What you need to Know about Chase Travel Portal
Editor’s Note: This is an ongoing post that is regularly updated with the latest information and offers. Chase Travel(sm), a portal where you can redeem and earn points, and enjoy perks such as credit card statement credits, is also available. This option can save you money, particularly when traditional award space is unavailable, as you can book almost any available flight and a wide variety of hotels through Chase Travel.
Here’s what you need to know about Chase Travel.
Related: Who are the Chase transfer partners? What is Chase Travel? You can either use your Ultimate Reward points to make these bookings or earn bonus points by paying in cash. It’s important to compare how many points are required to book a direct award through Chase Travel versus a partner’s program. Sometimes, booking through the portal can save you points, as the points price is tied to the cash cost of the flight or hotel stay, potentially resulting in lower point requirements.
However, you will need to have some Chase points before booking with points through Chase Travel. Here are some popular Chase cards and welcome offers. It currently comes with one of the highest sign-up bonuses from Chase — 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Based on our September 2024 valuations, the bonus points alone are worth $1,845 when you transfer them to travel partners. However, you can redeem these points through Chase Travel for a fixed value of 1.25 cents apiece.
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Read more: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card review: A great all-around business card
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred(r) Card is another fantastic addition to your wallet. The Sapphire Preferred offers 60,000 bonus points if you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening. The bonus is worth $1,230 based on TPG valuations.
Like the Ink Business Preferred, you’ll get a value of 1.25 cents per point when booking directly through Chase Travel with the Sapphire Preferred. You’ll also earn 5 points per dollar on paid travel purchased through Chase Travel (excluding the first $50 in hotel purchases that qualify for the card’s annual hotel credit).
Read more: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card review: A top travel and dining card
Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve(r) offers 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, which is worth $1,230 based on TPG valuations.
This card includes additional perks, like a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit, Priority Pass lounge access and a $300 annual travel credit. The Chase Sapphire Reserve also increases your Chase Travel redemption rates to 1.5 cents a point. This gives you 0.25 cents a point more purchase power than the Sapphire Preferred. When you book travel through Chase with the Sapphire Reserve, you’ll earn 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals and 5 points per dollar on flights (excluding purchases that qualify for the $300 travel credit).
Read more: Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card review: Luxury perks and valuable rewards
Cash-back cards
Chase also issues a number of cash-back credit cards, including the Chase Freedom Unlimited(r), Ink Business Cash(r) Credit Card and Ink Business Unlimited(r) Credit Card. These cards offer rewards worth one cent each toward Chase Travel. However, since Chase allows you to combine your earnings into a single account, you can effectively convert these cash-back rewards into fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points if you also have the Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve or Ink Business Preferred.
Related: 10 no-annual-fee credit cards that earn transferable points
How to use Chase Travel
BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY
You can book flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises and other travel through Chase Travel, and it’s relatively simple to access. Log into your Chase account and then go to the right-hand side of the page. You’ll find a box that shows your Ultimate Rewards total. Click the box, and it will bring you to the Ultimate Rewards dashboard, which looks like this:
THE POINTS GUY/CHASE.COM
Click “Travel” and choose “Book travel” in the dropdown to access the travel homepage, where you can search for airfare, hotels and more. When you select your travel, you’ll be given the option to pay with cash or points.
Remember that when you book hotels through the portal, you typically will not earn hotel points and elite credits, and you may not receive elite status perks because it’s considered a third-party booking. However, flights booked through the portal will typically earn frequent flyer miles and help you qualify for elite status.
Related: Why you don’t earn hotel points when booking through online travel agencies
How to book flights using Chase Travel
Booking your flights is fairly straightforward once you’ve navigated to the portal’s travel page. Enter your travel dates, arrival and departure airports, and click the “search” button. You’ll see all the flight options available. In this example, I searched for a flight that went from San Francisco International Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport. When you find a flight you like, select the fare type you want to book and click the blue “Add to trip” button.
CHASE. Once you have selected your preferred flight, you will be directed to a page where you can review the information about your flight and choose any upgrades that you would like to make. If you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred, each point is worth 1.25 cents. If you hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred, points are worth 1.25 cents each.
