ADVERTISER DISCLOSURE: The Frugal Tourist is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as MileValue.com and Cardratings. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. All information about the American Express Schwab Platinum has been collected independently by The Frugal Tourist.
EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
This blog post walks you through how to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to United Mileage Plus.
Chase Ultimate Rewards Points is popular among points enthusiasts and frugal tourists like myself.
The reason? They offer the opportunity to redeem points for discounted flights across multiple airlines and free hotel stays.
Since United Airlines Mileage Plus is a transfer partner of Chase, you can essentially accumulate United Airlines miles by earning Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) points.
Earning Ultimate Rewards Points is relatively easy and straightforward – it is typically accumulated through generous welcome bonuses and regular spending using any of the credit cards below:
| Chase Personal Credit Cards That Earn Ultimate Rewards Points | Chase Business Credit Cards That Earn Ultimate Rewards Points |
|---|---|
| Chase Freedom Unlimited® | Ink Business Cash® Credit Card |
| Chase Freedom Flex® | Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® |
Feel free to skip to Instructions on How to Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to United Mileage Plus if you already know why transferring to a Chase premium card is necessary before we can initiate this transfer.
Important: You Need to Own A Chase Premium Card
To transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to United Mileage Plus, you only need one of these Chase premium cards.
| Chase Premium Credit Cards |
|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Chase Sapphire Reserve® Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card |
Heads Up: Without one of these three Chase premium cards, you will not have the ability to transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United Mileage Plus or any of Chase’s Travel Partners. In my opinion, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best of the three.
Deep Dive on Chase Credit Cards: No Annual Fee Cashback Cards versus Premium Cards
Before we proceed with the steps involved in transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to United Mileage Plus, we must understand the difference between no-annual-fee Chase cards and premium Chase cards.
The table below illustrates which category each card belongs in.
| No-Annual-Fee Cards | Premium Cards (AF=Annual Fee) |
|---|---|
| Chase Freedom Flex | Chase Sapphire Preferred ($95 AF) |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550 AF) |
| Ink Business Cash | Ink Business Preferred ($95 AF) |
| Ink Business Unlimited |
To soften the blow of the steep annual fees on Chase’s premium cards, Chase provides additional benefits to premium card consumers that are not available to those who only have no-annual-fee cards.
One of these valuable premium Chase card benefits is having access to my all-time favorite Ultimate Rewards (UR) redemption option – TRANSFER TO TRAVEL PARTNERS.
Redemption Options for Chase No-Annual-Fee Cashback Cards and Premium Cards
Let’s compare the redemption options of “no-annual fee” cashback cards versus premium travel cards.
Redemption Options for No-Annual-Fee Cards
| No-Annual-Fee Chase Card Redemption Options |
|---|
| Travel Pay Yourself Back Gift Cards Chase Dining Cash Back Pay With Points |
At first glance, you might think that the choices are pretty generous for no-annual-fee cards, specifically, the cashback and gift card options.
But if you want to maximize the value of your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points, it is recommended that you explore redemption methods other than cashback, especially if you also have a premium card.
Unless you have an emergency and need cash, exchanging your hard-earned points for cash or gift cards will not generate the best bang for your buck.
Redemption Options for Premium Chase Cards
| Premium Chase Card Redemption Options |
|---|
| Travel Pay Yourself Back Gift Cards Chase Dining Cash Back Pay With Points Transfer to Travel Partners |
The table above shows that “Transfer to Travel Partners” became an available redemption option for Chase premium cards.
This exclusive “transfer benefit” will appear on your Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or Chase Ink Business Preferred accounts because they are all premium cards but not in your no-annual-fee cards.
Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to Travel Partners Such As United
It is essential to underscore that each Ultimate Rewards Point is not created equal.
The value of each Ultimate Rewards Point will depend on whether they originate from a premium card or a no-annual-fee card.
Even if no-annual-fee cards generate Ultimate Reward points, you cannot transfer them to partners, including United Airlines, unless you have one of Chase’s premium cards.
Therefore, I strongly recommend owning at least ONE premium Chase card because this incredibly fantastic redemption benefit would not be possible without one.
Chase Travel Partners
The chart below lists all the Chase travel partners.
Please check their website regularly.
It is not unusual for Chase to initiate new relationships (Aer Lingus) and terminate old ones (Korean Air).
What if my Ultimate Reward Points are in my No-Annual Fee Cashback Cards?
Should you find most of your points in a no-annual-fee card, do not worry.
Chase allows the transfer of points between Chase Ultimate Rewards credit cards.
Log in to your Chase account and navigate to any of your Ultimate Rewards-earning credit cards.
