American Specific Membership Rewards® Factors and Chase Final Rewards® are the most effective—and the preferred—versatile rewards packages amongst journey fans, and it is easy to see why. Factors from each packages switch to an array of airline and lodge companions that permit customers get extra worth with every redemption, and cardholders also can use their factors to guide journey via a portal.
Amex factors and Chase factors additionally provide different versatile redemption choices, similar to assertion credit and present playing cards, albeit at various charges. Every program additionally comes with a alternative of rewards bank cards that permit customers earn beneficiant sign-up bonuses and factors for every greenback they spend.
On the finish of the day, you may need to evaluate these packages based mostly on their factors values, switch companions, and redemption choices earlier than you focus all of your card spending on both one. This in-depth information does precisely that. Learn on to learn the way these dynamic packages evaluate in all of the classes that matter most.
Key insights
- Amex factors and Chase factors could be earned through bank card spending, and eligible playing cards from each issuers are geared to customers with good-to-excellent credit score.
- Amex Membership Rewards are finest for severe vacationers who haven’t any intention of redeeming their factors for non-travel choices, whereas Chase factors work for individuals who journey but in addition love money again.
- Individuals who largely journey within the U.S. could need to give attention to Chase factors as a result of program’s switch companions, whereas worldwide vacationers typically desire Amex.
- If you cannot resolve between Amex and Chase, you are able to do what many different frequent vacationers do—earn factors in each packages without delay.
American Specific Membership Rewards Factors vs. Chase Final Rewards Factors
If you begin to evaluate Amex factors to Chase factors, you may discover pretty shortly that each rewards currencies have a number of issues in frequent:
- Each American Specific Membership Rewards factors and Chase Final Rewards factors are earned through bank card spending.
- Each packages provide lower-tier journey bank cards and premium journey bank cards.
- Every program has its personal choice of frequent flyer and lodge loyalty companions, and a few of these companions overlap.
- You should utilize each sorts of rewards for assertion credit, present playing cards, and different versatile choices. Whether or not you must is a completely completely different subject.
Incomes factors with bank cards
As we talked about, each Amex and Chase provide a choice of bank cards that earn factors of their packages. Nevertheless, there are extra American Specific bank cards normally, in addition to choices with no annual price. For probably the most half, that is what units Amex aside from Chase within the point-earning realm. You can not earn Chase factors that switch on to its airline and lodge companions with out paying an annual price for the yr.
That stated, the main points get a bit murky. You’ll be able to earn factors with a no-annual-fee Chase card and switch them to companions for those who pair your card with considered one of its journey bank cards. For instance, you possibly can earn money again with the card_name or Chase Freedom Flex, pool your rewards in your card_name or card_name account, then use your factors for superior journey redemptions.
With all these particulars in thoughts, listed below are the playing cards from each packages that earn factors that switch on their very own (without having to pair with one other card):
American Specific Membership Rewards bank cards
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2X factors on as much as $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets per yr (then 1X factors)
1X factors on different purchases Earn 20% extra factors while you use your card 20 or extra instances in a billing interval Phrases Apply. |
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3X factors on as much as $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets per yr (then 1X factors)
2X factors on fuel at U.S. fuel stations 1X factors on different purchases Earn 50% extra factors while you use your card 30 or extra instances in a billing interval Phrases Apply. |
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3X factors at eating places, together with takeout and supply within the U.S.
