Chase travel rewards credit cards are a key part of any solid points and miles strategy. These cards offer valuable bonus categories, strong perks, and extensive travel protections. One of the biggest advantages? Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to a variety of travel partners, allowing for high-value redemptions beyond basic cashback options.
Since Chase has a mix of cashback cards, fully transferable Ultimate Rewards-earning cards, and co-branded airline and hotel cards, sorting through the options can be overwhelming—especially for those new to travel rewards.
Adding another layer of complexity, the Chase 5/24 rule limits approvals for anyone who has opened five or more personal credit cards across any issuer in the past 24 months. This makes it even more important to apply for the right Chase cards early on rather than wasting limited application slots on ones that won’t provide maximum value.
This guide will explain the differences between Chase’s cashback and Ultimate Rewards-earning cards, break down which ones allow point transfers, and explore different card combinations that maximize earnings while keeping costs under control.
Understanding Different Types of Chase Credit Cards
Chase travel rewards cards fall into four main categories:
- Fully transferable Ultimate Rewards-earning cards
- Cashback cards
- Co-branded airline cards
- Co-branded hotel cards
Co-branded airline and hotel cards earn points within their respective loyalty programs. A Chase United MileagePlus card earns United miles, while a Chase Marriott Bonvoy card accumulates Marriott points. While these cards can be valuable in specific situations, they are not the focus here.
Instead, the attention is on cashback and Ultimate Rewards-earning cards, which play the biggest role in Chase’s points transfer system.
Cards that earn fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points provide access to 14 airline and hotel partners. This is where some of the best redemption opportunities come into play, making these cards the best option for those aiming to book business-class flights or high-end hotels.
We’ve noticed something about cashback cards. They technically rack up Ultimate Rewards points, but there’s a catch. On their own, those points can’t go to any travel partners. They’re stuck with limited options like using them for statement credits or travel bookings at a flat rate.
The smarter move is to connect your cashback card with one that already lets you transfer points freely. When you link them, you open the door to send those points to airline or hotel programs. It’s a way to turn your usual spending into serious travel value without raising your annual fees.
Which Cards Allow Chase Ultimate Rewards Transfers to Travel Partners?
Chase has partnerships with 14 airline and hotel loyalty programs, allowing Ultimate Rewards points to be transferred directly. These 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 Rewards Club
- Marriott Bonvoy
- World of Hyatt
Not all Chase credit cards allow point transfers.
To unlock this feature, one of the following must be in your wallet:
These three serve as the foundation of any Ultimate Rewards strategy. Holding at least one of them is required for transferring points to travel partners.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is loaded with premium perks, high-value bonus categories, and strong travel protections. While its $550 annual fee may seem high, frequent travelers can easily offset it with benefits like Priority Pass Select membership and a $300 annual travel credit. Keep in mind that points are not earned on travel purchases until the first $300 in annual travel spending has been reimbursed.
For those who want strong travel rewards but at a lower cost, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® delivers a similar structure with fewer luxury perks, but for an annual fee of $95. This card is a great middle ground for those looking to balance value and affordability.
Small business owners will find the Ink Business Preferred® to be an excellent choice, offering high rewards on business expenses along with solid travel protections.
Beyond enabling transfers, these three cards also improve redemption rates when booking travel through Chase Travel℠. The Sapphire Preferred® and Ink Business Preferred® offer a rate of 1.25 cents per point, while Sapphire Reserve® boosts that rate to 1.5 cents per point.
Which Chase Cashback Cards Can Convert Points to Ultimate Rewards?
Once a Chase Sapphire or Ink Business Preferred® card is secured, the next step is selecting a cashback card that can maximize earnings before transferring points to Ultimate Rewards.
These no-annual-fee Chase credit cards earn cashback that can later be converted into transferable Ultimate Rewards points:
- Chase Freedom Flex®
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
The Chase Freedom Flex® offers a 5% cashback category that rotates quarterly, along with fixed bonus categories. The rotating category must be activated each quarter to qualify for the higher earning rate.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® keeps things simple by offering a flat 1.5% cashback rate on all purchases, along with select bonus categories. This makes it a great choice for purchases that don’t fit into any other bonus category.
Small business owners looking for a strong cashback option will appreciate the Ink Business Cash®. This card provides up to $1,250 in cashback in its 5% category and up to $500 in its 2% category, assuming the spending caps are reached.
The Ink Business Unlimited® is designed for simplicity, earning 1.5% cashback on all purchases. This makes it a reliable option for businesses with varied spending habits.
Each of these $0 annual fee cashback cards earns rewards that can be transferred to a Sapphire or Ink Business Preferred® card. Once moved, those points become fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points, making it possible to redeem them with any of Chase’s airline and hotel partners.
Chase Two-Card Combo Strategies
Now that the mechanics of transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points are clear, the next step is selecting the best two-card combination to maximize rewards.
The ideal pairing depends on several factors:
- Spending patterns across different categories
- Whether Chase’s 5/24 rule is a concern
- Eligibility for small business credit cards
There are multiple ways to pair Chase credit cards for higher earning potential, but some strategies are more effective than others.
Classic Two-Card Chase Strategy
A popular and highly effective combination involves pairing the Chase Sapphire Reserve® with either the Chase Freedom Unlimited® or Chase Freedom Flex®.
With a Sapphire Reserve + Freedom Unlimited setup, cardholders can earn:
- 3X points on dining and travel with Sapphire Reserve
- 1.5X points on non-bonus spending with Freedom Unlimited
- 3X points on drugstore purchases with Freedom Unlimited
Let’s look at a real-world scenario. Research from Forbes estimates that the average American household spends about $5,151.96 annually on utility bills. If these charges are placed on the Freedom Unlimited, that translates to 7,727 Ultimate Rewards points (at a rate of 1.5X per dollar). Once transferred to the Sapphire Reserve, those points become fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points, redeemable for 1.5 cents per point through Chase Travel℠ or potentially more when moved to an airline or hotel partner.
