Redeeming the 100k Chase Sapphire Reserve Sign-up Bonus!

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are some of the most valuable and flexible points on the market. And if you have recently signed up for the new Chase Sapphire Reserve Card, you are on your way to earning a cool 100K of these points!

Some of you may have experience with Chase Ultimate Rewards – perhaps through the Chase Freedom, Chase Freedom Unlimited, Chase Ink Plus, or my former favorite card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred!

I say former because, well…

Ta Da! The Chase Sapphire Reserve!

So now that I have the card, I am already thinking of how I might redeem this load of Chase Ultimate Rewards… and I have decided to broadcast my pondering to all of you!

Chase advertises that the 100,000 bonus on the CSR is worth at least $1,500 in travel rewards when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards portal – meaning that each point will provide you 1.5 cents in value! This is a nice improvement from the previous rate offered by the Chase Sapphire Preferred and actually makes portal redemptions something to seriously consider…

Remember, the portal is essentially just a travel booking site where it is possible to use Ultimate Rewards points to pay instead of, or in combination with, cash.

I would consider the portal redemption to be your baseline, while I would consider transferring to Chase’s travel partners to be the high-achiever – providing more value per point and more FREE TRAVEL in general!

I put a bit of thought into it, and came up with my 3 favorite transfer partner redemptions that you can book [or almost have enough to book] with that 100K CSR sign-up bonus:

 

(1) Transfer 115,000 points to United for round-trip business class to Europe

United may not have the most glamorous Business Class product (until Polaris is available) but United was my very first International Business Class flight (Tampa to Washington to Amsterdam in October 2015), so it will always hold a special place in my heart! With your 100,000 point CSR sign-up, combined with some 3x travel & dining spending, you will have accumulated enough points to book a round-trip (or, 2 one-way) business class flight! Lay flat seats and unlimited in-flight champagne fancy your interest?

(2) Transfer 115,000 points 1:1 to Singapore Airlines for round-trip Suites Class from New York to Frankfurt… or 94,000 points for one-way Suites Class New York to Singapore

The moment that I first read a review about Singapore Airlines Suites Class is the moment I knew that one day I HAD to experience it first-hand. Flying through the sky in a suite – complete with a double bed and the most doting personal flight attendants – was something that I never could have imagined the points and miles hobby would allow me to accomplish… but it happened, and the flight did not disappoint! This redemption is easier than you may think, given you can search for availability and book the flight directly on the Singapore Airlines website!

(3) Transfer 100,000 points to Hyatt for 4 Nights at a Category 6 Hyatt

Hyatt just might be my favorite major hotel brand. I love the rewards program, I love the point redemption options (free nights, Points + Cash, Points Upgrades) and I love the fact that they are a Chase Travel Partner – meaning your 100,000 point CSR sign-up bonus transfers 1:1 to Hyatt! Hyatt is my favorite Chase Hotel Partner based on the value available with the Hyatt Award Chart! The highest Hyatt redemption rings in at 30,000 points per night for Category 7 hotels (like the Park Hyatt Paris Vendome), and 25,000 points per night for Category 6 hotels (like the Park Hyatt Vienna)! That 100,000 point sign-up equates to 4 nights in the new, yet historical, luxurious Park Hyatt Vienna (which I absolutely loved and personally recommend)!

Final Thought

There are at least 5 other great value Chase Ultimate Reward redemptions that I could go on and on and on and on about… but these are my unconditional favorites! The Chase Sapphire Reserve 100,000 point sign-up bonus is the greatest thing that I have seen in my time (3 years now) in the points and miles game, so if you are on the fence – TAKE THE LEAP and apply! Watch out for 5/24 though…

Have any of you already sign-up for this card and made plans for your ridiculously awesome sign-up bonuses!?

Happy Chase Ultimate Reward Travels!

DW