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Some of these redemptions are pretty darn good.

It's sometimes necessary to look at and dream about experiences. I started down this deep, deep rabbit hole because of that. I would not be able to afford a trip with points. One way to make those dreams a reality is to earn and burn Chase Ultimate rewards. The best ways to use Chase Ultimate rewards are listed.

A quick intro into the Chase Ultimate Rewards program

Credit cards that are branded and those that earn the banks own cards are offered by the Chase eco- system. If you want to learn more about their ecosytem, you should read this article. Chase cards that earn Chase UltimateRewards are the ones we value the most. There's a reason. Transferrable currency is what they are.

Chase Ultimate rewards can be redeemed through Chase Travel, Pay yourself back, and other programs. You can move your Chase UltimateRewards into any of the programs listed below.

The greatest opportunity to achieve truly aspirational redemptions is offered by these programs.

Chase cards we recommend

  • Chase Sapphire Preferred  is offering an incredible all time high time and is a great starter premium card, one that I actually carry,  think this is a great card to view as your Chase cornerstone cad.
  • Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Freedom Unlimited have amazing offers currently running and I would highly recommend both cards
    • They were improved in September of 2020 and at least one should be in your wallet
  • Chase Sapphire Reserve  It’s also well worth your interest and includes many additional perks, but has a much higher annual fee of $550
  • Chase Ink Business Preferred is one of the best business cards you can carry and I actually have two of them in my wallet ( different businesses )
    • 3x on a litany of categories and earns transferrable points
  • Chase Ink Business Cash
    • rotating quartely 5x categories make this a great card to keep in your wallet to maximize spend
  • Chase Ink Business Unlimited
    • earn 1.5x on every dollar your business spends

1) Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic is a hippest airline. Virgin is cool, but as much as I enjoy it, I prefer deals more. Some of the best uses for their points are on their partners. Some of them are that I love.

ANA

Recently Virgin Atlantic allowed one way redemptions on ANA. As you can see below, these are the rates for roundtrip travel using Virgin Atlantic miles to fly on ANA – divide by 2 and you get the one way rates.

Virgin Atlantic ANA chart

That means you could fly one way in first class for just 60k points from Europe or Central/Eastern USA to Japan. Unreal deal

ANA First Class “The Suite”

Air France

Virgin Atlantic miles can be used to travel on Air France. Peak/off peak and business class one way from the USA to Europe can range from 48500 miles to 97,500 miles. Since Air France is a transfer partner of Chase, you should always look for options that are off peak.

Air France's business class was reviewed here.

Delta

Virgin Atlantic miles can be used to fly business class between the US and Europe for 50k miles. The rate only applies to flights that aren't going in or out of the UK, so it's cheaper than Delta would charge.

This is a great redemption theoretically…in practice, finding the award availability for Delta One from the US to Europe is quite difficult, but still possible.

Delta One Suite
courtesy of Delta.com

Virgin Atlantic flights

It is possible to use Virgin Atlantic miles on Virgin Atlantic itself, but be aware of taxes and fees.

Upgrading a qualifying fare

You can often find Economy Classic or Delight prices of $500 to $600 from select US airports to the UK. Virgin miles can be used to upgrade tickets to premium economy or upper class. The table is used to add on a few more miles.

You could use 71,200 miles to upgrade your roundtrip from Economy to Upper Class ( you’d still earn miles on the base ticket too ).

Upper Class

Virgin Atlantic gives a lot of award space on their own flights. That's like a lot. It may be worth paying more than $600 in taxes and fees if you want to fly Upper.

2) United Airlines

You can use your Chase Ultimate rewards to transfer into United and take advantage of the premium cabins. The Star Alliance has some of the best airlines in the world.

Business Class to Europe or South America for 60k

It is possible to fly from the US to Europe on United's own business class.

I flew the Polaris from Sao Paolo to Chicago and from Newark to Tel Aviv.

Partner Business Class to Europe or Asia for 75k and 88k respectively

Business class experiences can be found at United's partners. Some of the best business class experiences in the world can be found on partner airlines.

EVA
Swiss Business Class LAX-ZRH in a Throne Seat
“The Room” courtesy of ana.com

Lufthansa First Class

We had a great experience on the A330, 747-8i, and A380. Whether you are flying from the US to Europe, Europe to Asia, or even Europe to South America, First Class is the best way to go. It's an amazing experience.

