You've been grinding away, swiping that Sapphire card for every dinner and grocery run, and now you’re sitting on a mountain of points. It’s a great feeling. But then you open the Chase portal and realize you have no idea where to send them. Should you just book a flight through their website? Maybe. But honestly, if you want the "Instagram-famous" business class seats or just a better deal on a domestic hop, you’ve gotta learn which airlines you can actually transfer Chase points to.
It’s not as complicated as the internet makes it sound. Basically, you’re just moving your "Chase currency" into an airline’s frequent flyer program.
What Airlines Can You Transfer Chase Points To?
Right now, in 2026, Chase has 11 airline partners. The cool thing is that they almost all transfer at a 1:1 ratio. This means 1,000 Chase points equals 1,000 airline miles. You have to move them in increments of 1,000, so no weird odd numbers.
Here is the current lineup of where those points can go:
✨ Don't miss: The Tomb of St Peter: What Most People Get Wrong About the Vatican’s Secret Excavations
- United Airlines (MileagePlus): This is the big one for most Americans. Since United is a massive Star Alliance member, you can use these miles to book flights on Lufthansa, Swiss, or ANA.
- Southwest Airlines (Rapid Rewards): Super straightforward. If a seat is for sale, you can buy it with points. No blackout dates, no fuss.
- JetBlue (TrueBlue): Similar to Southwest. It’s revenue-based, meaning the points price follows the cash price.
- Air Canada (Aeroplan): Don't let the name fool you. Aeroplan is arguably the best "all-around" partner for booking luxury flights to Europe or Asia because their partner list is huge.
- British Airways (Executive Club): They use something called "Avios." It’s great for short flights (like New York to Miami or London to Paris).
- Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club): Kinda legendary for cheap Delta flights or fancy Upper Class seats to London.
- Air France / KLM (Flying Blue): They run "Promo Rewards" every month where some flights to Europe are 25% or 50% off.
- Singapore Airlines (KrisFlyer): If you want to fly in a "Suite" that’s basically a hotel room in the sky, this is how you do it.
- Emirates (Skywards): For those high-end Dubai trips.
- Iberia (Plus): Another Avios user. It’s secretly the cheapest way to get to Spain in business class.
- Aer Lingus (AerClub): Also uses Avios. Good for hop-overs to Dublin.
The "Hidden" Airlines You Can Book
Here’s the thing most people miss: just because Delta isn't on that list doesn't mean you can't book a Delta flight.
It’s all about alliances. If you transfer points to Virgin Atlantic, you can often use those miles to book a seat on a Delta plane. If you send points to British Airways, you can book American Airlines or Alaska Airlines flights. It’s a bit of a shell game, but it’s how the experts get those "impossible" redemptions.
Why Some Transfers Are Better Than Others
I'll be real with you—transferring to Southwest is "fine," but it’s rarely "spectacular." You’re basically getting about 1.3 to 1.4 cents per point in value.
On the flip side, people like TPG's experts often value Chase points at over 2 cents each. How? By transferring to Air Canada Aeroplan or United to book business class flights that would normally cost $5,000. If you spend 70,000 points on a $5,000 ticket, you’re getting over 7 cents per point. That’s the dream.
Timing Your Move
Most transfers are instant. You hit "confirm" in the Chase portal, and by the time you log into your United account, the miles are there.
But sometimes there’s a lag. Singapore Airlines can take 24 to 48 hours. Marriott (though a hotel partner) can take even longer. Never, ever transfer points until you have confirmed the flight you want is actually available for booking with miles. Once those points leave Chase, they are never coming back. There is no "undo" button.
How to Actually Do the Transfer
It’s tucked away in the "Travel" menu of your Chase account. You’ll see a button that says "Transfer to Travel Partners."
- Link the account: You’ll need your frequent flyer number for the airline. The name on your Chase account must match the name on the airline account exactly. If your middle initial is on one but not the other, it might get flagged.
- Choose your amount: Remember, 1,000-point chunks only.
- Wait for the magic: Most of the time, it's immediate.
Are there bonuses?
Sometimes! Every now and then, Chase will run a promotion. For example, they might offer a 30% bonus if you transfer to British Airways. So 1,000 Chase points would give you 1,300 Avios. If you see one of these and you were planning a trip anyway, jump on it.
The Reality Check on Award Space
Don't assume that because a flight is for sale for $400, it’s available for points. Airlines only release a certain number of "award seats."
During the holidays or peak summer, finding these seats is like hunting for a needle in a haystack. If you're flexible—like flying on a Tuesday or being okay with a layover in Montreal—you'll have much better luck.
If you just want the simplest experience, sticking to Southwest or the Chase Travel Portal (where you "pay" with points at a fixed rate) is much less of a headache, even if the "value" isn't as high.
Summary of What to Do Next
If you're ready to stop hoarding points and start traveling, your first move should be to create accounts with the "Big Three" partners: United, Air Canada, and British Airways. You don't need points in them yet; just have the accounts ready.
Once you have a destination in mind, search for the flight on those airline websites first. Only when you see the "saver" award price should you log into Chase and pull the trigger on the transfer.
Check your current point balance in the Chase app and see which of the 11 airlines flies most frequently out of your home airport—that’s usually your best starting point.