Skift Take
New perks coming for Chase cardholders should make it more attractive to many travelers. How will American Express respond?
Grant Martin, Skift
Chase Bank released several new travel perks for select high-end cards in its portfolio last week.
For those who own the popular Chase Sapphire and Reserve credit cards, which allow consumers to accrue a bank of points for either spend or travel, two new partners have been added to the mix. It’s now possible to transfer Chase points to Aer Lingus’ AirClub and Iberia’s Iberia Plus programs.
Among business travelers, airline and hotel point transfers are one of the most highly-valued perks when considering a credit card. The Starwood Hotels & Resorts Preferred Guest loyalty program and its co-branded credit card have earned a cult following because they allow members to transfer Starpoints to three dozen partner airlines — often with a bonus for elite members. Although Chase’s transfer partners aren’t as widespread (nor does it have elite bonuses), its modest portfolio of nine airline and four hotel transfer partners is still useful.
It’s worth noting, too, that both Aer Lingus and Iberia partner with British Airways, a legacy Chase partner. (They’re all owned by the same company, International Airlines Group.) That meant in the past it was possible to book Aer Lingus and Iberia tickets using Chase points. But allowing direct transfers to the two new airlines removes some complexity from the system.
In addition to the updates for general credit card holders, last week Chase also added a new tool for Marriott and Slate co-branded cards. According to Doctor of Credit, the new Chase Offers program will give those customers select rebates on purchases at mainstream retailers like Whole Foods and Lowe’s.
American Express has run a similar program for years called Amex Offers, which provides similar incentives for customers. Amex Platinum members can earn 10,000 bonus reward points for booking $500 of travel through the bank’s travel portal, for example.
Chase’s expansion into the same space on the Marriott and Slate cards may be an indication that it’s ready to start competing more aggressively with American Express for high-spend business travelers. After Chase raised the bar last year with the launch of its Sapphire Reserve card, Amex responded with improvements to its flagship Platinum card. These new offerings from Chase only make the decision over what premium credit card to sign up for even more challenging.
— Grant Martin
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FAQs
Eligible travel purchases include airline tickets, hotels, car rentals, and cruises. Any items or charges not paid for through the Chase Travel Center will not qualify. Travel purchases through FROSCH and its family of travel companies will not qualify.
What are the incentives for Chase travel? ›
5% cash back on travel purchases through Chase Travel. 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services. 3% cash back on drugstore purchases. 1% cash back on all other purchases.
What is the 5% back on Chase travel? ›
The Freedom Flex ranks as one of the best cash-back cards with no annual fee and earns cardholders 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and drugstores and 1% on all other purchases.
What percentage does Chase pay for travel rewards? ›
Earn cash back for every purchase.
Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel SM, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.
How much is 70 000 Chase points worth for travel? ›
70,000 Ultimate Rewards points are worth an average of $721, according to WalletHub data. You get the best value when redeeming Ultimate Rewards points for travel booked through Chase, though there are a few other redemption options to choose from.
Is Chase Ultimate Rewards worth it for travel? ›
Chase Ultimate Rewards® are among the most valuable travel rewards you can earn. These points offer high upside thanks to Chase's lucrative roster of 11 airline and three hotel transfer partners, as well as a respectable value floor when you redeem directly with Chase for travel and statement credits.
What perks does Chase offer? ›
Chase Secure Banking customers told us they save an average of over $40 a month on fees after opening their account.
- No fees to deposit or cash checks. ...
- No fees for money orders or cashier's checks. ...
- No fees to pay bills. ...
- No fees to send or receive money. ...
- No fees to use Chase ATMs or branches.
- Chase Total Checking®: $300 bonus.
- Chase Savings℠: $200 bonus.
- Chase Total Checking® + Chase Savings℠: $900 bonus.
- Chase College Checking℠: $100 bonus.
- Chase Business Complete Checking®: $300 bonus.
- Chase Private Client Checking℠ account: up to $3,000.
Chase Sapphire Reserve is a premium travel credit card that charges an annual fee but provides several perks and benefits. One benefit is reimbursem*nt for a TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS fee. Reimbursem*nt is issued in the form of a statement credit up to $100.
How do I get 10X on Chase Travel? ›
10 points ("10X points") on Chase Travel hotel accommodation and car rental purchases: You'll earn 10 points total for each $1 spent on qualifying hotel accommodation and car rental purchases made using your card through Chase Travel after the $300 Annual Travel Credit is earned in the travel category (7 additional ...
What is the 5/24 rule? Many card issuers have criteria for who can qualify for new accounts, but Chase is perhaps the most strict. Chase's 5/24 rule means that you can't be approved for most Chase cards if you've opened five or more personal credit cards (from any card issuer) within the past 24 months.
What airlines are in the Chase Travel Portal? ›
Chase transfer partners include Aer Lingus AerClub, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Emirates Skywards, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Iberia Plus, JetBlue TrueBlue, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, United MileagePlus, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, IHG One Rewards, ...
Do hotels count as travel Chase Sapphire? ›
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® travel credit, recapped
Instead, any purchase from airlines, hotels, car rentals and cruise lines will trigger the credit.
Do you get more points if you book through Chase Travel? ›
On the other hand, using the portal could also help you earn more points on your purchases. For example, you can get even more points on flights if you book through portal. These points can later be redeemed on your future travels.
How much is 100000 Chase points worth flights? ›
How much are 100,000 Chase points worth? When redeemed for cash back, 100,000 Chase points are worth $1,000. When redeemed for travel booked through Chase, 100,000 points are worth $1,500 if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or $1,250 with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
What purchases qualify as travel? ›
Airline tickets, hotel stays and car rentals typically count as travel purchases. Most travel cards let you redeem your points for flight tickets and hotel stays.
How much is 50000 Chase points worth for travel dollars? ›
How much are 50,000 Chase points worth? 50,000 Chase points are worth at least $500 when redeemed for cash back or travel through the Chase Travel portal and as much as $750 if you hold the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card. However, it's possible to get even more value when transferring to Chase's travel partners.
Does gas count as travel for Chase points? ›
Use the card for other expenses that qualify as travel, such as taxi rides, train fares, even parking lots and garages. Gas doesn't count as travel, however. Triple points for dining out means the Chase Sapphire Reserve® should always be the card you hand to the waiter. Fast food and fast casual qualify, too.
How to get 5x points on Chase Travel? ›
Benefits of booking travel in Chase's portal
It earns 5x points per $1 when booking flights through the portal. The sweet spot is when using this card for hotel stays and rental cars booked via the portal for 10x points per dollar spent. Consider what's in your wallet, and decide which card will net the most points.