3X factors on transit 3X factors on journey 1X factors on different purchases Phrases Apply. |
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2X factors on as much as $50,000 in purchases per yr
1X factors on different purchases Phrases Apply. |
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4X factors at eating places worldwide
4X factors on as much as $25,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets annually 3X factors on flights booked with airways or via AmexTravel.com 1X factors on different purchases Phrases Apply. |
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4X factors on as much as $150,000 in mixed spending in two prime enterprise spending classes per billing cycle annually
1X factors on different purchases Phrases Apply. |
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5X factors on as much as $500,000 spent on airfare booked with airways and flights and pay as you go resorts booked via American Specific Journey (per calendar yr)
2X factors on different eligible journey booked via American Specific Journey 1X factors on all different purchases Phrases Apply. |
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5X factors on flights and pay as you go resorts booked via AmexTravel.com
1.5X factors on purchases in key enterprise classes 1.5X factors on purchases of $5,000 or extra (on as much as $2 million of those purchases per calendar yr) 1X factors on all different purchases Phrases Apply. |
Chase Final Rewards bank cards
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5X factors on journey via Chase Final Rewards® excluding lodge purchases that qualify for the $50 Annual Final Rewards Lodge Credit score
5X factors on Lyft Rides via March 31, 2025 3X factors on eating (together with eligible supply and takeout), selectstreaming companies and on-line grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Goal and wholesale golf equipment) 2X factors on different journey purchases 1X factors on all different purchases |
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10X factors on Chase Eating purchases, lodge stays and automotive leases (after the primary $300 is spent on journey purchases yearly) via Chase Final Rewards®
10X factors on Lyft purchases via March 31, 2025 5X factors on airfare booked via Chase Final Rewards 3X factors on different journey and eating purchases 1X factors on all different purchases |
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3X factors on as much as $150,000 in spending in eligible enterprise classes every account anniversary yr (then 1X factors)
1X factors on all different purchases |
Professional Tip: Not all Amex bank cards earn Membership Rewards factors, simply as not all Chase playing cards earn transferable factors. Be sure to know which playing cards provide these rewards earlier than you apply.
Switch companions
Usually talking, each Amex factors and Chase factors could be price roughly 2 cents every when redeemed for journey with switch companions. After all, you may get outsized worth in particular circumstances. If you’ll be able to switch factors to an airline associate for a world flight in a Enterprise or Top notch cabin, for instance, it is not unusual to get 3 to five cents per level in worth or much more.
In the meanwhile, Amex Membership Rewards has 20 switch companions and Chase has 14 switch companions. This is a rundown of the switch companions of each of those packages, plus their respective switch ratios.
Chase switch companions (all switch at a 1:1 ratio)
- Aer Lingus AerClub
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Air France (Flying Blue)
- British Airways Government Membership
- Emirates Skywards
- Flying Blue Air France KLM
- Iberia Plus
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Singapore Airways KrisFlyer
- Southwest Airways Speedy Rewards
- United MileagePlus
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership
- IHG One Rewards
- Marriott Bonvoy
- World of Hyatt
Amex switch companions
- Aer Lingus AerClub (1:1)
- Aeromexico (1:1.6)
- Air Canada Aeroplan (1:1)
- Air France KLM (Flying Blue) (1:1)
- ANA Mileage Membership (1:1)
- Avianca LifeMiles (1:1)
- British Airways Government Membership (1:1)
- Cathay Pacific (1:1)
- Delta SkyMiles (1:1)
- Emirates Skywards (1:1)
- Etihad Visitor (1:1)
- Hawaiian Miles (1:1)
- Iberia Plus (1:1)
- JetBlue TrueBlue (2.5:2)
- Qantas Frequent Flyer (1:1)
- Singapore Airways KrisFlyer (1:1)
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership (1:1)
- Selection Privileges (1:1)
- Hilton Honors (1:2)
- Marriott Bonvoy (1:1)
Redemption charge for journey purchases
Each Amex factors and Chase factors can be utilized to guide journey via their respective journey portals, but Chase comes out forward on this class for extra causes than one.
That is as a result of the three Chase playing cards provide 25% to 50% extra worth for factors while you redeem them for journey bookings via Chase. The truth is, the card_name offers you 50% extra worth while you redeem for airfare, resorts, rental vehicles and extra, and the card_name and card_name provide you with 25% extra worth.
As you possibly can see within the screenshot beneath from my card_name account, a lodge reserving on the Park Hyatt Chicago that will value $661 together with taxes via Chase would solely set you again 44,024 factors.
On the flipside, Amex factors are price one cent every when redeemed for airfare via AmexTravel.com. Nevertheless, you may solely get 0.7 cents per level in worth for resorts, cruises and rental vehicles.
