American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards are two of the most popular reward programs available to cardholders. You can use either program to earn flexible reward points with qualified reward credit cards and cash out points for potentially high value redemption.
Some of the premier travel credit cards for each program come with coveted perks such as Airport Lounge Access, annual travel credits, travel insurance, global entry, and TSA pre-check fee credits. But do you point them in the better with membership rewards and ultimate reward points?
Comparison of Amex and Chase
| American Express Membership Rewards | Track the ultimate reward | |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer Partner | 21 partners: 18 airlines, 3 hotels. | 14 partners: 11 airlines, 3 hotels. |
| Bank Rate Point Evaluation | 2.0 cents per point when transferred to a high value transfer partner. | 2.0 cents per point when transferred to a high value transfer partner. |
| Travel Transfer Repayment | Most programs are transferred with a 1:1 value, but some vary. | Point forwarding 1: 1 value. |
| Other redemption options |
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AMEX Points vs. Chase Points: Overview
Membership Rewards is a points program attached to a specific AMEX card that earns these types of rewards. Chase has credit cards that earn you rewards with the ultimate reward program.
Both are considering “Bank Points” programs, and both are flexible reward currencies. This means you can redeem points in a variety of ways, including transferring to airlines and hotel partner programs.
When using bank points, the points are valid as long as the card is open and you are in good condition to participate in the program.
The biggest advantage of flexible points is that you can hedge devaluations within your partner’s loyalty program. This means that if your partner dramatically raises points redemption, you are quite protected and still have other options.
Amex vs. Chase: Redemption Options
One of the greatest benefits of both programs is the flexibility to choose from multiple redemption options.
AMEX Membership Rewards Redemption Options
You can earn American Express Membership Reward Points with many American Express credit cards and redeem them in a variety of ways. The redemption options are:
- Statement Credits that cover your account fees
- Gift cards for popular merchants
- Pay points when checking out on sites like Amazon, PayPal, Best Buy
- Shop with points via the American Express Shopping Portal
- Travel or Upgrade American Express Travel
- Points will be transferred to the airline or hotel program
Many of these redemption options generally have values less than 1 cent per point, except for travel and point transfers. However, the points value you receive will vary depending on how you redeem the points, so math is done in advance.
For travel redemptions, you can redeem Amex Points from the American Express Travel Portal. This website allows you to search for airfares, cruises, hotels, car rentals and vacation packages with a variety of travel vendors all in one place. You can pay in points, cash, or a combination of points and cash.
However, to pay for your trip with points, you will need at least 5,000 membership reward points in your account. Normally, redeem points on flights via the Amex portal will earn you 1 cent per point, but redeem hotels, cruises, and other trips will only earn 0.7 cent per point.
Chase the ultimate reward redemption option
The Chase Ultimate Rewards program is easier with regard to the details of the program and the redemption value of each. You can redeem the following points:
- Statement Credit or Direct Deposit
- Gift cards from popular retailers
- Exclusive Event Experience
- Takeout, booking, or experience via Chase Dining
- Shop with points via Amazon or PayPal
- Shopping with Apple
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Shop through the Chase Portal
- Book Chase Travel
- Transfer to airline and hotel partners
Statement Credits and Direct Deposits usually have a value of 1 cent per point, and the same redemption value is usually applied to gift cards, experiences, and shopping at points via Apple. However, some gift cards are sold frequently, so you can earn 1 cent or more per point in return. Meanwhile, Amazon.com purchases usually offer less than a penny.
When you redeem points to pass through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, the point value will vary from card to card. Most cards have a cent per point value when redeeming for a trip, but there are three top chase credit cards that offer more value.
Amex vs. Chase: Transfer Partner
Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express membership rewards allow you to transfer points to popular airlines and hotel programs. Still, this is one of the areas where you need to pay a lot of attention.
If you are doing the majority of your flight on one airline or are prone to staying in the same hotel chain, we recommend that you make sure you are a partner in the program of your choice.
For example, the American Express Membership Rewards program often moves ahead for individuals who travel internationally frequently and want to choose a more diverse international transfer partner, but domestic travelers can increase their choice of chase.
Amex Transfer Partners
With most AMEX transfer partners, you can transfer points at a 1:1 ratio, but there are several outliers with different transfer rates. That said, the actual value of a transfer partner’s points is different, with many of them being more than a cent.
For the following forwarding partners, all points will be transferred to the partner at a 1:1 rate from AMEX to the partner unless stated.
Tracking forwarding partner
Chase has fewer transfer partners than American Express, but Chase’s partners may make more sense to you depending on how you travel. The Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Partners and their point values are:
All transfers have a 1:1 ratio.
Is the membership rewards program worth it?
Membership Rewards Programs are valuable for those who have already experienced other travel reward programs and want to broaden their horizons with their transfer partners.
Certainly, the membership rewards program is more complicated than the ultimate rewards program and does not provide the same boost value when using the portal. So it’s worth it, especially for those optimizing strategic relocations to partners, for international travel. The list of international airlines is vast and has great value to see.
Is the Ultimate Rewards Program worth it?
The Chase Ultimate Rewards program is worth it, whether you’re just starting out with credit card rewards, especially if you’re primarily using rewards for hotels, whether you’re an old pro or not.
For new travelers, Sapphire and Ink Business redemption opportunities prefer cardholders within the Chase Travel Portal, making it easy to get extra value without having to try to navigate transfers to travel partners. For those with more experience, there is the exceptional deals and value seen in strategic transfers.
How to Choose the Best Reward Program for You
While any of these programs can help you earn and redeem rewards such as travel, a proper reward card will depend on your usual spending, budget, and plans to redeem points. Before making a decision, compare all the compensation credit cards offered in each program with their respective rates of return and benefits, as well as the transfer partners that are most likely to use.
Fortunately, both American Express and Chase offer many cards to consider, and they can also combine cards. For example, some people collect Amex Trifecta or Chase Trifecta (a popular card trio within either program). This allows you to maximize your rewards in certain categories while ensuring a solid combination of travel benefits along the way.
Another option used by many frequent travelers is to pick up the card in both programs. Some transfer partners have both Chase Card and Amex Card in their wallet, including Air France KLM, Emirates, Aer Lingus, British Airways, and Marriott Bonvoy, a great way to fill your reward bank. Make sure you get enough value from your compensation to justify your annual fee. And you only spend on your card what you can afford to fully repay.
Conclusion
Chase Ultimate Rewards and the American Express Membership Rewards program provide flexibility and value for a wide range of cardholders and lifestyles. In fact, many people can benefit from building rewards and strategically redemption in both programs. Just like with credit card decisions, consider your credit score, lifestyle, needs and goals before applying.
Poor credit card management or even choosing a card that doesn’t suit your spending habits won’t offset the amount of reward. If you’re not sure where to start, check out the Bank Rate Card Match Tool and consider some personalized options.
