It’s always a good way when transfer partners are added to transferable points currencies like Chase Ultimate Rewards, and this week Chase announced not one new partner, but two!
Both airlines-iberia-plus-683/”>Iberia and Aer Lingus are now 1:1 transfer partners of Chase Ultimate Rewards with minimum 1,000 point transfers.
Iberia, Aer Lingus, and British Airways all sort of share a program, Avios, so transfers to both of these programs have technically been possible in the past, but were much more difficult. First you needed to transfer your Ultimate Rewards to British Airways and then you needed to qualify to transfer your Avios from one type to another by having accounts open for at least 90 days and having mileage activity in all accounts. It wasn’t impossible, but it wasn’t an easy and enjoyable process either.
Now, transferring your Ultimate Rewards to Iberia or Aer Lingus is much easier because the transfer can be made directly! All of the Avios programs are distance based, and all have both peak and off-peak award levels. The nice thing is that all of the programs are a little different though, so there are plenty of sweet spots depending on your flights. Taxes and fees can also be very different between the three programs, so it pays to shop around before you decide which type of Avios you want to use!