Booking a flight with Turkish Airlines using my Chase Ultimate Rewards points has become one of my favorite ways to fully maximize the value of my points. The experience of flying in Turkish Airlines Business Class is exceptional, and with the various options to redeem my Chase Ultimate Rewards points, it’s more achievable than ever.
Over time, I have discovered that there are multiple ways to book Turkish Airlines flights using Chase Ultimate Rewards points. I will walk you through these methods, such as transferring points to airline partners, using the Chase travel portal, and more. By sharing this knowledge, I hope to help you make the most of your points and fully enjoy the extraordinary onboard experience that Turkish Airlines offers.
Understanding Chase Ultimate Rewards
Chase Ultimate Rewards is a points-based loyalty program for credit card holders, and it allows me to earn and redeem points for various travel-related expenses, such as flights, hotels, and rental cars. As a Chase credit card holder, I can use my earned points to book Turkish Airlines flights directly through the Chase travel portal or by transferring points to a compatible airline loyalty program, such as United MileagePlus.
When booking directly through the Chase travel portal, I can search for flights and use my points to cover the cost. One great advantage of using the portal is that I’ll still earn miles for the flights I book, whether I pay with cash or points. This can be particularly useful if there’s a cheap fare with Turkish Airlines that requires fewer points than transferring to a travel partner.
On the other hand, transferring my Ultimate Rewards points to a partner airline, like United MileagePlus, could potentially offer more value for my points, especially when booking business class seats. After the transfer, I can book Turkish Airlines flights using the partner airline’s loyalty program and search for available award seats.
To make the most of my Chase Ultimate Rewards points, it’s crucial for me to compare the redemption options and values offered by booking through the portal or transferring to a partner airline. This will help me to maximize my rewards and enjoy a more cost-effective travel experience with Turkish Airlines.
Earning Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
One essential part of booking Turkish Airlines flights with Chase Ultimate Rewards is earning enough points. I personally started by selecting the right Chase credit card. Cards such as Chase Sapphire Reserve allow you to earn 50,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Furthermore, I found that using the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal can help me earn more points for future flight bookings. When I book airfare through the portal, I can earn 5x points, while booking hotels and car rentals can earn me up to 10x points.
Another way to boost my Ultimate Rewards points balance is by taking advantage of bonus categories for certain credit cards. Depending on the card I hold, I can earn extra points for specific spending categories, such as travel, dining, or groceries.
To maximize earning potential, I also found it helpful to strategize my spending. For example, I would use my Chase card for purchases that fall within the bonus categories and other cards for non-bonus category expenses. This way, I can quickly rack up points and be well on my way to booking a Turkish Airlines flight using Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Finding Turkish Airlines Flights
In this section, I am going to explain how to find Turkish Airlines flights using Chase Ultimate Rewards. There are two main ways to do this: through the Chase Travel Portal and by booking through Star Alliance Partner Airlines. Let’s dive into both options.
Chase Travel Portal
One way to book Turkish Airlines flights using Chase Ultimate Rewards is by searching for flights directly through the Chase Travel Portal. To do this, first, log in to your Chase online account and navigate to the travel section. Then, follow these steps:
- Enter your departure and destination cities along with the travel dates in the search box.
- Choose the airline filter and select Turkish Airlines from the list of available airlines.
- Review the search results, and when you find a suitable Turkish Airlines flight, click on it for more details.
- Proceed with the booking process by providing the necessary information and using your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to complete the purchase.
Keep in mind that the number of points required for a flight depends on the ticket price and your specific Chase credit card, as cards have different points-to-price conversion ratios.
Star Alliance Partner Airlines
Another approach to book Turkish Airlines flights using Chase Ultimate Rewards is to transfer your points to one of the Star Alliance Partner Airlines that is a Chase transfer partner. Two common transfer partners are United MileagePlus and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.
To book a Turkish Airlines flight using this method, follow these steps:
- Log in to your Chase account and navigate to the Ultimate Rewards section.
- Select the Chase transfer partner you prefer (e.g., United MileagePlus or Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer).
- Transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to the chosen airline’s frequent flyer program. Keep in mind that transfer ratios and processing times may vary between partners.
- Once the points transfer is complete, visit the airline’s website, sign in to your frequent flyer account, and search for Turkish Airlines flights using the award travel search feature.
- When you find the desired flight, proceed with booking by using your transferred points to complete the purchase.
Note that award flight availability and the number of points required can vary depending on the airline’s frequent flyer program rules and the specific flight route.
Transferring Points to Partner Airline
As a Chase Ultimate Rewards member, I can transfer my points to numerous partner airlines, including Turkish Airlines. To do so, I need to make use of a transfer partner, which helps me access my rewards and utilize them for booking flights with Turkish Airlines.
