The Best (and Worst) Ways to Use Your Chase Sapphire Points
- chasingmemoriesco
- May 4
- 3 min read
Learn the smartest ways to use Chase Ultimate Rewards points—why transferring to Hyatt gives you the best value and why the Chase Travel Portal often falls short.
When you’re holding onto a stash of Chase Ultimate Rewards points from your Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the ways you could use them.
But here's the truth: not all redemptions are created equal.
Let me repeat: NOT ALL REDEMPTIONS ARE CREATED EQUAL.
Let’s break down your options—from the absolute best to the ones you should skip—and I’ll share exactly how I personally use mine (spoiler: it’s not what Instagram says you should do).
🔁 1. Transfer to Travel Partners (Best Overall Value)
Chase lets you transfer points to 14 airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio.
The real standout? Hyatt.You can book stunning Hyatt hotels for as little as 5,000–15,000 points per night. That can get you 2–4 cents per point—some of the highest values in the entire points world.
My take: I save almost all my Chase points for Hyatt. The value is unbeatable, especially for family travel where cash rates can add up fast.
Pros:
Best value per point
Great for luxury stays at low point rates
Flexibility to book what you want, when you want
Cons:
Requires finding award availability
Transfers are final (no do-overs)
🧳 2. Book Through the Chase Travel Portal (Often the Worst)
At first glance, it seems easy: log in, search, redeem. But the Chase travel portal (powered by Expedia) comes with serious downsides.
Even though Sapphire Preferred gives you 1.25¢ per point and Reserve gives you 1.5¢, you’re still losing value.
Here’s why it’s one of the worst redemptions:
Hotel bookings don’t earn elite nights or points
You miss out on elite perks like upgrades or free breakfast
Prices can be higher than booking directly
Flights are dynamically priced—often costing more points
Use it only when:
Cash prices are unusually low
You want a no-fuss booking
You’ve checked other options and this is still the best deal
✈️ 3. Transfer to Airlines for Flight Redemptions
You can get solid value by transferring points to airline partners—especially if you’re flexible with dates or willing to travel in economy.
What I do: I save Chase points for Hyatt, and use Capital One Venture points to book flights. It’s more flexible, and lets me “erase” travel purchases—including low-cost flights that might not be worth a transfer.
Pros:
Good value, especially internationally
Opens up more availability than the Chase portal
Cons:
May require flexible dates
More steps to book
Transfers are final
💳 4. Cash Back or Gift Cards (Low Value)
You can redeem Chase points for cash at 1 cent per point or gift cards at around 1–1.1 cents per point.
It’s simple, but you’re leaving value on the table compared to travel redemptions.
Use it only if you need the cash or can’t travel soon.
♻️ 5. Pay Yourself Back (Sometimes Worth It)
Chase occasionally offers “Pay Yourself Back,” which lets you redeem points to cover purchases in specific categories (like groceries, dining, or charity donations) at 1.25–1.5 cents per point.
It’s a better deal than gift cards or cash back, but not as valuable as Hyatt transfers.
🧠 Final Thoughts: Do What Works for You
You’ll see people online bragging about flying business class to Europe for $20 and 100K points. And sure, that’s cool.
But it’s not the only way to use your rewards. And it might not be the right fit for your travel goals.
👉 I’d rather use fewer points to fly economy and go on more trips, staying at incredible hotels with my Chase points and booking flights with my Venture card.
Because for me, it’s not about flexing. It’s about making memories—and making my points work harder.
Ready to learn how to make points and miles work for you?
➡️ Join my free Master Every Mile Newsletter that teaches you how to plan amazing family trips using points without the overwhelm.
And follow me on Instagram for more tips:
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