Chase Ultimate Rewards Transfer Partner JetBlue
As of yesterday Chase Ultimate Rewards is down a unique and valuable transfer partner. As we covered last week, it is no longer possible as of August 25, 2018 to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to Korean Air SKYPASS. This is a redemption option that I used for my recent First Class flight from Seoul and one I will miss.
Even with the loss of Korean Air SKYPASS it isn’t all bad news in Chase land as they now have a new transfer partner as well. Now live on their site is the ability to transfer Ultimate Rewards to JetBlue TrueBlue.
Transfer Ultimate Rewards to JetBlue
Chase Ultimate Rewards now allows for transfers to JetBlue TrueBlue at a ratio of 1:1. As a reminder, both of the other major flexible bank currencies (Membership Rewards & ThankYou points) also allow transfers to JetBlue, however the ratio isn’t quite as good.
JetBlue TrueBlue Transfer Ratios
- American Express Membership Rewards: 250:200
- Citi ThankYou: 1,000:800
- Chase Ultimate Rewards: 1:1
Analysis
I suppose it’s nice of Chase to add a new redemption option and I do think JetBlue will probably be more popular with most Americans compared to a more obscure program like SKYPASS, however this option does little to add value to Ultimate Rewards. Korean Air was a unique transfer option among the major programs while JetBlue is yet another program like Singapore or FlyingBlue that partners with pretty much all of them.
JetBlue TrueBlue points are worth a fixed value and the number of points needed is based on the cost of airfare. Points values vary and can be as low as 1 cent and as high as 1.4 cents in my experience. In other words, similar to Southwest, this won’t be the highest value redemption you’ll get with Ultimate Rewards.
Conclusion
As you might tell I will miss the Korean Air SKYPASS transfer option for Ultimate Rewards, however I do give Chase credit in adding yet another transfer partner. They also have the best transfer ratio among the major bank currencies so this could be a nice option to top off your JetBlue balance to enjoy Mint or just to fly them in markets where they have a decent presence.
HT: TPG
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I imagine when you redeem the points you transfer to jetblue from chase and also have a jetblue Barclays card you get the 10% back on those transfered points too… not much but it does increase the value of the transfered points.
I’ve seen values as low as about 1.4 cents per JetBlue point, and occasionally over 2. Never anywhere close to 1. Cancellation/change fees are lower on an award ticket than on any paid ticket over $100, if that’s worth anything.
If JetBlue had anything resembling a nationwide route network, this would be solidly good news.
Mint redemptions often hover around 1 cent but normal redemptions are indeed worth about 1.4 cents and occasionally more.
If you have the CSR, the points are worth 1.5cpp so no reason to ever transfer to Jetblue. I don’t think you get any bonuses on B6 for booking with points.
Yeah it’s probably more of a way just to top off a balance. Unlike Southwest (which can’t be booked through CSR portal) JetBlue can definitely be booked at 1.5 CPP so it wouldn’t make sense otherwise.
Shawn – can’t you just call Chase to book SW at the 1.5 CPP rate? I mean I know it’s an extra step some people aren’t interested in, but obviously worth it if you’re willing to do it.
Yup great point. You can definitely book Southwest over the phone.
I actually the idea of a program partnering with more than one flexible currency. It allows me to pool balances across multiple cards giving me the maximum ability to earn and redeem.
Better than nothing, although it’s a snoozer for those of us in the vast majority of the US where JetBlue doesn’t provide any or extremely limited service.