3) Singapore Airlines

Singapore is one of my favorite cities in the world, and it was brought to my attention by Crazy Rich Asians. Singapore Airlines has some of the best cabins in the world, but you don't have to travel to Singapore to use their points.

Fly from the US to Europe for 72k miles in business class

You only have to pay 72k miles to fly in business class on any of the airlines.

Fly coast to coast on United business class for just 25k miles

That is correct. For 25k miles, you can fly business class from SFO to EWR. If you transferred your UltimateRewards to United for the same redemption, you would spend more points and spend less points. Routes with widebody aircraft are seen below.

The best First Class in the world – Singapore Suites

Singapore Suites is one of the most aspirational first class experiences in the sky and you can fly from JFK to FRA for 87k Singapore miles. It's amazing. Our review can be found here.

Within Asia, you can fly Singapore Suites for 53k miles.

courtesy of Singapore Airlines

The flight from Beijing to Singapore takes about 7 hours. It's a good way to follow up the Great Wall.

Miles Great Wall of China

4)Iberia

One of the best places to fly business class is from Chicago to Madrid on the lie-flat class. The pricing for business class was only 34k miles each way.

It is still one of the best ways to travel from the US to Europe at just 42,500 miles.

5)Hyatt

There aren't many hotels that beat Hyatt when it comes to hotel redemptions. Hyatt has some of the best award rates across the hotel spectrum.

World of Hyatt Award Chart

Booking rooms or suites

The Hyatt redemption rate is higher than the hotel's rate, so I suggest you compare it to the hotel's rate. You can redeem points at 1.25c per point in Chase Travel and 1.5c per point if you carry a Chase Reserve. Let's look at a family suite at a hotel.

41k per night usingCSP and 34k per night with CSR is how much the cash rate is.

The same suite can be booked for just 24k a night. A 3 night stay would cost you just 72k points.

Upgrading with to Club room and Suites with points

If you find a great cash rate at a hotel, points can be used to upgrade to a better rate. You can upgrade your room to a suite. The rates are very cheap.

Just 6k points a night could put you in a fantastic suite like the one we stayed in while at the Park Hyatt Saigon

Aspirational Properties and SLH hotels

I was able to stay at the Alila Villas Uluwatu for 30k points per night, which is a steal, since all the rooms are villas and are usually $1k+ per night.

Calala Island is a private all inclusive island in Nicaragua and Hyatt can be used to stay at it.

@zacharyburrabelPrivate island hack #travelhacks #travelhack #travel #islands #beach #traveltips #pointsandmiles #travelpro #nicaragua #calalaisland #hyatt♬ HAPPY SUMMER ADVENTURE – Sergey Wednesday

6)British Airways

Taxes and fees are the most important things to watch out for when using British Airways. How do we stay out of their way? They can be used to upgrade flights on British Airways. Let's see what we can find.

Upgrading with British Airways Avios

It's easy to figure out if you can use points to upgrade. Chances are you can upgrade if an award seat is available.

There are exceptions to this rule.

  • Your ticket was issued by a partner airline American, Finnair, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, etc
  • You booked a fare coded as Q, O or G.

What number of points do you need? If the award price is different from your cabin to the next one, that's fine. The avios calculator is the easiest tool to use.

I have used 25k points to upgrade from a cheap business class ticket into a first class ticket many times.

Using British Airways Avios for short haul flights on partners

Another use of British Airways is this one. Since they don't tack on fees for flights on AA, it's a good thing to keep an eye on. It's important for flights to Hawaii. AA charges at its lowest price from LA to Honolulu in the economy. If you used Amex to transfer to BA, you would only pay 13k points. The fact that Amex runs transfer bonus promotions every year makes it even more incredible.

7)Air France

Did you know that you can use Air France to fly on Virgin Atlantic and Air Polynesia?

Virgin Atlantic

I redeemed 69,500 FlyingBlue miles to book a seat in Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class between the US and London. It cost me $225 more in taxes and fees than I would have paid using Virgin.

Air Tahiti Nui

This is doable even though it is more complicated. The rate is 73,500 in business and 25,500 in economy, but Air France doesn't show award space so you need to look elsewhere. You can use AA.com if you don't have an expertFlyer account.

