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Chase Ultimate Rewards Points is a favorite travel rewards currency among points enthusiasts and frugal tourists like myself.
Since the World of Hyatt Program is a transfer partner of Chase, you can essentially accumulate Hyatt points as a result of earning Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) points.
Earning Ultimate Rewards Points is relatively straightforward and can be accrued by using any of the following credit cards below:
Chase Personal Credit Cards:
- Chase Freedom® Credit Card
- Chase Freedom Flex® Credit Card
- Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card ($95 annual fee)
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card($550 annual fee)
Chase Business Credit Cards:
- Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
- Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
- Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card ($95 annual fee)
Feel free to skip to Instructions on How to Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to the World of Hyatt if you already know the reasons why transferring to a premium Ultimate Rewards Points card is necessary before we can initiate this transfer.
You Need A Chase Premium Card Before You Can Transfer to The World of Hyatt
To have the ability to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to the World of Hyatt Program, you need to hold at least one of Chase’s premium cards, namely:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card (Learn more about this card here.)
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card (Learn more about this card here.)
- Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Learn more about this card here.)
Heads Up: Without one of these three Chase premium cards, you will not have the ability to transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to the World of Hyatt program 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 the World of Hyatt, we must understand the distinction between no-annual-fee Chase cards and premium Chase cards.
The table below illustrates which category each card belongs to.
| 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) |
| Chase Business Ink Cash | Chase Ink Business Preferred ($95 AF) |
| Chase Business Ink Unlimited |
To soften the blow of the steep annual fees, Chase provides additional benefits to premium card consumers that are unavailable to those with only no-annual-fee Chase credit 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 Cards and Premium Cards
Let’s compare the redemption options of “no-annual fee” Chase cards versus premium cards.
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 other redemption methods other than cashback, especially if you also have a premium card. I’ll explain this later.
Unless you have an emergency and are in dire need of cash, exchanging your hard-earned points for cash or gift cards will not produce the best value, in my opinion.
Now, let’s check out the redemption options for premium cards.
In the image below, you will notice that “Transfer to Travel Partners” became an available redemption option when I logged on to Ultimate Rewards under my Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card (CSR).
These options will also show up on your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card or Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card accounts because they are both premium cards but not in your no-annual-fee Chase credit cards.
The table below comparatively illustrates the redemption options for each card type.
| NO ANNUAL FEE REDEMPTIONS | PREMIUM CARD REDEMPTIONS |
|---|---|
| AMAZON | AMAZON |
| APPLE | APPLE |
| CASH BACK | CASH BACK |
| GIFT CARDS | GIFT CARDS |
| TRAVEL | TRAVEL |
| EXPERIENCES | |
| PAY YOURSELF BACK | |
| ***TRANSFER TO PARTNERS *** |
Hyatt vs. Marriott vs. IHG
In my opinion, the most favorable choice is to transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to certain travel partners in most cases.
As a result, I typically save my Ultimate Rewards Points for these types of redemptions. For example, transferring your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to The World Of Hyatt generally provides excellent value.
Conversely, transferring to Marriott or IHG typically does not always yield terrific value except on rare occasions. That said, redeeming your points at the Chase travel portal also periodically gives a better return.
Here’s a guide that can walk you through a framework for determining when using the travel portal or transferring to partners is recommended.
Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to the World of Hyatt
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.
As previously stated, even if no-annual-fee cards generate Ultimate Rewards Points, you will not have the ability to transfer to partners, including to the World of Hyatt, unless you have one of Chase’s premium cards (Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card, or Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card).
In the image below, you can see that I have Ultimate Rewards Points in several accounts, but not all can be transferred to Chase travel partners.
That is why I strongly recommend owning at least ONE premium Chase card because this incredibly fantastic redemption option would not be possible without one.
In my case, the premium cards I have kept in my wallet are the Chase Sapphire Reserve (CSR) and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card. The other premium card that will give you this transfer benefit is the Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
Chase Travel Partners
The chart below lists all the other Chase travel partners. Please check their website regularly as it is not unusual for Chase to initiate new relationships (Hello, AerLingus!) and terminate old ones (Bye, Korean Air).