Look for the “Ultimate Rewards Points” button, then click “Redeem” to access your points.
Next, click the “Rewards Details” dropdown arrow to find “Combine Points“.
If this is your first time combining Chase Ultimate Rewards Points, please continue reading for a step-by-step walkthrough.
As a general rule of thumb, I suggest transferring all of your no-annual-fee (cash back) Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to your premium cards, so you can have the ability to move your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to travel partners, such as Air France/KLM anytime.
This transfer also significantly increases the worth of your Ultimate Rewards Points acquired from your no-annual-fee cards, making them all the more valuable.
What if my Personal and Business Credit Cards have Different Log-In Information?
Before transferring your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points between your personal and business credit cards, you will need to merge your personal and business accounts.
To do so, you can call Chase’s customer service using the phone number on the back of any of your Chase credit cards and request that your accounts be combined into one profile.
“Can you link my personal and business accounts so I only need one username and password?”
During the call, you will be required to provide your personal and business account information to verify your identity.
After verification, the agent will then merge both accounts.
Once the accounts are linked, you’ll be able to access all of your accounts with one login and password.
This can save you time and make managing your finances and Chase Ultimate Rewards Points easier.
Whether you have questions about the linking process or need assistance with anything else, Chase’s customer support team is available 24/7 to provide help and support.
Steps for Combining Chase Ultimate Rewards Points (Desktop)
STEP 1:
Log in to your Chase profile and select one of your Chase cards that earns Ultimate Rewards points.
In the image below, I selected my Chase Freedom Flex card, which currently has 7,925 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points.
I then click “Redeem” in the Ultimate Rewards points section (inside the red box).
STEP 2:
Clicking “Redeem” will lead you to the “Ultimate Rewards” page.
Click the “Rewards Details” drop-down menu, then navigate down to “Combine Points“.
STEP 3:
Click “Combine Points,” then select a no-annual-fee card under “From” on the left column.
In the example below, I selected my no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Flex card.
This account will have the points you will transfer to a premium Chase card.
STEP 4:
Select a premium card under “To”, which is the Chase card where you want your points to go.
In the image below, I am moving points from my no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Flex to my premium card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
STEP 5:
Initiate the transfer by clicking “Continue.”
You will be directed to a page where you can indicate the number of points you would like to transfer to your premium card.
Since the value of your no-annual-fee Ultimate Rewards points significantly increases when transferred to a premium card, I highly suggest transferring all of your points.
Generally speaking, you would always want your Ultimate Rewards Points stored in one of your premium cards.
Click “Review” once you have made your selection.
If you have two premium cards that include the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, transfer all of your points to the CSR, as that provides the best redemption value among all the other Chase cards.
STEP 6:
Chase will give you another opportunity to review your selection.
You want to ensure that you transfer no-annual-fee Ultimate Rewards Points to a premium card and not vice versa.
In this example, I am moving my Ultimate Rewards Points from my no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Flex to the Chase Sapphire Preferred, a premium card.
Confirm & Submit.
STEP 7:
Once you have completed this transfer, you will be notified if the transfer was successful.
Once your points are in your premium card, you can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to your United Mileage Plus (see next section).
Pro Tip: If you are part of a couple or family that lives in the same address, transferring Chase points between different individual accounts (between player 1 and player 2) is possible. Holding two premium cards is no longer necessary as long as you meet Chase’s criteria as a household member. One player can keep a premium card, and the other can continue accumulating no-annual-fee Ultimate Rewards Points that can be easily transferred to the owner of the premium card. You need to call Chase to initiate this transfer.
Steps for Combining Chase Ultimate Rewards Points (Mobile App)
STEP 1:
Log in to your Chase profile and select one of your Chase cards that earns Ultimate Rewards points.
In the image below, I selected my Chase Ink Business Cash card.
Scroll down until you see the “Benefits and Rewards” section.
Click the “Redeem Points“.
STEP 2:
Navigate down to “Combine Points“.
STEP 3:
Select your “No-Annual-Fee” Chase card under “From“.
Then, select a Chase premium card under “To“.
In the example below, I am moving Chase Ultimate Rewards Points from my no-annual-fee Chase Ink Business Cash card to my Chase Ink Business Preferred card, a premium card.
STEP 4:
You will be directed to a page where you can indicate the number of points you would like to transfer to your premium card.
Since the value of your no-annual-fee Chase Ultimate Rewards points significantly increases when transferred to a premium card, I highly suggest transferring all of your points.
Generally speaking, you would always want your Ultimate Rewards Points stored in one of your premium cards.
