delta dynamic pricing
Flexibility:
- Cancel and get points back (no penalty)
- Change flights for free
- Can rebook if price drops (get points refunded)
Verdict: Best for US domestic travel, especially with Companion Pass. Unbeatable for families.
---
๐ฅ #3: United MileagePlus - Best International Airline
Why It's Great: Star Alliance access, reasonable awards to Europe/Asia, good availability.
#### Transfer Details
- Ratio: 1:1
- Transfer time: Instant
- Minimum: 1,000 points
#### Award Chart (One-Way Saver Awards)
| Route | Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|
| **US Domestic** | 8,000-20,000 | 20,000-40,000 | N/A |
| **US - Caribbean** | 17,000 | 35,000 | N/A |
| **US - Europe** | 30,000 | 60,000-77,000 | 88,000+ |
| **US - Asia** | 35,000-40,000 | 80,000-90,000 | 110,000+ |
| **US - South America** | 20,000 | 44,000 | N/A |
| **US - Australia** | 40,000-45,000 | 90,000-110,000 | 120,000+ |
Note: "Saver" availability required for these rates. Standard awards cost more.
#### Sweet Spots
US to Europe (Economy):
- 30,000 points one-way
- 60,000 points round-trip
- $600-1,200 flights
- Value: 1.5-2.0ยข per point
Examples:
- NYC to London: 30,000 points one-way ($600+ value)
- Chicago to Paris: 30,000 points one-way ($700+ value)
- LA to Frankfurt: 30,000 points one-way ($800+ value)
US to Europe (Business Class):
- 60,000-77,000 points one-way
- $2,000-5,000 flights
- Value: 2.5-4.0ยข+ per point
Examples:
- NYC to Zurich: 77,000 points ($3,500+ business class)
- San Francisco to London: 77,000 points ($4,000+ business)
Stopover trick:
- One free stopover on international round-trips
- Example: Fly NYC โ London (stay 3 days) โ Paris โ NYC
- All for one award ticket
- Essentially 2 trips for price of 1
Star Alliance partners:
- Book Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, etc.
- Access to premium cabins
- Better availability than booking direct
Short-haul economy:
- US domestic: 8,000 points
- East Coast to Midwest/Texas: 10,000 points
- Good value if you don't have Southwest
#### Best Uses
Transatlantic business class:
- 77,000 points vs $3,000-5,000 cash
- Excellent value
- Good availability on United metal
Asia business/first class:
- 90,000-110,000 points to Asia business
- $5,000-10,000 cash value
- Value: 4-6ยข+ per point
Stopover routing:
- Visit 2 cities for 1 award
- Maximizes value
- Great for Europe trips
Verdict: Best airline for international travel, especially to Europe. Star Alliance access is huge.
---
4๏ธโฃ Air France-KLM Flying Blue - Best for Europe
Why It's Great: Promo awards, good availability, covers Europe and Africa.
#### Transfer Details
- Ratio: 1:1
- Transfer time: Instant
- Minimum: 1,000 points
#### Award Pricing (Variable)
US to Europe (Economy):
- Off-peak: 21,500-25,000 points one-way
- Peak: 35,000-50,000 points one-way
US to Europe (Business):
- Off-peak: 53,000-60,000 points one-way
- Peak: 85,000-100,000 points one-way
Note: Flying Blue uses dynamic pricing. Prices vary by date/route.
#### Sweet Spots
Promo Rewards (Best value):
- Monthly rotating discounts (25-50% off)
- Example: US to Europe economy for 15,000-17,500 points
- Must book during promo period
- Insane value when it hits routes you want
US to Europe off-peak:
- 21,500-25,000 economy one-way
- Cheaper than United (30,000)
- Same routes, different alliance (SkyTeam)
Europe to Africa:
- 12,500-25,000 points economy
- Good for adding Africa leg to Europe trip
- Better than other programs
Examples:
- NYC to Paris: 21,500 points economy ($600 value) = 2.8ยข
- LA to Amsterdam: 25,000 points economy ($700 value) = 2.8ยข
- During 25% promo: 16,125 points ($600 value) = 3.7ยข per point!
#### Best Uses
Monthly promo awards:
- Check every month for deals
- Book when your route is on sale
- Can save 25-50% points
SkyTeam partners:
- Delta, Virgin Atlantic, Korean Air
- Different alliance than United (fills gaps)
- Good for Delta domestic if you miss Southwest
Last-minute travel:
- Sometimes cheaper than United last-minute
- Dynamic pricing can work in your favor
Verdict: Great for Europe travel, especially during promo periods. Monitor monthly for deals.
---
5๏ธโฃ Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer - Best Premium Cabins
Why It's Great: World-class business/first class at reasonable rates.
