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Chase Ultimate Rewards Points is a popular points currency among travel hacking enthusiasts and frugal tourists like myself.
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 can be accrued by earning the sign-up bonuses and using any of the following credit cards below:
- Chase Freedom® Credit Card
- Chase Freedom Flex® Credit Card
- Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card
- Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
- Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card($95 annual fee)
- Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card($95 annual fee)
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card($550 annual fee)
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 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.)
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 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 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.
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 generate the best bang for your buck, in my opinion.
Now let’s check out the redemption options for premium Chase cards.
The image below shows that “Transfer to Travel Partners” became an available redemption option when I logged on to my Ultimate Rewards Account under my Chase Sapphire Preferred (CSP) card.
This “transfer benefit” will also appear in your Chase Sapphire Reserve, or Chase Ink Business Preferred accounts because they are both premium cards, but not in your no-annual-fee cards.
The table below comparatively illustrates the redemption options for each card type.
| No Annual Fee Redemptions | Premium Card Redemptions |
| Amazon | Amazon |
| Apple | Apple |
| Cashback | Cashback |
| Gift Cards | Gift Cards |
| Travel | Travels |
| Pay Yourself Back (PYB) | |
| Transfer to Partners | |
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.
In the image below, you can see that I have Ultimate Rewards points in several accounts, but not all can be transferred to travel partners like British Airways.
And this bears repeating – this generous redemption option of transferring to travel partners, such as British Airways, can only be carried out through one of the three Chase premium cards mentioned above.
Therefore, I strongly recommend owning at least ONE premium Chase card because this incredibly fantastic redemption benefit would not be possible without one.
In my case, the premium cards I have kept in my wallet are the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card (CSR) & 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 Chase travel partners.
Please check their website regularly as it is not unusual for Chase to initiate new relationships (Hello, Aer Lingus!) and terminate old ones (Bye, Korean Air).
What if my Ultimate Reward Points are in my No-Annual Fee Cashback 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 any of these premium Chase cards: – 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 navigate to any of your Ultimate Rewards-earning credit cards.
Then, look for the “Ultimate Rewards Points” button to access your points. Check out the image below.
Next, click the “Earn/Use” 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 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 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 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® Credit Card, 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 to review the differences between premium 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® Credit Card to the Chase Sapphire Reserve, 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.
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 higher likelihood that you’ll be able to find award availability that can be booked on points.
My recommended steps are as follows:
STEP 1:
First, you must register for a British Airways Executive Club Account, which should take less than 5 minutes.
STEP 2:
Once you are done signing up for your British Airways Executive Club account, keep your login credentials handy, as you will need them when searching for award space.
STEP 3:
Using your British Airways Executive Club account, initiate your search on British Airways’ website.
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 a piece of paper or your spreadsheet.
Transfer your points 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: You Need a Chase Premium Card In Order To Transfer to British Airways Executive Club
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 Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, a premium card.
Click “Redeem Ultimate Rewards points.”
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: Select Transfer to Travel Partners
Click the Earn/Use drop-down menu and then navigate to “Transfer to Travel Partners”
British Airways is one of Chase’s many travel partners.
STEP 3: Scroll Down to British Airways Executive Club
Select Airlines, then Look for British Airways Executive Club and Click Transfer Points
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.
You can use Avios to upgrade to the next cabin when you make a cash booking with British Airways, Iberia, or American Airlines; including flights with us and our oneworld® partners, hotel accommodations, and car rentals.
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 the redemption of Avios.
- Visit ba.com for more information, including full terms and conditions.
- Different redemption rates and cash/Avios apply to different carriers.
STEP 4: Type In Your British Airways Executive Club Account Number
Enter your Details and British Airways Executive Club Account Number
STEP 5: 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 allow for transfers is 1,000 Ultimate Rewards points.
STEP 6: Confirm and Submit
Confirm if all the info is correct, then click Submit.
STEP 7: 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 process 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 8: Book Your British Airways Award Flight
Once the points are in your British Airways Executive Club account, book the award space.
You have 24 hours to cancel the award tickets if plans change.
Transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to British Airways 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 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® 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 move your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to the British Airways Executive Club.
Choose “Combine Points” If you would like to move points between Chase credit cards.
STEP 6:
Select British Airways Executive Club from the list of Chase’s travel partners.
STEP 7:
Enter your British Airways Executive Club Account Number.
Make sure you sign-up for a British Airways Executive Club 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 the British Airways Executive Club.
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.
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 British Airways Avios back to Chase Ultimate Rewards.
STEP 10:
Run your award search and book your award 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, including 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
Unlike some loyalty programs, British Airways Executive Club does not have blackout dates.
This means that award flights can be booked on any available date, making planning and booking travel easier.
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
Personal Credit Cards That Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
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 FREEDOM FLEX® CREDIT CARD: Get $200 cash back or 20,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points after spending $500 within 3 months. It also has revolving categories that earn 5X, 3x in dining, 3x in drugstores, and 5X on travel booked at the Chase travel portal. You can read more about this card here.
CHASE FREEDOM UNLIMITED® CREDIT CARD: Get $200 cashback after spending $500 within 3 months. This card also earns 3X at drugstores and dining. Earn 1.5 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points for everything else. Learn more about Chase Freedom Unlimited 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 CASH® CREDIT CARD: Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. The Ink Business Cash also earns 5 Ultimate Rewards Points for every dollar spent at office supply stores, phone, internet, and cable. Learn more about the card here.
INK BUSINESS UNLIMITED® CREDIT CARD: Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. The Ink Business Unlimited also earns 1.5 Ultimate Rewards Points for all purchases. Learn more about the Ink Business Unlimited here.
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.
Related: Guide on How to Apply for your First Chase Business Card
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 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.
