Reddit user msd2179 completed a Chase Customer Panel survey regarding the ability to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to the Chase Sapphire Reserve to take advantage of the 1.5¢ per point value you get when redeeming for travel through the Chase travel portal. They wanted to know how users would feel about the following options:
- “When you combine the Ultimate Rewards points on eligible Chase Cards they would retain their original redemption value – that is, when transferred the points would retain the redemption value of the product they were initially earned on. For example you would not earn a travel redemption bonus if your transfer from a no fee card to a Fee card.”
- “You can only combine Ultimate Reward points between no-annual fee cards or between annual fee cards. You cannot combine Ultimate Rewards points between a no-annual fee card and an annual fee card.”
- “You can combine Ultimate Rewards points on eligible Chase cards at a 3:2 conversion ratio. For example if you would like to transfer 15,000 points from your Freedom Unlimited card to your Sapphire Reserve account, your Sapphire Reserve would be credited with 10,000 points (a 3:2 ratio). The transferred points would be granted the redemption value and options of the account to which they are transferred into.”
All three of these options are terrible and significantly devalue the current value you can get from the Chase Freedom Unlimited (1.5x Chase UR on all purchases) and the Chase Freedom (5x Chase UR on rotating categories). If they made these changes I assume they would also affect your ability to transfer the points to Chase’s travel partners as well. Obviously this is just a preliminary survey to see how customers would feel about these changes, but it isn’t good to see Chase even considering these types of negative changes.
If you received this survey, make sure you complete it so Chase knows how terrible these changes would be for cardholders. Might as well transfer over any points you have just in case as well.
Small Update: A number of months back, we heard a rumor from an insider that this kind of change was being looked at.
If this happens, I will move all my non-category spend to US Bank Altitude Reserve, Amex BBP, travel to Citi Prestige and Premier, and will convert CSR and all other Chase UR cards to Freedom.
I just moved all my chase UR points from my other cards to my CSR card. I have a Freedom and an Ink Plus card. I only use those two cards for the 5X point items pretty much. If I didn’t get 5X on those cards, I wouldn’t have them at all and just use the Sapphire card. I hope they don’t change the transfer capabilities.
Right now I’m using Freedom for all the restaurants for the next couple of months. I use Ink for business supplies, cable and Internet and phone, and some gift card purchases. The rest goes on the Sapphire card for items that get 3X points. The stuff that only gets 1X goes on Amex Blue Business for 2X MR and/or Citi Double. I have a few others I use for other reasons (Hilton Hotels, SPG, other Amex cards, etc.).
The best card though is the Chase Sapphire Reserve. I hope they don’t change it.
Question / advise request:
I have pretty extensive Chase UR Cards portfolio. 7 AF personal/business cards between me and my spouse… up until now I have kept most of the points under the accounts they have been earned, and was planning to do so as long as I can until the time comes to cancel/downgrade due to the AF at anniversary. Have not closed any yet, as all of them are less than 1 year old.
My reasoning was do not put all eggs in one basket… but due to this rumor it may be worth transferring all points to CSR. Do not have any No AF cards with Chase as was going after the sign up bonuses all that time…
Your thoughts?
Thank you for your recommendations.
I think they will give some warning if they do make this change, but doesn’t hurt to move them onto your highest AF card I don’t think so.
I transferred all my UR points from various cards (Ink, Freedom) to my CSR card; no big whoop, since that’s the only one I use these days. I hope it doesn’t happen, but better to be prepared.
I’ve been using airfare through the Chase Travel site for quite a while never; I haven’t really had any problems getting the lower price on tickets. Went to the UK last year, Barbados and now going to Italy soon with my UR points. No problems. I get my airline miles too.
Oh come on, Chase is not thinking of making any of these changes. IT’s VIRAL MARKETING. They did it with the CSReserve and are getting another bump in free visibility with this “survey”. Oh, same timing as the Citi Prestige roll out….. Why would such a successful team do something stupid….
Not sure how this is viral marketing. Why would you market a possible negative change? Makes no sense.
This might be the most presumptuous annoying thread to date here. I’m about to go back to the incognito click bait TPG. Maybe even MMS.
Love the Doc but you people and your opinions. help us. Settle down.
Surprised to hear you say that. I have found this thread to be extremely useful and keep returning to it every so often to read the comments.
I mean a ton of name calling and over the top “I’ll cancel!” Is not productive or insightful. There has been good theorizing and in no way was my comment against that kind of stuff or you authors. No disrespect
: )
Even if they would allow that, would be terrible. As long as you have a Reserve, you’re getting a 1.5 cpp MINIMUM value anyway..
Uninformed comment. What this was allowed, finding yourself wanting to redeem points for 1.5ccp on things OUTSIDE of the chase portal or transfer partners…. would be a very normal thing for some people.
Please think before just assuming your situation is the same as everyone’s situation…
Was this allowed***
Also, by “outside of the chase portal or transfer partners” I mean for cash back…. If you transfer points that are 3x on travel/dining from CSR to FU or Freedom at 2:3 then you’d be getting, what, 4.5% actual cash back vs 3%? You do not see how this would have value to someone? THE BEST redemption options are not always the right options for some. If you are about to lose your car, you may want to redeem your UR at the 1ccp value and move on, for instance.
Try to think about options, not perfections.
A Resounding NO.
It only achieves the 1.5 c if you redeem for travel thru the very glitch UR portal which
1) Does not always offer best airfares.
2) Hotel bookings often “get lost”, leaving people standing at an oversold hotel without a reservation despite UR told them they were all set.
The 1.5c is a value in theory subject to conditions and LOTS of perils.
Many people have tried to use this benefit and have found it very disappointing.
On option 3, would the reverse a 2:3 ratio apply? For example if you would like to transfer 10,000 points from your Sapphire Reserve account/CSP/Ink Plus, to your Freedom card, your Freedom would be credited with 15,000 points and redeemed for cash = $150?
I would keep the buzz up about canceling. Chase found a way to excite social media about their CSR. If they get the same response, only negative, they may listen.
Sure might not be a bad idea to encourage people to be do the same.
Clearly if this produced a negative impact, chase is already dumb enough that we could surmise that we are screwed.
Let’s just keep praying it was a gathering asking questions that weren’t actually being asked – ones that could even help us.
I proactively sent a message to Chase via Secure Message (I was not solicited for the survey) saying that I heard they were considering changes to the AF/non-AF UR points transfers. I stated that I thought these changes are negative and I would likely switch lenders if they went into effect. The link for feedback on my account page says “What can we do better? WE’RE LISTENING” … I hope they are actually listening.
Carter, please let us know how they respond. Thanks.
The response was not very helpful.
————————————-
Hello Carter,
Thank you for contacting us about the Ultimate Reward
points.
I would like to share that there are no such changes. In
future, if there are any changes you will be notified.
If you need any other assistance, you can send us a secure
message. We appreciate your business and thank you for
choosing Chase.
Thank you,
Velanie
Chase Email Servicing
That’s what the Chase Fairmont CSR told me in early spring.
Those guys & gals will be the last to know.