What if my Ultimate Reward Points are in my No-Annual Fee Cards?
| Read this section if your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points are in your no-annual-fee cashback Chase credit cards: – Chase Freedom Flex – Chase Freedom Unlimited – Chase Business Ink Cash – Chase Business Ink Unlimited Skip to the next section if your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points are in a premium Chase card such as the: – Chase Sapphire Preferred – Chase Sapphire Reserve – Chase Business Ink Preferred |
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 click any of your Ultimate Rewards-earning credit cards.
Then, look for the “Ultimate Rewards Points” button to access your points. Please see the image below.
Next, look for the option to “COMBINE POINTS” (see image below), which can be accessed under your Ultimate Rewards accounts.
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 points to travel partners, such as the World of Hyatt anytime.
This transfer also significantly increases the worth of your Ultimate Rewards Points acquired from your no-annual-fee cards, making them more valuable.
What if my Personal and Business Credit Cards have Different Log-In Information?
Before you can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points between your personal credit cards 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 will 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 more straightforward.
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 Points or Converting No Annual Fee Chase Points to Premium Chase Points
STEP 1:
Log in to your Chase profile and select one of your Chase cards that earns Ultimate Rewards points.
I selected my Chase Freedom card in the image below, which currently has 26,256 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points.
I then clicked “Redeem” in the Ultimate Rewards points section (inside the red box).
Clicking “Redeem” will lead you to the “Ultimate Rewards” page. Click the “Earn / Use” drop-down menu (see the image below).
STEP 2:
The drop-down menu will reveal the different redemption options, including “Combine Points”.
STEP 3:
Click “Combine Points,” then select a no-annual-fee card under “From” on the left column. 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® Credit Card to my premium card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit 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® Credit Card (CSR), transfer all of your points to the CSR, as that provides the best redemption value among all the other Chase cards.
Want to know more? Here’s a beginner’s guide that covers the differences between premium cards.
STEP 6:
Chase will give you another opportunity to review your selection.
You would 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® Credit Card to my Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card, 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 Ultimate Rewards Points to your World of Hyatt account (see next section).
Steps on How to Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to the World of Hyatt
Assuming that you already have your Ultimate Rewards Points in either the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card, or Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, transferring to World of Hyatt is as simple as following the steps below.
But before we jump into the transfer process, I want to make sure that you perform this critical step before transferring:
Check if the room you want to book is available using points. Go to Hyatt.com, plug in your preferred location and dates, and click “USE POINTS”. Follow the prompts until you reach the payment page. If the room is still available using points, you can initiate the transfer and book your free night. Just a reminder, though, that once your Chase points are in your Hyatt account, you can no longer reverse the process.
STEP 1: Sign Up for a Hyatt Account (Free!)
It is free to register at Hyatt.com. Once you have this number, write it down on a piece of paper, as we will need it in a little bit.
STEP 2: Go to Chase.com, then Access One of your Premium Cards
Each premium card will give you the option to access Ultimate Rewards.
In the example below, the premium card I selected was the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card.
Look for the option to access your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points by clicking “Redeem”.
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 to “Combine Points.”
STEP 3: Choose Transfer to Travel Partners
Click the Earn/Use drop-down menu and then navigate to “Transfer to Travel Partners”
The World of Hyatt loyalty program is one of Chase’s many travel partners.
STEP 4: Look for World of Hyatt and Click Transfer Points
STEP 5: Enter your Hyatt Number and Recipient Details
You can transfer points to yourself or a recipient who is both an authorized user on your account and a member of your household.
STEP 6: Type the Number of Points You Would Like to Transfer in 1,000 Points Increments
The transfer ratio is 1:1, so 1 Ultimate Rewards Point = 1 World of Hyatt Point.
The minimum amount Chase allows for transfers is 1,000 Ultimate Rewards points. There is no limit.
STEP 7: Confirm if All the Info is Correct, then Click Submit
STEP 8: Check your World of Hyatt account After the Transfer.
Moving Ultimate Rewards Points from Chase to the World of Hyatt is typically instant, so refresh your browser if you do not see your points show up instantly.
Transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards to The World of Hyatt Program on the Chase Mobile App
Performing the above functions, such as combining points and transferring to travel partners, using the Chase Mobile app is a bit confusing at first.
Here are the steps on how to navigate the Chase Mobile App, so you can quickly transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points wherever you are.
STEP 1:
Log in to your Chase account using your Chase Mobile App.
Select a Chase Premium Card. In this example, I will access my Chase Ultimate Rewards points through my Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card.