Click “Review” once you have made your selection.
If you have two premium cards that include the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, transfer all of your points to the CSR, as that provides the best redemption value among all the other Chase cards.
STEP 5:
Chase will give you another opportunity to review your selection.
Again, you should ensure that you are transferring no-annual-fee Ultimate Rewards Points to a premium card and not vice versa.
Confirm & Submit.
Congratulations! You are now ready to transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to Chase’s many travel partners.
Join Other Points Enthusiasts In Our Free Travel Miles & Points Facebook Group
Instructions on How to Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to United Mileage Plus
Assuming that you already have your Ultimate Rewards Points in either the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, transferring to United Mileage Plus is as simple as following the steps below.
Before starting the transfer process, make sure that you have a United Mileage Plus Account.
It is free to register at United.com.
Once you have this number, write it down on a piece of paper, as we will need it in a little bit.
If you do not have a United Mileage Plus account yet, click the button below to
STEP 1:
Go to Chase.com, then Click One of Your Premium Cards.
Each premium card will give you the option to access Ultimate Rewards.
In this example, I transferred Chase Ultimate Rewards Points from my Sapphire Preferred, a premium card.
Click “Redeem Ultimate Rewards points.” This will lead you to the Ultimate Rewards page.
You can transfer points from your other no-annual-fee Chase cards to your premium card if you need more points.
Please see the previous sections for steps on how to “Combine Points.”
STEP 2:
On the Ultimate Rewards page, click the “Travel” drop-down arrow, then navigate to “Transfer Points to Partners”.
United Mileage Plus is one of Chase’s many travel partners.
STEP 3:
Look for United Mileage Plus and click the right arrow to proceed with the points transfer.
Program details (Source: Chase.com)
- All Ultimate Rewards points transferred to your United MileagePlus® account will be subject to the Terms and Conditions of MileagePlus and cannot be transferred back to your Chase Ultimate Rewards account.
- Taxes, government-imposed fees, and any applicable charges may apply on all MileagePlus miles redemptions and upgrades, subject to your MileagePlus Program agreement.
- Individual restrictions may apply.
- Chase is not responsible for the availability of specific flights, routes, travel dates, or other promotions or considerations of United Airlines.
- Redemptions are subject to availability.
- Chase is not responsible for the redemption of MileagePlus miles.
- Visit MileagePlus for more information, including full terms and conditions.
STEP 4:
Enter your United Mileage Plus account number and recipient details.
STEP 5:
Type in the number of points you would like to transfer in 1,000 Ultimate Rewards Points increments.
The minimum amount that you can transfer is 1,000 Ultimate Rewards points.
The transfer ratio is 1:1, so 1 Ultimate Rewards Point = 1 United Mile.
STEP 6:
Verify if all the information you entered is correct, then click “Submit”.
STEP 7:
Wait for your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to appear in your United Mileage Plus account.
How Long Does It Take for Ultimate Rewards Points to Transfer to United Mileage Plus?
In my experience, Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer instantly to United.
However, Chase has stated that transfers may take up to 7 business days.
I suggest immediately checking your United Mileage Plus account to verify whether the transfer was completed.
STEP 8:
Book the award space immediately once the miles are in your United Mileage Plus account.
United Mileage Plus award tickets can be canceled free of charge as long as it is done at least 30 days prior to departure.
Please text United at 32050 to inquire about their most recent cancel/change policy.
STEP 9:
Write down the confirmation numbers and/or record locators for your flights.
If you are flying multiple carriers, each airline will have a different confirmation code, so take note of each.
You will need this information when you call those airlines to select seats.
To identify which seats are the best ones to select, you can use the following free resources:
a. Seatguru.com
b. Aerolopa.com
Transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards to United Mileage Plus on the Chase Mobile App
Performing the above functions, such as combining points and transferring to travel partners, using the Chase Mobile app can initially be a bit confusing.
Here are the steps on how to navigate the Chase Mobile App, so you can quickly transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to United Mileage Plus wherever you are.
STEP 1:
Log in to your Chase account using your Chase Mobile App, and select a Chase Premium Card.
In this example, I will access my Chase Ultimate Rewards points through my Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
STEP 2:
Under your premium card, navigate to the “Benefits and Rewards” section, then click “Redeem Points”.
STEP 3:
Navigate to “Transfer Points to Partners“.
STEP 4:
Select United Mileage Plus from the list of Chase’s travel partners.
STEP 5:
Enter your United Airlines Mileage Plus number.
Before transferring your points, make sure you sign up for a United Airlines Mileage Plus account, as Chase will require this information.