#### Transfer Details
- Ratio: 1:1
- Transfer time: Instant to 1-2 days
- Minimum: 1,000 points
#### Award Chart (One-Way)
| Route | Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|
| **US - Asia** | 30,000-35,000 | 90,000-95,000 | 120,000-130,000 |
| **US - Europe** | 30,000-35,000 | 85,000-95,000 | 110,000-125,000 |
| **Asia - Europe** | 30,000 | 70,000 | 85,000 |
#### Sweet Spots
Singapore Suites (First Class):
- A380 with private suites
- Best first class in the world
- 130,000 points US to Asia
- $10,000-20,000 cash price
- Value: 7-15ยข per point
Singapore Business Class:
- Consistently rated #1 business class
- 90,000-95,000 points US to Asia
- $5,000-8,000 cash price
- Value: 5-8ยข per point
Star Alliance partners:
- Book Lufthansa, Swiss, ANA
- Access to premium cabins
- Good for Europe routes
Examples:
- NYC to Singapore Suites: 130,000 points ($15,000+ value) = 11.5ยข per point
- LA to Tokyo on ANA business: 90,000 points ($6,000 value) = 6.7ยข per point
#### Best Uses
Once-in-a-lifetime splurge:
- Singapore Suites for honeymoon
- Best use of Chase points possible
- Unmatched luxury
Asia business class:
- Long-haul flights (12-18 hours)
- Lie-flat beds essential
- Better than economy for that distance
Star Alliance premium redemptions:
- ANA, Lufthansa first class
- Better availability than booking direct
Verdict: Best for premium cabin redemptions. If you want to fly first class, this is how.
---
Other Notable Partners
British Airways Executive Club (Good for Short Flights)
Sweet spot: Short-haul flights in distance-based awards
- US West Coast to Hawaii: 13,000 points economy, 25,000 business
- East Coast short hops: 7,500-13,000 points
- Cheaper than United for short distances
Downside: High fuel surcharges on British Airways flights (avoid)
Best use: American Airlines flights (no fuel surcharges)
---
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (Transatlantic Business)
Sweet spot: US to UK business class
- 50,000 points one-way business
- Cheaper than United (77,000)
- Virgin Upper Class is excellent
Example:
- NYC to London business: 50,000 points ($3,000+ value) = 6ยข per point
---
JetBlue TrueBlue (Domestic + Caribbean)
Sweet spot: East Coast to Caribbean
- Fixed value ~1.3-1.5ยข per point
- No blackout dates
- Great for beach vacations
Example:
- NYC to Turks & Caicos: 20,000-30,000 points ($300-450 value)
---
IHG One Rewards (Budget Hotels)
Sweet spot: Budget hotels globally
- Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza: 15,000-35,000 points
- Often $80-150 hotels
- Value: 0.5-1.0ยข per point (worse than Hyatt)
Verdict: Only transfer if no Hyatt in the area.
---
Marriott Bonvoy (Largest Hotel Chain)
Sweet spot: Category 1-5 hotels
- 7,500-35,000 points per night
- Value: 0.5-1.0ยข per point (worse than Hyatt)
Downside: Devaluations, dynamic pricing coming
Verdict: Only use if you need Marriott specifically. Hyatt is better.
---
Transfer Partner Strategy Guide
When to Transfer vs Portal Booking
Use Chase Travel Portal (1.25-1.5ยข) when:
- Redemption value is close to portal value
- You want flexibility (can cancel easily)
- Award availability is poor
- You're booking complex itineraries
Transfer to partners when:
- You can get 1.8ยข+ per point value
- Award availability exists
- You're booking premium cabins
- You want hotel category 1-4 Hyatt
Example:
- $500 hotel: 33,333 Chase points via portal (1.5ยข) OR 20,000 Hyatt points (2.5ยข value)
- Transfer to Hyatt saves 13,333 points
---
How to Search Award Availability
United:
- Go to United.com
- Search flights, check "Award travel"
- Look for "Saver" awards
- See availability before transferring
Hyatt:
- Go to Hyatt.com
- Search hotel + dates
- Select "Use Points"
- See points price immediately
Southwest:
- Go to Southwest.com
- Search flights normally
- See points price (automatically shown)
Pro tip: ALWAYS search award availability BEFORE transferring points. Transfers are instant but irreversible.
---
Optimal Transfer Ratios
Best value (1.8ยข+ per point):
- World of Hyatt: 1.8-2.5ยข average
- Singapore Airlines business/first: 2.0-8.0ยข
- Virgin Atlantic business: 2.5-6.0ยข
Good value (1.5-1.8ยข per point):
- United international: 1.5-2.0ยข
- Southwest with Companion Pass: 1.5-3.0ยข
- Air France-KLM promos: 1.5-3.7ยข
Okay value (1.2-1.5ยข per point):
- United domestic: 1.2-1.5ยข
- Southwest regular: 1.4-1.6ยข
- JetBlue: 1.3-1.5ยข
Poor value (under 1.2ยข per point):
- IHG: 0.5-1.0ยข
- Marriott: 0.5-1.0ยข
- British Airways with fuel surcharges: 0.5-1.0ยข
Verdict: Aim for 1.5ยข+ per point. Use portal if you can't beat 1.5ยข.
