Chase Ultimate Rewards has just launched a new transfer bonus to Air France-KLM Flying Blue, and it has the potential to be a good deal. Separately, the program is also currently offering a 20-30% transfer bonus to Air Canada Aeroplan and a 70% transfer bonus to IHG One Rewards.
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Chase offering 20% Flying Blue transfer bonus
Between Wednesday, December 4, 2024, and Wednesday, January 15, 2025, you can receive a 20% bonus when you transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Air France-KLM Flying Blue.
Points ordinarily transfer at a 1,000:1,000 ratio, so with this offer, points transfer at a 1,000:1,200 ratio. You can take advantage of this an unlimited number of times. Transfers from Chase Ultimate Rewards to Flying Blue are typically instant. There are several great cards earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points, and it’s easy to combine points between the cards.
For context, we typically see a transfer bonus from Chase to Flying Blue twice per year, and so far the bonuses have been in the range of 20% to 25%. So this is in line with the typical offers we see between the two programs.
Should you transfer Chase points to Flying Blue?
Air France-KLM Flying Blue is a valuable SkyTeam frequent flyer program. The program has attractive award pricing on Air France and KLM, offering many of the best ways to cross the Atlantic.
On top of that, Air France and KLM make more award seats available to members of the Flying Blue program than to members of partner programs. So even when Flying Blue’s pricing isn’t the best, there are situations where it could make sense to book through Flying Blue (though with all of the Delta SkyMiles devaluations we’ve seen, typically you will find the best pricing through Flying Blue).
There’s always value in having a stash of Flying Blue miles if you think you’ll be traveling transatlantic in the coming months. I redeem through Flying Blue every year (usually multiple times per year), and consistently get value. I find it to be one of the most useful frequent flyer programs for redeeming points.
The only other consideration here is that all major transferable points currencies partner with Air France-KLM Flying Blue, and we see transfer bonuses with some frequency. So I’d be strategic with which program you transfer points from, especially based on how you’d otherwise redeem them.
Bottom line
Through January 15, 2025, you can receive a 20% bonus when you transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Air France-KLM Flying Blue.
I’m always conflicted when it comes to transferring points during transfer bonuses. On the one hand, a lot of the value from transferrable points comes from the flexibility you have of being able to transfer them to any program once you actually have a specific redemption in mind. That’s the best way to protect yourself from devaluations.
At the same time, you’re going to get the most value if you can transfer points while there’s also a bonus, since your points can be stretched a lot further.
While I’ve speculatively taken advantage of Flying Blue transfer bonuses in the past from Amex and Citi, I don’t think I’ll do this with Chase, since I value Ultimate Rewards points for transfers to World of Hyatt.
Do you plan on transferring Chase points to Flying Blue with a 20% bonus?
Any good redemptions from Charlotte?
The bigger issue is that AF availability is not what it once was, especially for flights direct to and from Paris. Haven't seen anything at the 50k level for any dates, some dates are 70k+lots of taxes, which ends up just OK after the bonus. Connecting flights can be better at least.
Unrelated to this but British Airways have closed the Seattle lounge a month ago for renovations and its not on anywhere, theyre sending customers to the Alaska lounge in concourse D. Do we have any info on the changes? Is it purely cosmetic or will we see better food aswell? That lounge has been less than ideal but then again Seattle doesnt have the best lounges besides maybe alaska.