Journey portals
Each Chase and American Specific have their very own journey portals that allow you to guide journey immediately with factors. Each portals are related in that they allow you to guide journey with factors, money, or a mix of the 2.
AmexTravel.com
The Amex journey portal helps you to seamlessly guide airfare, resorts, trip packages, rental vehicles, and cruises utilizing your factors. We already famous how you may get one cent per level in journey for those who redeem your Amex factors for airfare, however that you’re going to solely get round 0.7 cents per level in worth for choices like cruises, resorts and rental vehicles.
American Specific additionally has the Tremendous Resorts + Resorts program that is solely for Amex Platinum cardmembers. This program helps you to use factors, money or a mix of the 2 to guide unique, luxurious properties that include added perks similar to free breakfast and room upgrades (based mostly on availability).
Chase journey portal
The Chase journey portal works equally to the Amex portal, besides you may get 25% to 50% extra worth on your factors relying on which Chase journey bank card account you’re utilizing. This portal helps you to guide flights, resorts, cruises, rental vehicles, in addition to “actions.” The actions you possibly can guide are nearly totally excursions, however you can too use factors to guide airport transfers and different miscellaneous gadgets associated to journey.
In London, for instance, the actions tab via Chase helps you to guide excursions similar to a River Thames sightseeing cruise or an unique Harry Potter tour.
Whereas these choices will not be as helpful as level transfers to airways, I actually like the very fact you possibly can rating low-cost excursions and day journeys with factors, and nonetheless get 25% to 50% extra worth for reserving with rewards.
Additionally word that Chase has the Luxurious Lodge and Resort Assortment, which gives premium lodge redemptions with upgrades similar to free breakfast, early check-in, and extra. This assortment is on the market to Chase cardholders with a wider vary of card choices, together with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and several other United Airways bank cards.
Redeeming factors for purchases
Chase helps you to money in factors for purchases at Apple at a charge of 1 cent per level, and a few Chase playing cards allow you to pay with factors at Amazon.com or utilizing PayPal.com. Each of those choices will solely web you 0.8 cents per level.
That stated, Chase remains to be providing barely higher worth while you redeem factors to cowl sure sorts of purchases via its Pay Your self Again program. Nevertheless, it is price noting that this program is tweaked on a regular basis, and that choices rely on the cardboard you might have.
For instance, the present Chase Pay Your self Again promotion for the card_name® offers you 25% to 50% extra worth on your factors while you redeem them to cowl fuel station purchases, grocery retailer purchases, the cardboard’s annual price, and eligible charitable donations.
If you wish to store with Amex factors, then again, you may get 0.5 cents per level in worth. On this situation, you’ll be higher off making the purchases you need along with your card, then redeeming for assertion credit as an alternative. Whilst you will not get much more worth redeeming for assertion credit (as you may see beneath), it is higher than half a cent per level.
After all, Amex additionally helps you to “pay with factors at checkout” at choose retailers. This selection will web you 0.7 cents per level at shops like Amazon and Greatest Purchase.
Money out and assertion credit score charges
Each packages additionally allow you to redeem factors for assertion credit or money again. Once more, Chase Final Rewards comes out forward on this class. As you possibly can see within the screenshot beneath, you possibly can redeem Chase factors for money again at a charge of 1 cent per level.
Not solely does Chase allow you to redeem for an announcement credit score to your account at a charge of 1 cent per level, however you possibly can have the cash deposited right into a Chase checking or financial savings account when you’ve got one.
Professional Tip: Because you solely get 0.8 cents per level for Amazon and PayPal purchases with Chase playing cards that provide this selection, you’ll be higher off paying for the acquisition along with your card then simply redeeming for an announcement credit score to cowl it at a charge of 1 cent per level.
Within the meantime, the American Specific Membership Rewards program solely offers you 0.6 cents per level while you redeem rewards to cowl costs to your account. Additional, you possibly can’t get precise money again despatched to you with Amex factors.
Redeeming factors for present playing cards
Cashing in your factors for present playing cards is not all the time the best choice, however it may be a great way to make use of up additional rewards or get worth out of your factors when you do not have a visit developing.
