Best Ways to Use Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

By Bryce Casson, Founder · Cardocrat · Updated June 2026
The short answer: The best value from Chase points comes from transferring to travel partners, above all World of Hyatt, where points routinely beat 2 cents each. Transfers to United, Southwest, and Air Canada are strong too. The Chase Travel portal and cash are the floor; transfers are where points shine.

Transfer partners are the real value

Chase points are most valuable transferred 1:1 to travel partners. The standout is World of Hyatt: Hyatt award nights frequently return well over 2 cents per point, the best mainstream sweet spot in the hobby. Airline partners like United, Southwest, and Air Canada Aeroplan add strong value for flights. Confirm the current partner list before transferring.

The portal and cash floor

Booking through the Chase Travel portal redeems points at a fixed rate (often elevated on premium cards), which is easy and a reasonable floor when you do not want to chase awards. Cash back is worth a flat 1 cent. Both are simpler than transfers but rarely the best value, so use them when convenience matters more than squeezing every cent.

How to decide

Transfer to a partner (and confirm award space first) when you can beat about 1.25 cents per point, which Hyatt and good airline awards easily do; otherwise use the portal or cash. See the Chase Ultimate Rewards guide for earning, and what points are worth for the math.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best use of Chase Ultimate Rewards points?
Transferring to World of Hyatt, where award nights routinely beat 2 cents per point, is the standout. Airline transfers to United, Southwest, and Aeroplan are also strong. The travel portal and cash are easier but lower value.
Are Chase points worth more than 1 cent?
Yes, when transferred to partners. Hyatt and good airline awards often return 1.5 to 2-plus cents per point, versus a flat 1 cent for cash and roughly 1 to 1.5 cents through the portal.

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Bryce Casson

Bryce Casson, Founder of Cardocrat. Every card is ranked by what it actually returns, with all points valued at a flat 1 cent and offers verified against issuer sources. About the author.