Which Flights Qualify and How to Get the Most From It
Chase changed how Ultimate Rewards points work in Chase Travel. Instead of a fixed redemption rate for every booking, Sapphire and Ink cardholders now get a base value of one cent per point, with higher rates on selected flights and hotels. Chase calls this Points Boost.
The obvious question is which airlines qualify. The honest answer is that there isn’t a fixed list. Boosted fares rotate, and the mix of airlines has shifted since the feature launched. This guide explains how Points Boost works on flights, which airlines tend to appear, how to find boosted fares and when you’ll get more value elsewhere.
What is Chase Points Boost?
Points Boost is a feature inside Chase Travel, Chase’s booking portal. When you search for flights or hotels with an eligible card, some results are marked with a rocket icon. Those bookings let you redeem points at a higher value than the standard one cent per point.
You don’t need to opt in. Boosted results simply show up in your search.
How much is a boost worth?
Boost rates depend on your card:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Reserve for Business: up to 2 cents per point on select flights and hotels
- Chase Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred: up to 1.5 cents per point on select flights and hotels, and up to 1.75 cents on select premium-cabin flights
These are maximums, not guarantees. Many boosted economy fares land somewhere in between, closer to 1.1 to 1.5 cents per point. The highest rates usually appear on premium cabins.
Which airlines get Points Boost?
Chase doesn’t publish a permanent list of Points Boost airlines, and the mix changes over time. Since launch, boosted flights have regularly appeared on a handful of carriers, including:
- United Airlines
- Air Canada
- Aer Lingus
- Southwest Airlines
- Several international carriers, such as Emirates and Singapore Airlines, at various points
The airlines most often linked to boosts include Chase’s own co-brand partners, such as United, Southwest, Aer Lingus and Air Canada. The lineup has also shifted during 2026, with some reports showing fewer boosted United flights and more premium flights on other airlines at certain times.
Some major carriers, including Delta and Alaska, have rarely appeared with boosted fares, and many international airlines don’t participate at all. Basic economy fares generally aren’t boosted on any airline.
The practical takeaway is simple: don’t assume your preferred airline qualifies. Search the specific route and look for the rocket icon.
How to find boosted flights
- Log in to your Chase account and open Chase Travel.
- Search for your route and dates as usual.
- Look for the rocket icon next to eligible fares.
- Compare the points price with the cash fare to work out your actual value per point.
- Check the fare type before booking. A boosted fare may still come with basic economy-style restrictions.
To calculate value, divide the cash price by the number of points. A $600 fare that costs 30,000 points gives you 2 cents per point. A $600 fare that costs 50,000 points gives you 1.2 cents.
What happened to the old 1.25 and 1.5 cent rates?
Before Points Boost, Sapphire Preferred cardholders could redeem points at 1.25 cents each in Chase Travel, and Sapphire Reserve cardholders at 1.5 cents.
Points earned before October 26, 2025, by existing cardholders keep those legacy rates until late October 2027. Points earned after that date only get the one cent base rate plus any Points Boost offers. Chase applies redemptions on a first-in, first-out basis, so older points are used first.
If you still have a legacy balance, it can be worth using it on economy fares that don’t get a strong boost before the rate expires.
Points Boost vs transferring points to airlines
Points Boost is convenient. You don’t need award availability, there’s no transfer to wait for, and you book a regular ticket that usually earns miles and elite credit.
But it’s rarely the highest-value use of Ultimate Rewards points. Transferring to airline partners, such as United MileagePlus, Air Canada Aeroplan or Air France-KLM Flying Blue, can deliver well over 2 cents per point on the right award, especially in business class on long-haul routes.
Points Boost tends to win when:
- Cash fares are low and award prices through partners are high
- No partner has award space on your flight
- You want to earn miles and status on the ticket
- The boost offers close to 2 cents per point on a premium cabin
Transferring tends to win when:
- You’re booking business or first class internationally
- A partner has saver award space at a fixed price
- The boosted rate on your flight is near the one cent base
Mistakes to avoid
- Assuming every flight on a given airline is boosted. Boosts apply to select fares only.
- Booking economy at close to one cent per point when a transfer or a cash fare would be better value.
- Forgetting about legacy points that lose their higher rate after October 2027.
- Ignoring fare rules. A cheap boosted fare can still have strict change or baggage rules.
Is Chase Points Boost worth using for flights?
Points Boost can be a good deal, especially for Sapphire Reserve cardholders booking premium cabins at close to 2 cents per point. It’s simple and saves you from hunting for award seats.
For the best value, treat it as one option among several. Search Chase Travel for boosted fares, compare them with transfer partner awards and with the cash price, then pick the route that gives you the most for your points.
Points Boost rates and eligible airlines change frequently. Check Chase Travel and Chase’s current terms before booking.