STEP 2:
Under your premium card, navigate to the Rewards and Benefits section.
STEP 3:
Click “Ultimate Rewards”
STEP 4:
Click the three lines on the upper left-hand corner. See the image below.
STEP 5:
Select “Transfer to Travel Partners” to transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to any of Chase’s travel partners.
This blog post will walk you through transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to The World of Hyatt Program.
If you want to transfer points from one Chase Ultimate Rewards credit card to another credit card, select “Combine Points”.
STEP 6:
Select The World of Hyatt from the list of Chase’s travel partners.
STEP 7:
Enter your World of Hyatt account Number.
Make sure you sign-up for a World of Hyatt account before transferring your points, as Chase will require this information.
STEP 8:
Indicate the number of Chase Ultimate Rewards Points you would like to transfer to Hyatt.
Remember that this is a one-way street. Any points transferred from Chase to Hyatt can not be reversed, so make sure the award space is available before proceeding with this transfer.
STEP 9:
Review transfer details, then “Submit”
Reminder to only transfer points when you see award availability. The transfer process is irreversible – you can not transfer World of Hyatt points back to Chase Ultimate Rewards.
How Fast/Long Does It Take For Chase Points To Transfer to Hyatt?
If you are doing this transfer for the first time, completing the process may take a few days.
Conversely, if you have transferred Chase points to the World of Hyatt in the past, the transfer should be almost instant.
The chart below provides the number of points you need to transfer per hotel category.
The World of Hyatt’s New Off-Peak/Peak Award Chart
Effective March 2022, some Hyatt properties will cost less or more depending on the time of your visit.
The off-peak/peak award chart below illustrates the new rates for standard rooms, standard suites, and premium suites. Screenshots were from The World of Hyatt website.
Standard Rooms Off-Peak/Peak Award Chart
| Category | Off-Peak | Standard | Peak Nights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3,500 | 5,000 | 6,500 |
| 2 | 6,500 | 8,000 | 9,500 |
| 3 | 9,000 | 12,000 | 15,000 |
| 4 | 12,000 | 15,000 | 18,000 |
| 5 | 17,000 | 20,000 | 23,000 |
| 6 | 21,000 | 25,000 | 29,000 |
| 7 | 25,000 | 30,000 | 35,000 |
| 8 | 35,000 | 40,000 | 45,000 |
When Do I Know if Paying In Cash is Better Than Redeeming Hyatt Points?
Since the transfer from Chase to Hyatt is irreversible, it is always advisable to crunch the numbers by comparing the cash price with points before transferring.
Below is my suggested formula that you can utilize to ensure that you are getting the best bang for your buck whenever you redeem your World Of Hyatt points.
STEP 1: Determine the CENTS PER POINT (CPP) value of the property
A. Divide the cash price (paid rate) by the number of points needed.
B. Multiply the amount you got from “A” by 100 to obtain the CPP.
For example:
PAID RATE: Hyatt Regency Monterey for Sept 11-13 in cash: $621.96
POINTS: Hyatt Regency Monterey for the same nights in points: 30,000 Hyatt points (15,000 Hyatt points per night x 2)
Divide paid rate ($622) over points required (30,000) = 0.0207
Hyatt Regency Monterey redemption: 0.0207 X 100 = 2.07 cents per point (CPP)
STEP 2: Check the table below to determine if the CPP (cents per point) valuation is a good redemption using points or if it’s better to pay cash
| Cents per point (CPP) value | How to Book |
| Greater than 1.5 cents/point | Use Points |
| Less than 1.5 cents/point | Use Travel Portal or Pay Cash |
Referencing the table above, redeeming using points at this particular property seems like a relatively great redemption because each World of Hyatt point yields an equivalent value of 2 cents.
The higher the CPP, the more valuable your points become. Calculating the CPP before redeeming is key in ensuring that you are optimally stretching the value of your points.
STEP 3: If the value is below 1.5 cents, then your best option is to redeem your points using the “TRAVEL” option on Chase.com or pay cash
For a more in-depth discussion on how to do this, here’s my blog post explaining the process in more detail.
Other Options for Redeeming Hyatt Nights
Points and Cash
If you do not have a lot of Hyatt Points or Chase Ultimate Rewards Points, Hyatt also allows a combination of “Points & Cash.”
