According to CNBC, as of yesterday, August 12, 2018, Expedia has starting taking over operation of the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal.
Chase describes it as a move to “provide credit-card users more flight and hotel options.” But we’ll have to wait and see what this really means over the next couple of weeks and months.
If you want to learn more about using the Chase Travel Portal to book free flights, hotels, rental cars, and more, check out our step-by-step guide to using the Chase Travel Portal.
At this point, both the Chase Ultimate Rewards website and app have been revamped for Chase Freedom cardholders (Chase Freedom® & Chase Freedom Unlimited®). Supposedly making it easier to find and book flights and hotels, and making it easier to see a more detailed breakdown of fees.
Other cards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve, will be phased in over the next few months.
When you book travel through Chase’s travel portal you get a value of 1 to 1.5 cents per point, depending on what kind of Chase card you have. We’ll have to wait and see, but this partnership should mean having more flexibility to use your hard-earned Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Because you should have more airline and hotel options.
And you can book airlines on Expedia you previously couldn’t book online through the Chase Travel Portal, like Norwegian, Allegiant, and WOW Air. But you’ll still need to call to book Southwest flights through the Chase Travel Portal.
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