You need to call in to make a booking for the award space show. Before you transfer the miles over, make sure the flights are on hold.

It isn't the best way to fly to Tahiti, but it is a solid way to travel from the US.

image courtesy of Air Tahiti Nui

Air France

Air France's reverse herringbone business class can be found on their 772, 773s, A330s, and A380s. It will be difficult for you to find a better way to fly.

8) Air Canada Aeroplan

The Chase Ultimate Reward program now has a new transfer partner. The program divides the world into four sections and awards pricing within those sections. You can read all about it here, but Aeroplan gives you an extra 5k points if you stop for 30 days. It's possible to see multiple cities on a single trip. Let's take a look at a few favorites.

North America to Europe:

  • Business Class for 60k to 70k Miles
  • First Class for 100k Miles

Within North America

  • Under 500 mile flights – 6k miles in econ
  • Under 1500 miles –
    • 10k in economy
    • 20k in business class
  • Transcon
    • 12.5k in economy
    • 25k in business class

North America to Asia/SouthPacific

  • USA to Japan/Taipei/Korea
    • Business Class 75k
    • First Class 110k
  • USA to most of Asia
    • 87.5k in Business Class
    • 140k in First Class
  • USA to New Zealand
  • USA to Australia via Abu Dhabi
    • Business Class 115k
    • First Class 150k

Fly USA to South America for 60k in business class

There were no complaints when we flew to Chicago on the Polaris.

USA to Europe in business class for 70k

There are a lot of Star Alliance carriers that can take you across the Atlantic. I like to watch Swiss, United, SAS, Austrian.

Fly to Europe in First Class for 100k miles

It is an amazing way to fly in style across the pond if Swiss releases first class to partners.

Fly to the Middles East for 85k in business and 120k in First Class

One of the best carriers in the world, and one that connects via its hub in Abu Dhabi, could be a great way to stop for a while in the middle of a journey. The Business Studio and First Class are both great ways to fly.

9) Chase Travel

It's possible to redeem your points within Chase Travel or transfer into a partner. This happens when you want to stay at a property that doesn't accept points or when flights are on sale Depending on the pricing, it can happen for Chase Sapphire Preferred + Chase Ink Business Preferred cards as well, since their Ultimate rewards are 1.5c per point within Chase Travel.

This is an example of a flight in business class. Chase Travel can be used to book a flight for $668. If you use a Chase loyalty program, you will get 54k ultimate rewards. The prices are reduced to 45k ultimate rewards.

The alternative way of booking this would be to book Delta via Air France or Virgin Atlantic. I can tell you right now…neither of them price lower than 54k miles roundtrip ( and you’d earn miles on this flight too ).

Chase Pay Yourself Back

During the Pandemic, Chase began a program that allowed you to pay yourself back by using points to wipe out charges from your bill. Chase Preferred members can eliminate charges at a rate of 1.25c per point, and Chase Reserve members can eliminate charges at a rate of 1.5c.

Overall

There are a lot of ways to get Chase Ultimate rewards. Our favorite ways will put you in some truly exceptional ways to fly, but there are many options that fit the needy and flexible of use cases and hopefully this article gave you some helpful tips and hints.

Monkey Miles has a partnership with Card Ratings. Card issuers may give MonkeyMiles and Card Ratings a commission.

The Chase card has a rewards program.

It's a staple of our wallet that earns Premium transferrable Ultimate rewards.

60k bonus points are earned after 4k spend.

Points can be used for Chase travel or transferrable to more than one partner.

Chase Travel gives 5x on travel purchases and 2x everywhere else.

Delivery services, takeout and dining out are included in the price.

3x on some channels.

There are 3x points on online grocery purchases.

There is a $50 annual credit on hotel stays purchased.

10% anniversary point bonus Get 1k bonus points for spending $10k.

You can learn more.

Transferring Chase Ultimate Reward to a travel partner.

In Chase.

It had been rumored that Chase was going to drop some fantastic new benefits to their flagship card duo, but today it'sOFFICIAL. The new benefits will come to the cards in August of 2021. Let's take a look.

There are credit cards.

Before you apply for a Chase credit card, you need to know everything there is to know.

There are credit cards.

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