You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Avios through the Chase portal, and the points move at a 1:1 ratio. The process takes about two minutes online, and most transfers arrive by the next business day. You’ll need a Chase card that unlocks transfer access, plus an existing loyalty account with the Avios program you want to use.
Which Chase Cards Allow Transfers
Not every Chase card that earns Ultimate Rewards points can transfer them to airline partners. Only premium cards in the lineup unlock the transfer portal. These include the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Ink Business Preferred, and Ink Business Premier. If you carry a no-annual-fee card like the Chase Freedom Flex or Chase Freedom Unlimited, you earn Ultimate Rewards but can’t transfer them to airlines directly.
There’s a workaround if you have both types of cards. You can combine points from a no-annual-fee card into a transfer-eligible card within your own account, or with one other person in your household who shares your address. Once the points land on a Sapphire or Ink Business Preferred account, they become transferable. To combine, log into your Chase account, navigate to the Ultimate Rewards section, select “Combine Points,” and choose the card you want to move points from and the card you want to receive them.
Which Avios Programs You Can Transfer To
Chase partners with multiple airlines that use Avios as their loyalty currency. British Airways Executive Club and Aer Lingus AerClub are both direct transfer partners, meaning you can send points straight from Chase to either program. Iberia Plus is also a direct Chase partner. Each transfer moves at a 1:1 ratio, so 10,000 Ultimate Rewards points become 10,000 Avios.
If you want Avios in a Qatar Airways Privilege Club account or a Finnair Plus account, Chase doesn’t transfer directly to those programs. But you can transfer to British Airways first, then move the Avios over. British Airways lets you link your account with Qatar Airways Privilege Club or Finnair Plus and shuttle Avios between them freely, as often as you like, with transfers processing immediately. This two-step route gives you access to redemptions on Qatar’s award chart or Finnair’s network using Chase points.
Step-by-Step Transfer Process
Before you start, make sure you already have an account with the Avios program you’re transferring to. If you’re sending points to British Airways, you need a British Airways Executive Club membership number. Same for Aer Lingus or Iberia. Creating an account is free on each airline’s website and takes a few minutes.
Once your loyalty account is set up:
- Log into Chase: Go to chase.com or the Chase mobile app and sign in.
- Open Ultimate Rewards: Find the Ultimate Rewards section from your account dashboard. If you have multiple Chase cards, select the transfer-eligible card that holds your points.
- Select “Transfer Points”: Look for the option to transfer to travel partners. You’ll see a list of airline and hotel loyalty programs.
- Choose your Avios partner: Select British Airways Executive Club, Aer Lingus AerClub, or Iberia Plus.
- Enter your membership number: Type in your frequent flyer number for the chosen program. Make sure the name on your Chase account matches the name on your loyalty account, or the transfer may be rejected.
- Enter the amount: Points must be transferred in increments of 1,000. You can’t send 500 or 1,250.
- Confirm: Review the details and submit. Most transfers process by the next business day, though Chase notes it can take up to 7 business days in some cases.
Timing and Transfer Bonuses
Transfers are one-way and irreversible. Once points leave your Chase account, you can’t pull them back. This makes it important to transfer only when you have a specific redemption in mind and have confirmed award availability before sending the points.
Chase periodically offers transfer bonuses that give you extra Avios per point transferred. These promotions have historically ranged from 20% to 30% bonuses. Aer Lingus, for example, has seen a 30% bonus (meaning 10,000 Chase points would become 13,000 Avios) as well as 20% bonuses at various points. These promotions typically run for a few weeks and aren’t on a fixed schedule, so there’s no way to predict exactly when the next one will appear. If you’re not in a rush to book, waiting for a bonus can stretch your points further.
Choosing the Right Avios Program
All three direct transfer partners use Avios, but they have different award charts and sweet spots. British Airways is the most versatile for short-haul flights, particularly on American Airlines domestic routes, since BA and AA are partners in the Oneworld alliance. Aer Lingus can be a strong option for flights between the U.S. and Ireland. Iberia Plus often prices long-haul business class to Europe and South America at lower Avios rates than British Airways for the same cabin.
If you’re eyeing Qatar Airways premium cabins, transfer to British Airways first, then link and move your Avios to Qatar’s Privilege Club. Qatar uses its own award chart, which can price certain routes differently. The linking process on the British Airways website takes a few minutes: you enter your Qatar Privilege Club number, verify the connection, and then transfer any amount of Avios between the two accounts instantly.
Check the award pricing on each program’s website before you transfer. A round-trip that costs 52,000 Avios through one program might cost 34,000 through another for the same flight, simply because the award charts differ. Spending five minutes comparing can save you thousands of points.