How to Get Big Travel on United Airlines & Partners With the Chase Ink Preferred 80,000 Point Bonus

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With the new Chase Ink Business Preferred card, you can earn an excellent sign-up bonus of 80,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after meeting the minimum spending requirements.

Then, transfer the Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United Airlines to book award flights on United Airlines or one of their many airline partners like Asiana Airlines or Lufthansa.

Award Flights With Ink Business Preferred
Use the Chase Ink Preferred 80,000 Ultimate Rewards Point Sign-Up Bonus to Book Business Class Award Flights on United Airline’s Partner Airlines Like Lufthansa

I’ll explain how you can get award flights with Ink Business Preferred on United Airlines and partner airlines within the US, to Asia, or multi-city trips to Europe.

Get Award Flights With Ink Business Preferred

Link:   The Ultimate Guide to United Airlines Miles 

Link:   United Airlines Award Chart

I like transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United Airlines because:

  • You’ll get 1 United Airlines mile for each Chase Ultimate Rewards point you transfer, and transfers are almost instant
  • It’s easy to search for award flights (even with the new award calendar design)
  • They have more airline partners than any other US airline
  • They never add fuel surcharges to award tickets
  • You can book one-way award seats

Plus, United Airlines publishes an award chart to easily find out how much award flight costs.

Note:  If you’re not eligible for the Chase Ink Business Preferred because you’ve opened ~5+ cards from any bank (except these business cards) in the past 24 months, you might instead consider AMEX cards which earn AMEX Membership Rewards points.

Like The Business Platinum® Card from American Express OPEN, which currently has a 100,000 AMEX Membership Rewards point sign-up bonus when you meet tiered minimum spending requirements.

That’s because you can transfer AMEX Membership Rewards points to Singapore Airlines (also a Star Alliance member) then book award flights on United Airlines and partner airlines.  And sometimes it’s a better deal than using United Airlines miles!

1.   Flights to Europe

The number of United Airlines miles you’ll pay for award flights to Europe depends on if you fly on United Airlines or a Star Alliance airline partner.  One-way award flights cost:

  • 30,000 United Airlines miles in coach on United Airlines and partner airlines
  • 57,500 United Airlines miles in Business Class on United Airlines
  • 70,000 United Airlines miles in Business Class on partner airlines
  • 80,000 United Airlines miles in First Class on United Airlines
  • 110,000 United Airlines miles in First Class on partner airlines
Award Flights With Ink Business Preferred
You’ll Use the Same Number of United Airlines Miles to Fly to Paris or Other European Cities Regardless of Which US City You Depart From

2.   Flights to the Caribbean & Mexico

You’ll use the same amount of miles for award flights to the Caribbean & Mexico on United Airlines or its partners.  For one-way award flights, you’ll pay:

  • 17,500 United Airlines miles in coach
  • 30,000 United Airlines miles in Business Class
  • 40,000 United Airlines miles in First Class

3.   Flights to Hawaii

One-way award flights from the continental US to Hawaii cost:

  • 22,500 United Airlines miles in coach
  • 40,000 United Airlines miles in Business Class
  • 50,000 United Airlines miles in First Class

Sometimes United Airlines offers promotions to save miles when booking award flights.  For example, there was a recent promotion to save 20% off round-trip award flights in the US.  And another was to 25% off round-trip award flights from the US & Canada to Asia.

Use 80,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points for Big Travel on United Airlines & Partners

Link:   Chase Ink Business Preferred

Here are 3 ways you can use the 80,000 point Chase Ink Business Preferred sign-up bonus for travel on United Airlines and partner airlines!

1.   Fly First Class to Tokyo on United Airlines

You can book a non-stop one-way First Class award flight on United Airlines from San Francisco to Tokyo for 80,000 United Airlines miles.

Award Flights With Ink Business Preferred
The 80,000 Ultimate Rewards Point Sign-Up Bonus From the Chase Ink Preferred Is Enough for a First Class Award Flight to Tokyo

The same one-way flight costs more than $11,000 if you paid in cash!

Then, book a cheap one-way flight back to the US.  Or use miles and points on a different airline for the return flight.

2.   Three Award Tickets to Nashville

The Music City ranks highly in the US for tourism.  You’ll have plenty to do from watching live music or enjoying terrific Southern-cooked meals.

And you don’t have to travel alone!  Because the Chase Ink Preferred 80,000 Ultimate Rewards sign-up bonus is enough for 3 round-trip award flights.  You can fly from anywhere within the mainland US for 25,000 United Airlines miles round-trip in coach.

Award Flights With Ink Business Preferred
Bring Your Friends or Family to Nashville! 80,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Is More Than Enough to Book 3 Round-Trip Award Flights to Nashville From Any City in the US

I found non-stop flights to Nashville in April and May 2017 for ~$400 from Denver, Houston, and San Francisco.  This makes the Chase Ink Preferred sign-up bonus worth ~$1,200.  And, you’ll have 5,000 points left over!

As always, do the math to make sure booking an award flight gives you the best value for your points.

3.   Multi-City Excursionist Trip

I talked about changes to United Airline’s free stopover policy which began on October 6, 2016.

Although the rules are stricter, you can still book a multi-city trip using United Airlines miles.  For example, you can get a free one-way award flight within Europe.

I looked up a sample trip starting in New York and flying to Paris.  After spending a few days, you can fly to Frankfurt.  Then, return to the US via Los Angeles.

Award Flights With Ink Business Preferred
Book Multi-City Itineraries for Fewer Miles With the Excursionist Perk on United Airlines

The entire trip costs 60,000 United Airlines miles, which is the same amount you’d pay for a round-trip from New York to Paris.  But, you get to visit an extra city during your trip.

Award Flights With Ink Business Preferred
Save Almost ~$1,700 Out-of-Pocket on a Multi-City Trip to Europe With 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Transferred to United Airlines!

Paying cash for this trip would cost nearly ~$1,700.  So using some of the Chase Ink Preferred sign-up bonus for this type of trip saves you a lot of money.  Because you’ll still have 20,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points remaining!

I like that you can easily book a trip like this through United Airlines’ website, even though you’ll fly different segments on United Airlines and partner airlines.

4.   Fly Lufthansa Business Class

You could splurge and use these points towards a one-way Business Class award flight on Lufthansa, which costs 70,000 United Airlines miles.

Award Flights With Ink Business Preferred
Flying Lufthansa Business Class Is an Amazing Experience!

Emily and I had a great time in Lufthansa Business Class!

But it can be difficult to find Lufthansa Business Class award seats using United Airlines miles.  You’ll most likely find an available award seat if you can book a last-minute flight.

Or, you could save up 110,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points, then transfer them to United Airlines for a seat in First Class instead. 😉

Bottom Line

You’ll earn 80,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points when you sign-up for the Chase Ink Business Preferred card and meet the minimum spending requirements.  

You could transfer part of the sign-up bonus to United Airlines for a First Class award flight to Tokyo that typically costs more than $11,000!  Or book multi-city award flights to Europe!

I like that it’s easy to search for United Airlines award flights.  And you know what award flights cost based on the published award chart.

Where would you travel with 80,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points?

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