Accessing Transfer Partners
To find and access my transfer partners, I follow these steps:
- Log into my Chase account
- Click on the “Ultimate Rewards” tab on the top menu
- Select the “Transfer Points” option on the left side
- Browse the available transfer partners and locate Turkish Airlines
It’s essential to ensure that my Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles account is linked to my Chase Ultimate Rewards account before attempting any transfers. If I haven’t done this, I must provide my Miles&Smiles membership number and create a connection between the two accounts.
Transferring Process
Once I’ve chosen Turkish Airlines as my transfer partner, I can start the transferring process:
- Enter the number of Chase Ultimate Rewards points I want to transfer
- Review the conversion rate and the number of Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles miles I’ll receive
- Confirm the transfer and agree to any terms and conditions
- Complete the transaction
It’s important to note that once I transfer my Chase Ultimate Rewards points to the partner airline, I cannot reverse the process. Therefore, I must be sure of my decision before confirming the transfer.
After the transfer is complete, it typically takes about 1-2 business days for the miles to appear in my Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles account. Once the miles are there, I can use them to book my desired flights with Turkish Airlines and enjoy the benefits of my rewards points.
Booking Turkish Airlines Flights
In this section, I will discuss two ways to book Turkish Airlines flights using Chase Ultimate Rewards: using the Chase Travel Portal and through a partner airline’s website.
Using the Chase Travel Portal
One simple way to book a Turkish Airlines flight with my Chase Ultimate Rewards points is through the Chase Travel Portal. This portal allows me to search for flights, choose the desired Turkish Airlines option, and pay with my points. Here’s the step-by-step process:
- Log into my Chase account and navigate to the Chase Travel Portal.
- Enter my origin, destination, travel dates, and other requirements into the search form.
- Filter the results by selecting Turkish Airlines as the preferred carrier.
- Choose the most suitable flight option and proceed with the booking process.
- Select the option to redeem my Chase Ultimate Rewards points for the booking.
- Verify the details and confirm the booking.
It’s important to note that booking through the Chase Travel Portal uses my points at a fixed value, which may not offer the best possible redemption value compared to booking through a partner airline’s website.
Through a Partner Airline’s Website
Another way to book a Turkish Airlines flight with my Chase Ultimate Rewards points is by transferring the points to a partner airline’s frequent flyer program and booking through their website. This option usually provides better redemption value, as the points can be used according to the airline’s award chart.
For Turkish Airlines, one of the popular partner airlines is United Airlines. Here’s how to book a flight through their website using my transferred points:
- Log into my Chase account and navigate to the transfer partner page.
- Select United Airlines as the transfer partner and transfer my Chase Ultimate Rewards points to my United MileagePlus account.
- Wait for the transferred points to appear in my United MileagePlus account (this may take up to 24 hours).
- Visit the United Airlines website and log into my MileagePlus account.
- Enter my origin, destination, travel dates, and other requirements into the search form.
- Filter the results by selecting Turkish Airlines as the preferred carrier and choose the most suitable flight option.
- Confirm the booking using the transferred points and pay any additional taxes or fees.
Booking through this method requires some additional steps, but it can yield a higher value for my points, making it a potentially more rewarding option.
Tips for Maximizing Value
Best Redemption Options
In my experience, one of the best ways to maximize the value of Chase Ultimate Rewards when booking Turkish Airlines flights is to transfer points to partner airline programs like Aeroplan or Avianca LifeMiles. This allows me to redeem points for business class awards with better rates compared to booking directly through the Chase travel portal.
For example, I can transfer my Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Aeroplan or Avianca LifeMiles and book a Turkish Airlines business class award for fewer points than using Chase points directly.
Using Stopovers and Open Jaws
Another great way to maximize value is to make use of stopovers and open jaws. Turkish Airlines allows for one free stopover on round-trip award flights, which means I can visit two destinations for the price of one. Additionally, open jaws allow me to book flights between different cities, enabling more flexibility in my travel plans without additional cost.
For example, I can book a round-trip award flight from New York to Istanbul with a stopover in Paris. This lets me explore both Istanbul and Paris, while only using points for a single round-trip award.
I hope these tips help you get the most value from your Chase Ultimate Rewards points when booking Turkish Airlines flights. Always remember to compare the cost of using traditional miles and points to see which offers the best deal for your specific itinerary.
Conclusion
In my experience, booking Turkish Airlines flights with Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be a valuable and rewarding way to make the most out of my credit card points. By utilizing the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal or transferring points to partner airlines, I have been able to enjoy the comfort and luxury of Turkish Airlines Business Class without breaking the bank.
It’s important for me to compare the required points for booking through the Chase travel portal versus transferring points to airline partners. Sometimes, it can make more sense to book through the portal, especially when lower cost fares are available.
Keep in mind that award flights can be subject to limited availability, so flexibility with travel dates and booking well in advance can be crucial in finding the best options. Being proactive in monitoring promotions and point transfer bonuses can also be a great way to maximize the value of my Ultimate Rewards points.
Overall, my experience with booking Turkish Airlines flights through Chase Ultimate Rewards has been positive and has added value to my trips. I plan to continue taking advantage of this strategy in the future to enjoy more memorable travel experiences.