For those who prefer the Sapphire Reserve + Freedom Flex pairing, the main advantage is access to 5% rotating categories.
Each quarter, the Freedom Flex offers a 5% cashback category on up to $1,500 in spending. Maximizing this limit means earning 7,500 Ultimate Rewards points every three months, or 30,000 points annually. Once transferred to the Sapphire Reserve, those points would be valued at $450 when redeemed at 1.5 cents per point through Chase Travel℠.
Both combinations allow for high earning potential without additional annual fees, since the Freedom cards have no annual cost. The only fee involved is $550 for the Sapphire Reserve, which can be offset through various perks.
A Lower-Fee Two-Card Strategy
For those who want a strong rewards setup with a lower annual fee, combining the Chase Sapphire Preferred® with either the Freedom Unlimited® or Freedom Flex® is a solid approach.
With a Sapphire Preferred + Freedom Flex pairing, users can:
- Earn 5% back on the Freedom Flex rotating categories
- Transfer those earnings to the Sapphire Preferred®
- Redeem points at 1.25 cents per point through Chase Travel℠
By reaching the quarterly spending limit in the 5% category, cardholders could accumulate 30,000 Ultimate Rewards points annually. At a 1.25-cent redemption rate, that equates to $375 in travel bookings through Chase—with the potential for even more value through transfer partners.
The major difference between this approach and the Sapphire Reserve strategy is the annual fee. Instead of $550, the Sapphire Preferred carries a $95 annual fee, making it a more affordable option for those who don’t need premium travel perks.
Chase Two-Card Strategy for Small Business Owners
Small business owners can take advantage of Chase’s business credit cards to create an efficient two-card setup.
A strong business-focused pairing consists of the Ink Business Preferred® alongside either the Ink Business Unlimited® or Ink Business Cash®.
With the Ink Business Preferred + Ink Business Unlimited pairing, cardholders benefit from:
- 1.5X points on all purchases with Ink Business Unlimited
- Point transfers to the Ink Business Preferred for full Ultimate Rewards flexibility
- 1.25 cents per point value when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
For businesses with high general expenses, the 1.5X earning rate adds up quickly, especially for advertising, office supplies, and software subscriptions.
Another option is pairing the Ink Business Preferred with the Ink Business Cash, which offers:
- 5% cashback on office supply stores, internet, cable, and phone services (on up to $25,000 per year)
- 2% cashback on gas stations and dining (on up to $25,000 per year)
By maximizing these spending caps, a business could generate 125,000 Ultimate Rewards points from the 5% category and 50,000 points from the 2% category. Once transferred to the Ink Business Preferred, these points could be redeemed at 1.25 cents per point through Chase Travel℠, equating to $2,187.50 in value.
For small businesses with high spending in these areas, this combination allows for rapid accumulation of rewards that can be used for premium travel redemptions.
The Chase Trifecta: A Three-Card Strategy for Maximizing Points
For those looking to optimize rewards even further, adding a third Chase card creates what is commonly known as the Chase Trifecta.
This setup consists of holding the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (or Sapphire Preferred®) along with both the Freedom Unlimited® and Freedom Flex®.
This strategy offers:
- 10X points on hotel stays and car rentals booked through Chase Travel℠ (after using the $300 travel credit)
- 5X points on flights booked through Chase Travel℠
- 5X points on rotating quarterly bonus categories with Freedom Flex
- 3X points on dining, takeout, and eligible delivery services
- 3X points on travel (after the first $300 travel credit is used)
- 3X points on drugstore purchases
- 1.5X points on all non-bonus spending with Freedom Unlimited
This combination ensures that every dollar spent earns at least 1.5X points, while bonus categories can push earning rates as high as 10X per dollar.
Since both Freedom cards have no annual fee, the only cost is the $550 annual fee for the Sapphire Reserve or $95 for the Sapphire Preferred.
Since the Chase 5/24 rule applies, adding three cards means using three out of five available slots. For those new to Chase, this could limit access to other valuable Chase credit cards in the future.
Two-Player Mode: Pooling Points for Even Greater Value
For those who share finances with a spouse, partner, or trusted family member, a two-player strategy allows for even greater rewards while keeping costs down.
One person can apply for a Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Sapphire Preferred®, while the other opens a Freedom Unlimited® or Freedom Flex®. Since Chase allows household members to combine points, the Freedom cardholder can transfer their cashback earnings to the Sapphire cardholder, converting those points into Ultimate Rewards.
This method allows both individuals to:
- Earn points across multiple categories
- Transfer earnings into a shared Ultimate Rewards account
- Reduce the number of total annual fees paid
With this setup, one household can enjoy a full Ultimate Rewards strategy without duplicate costs.
Building the Best Chase Card Strategy
The best Chase card setup depends on personal spending habits and travel goals. A cashback-only setup will not allow points to be transferred, but pairing a cashback card with a Sapphire or Ink Business Preferred® card makes it possible to unlock full Ultimate Rewards transfer flexibility.
A two-card combination, the Chase Trifecta, or a two-player mode strategy can all help maximize earnings while keeping fees manageable. With 14 airline and hotel transfer partners, Chase Ultimate Rewards remains one of the most flexible and valuable rewards programs available.
Now is the time to build a Chase card strategy and start turning everyday spending into unforgettable travel experiences.
