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This blog post walks you through the steps on how to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to British Airways Executive Club so you can be on your way to your next bucket list destination on British Airways or its partners using Chase Ultimate Rewards Points.
Chase Ultimate Rewards is a popular currency among points enthusiasts and frugal tourists like myself because they can be redeemed for discounted flights with multiple airlines and free hotel stays.
Since British Airways is a transfer partner of Chase, you can essentially accumulate British Airways Avios as a result of earning Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) points.
Earning Ultimate Rewards Points is relatively easy and straightforward – it is typically accumulated through generous sign-up 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® |
Important: You Need to Have A Chase Premium Card
To have the ability to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to the British Airways Executive Club Program, you need to own at least one of Chase’s premium cards.
Again, you only need one of these cards to unlock the benefit of transferring to Chase travel partners such as British Airways.
| Chase Premium Credit Cards |
|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Chase Sapphire Reserve® Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card |
Pro Tip: Without one of these three Chase premium cards, you cannot transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to British Airways 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 British Airways, we must understand the difference between no-annual-fee cashback 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, the bank provides additional benefits to premium cardholders 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 a 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 to Travel Partners Such As British Airways
It is essential to underscore that each Chase Ultimate Reward point is not created equal.
The value of each Chase Ultimate Reward 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 British Airways, 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 British Airways 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 must 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 Points or Converting No-Annual-Fee Cashback Chase Points to Travel Points
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℠, 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 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℠.
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 the other way around.
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 it was successful.
Once your points are in your premium card, you can now transfer your Ultimate Rewards Points to British Airways (see next section).
Pro Tip: If you are part of a couple/family who lives in the same address, transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards 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
Before You Transfer Your Chase Points: Check For British Airways Award Space Availability
Before starting the transfer process, you want to ensure that actual award space on your specific dates is available.
The more flexible your travel dates are, the more likely you’ll be able to find award availability that can be booked on points.
STEP 1:
First, you must register for a British Airways Executive Club Account, which should take less than 5 minutes.
STEP 2:
Keep your login credentials handy once you have signed up for your British Airways Executive Club account.
You will need them when searching for award space.
STEP 3:
Log in to your British Airways Executive Club account and start your search.
Make sure you fill out the following details correctly:
- Select “Book A Flight With Avios“
- Plug in your departure city and destination.
- Indicate whether you are searching for One-Way or Round-Trip.
- Indicate the departure date, number of passengers, and your preferred class of service.
- Click “Get Flights“
Flexibility is critical if you would like to find the lowest-priced award seat on the calendar.
STEP 4:
Select your preferred flights and write down the information on paper or your spreadsheet.
Transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to British Airways Executive Club and hope the award space does not disappear while your points are in transit.
Steps on How to Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to British Airways Executive Club
Transferring to British Airways Executive Club is simple, assuming you already have your Ultimate Rewards Points in one of your Chase premium cards.
STEP 1:
Make sure that you have a British Airways Executive Club Account.
Registering is free. Once you have your British Airways Executive Club account number, please write it on paper, as we need it soon.
If you do not yet have a British Airways Executive Club account, click the button below to sign up.
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 Chase premium card I selected was my Chase Sapphire Preferred card.
Click “Redeem Ultimate Rewards points.”
You can transfer points from your other no-annual-fee Chase cards to your premium card if you do not have sufficient points.
Please see the previous sections for steps to “Combine Points.”
STEP 3:
Click the “Travel” drop-down arrow, then navigate to “Transfer Points to Travel Partners”.
British Airways is one of Chase’s many travel partners.
STEP 4:
Look for British Airways Executive Club and click the right arrow to proceed with the transfer.
Currency: Avios
Avios can be redeemed for reward flights on British Airways and its partner airlines, including the oneworld® alliance, to nearly 1,000 destinations worldwide.
When you make a cash booking with British Airways, Iberia, or American Airlines, you can use Avios to upgrade to the next cabin.
Program Details (Source: Chase.com)
- All Ultimate Rewards points transferred to your British Airways Executive Club account will be subject to the Terms and Conditions of British Airways Executive Club and cannot be transferred back to your Chase Ultimate Rewards account.
- Taxes, government-imposed fees, and applicable charges may apply on all Avios redemptions and upgrades, subject to your British Airways Executive Club agreement.
- Individual restrictions may apply.
- Chase is not responsible for the availability of specific flights, routes, travel dates, or other promotions or considerations of British Airways Executive Club.
- Redemptions are subject to availability.
- Chase is not responsible for redeeming Avios.
- Visit ba.com for more information, including full terms and conditions.