While I am glad Hyatt is giving us another option to use points, I do not find this a great deal if you book luxurious hotels since you still have to cover about 50-70% of the Standard Room Rate.
However, this option can undoubtedly provide terrific value if you come across inexpensive accommodations.
Do Hyatt Points Expire?
We have worked hard accumulating Hyatt points, so it is natural to want to know if they have an expiration date.
So, when do Hyatt points expire?
According to the World of Hyatt website, the general policy is that points do not expire but will be forfeited if a member’s account is inactive for 24 months.
Therefore, you would want to ensure you have some activity every two years to prevent the complete forfeiture of your World of Hyatt points.
A strategy that I recommend to prevent this from happening is to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to the World of Hyatt program using the steps outlined above.
Can I Transfer My World of Hyatt Points Back to Chase?
Transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to the World of Hyatt is a one-way street.
Once you have moved your Ultimate Rewards Points to the World of Hyatt, it can never be reversed.
Thus, you must ensure that available rooms can be booked with points at your preferred property before transferring your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to the World of Hyatt.
Hence, I suggest performing a trial/dummy booking until you reach the page where you are asked to pay for the reservation.
Periodically, we find phantom space that initially shows that rooms are available, but they disappear once you are ready to book.
In short, you do not want your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points stuck in the World of Hyatt program without a specific redemption plan.
The World of Hyatt Credit Cards
Chase Bank currently offers two Hyatt credit cards. Both are viable ways to earn Hyatt points.
THE WORLD OF HYATT CREDIT CARD: Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that typically earn 1 Bonus Point, up to $15,000. Read more about the World of Hyatt Credit Card here.
THE WORLD OF HYATT BUSINESS CARD: Earn up to 75,000 points after spending $7,500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Read more about the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card here.
Please review the terms and conditions before applying for the above cards.
- A minimum spending requirement must be met before the points can be awarded.
- Do not apply if you anticipate difficulty paying off the balance before or on the due date. Paying bank interest is never a good idea.
- The annual fees are not waived, but you earn a free anniversary night up to a Category 4 hotel (15,000 points) every time you pay the annual fee for the personal card. Typically, Category 4 hotels cost upwards of $120, so it is not hard to break even. Unfortunately, there is no free night award on the business version.
- Since this is a Chase card, Chase Bank will only approve applicants who did not apply for more than five new credit cards in the past 24 months. Read more about Chase’s 5/24 rule here.
- An excellent credit score can also significantly increase the likelihood of getting approved.
Chase Ultimate Rewards Cards That Transfer To Hyatt
Personal Credit Cards That Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards Points That Can Be Transferred To The World of Hyatt
CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFERRED® CREDIT CARD: Earn 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 within 3 months. Points can be redeemed for cash back or travel. Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred here.
CHASE SAPPHIRE RESERVE® CREDIT CARD: Earn 50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Read more about the Chase Sapphire Reserve here.
Business Credit Cards that Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
INK BUSINESS PREFERRED® CREDIT CARD: Earn 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Learn more about the Ink Business Preferred here.
Pro-Tip: If you have Chase Ultimate Rewards Points generated from no-annual-fee cards like the Chase Freedom Flex, Chase Freedom Unlimited, Chase Ink Business Cash, and Chase Ink Business Unlimited, you can convert them into transferrable Ultimate Rewards Points if you own any of the Chase premium cards above by following the steps in this tutorial. Once your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points are saved under a Chase premium card, you can move it to the World of Hyatt Program.
Summary
Final Thoughts
Hyatt’s award chart is exceptionally generous compared to other hotels, as they charge substantially fewer points.
A Hyatt top-tier hotel will cost 30,000 points, whereas a Marriott or a Hilton would set you back at least 70,000 points for an identical hotel category.
Even though they do not have as extensive a footprint as some of its competitors, I sometimes catch myself visiting places where there are Hyatts so I can take advantage of free rooms and therefore save up on accommodations.
Hyatt currently occupies the top spot as my most utilized Chase Ultimate Reward transfer partner.
Their points have allowed me to stay in extravagant hotels around the globe for free that I otherwise would not have been able to afford.
Attached to these stays are once-in-a-lifetime experiences that I will eternally remember.
Thank you, World of Hyatt and Chase!
EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE – Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. The content has not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
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