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Finally, you’ll be directed to a page where you will enter the traveler’s information (you can book flights for others as well as yourself) and finalize your booking.
How to book hotels using Chase Travel
NICK SIMONITE/HOTEL GENEVIEVE
Booking hotels is similar to booking flights on the Chase Travel portal. You may not find all the hotels you want on the Chase Travel portal, especially if your destination is a small city or an unknown place. If you are looking for boutique or independent hotels you can still earn bonus points, even if the hotel is not part of a hotel chain such as Hyatt or Marriott. Or if you’d rather earn transferable Ultimate Rewards points on your booking than, for example, World of Hyatt points, you may find it advantageous to book a Hyatt property through Chase Travel rather than directly through the hotel.
However, prices on Chase Travel don’t always match those on the hotel’s site or other online booking platforms, so always compare rates to ensure you’re getting the best deal. The same goes if you plan to book a points hotel that is one of Chase’s transfer partners (IHG, Marriott or Hyatt) — compare the award rates required by these hotel loyalty programs to the number of points you’d pay on the Chase Travel portal before booking.
Although you won’t usually be able to use elite perks at points hotels booked through Chase Travel, you can get elitelike perks at over 1,000 luxury properties worldwide if you hold a card that provides access to The Edit by Chase Travel. Participating cards include the Chase Sapphire Reserve, United(sm) Explorer Card, United Club(sm) Infinite Card, United Quest(sm) Card and United(sm) Business Card.
Here’s a sample search for lodging in Olso, which hosts mostly boutique hotels.
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The search results will show each hotel’s price per night and the total price in cash and points at the bottom. The search results will show the price per night of each hotel and its total cost in cash and points at the bottom. Then click on “Add to Trip” to add the room you selected. You can book low-end or luxury hotels to get the best value from your points. Then run through the on-screen prompts to finalize your booking, and you’ll get an email confirmation.
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Remember, as a Sapphire Preferred cardholder, you’ll receive up to $50 in statement credits yearly for hotel reservations made through Chase Travel.
Related: Book low-end or luxury hotels to get the best value from your points
How to book car rentals, cruises and other travel using Chase Travel
STEFANIE LOOS/BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES
Using Chase Travel, you can rent cars, pay with points and still receive the excellent primary car rental insurance offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred cards. You can book car rentals in the same way you do flights or hotels. Just navigate to the “Cars’ header on the main landing page and enter your itinerary. Then click “Search”. “
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Once you choose your car from the results page, you’ll be prompted to select add-ons. You’ll then be directed to the booking page where you will enter your personal details and select how many points to use. Remember that to qualify for your card’s rental car insurance, you must decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver and ensure that anyone driving the car is on the rental agreement.
You can also book activities through Chase Travel, including fantastic tours like a Washington, D.C., night monument tour and Singapore heritage food tour. You can use Ultimate Rewards points to book activities at 1.25 cents or 1.5 cents per point, or earn bonus points if you pay cash. This can help you book an entire free vacation (not just hotels and flights) using points and miles.
Cruises, tours and vacation packages are also available, though you’ll have to call to book those.
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Related: Save money on your next trip: Use these tips to never pay full price for a rental car
More things to consider about Chase Travel
We recommend comparing the points needed through Chase Travel with those required for transfer partner redemptions, factoring in taxes and fees. If you have or want hotel elite status, avoid booking hotels through the portal, as these stays generally won’t count toward status or qualify for elite benefits.
Booking through Chase Travel with cash can earn you extra points. Ink Business Preferred, Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve cardholders receive 5 points for every dollar spent on travel. Sapphire Reserve cardholders get 5 points on flights and 10 on hotels and rental vehicles. You might find better rates by booking directly with the travel provider, but if your plans are firm and rates are comparable, booking through the portal can be worthwhile for earning extra points.
Remember that booking through third-party sites may result in issues if you change your plans, though. If you book directly with the travel provider, they are more likely assist you. Booking through the portal is a great option if award flights are not available or if you find a cheaper fare that only requires a few points. The portal is also a good way to earn points for independent hotels, or to book cheaper award stays if cash rates are lower. But always compare your options to see if using the portal or transferring points to partners for an award is more advantageous.
