I talk about Chase Ultimate Rewards a lot and I'm not gonna apologize for it. They're the most flexible points currency in the game right now and 2026 has made them even better. New transfer partners, record-high signup bonuses, and transfer bonuses that pop up every few weeks. If you fly out of Florida or Texas and you're not earning Chase points, you're actively choosing to pay more for travel.
What Changed in 2026
Chase added two new airline transfer partners this year bringing the total to 14 airlines and 3 hotel programs. The newest additions give better coverage for South America and Asia routes. Combined with existing partners like United, Southwest, JetBlue, British Airways, and Hyatt, there's basically no trip you can't cover.
The signup bonuses are also at historic highs right now: - Sapphire Preferred: 70,000 points (was 60k for years) - Sapphire Reserve: 75,000 points - Ink Business Preferred: 100,000 points - Freedom Unlimited: 20,000 points (earns Chase UR with a Sapphire)
The Transfer Partners That Matter Most for FL/TX
Not all 14 partners are created equal. For Florida and Texas flyers specifically these are the ones worth caring about:
United (1:1)
: Hub in Houston (IAH). Flies everywhere domestic and international. Best for Asia routes and general domestic awards.
Southwest (1:1)
: Dominates Florida and Texas routes. No blackout dates. Companion Pass eligible points.
British Airways/Avios (1:1)
: This is the sleeper. Avios can book American Airlines flights and AA has massive hubs in MIA and DFW. Short-haul AA flights cost 6,000-10,000 Avios one-way. That's a \$200+ flight for 6,000 points transferred from Chase.
Hyatt (1:1)
: Best hotel redemption value in the game. Caribbean all-inclusives for 12,000-25,000 points per night (\$400-800 cash value).
JetBlue (1:1)
: FLL and MCO to Europe in Mint class for 50,000-70,000 points one-way. That's a \$1,500+ product.
The Transfer Bonus Game
Chase runs transfer bonuses 4-6 times per year where you get 20-40% more miles when transferring to specific partners. We just saw a 30% bonus to British Airways. That means 50,000 Chase points became 65,000 Avios. These bonuses stack with already-good redemption rates to create insane value.
We alert Premium Plus members every time transfer bonuses go live because they're time-limited (usually 2 weeks) and the value is too good to miss.
The Play
If you don't have a Chase Sapphire card yet, the Preferred at 70k is the no-brainer starting point. \$95 annual fee, 70,000 points bonus that's worth \$1,000+ in travel. If you already have one, consider adding an Ink Business card, they earn Chase UR too and the 100k bonus is massive.
Earn the points, hold them until a deal appears, then transfer to the best partner for that specific trip. That flexibility is what makes Chase the best. Sign up for Early Bird Air and we'll tell you which transfer partner to use for each deal we send. Takes the guesswork out completely.