- Different redemption rates and cash/Avios apply to various carriers.
STEP 5:
Enter your British Airways Executive Club Account Number.
STEP 6:
Enter the Number of Points You Would Like to Transfer to British Airways
Type in the number of points you would like to transfer in 1,000 Ultimate Rewards increments.
The transfer ratio is 1:1, so 1 Ultimate Rewards Point = 1 British Airways Avios.
The minimum amount Chase allows for transfers is 1,000 Ultimate Rewards points.
STEP 7:
Confirm if all the info is correct, then click Submit.
STEP 8:
Wait for British Airways Avios to Show Up In Your Account.
How Long Does It Take for Ultimate Rewards Points to Transfer to British Airways?
In my experience, Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer instantly to British Airways.
However, Chase has stated that most point transfers are processed by the next business day but may take up to 7 business days.
I suggest immediately checking your British Airways online account after transferring to verify whether the transfer was completed.
STEP 9:
Book Your British Airways Award Flight using British Airways Avios.
Book the award space immediately once the points are in your British Airways Executive Club account.
You have 24 hours to cancel the award tickets if plans change.
STEP 10:
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 Points to British Airways on the Chase Mobile App
Using the Chase Mobile app to perform the above functions, such as combining points and transferring to travel partners, can initially be confusing.
Here are the steps to navigate the Chase Mobile App, so you can quickly transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to the British Airways Executive Club program 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® 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 British Airways Executive Club from the list of Chase’s travel partners.
Occasionally, Chase also gives transfer bonuses, so I try to time my transfers when those are offered.
STEP 5:
Enter your British Airways Executive Club Account Number.
Before transferring your points, sign up for a British Airways Executive Club account, as Chase will require this information.
STEP 6:
Indicate the number of Chase Ultimate Rewards Points you would like to transfer to the British Airways Executive Club.
Before you transfer, remember that this is a one-way street.
Any points transferred from Chase to the British Airways Executive Club 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, the transfer process is irreversible – you can not transfer British Airways Avios back to Chase Ultimate Rewards.
STEP 8:
Run your award search on British Airways and book your flight using British Airways Avios.
Benefits of Transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to the British Airways Executive Club
Access to Oneworld Alliance
British Airways is a member of the Oneworld Alliance, which includes American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and Qatar Airways.
Transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to British Airways Executive Club can provide access to over 1,000 destinations worldwide.
More Options for Award Flights
British Airways Executive Club has a distance-based award chart, meaning short-haul flights can be redeemed for fewer Avios than longer flights.
This provides more options for award flights and can offer significant savings on shorter trips.
Flexible Redemption Options:
British Airways Avios can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and experiences.
This flexibility allows travelers to use their Avios in a way that suits their travel needs and preferences.
No Blackout Dates
British Airways Executive Club does not have blackout dates, unlike some loyalty programs.
This means that award flights can be booked on any available date, making planning and booking travel much more straightforward.
Best Uses of British Airways Avios
Short-haul Flights
As mentioned, British Airways Executive Club has a distance-based award chart, which makes short-haul flights an excellent option for redeeming Avios.
Flights under 650 miles can be redeemed for as few as 4,000 Avios, offering significant regional and domestic travel savings.
Avios can also be redeemed on short-haul routes served by One World partners such as American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas.
Upgrades
One of my favorite uses of my British Airways Avios is having the ability to upgrade to the next level of service.
For example, whenever I book a premium economy flight in cash, I can use my Avios to upgrade to business class.
You can virtually upgrade on any eligible British Airways flight—from economy to premium economy, premium economy to business class, or business class to first class.
This can provide a more comfortable and luxurious travel experience for a relatively low number of Avios.
Partner Flights
Avios can also be redeemed for flights on partner airlines, such as American Airlines, Qatar Airways, Iberia, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas.
This provides more options for redeeming Avios and can offer excellent value on both long-haul and short-haul 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 |
Final Thoughts
Flying for free is my ultimate motivation for accruing travel miles and points.
Whether you aim for premium cabins or discounted airfare, Chase Ultimate Rewards is a currency I highly recommend you accumulate because of its flexibility.
Aside from being a transfer partner of Hyatt and United – the two most common recipients of my Chase points, British Airways is another travel partner that can be an alternative when searching for good deals.
The British Airways Executive Club can provide access to a vast network of flights and travel experiences.
Using Avios for short-haul flights, upgrades, and partner flights can offer significant savings and enhance the overall travel experience.
Lastly, I hope this blog post made the transfer process much easier to follow. Safe travels!
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 otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
