Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of the most valuable transferable rewards currencies, thanks to its strong hotel and airline partners, including United MileagePlus. If you hold a premium Chase card like the Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve, you can convert your points into United miles. Here's how to do it and what to keep in mind.
Who Can Transfer?
Only certain Chase cards earn transferable Ultimate Rewards points:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
Points from other Chase cards like Freedom Flex or Freedom Unlimited can be combined into one of these accounts before transferring.
Transfer Ratio
1,000 Chase points = 1,000 United miles. Transfers are in 1,000-point increments. Occasional transfer bonuses may appear, but they are rare.
How Long Does It Take?
Transfers are usually instant, but can take up to seven business days. You'll receive confirmation emails from Chase.
Step-by-Step Transfer Process
- Log in to your Ultimate Rewards account at ultimaterewardspoints.chase.com.
- Select the card account that holds your points.
- Click on the "Travel" dropdown, then choose "Transfer points to partners."
- Find United Airlines in the list and click on it.
- Click "Transfer Points" and enter the amount (must be at least 1,000, in increments of 1,000).
- Enter or confirm your United MileagePlus number.
- Review the summary and click "Submit."
Important: Transfers are irreversible. Always confirm award availability before initiating a transfer.
Should You Transfer?
Based on TPG's valuations, Chase points are worth 2.05 cents each, while United miles are worth 1.3 cents. So you may lose value on paper. However, transferring can still be worthwhile for high-value redemptions like international business-class flights or upgrade awards.