Chase is having a big month. Well, it started last month with a leak about big changes this month, but the good stuff is beginning to emerge.
Big changes are tipped for both the Sapphire Preferred and reserve card from August 15th, but ahead of that date, yet another exciting move is live – a new transfer partner is creating a new way to use Chase Points. Aeroplan, a great way to use points for Star Alliance flights, is a new points transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Aeroplan Officially A Chase Ultimate Rewards Partner
Aeroplan is officially a 1:1 points transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards. The quasi points loyalty program of Air Canada is one of the better Star Alliance loyalty programs, and offers excellent value in all cabins. Aeroplan points can be used on more than 40 airlines. For a primer on the best uses in the program, head here.
Now, Aeroplan points can be created almost instantly using Chase Ultimate Rewards Points from a variety of cards, including the Chase Sapphire Preferred, which has a massive 100,000 point welcome bonus at the moment.
Aeroplan is one of the few programs which has bucked the negative trend of removing “award charts” which give people a basis for how many points they’ll need, on a given route. The program has added flexibility for users, allowing points to be used on all Air Canada flights too.
Aeroplan will also launch a US credit card with Chase this year, and those who join the waitlist will receive an extra 10,000 points on top of the public welcome offer.
Chase Points Increasing In Value
Many airline and hotel programs have reduced the value of their programs lately, but not all. Chase, on the other hand, as a safe haven for points, has only increased the value of Ultimate Rewards Points.
Chase has retained 1:1 transfers with incredibly useful strategic partners like Hyatt, Emirates, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Air France/KLM, United and now, Aeroplan.
Points in transferrable programs, such as Chase Ultimate Rewards offer safety from any devaluations, and the ability to quickly move points into various airlines or hotels for unique, niche uses at a moments notice.
In addition, cardholders of the Chase Sapphire Cards can use their points towards travel at rates giving solid ‘flexible’ value, such as 100,000 points for $1250 towards travel, with Sapphire Preferred, or 100,000 points for $1500 toward travel with the Sapphire Reserve.
This is great news from Chase, and only makes the current record bonuses more worth considering. They don’t come around all that often…
Is there a fee for doing the 1:1 points transfer from Chase to an airline, say Virgin Atlantic, or any of the Star Alliance airlines? Thanks!
Fortunately, no! Zooming out, unless you plan to use immediately, always best to keep points in Chase, so as to keep flexibility open. But when you do move to use points, the transfers are free.