---
Real Redemption Examples
Example 1: Family Trip to Hawaii
Trip: Los Angeles to Maui, 7 nights, family of 4
Option A: Portal Booking
- Flights: $2,000 (4 people)
- Hotel: $2,800 (7 nights at $400/night)
- Total: $4,800 = 320,000 Chase points (at 1.5ยข)
Option B: Transfer Partners
- Flights: Southwest 50,000 points ร 2 adults = 100,000 points (kids fly free with Companion Pass)
- Hotel: Hyatt Regency Maui 15,000 points/night ร 7 = 105,000 points
- Total: 205,000 Chase points
Savings: 115,000 points saved (36% less)
---
Example 2: Honeymoon in Maldives
Trip: Business class flights + luxury resort, 5 nights
Option A: Cash
- Flights: $10,000 (business class)
- Hotel: $5,000 (5 nights at $1,000/night)
- Total: $15,000 cash
Option B: Points
- Flights: Singapore Airlines 95,000 points ร 2 = 190,000 points ($10,000 value)
- Hotel: Park Hyatt Maldives 30,000 points ร 5 = 150,000 points ($5,000 value)
- Total: 340,000 Chase points = $15,000 value
Value: 4.4ยข per point average
Points needed:
- 340,000 Chase points
- Could earn via 3 Chase Sapphire Preferred bonuses (60K each) + 3 Freedom Flex bonuses + spending
---
Example 3: Weekend NYC Getaway
Trip: 2 nights in New York, 2 people
Option A: Portal
- Hotel: $600 (2 nights at $300/night)
- Cost: 40,000 Chase points (at 1.5ยข)
Option B: Hyatt
- Hyatt Place Manhattan: 12,000 points/night ร 2 = 24,000 points ($600 value)
- Cost: 24,000 Chase points
Savings: 16,000 points (40% less)
Value: 2.5ยข per point
---
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer points back to Chase?
No. All transfers are one-way and permanent. Once transferred, you can't get them back.
Always: Search award availability BEFORE transferring.
---
How long do transfers take?
Instant (seconds to minutes):
- World of Hyatt
- United
- Southwest
- Air France-KLM
- Virgin Atlantic
1-2 days:
- Singapore Airlines
- British Airways
- Emirates (sometimes)
3-7 days (rare):
- Marriott (sometimes)
- IHG (sometimes)
Pro tip: Transfer early if booking time-sensitive travel.
---
Is there a minimum transfer amount?
Yes: 1,000 points minimum for all partners.
Note: You can transfer in 1,000-point increments (1,000, 2,000, 3,000, etc.).
---
Should I transfer speculatively?
No. Only transfer when you're ready to book.
Why:
- Transfer partners can devalue
- Award availability can change
- You might find a better use later
- Portal value might improve
Exception: If award space is disappearing and you need to book immediately.
---
Bottom Line: Best Transfer Partner Strategy
Our Recommended Approach
For hotels: Always transfer to World of Hyatt
- Best value (1.8-2.5ยข per point)
- Excellent availability
- Consistent redemption value
For domestic US flights: Transfer to Southwest
- Fixed value (1.4-1.6ยข)
- Companion Pass potential
- No blackout dates
For international flights: Transfer to United
- Best Star Alliance access
- Good availability
- Reasonable rates to Europe/Asia
For premium cabins: Transfer to Singapore Airlines
- Best business/first class
- Once-in-a-lifetime value
- 5-8ยข+ per point possible
For Europe: Monitor Air France-KLM promos
- Monthly deals
- Can save 25-50% points
- Good SkyTeam access
---
Quick Decision Tree
Need a hotel?
- Is there a Hyatt? โ Transfer to Hyatt
- No Hyatt? โ Use Chase portal (1.5ยข)
Need a flight?
- Domestic US? โ Southwest or United
- International economy? โ United or Air France-KLM
- International premium? โ Singapore Airlines or Virgin Atlantic
Not sure yet?
- DON'T transfer - keep points in Chase
- Research award availability first
- Transfer only when ready to book
---
Related Articles
- Ultimate Rewards vs Other Programs
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Review
- How to Maximize Credit Card Rewards
- Chase 5/24 Rule Explained
- Best Travel Credit Cards 2026
- How to Redeem Points for Maximum Value
---
*Disclaimer: Award availability, transfer ratios, and redemption values subject to change without notice. Always verify current award pricing before transferring points. Point values shown are estimates based on typical redemptions.*
Related Articles
Find Your Perfect Card
Take our 60-second quiz to get personalized credit card recommendations.
Start the Quiz