Ultimate Rewards Transfers Restricted To Authorized Users

All the major transferable points currencies have different policies when it comes to who you can transfer your points to. This applies both to combining points across multiple accounts in that program, and applies to transferring points to frequent flyer accounts in someone else’s name.

Chase only lets you transfer points to authorized users

Reader Kevin sent in a screenshot from a recent Ultimate Rewards transfer he was attempting, showing the requirement that points only be transferred to an authorized user.

This isn’t actually a new restriction — Chase has only allowed you to transfer points to a travel loyalty program belonging to one additional household member or the owner of a company who is also listed as an authorized user on your card account for several years now.

The new formatting, however, makes it seem like this is a change to the terms. I was caught off guard by it at first myself, so figure it’s worth going over to avoid confusion.

When transferring points from a business account, you’ll notice the following restrictions:

You can transfer points in 1,000 point increments, but only to participating frequent travel program accounts belonging to you, or an owner of the company who is listed as an authorized user on your card account.

Meanwhile for a personal card you’ll notice the following restrictions:

You can transfer points in 1,000 point increments, but only to participating frequent travel program accounts belonging to you, or one additional household member who is listed as an authorized user on your card account. Once you transfer points to an authorized user, that person will be the only authorized user on your account eligible to receive point transfers.

This is different than Chase’s policy on transferring points

As a point of comparison, when moving points, Chase’s rules state the following:

You can move your points, but only to another Chase card with Ultimate Rewards belonging to you, or one member of your household or owner of the company, as applicable.

So can still only transfer Ultimate Rewards points to a member of your household or a business owner. If you want to transfer points directly to the loyalty program, they need to be an authorized user as well.

What about combining Ultimate Rewards points?

The above policy applies to transferring Ultimate Rewards points to a travel loyalty program account belonging to someone else. However, Chase Ultimate Rewards also lets you combine Ultimate Rewards points across Chase accounts, and the rules for that are different.

The rules haven’t been made quite as strict there. If you go to the page about combining Ultimate Rewards points, you’ll see the following listed:

You can move your points, but only to another Chase card with Ultimate Rewards belonging to you, or one member of your household or owner of the company, as applicable.

So you can continue to transfer Ultimate Rewards points to someone in your household who isn’t an authorized user on one of your cards, and then they can transfer points to a travel partner.

This is probably more confusing than it needs to be, but is a good restriction to be aware of.