According to Doctor of Credit, Chase is offering Sapphire cardmembers a big boost in value when redeeming points for premium cabin flights through Chase Travel.
- Book by June 15, 2025
- Travel complete by December 31, 2025
- Fly in premium economy, business or first class on Delta, United and Qatar Airways
Sapphire Reserve points will redeem at 2.25 cents apiece instead of the standard 1.5 cents (a 50% bonus). Sapphire Preferred will redeem at 1.75 cents apiece instead of the standard 1.25 cents (a 40% bonus).
That’s huge, because you often won’t get better value than 2 cents apiece redeeming points for premium cabin awards anyway and here you don’t have to hunt and peck for award seats and will still earn miles and status credit when redeeming points this way because they’re essentially paid tickets (Delta of course awards status credit on SkyMiles redemptions).
However this offer seems to be targeted.
This is not showing up in my account, and when I search for premium cabin flights on eligible airlines through Chase Travel I’m getting 1.5 cents per point only.
This is not showing up in my wife’s account either (I’d gladly move points from my account to hers to take advantage). So it’s not clear to me how widely it is available. It definitely seems worth checking your account for, though.
I normally don’t like making travel portal bookings because you’re dealing with a third party agent in the event of any changes, and that can be a hassle, but this represents enough value that I’d find it worthwhile. I’m a bit jealous of those that have it.
The question is whether they make the least expensive premium fares available.
Chase Travel point redemption is a bit of a scam as I very rarely get 1.5x point redemption when compared to the airfare available directly from the airline, and it’s doubly a scam when they invent change fees (like refusing to change a changeable fare from a $600 flight to a $700 flight unless I paid $2300…. had to call the airline and pay their additional $50 handling fee for not using the booking agent.)
They even have a canned shady explanation that “The airline doesn’t make all flights available to us”, but sometimes if you switch from your Reserve to a Preferred card when searching suddenly the cheaper airfare DOES show up in the search, so that’s a lie. (They’ll let you book at 1.25x but hide the airfare if you’re trying to book at 1.5x).
So I generally avoid the Chase Travel portal like the plague, as it’s often more expensive than booking direct, and you run the risk of getting seriously screwed if you have to make a change.
I’m with you Gary–on reluctance to book airfare via OTAs. Also, I was not targeted either. Still, it may be a nice idea for those who were. Good post by Chuck over at DoC. He and William are excellent. I really appreciate what they do on their site.
Its not showing up in my account and I have a use for this kinda offer!
Thanks for the heads up, I was targeted. Why wouldn’t Chase send out an email telling you that you were targeted?
@ Gary — Nada here. Not surprised.
The biggest problem for me when I go to book hotels through Chase (those that don’t have a program) is I am booking through Expedia.
As most experienced travelers know they absolutely suck!
Not sure if they handle Chase airline bookings however historically I’ve seen them overcharge for airline tickets compared to other booking platforms
Let the buyer beware!
Looks like the offer varies. I just checked a couple of Delta and United flights and I’m being offered $0.020/point (not $0.025/point) for those flights.