STEP 6:
Indicate the number of Chase Ultimate Rewards Points you want to transfer to United Mileage Plus.
Before you transfer, remember though that this is a one-way street.
Any points transferred from Chase to United Mileage Plus can not be reversed, so make sure the award space is available before proceeding with this transfer.
After typing in the number of Chase Ultimate Rewards Points you would like to transfer, click “Next”.
STEP 7:
Review transfer details, then “Submit.”
Reminder to only transfer points when you see award availability.
Again, this transfer process is irreversible – you can not transfer United miles back to Chase Ultimate Rewards.
STEP 8:
Run your award searches and safe travels.
As previously mentioned, United Airlines award flights can be changed or canceled up to 30 days before departure.
However, I suggest you contact them to inquire about their most recent terms and conditions via text at 32050.
Before You Transfer to United Mileage Plus: Make Sure There Is Award Space
There is an essential step that I recommend you carry out before transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to United Mileage Plus.
Please check if the flight you want to book has available seats you can purchase using points.
Go to United.com, enter your preferred route and dates, and click “Book with Miles.”
When you see the award space available, follow the prompts until you reach the payment page.
If you can access the payment page without any issues, then that means the award is available to book.
After verifying award space availability, initiate the transfer.
In my experience, transfers from Chase to United Mileage Plus are, for the most part, instant.
How to Search for Award Space on United.com
STEP 1:
Log on to United.com. You can enroll by clicking the button below if you do not have a Mileage Plus account.
STEP 2:
Select if you would like a round-trip flight or one-way.
If you prefer a multi-city itinerary, you will have to click “Advanced Search” at the bottom.
STEP 3:
Select “Book with Miles.”
STEP 4:
Enter the following information:
- Point of Origin
- Destination
- Number of Travelers
- Dates
STEP 5:
Plug in your preferred cabin: Economy, Premium Economy, Business, or First.
STEP 6:
Press “Find Flights.”
STEP 7:
Click “Advanced Search” if you want to perform a multi-city reservation, use an upgrade, register a pet, or redeem a United certificate.
Aside from multi-city booking, United allows passengers to add hotels or rental cars to their reservations.
Lastly, United’s advanced search feature gives passengers additional options, such as redeeming their certificates, applying for upgrades, and registering pets.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Fast/Long Does It Take For Chase Points To Transfer to United Mileage Plus?
If you are doing this transfer for the first time, completing the process may take a few hours.
Conversely, if you have already transferred Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to United Mileage Plus in the past, then the transfer should be almost instant.
Can I Cancel United Mileage Plus Awards?
Yes, you can cancel United Mileage Plus award tickets free of charge as long as they are canceled 30 days before departure. You will get a full refund.
If you need to cancel within 30 days from your departure date, you can change your United award flights to a much later date, free of charge, and then cancel. This avoids the cancellation fee.
Do United Miles Expire?
In August 2019, United Airlines announced that MileagePlus miles would no longer expire, giving its members a lifetime opportunity to redeem those valuable miles on flights.
Credit Cards that Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
| Credit Cards | Details |
|---|---|
| Credit Cards that earn Ultimate Rewards (UR) Points | 1 Chase Ultimate Rewards. |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Welcome Offer |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Welcome Offer |
| Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | Welcome Offer |
| Credit Cards that can convert into Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) Points* | Steps to Convert |
| Chase Freedom Flex® | Welcome Offer |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited® | Welcome Offer |
| Ink Business Cash® Credit Card | Welcome Offer |
| Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card | Welcome Offer |
Summary
Final Thoughts
Without a doubt, flying for free is my primary motivation for accumulating travel miles and points.
Whether you aim for premium cabins or discounted airfare, Chase Ultimate Rewards is a travel currency that I strongly encourage you to earn because of how flexible their points are. And they are relatively easy to earn too!
Aside from being a transfer partner of Hyatt – the frequent recipient of my Chase Ultimate Rewards Points transfers, United Mileage is another Chase travel partner that can potentially have rewarding redemption options.
Every so often, United runs promotions offering specific routes for a discount.
This can certainly provide incredible value for those who want to get as much mileage from their points.
Lastly, I hope this blog post made the transfer process easier to do. Safe travels!
ADVERTISER DISCLOSURE: The Frugal Tourist is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as MileValue.com and Cardratings. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. All information about the American Express Schwab Platinum has been collected independently by The Frugal Tourist.
EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
USER-GENERATED CONTENT DISCLOSURE: The comments section below is not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all questions are answered.
This is really helpful. Thanks for sharing
Hi Tricia. Glad you find it helpful. Thank you!