Chase rewards points now valid for Southwest flights
In the run-up to the 2011 holidays, many credit card companies ran special promotions and/or enhanced their rewards programs. That was understandable. Card issuers are strenuously competing both to attract new customers and to encourage existing ones to use their plastic as much as possible, and the holiday season must be their biggest opportunity to do those things.
So you might have expected the flow of promotions and enhancements to dry up at the start of the new year. But you’d have been wrong. Just days ago, the IndexCreditCards.com news blog reported a Citi initiative that allows its customers to pool rewards points using Facebook. Today, it’s a Chase announcement that we’re covering.
Rewards credit cards from Chase get better
On Jan. 5, Chase unveiled its new partnership with Southwest Airlines, which is the nation’s biggest carrier when judged by the number of originating domestic passengers boarded. This allows holders of three of its rewards credit cards to transfer points from the Chase Ultimate Rewards website to the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards program. There are no caps on the number of points you can transfer, and each Chase point is worth one Rapid Rewards point, so the value of rewards is maintained.
The three rewards credit cards affected by the announcement are Chase Sapphire Preferred, Ink Plus and Ink Bold. In a press release, Chase identified a number of benefits offered by Southwest, including these four:
- 3,400 daily flights connecting 72 cities in 37 states (73 cities in 38 states starting next month)
- Flexible fares
- First or second checked bag free, subject to weight and size
- In-flight wi-fi
Meanwhile, Chase says that its Ultimate Rewards program features:
- No earnings caps
- No blackout dates
- No expiration on points earned
Small business credit cards
The Chase Ink brand comprises a range of small business credit cards. The two products involved in this new partnership (Ink Plus and Ink Bold) provide 20 percent off travel costs, but only when redeemed on Ultimate Rewards. The discount applies to bookings for airfares, hotels, car rentals and cruises. Holders can also enjoy airport lounge access.
Chase Sapphire Preferred is a consumer credit card, and holders can earn two points for each dollar they spend on travel and dining. One particularly attractive feature for those who regularly spend time overseas: the card charges no foreign transaction fees.