Observe that, on this realm, redeeming Chase factors for present playing cards is usually (however not all the time) a greater deal. That is as a result of Chase present playing cards are provided at a charge of 1 cent per level or higher. Chase continuously has “present card gross sales” that allow you to purchase present playing cards with factors at 10% to twenty% off.
In the meantime, Amex factors are usually price lower than one cent per level while you redeem for present playing cards.
In the meanwhile, Amex is displaying a worth of 0.7 cents per level for present playing cards related to manufacturers like Delta and Hilton. Nevertheless, lots of its restaurant present playing cards and a few journey choices provide the full one cent per level in worth or someplace in between.
Pooling and transferring factors
American Specific routinely swimming pools all of your Amex Membership Rewards factors in a single account, which is sweet when you might have a number of Amex bank cards. You can not switch your Amex factors to a partner immediately. You’ll be able to, nonetheless, switch your factors to a licensed person’s frequent flyer account.
In different phrases, your partner or associate (or different member of the family) needs to be a licensed person in your Amex bank card with the intention to pool factors with them.
On the flipside, Chase lets cardholders pool their very own factors into the cardboard account of their selecting. That stated, keep in mind that level transferability solely applies when you’ve got a Chase journey bank card (card_name, card_name, or card_name).
In the meantime, Chase does allow you to pool factors with members of your family. You used to have the ability to switch factors to family members after including their card to your mix factors web page on-line. Now it’s a must to name in (with the quantity on the again of your card) to have new card accounts for family members added.
This is what Chase has to say on-line about its points-pooling coverage:
“You’ll be able to transfer your factors, however solely to a different Chase card with Final Rewards belonging to you or one member of your family or proprietor of the corporate, as relevant.”
Prime award redemption factors comparability
So, which factors will depart you higher off ultimately with Amex or Chase? Let’s check out their prime award redemption choices and what factors are price with each packages.
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Level transfers to companions |
2 cents every (on common); Many (however not all) level transfers are at a 1:1 ratio |
2 cents every (on common); All level transfers are at a 1:1 ratio |
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Journey booked via a portal |
1 cent per level for airfare; 0.7 cents per level for automotive leases, resorts and different journey |
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Assertion credit to your account |
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0.5 cents per level to 0.7 cents per level |
0.8 cents per level to 1 cent per level |
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0.7 cents per level to 1 cent per level |
1 cent per level or higher |
The underside line: Which program is finest?
As you possibly can see from the chart above, Chase factors normally provide a greater worth however not all the time. Because of this, finally, the suitable rewards program for you boils all the way down to the way you truly plan to make use of your factors.
Amex factors are usually finest for:
- Worldwide vacationers who can make the most of varied Amex airline companions for premium redemptions
- Delta flyers who need to switch their factors to the SkyMiles program
- Cardholders who’re unlikely to redeem factors for present playing cards, merchandise, or assertion credit
Chase factors are usually finest for:
- Cardholders who need the choice to switch factors to IHG Rewards, Southwest, United MileagePlus, and World of Hyatt
- Money-back fans who could redeem their rewards for assertion credit or present playing cards infrequently
- Cardholders who could need to guide journey via a portal versus transferring to airways or resorts
When you nonetheless cannot resolve, you can too take into account signing up for journey bank cards that work in each packages. Since lots of the switch companions with Amex and Chase overlap, this could even be an effective way to spice up your rewards haul for a premium journey redemption.
Within the meantime, you may additionally need to take a look at different versatile packages related to Capital One bank cards (Capital One Miles) or the Citi ThankYou Rewards program. By evaluating all the highest packages, their switch companions and their journey bank cards, you are sure to discover a mixture of playing cards that works for the best way you journey.
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Incessantly requested questions (FAQ)
How a lot are 50,000 Amex factors price?
When you switch your Amex factors to an airline associate for a premium redemption, 50,000 factors could be price $1,000. Nevertheless, 50,000 factors are price $500 for those who redeem for airfare via Amex Journey, or price $350 for those who redeem for cruises, resorts, automotive leases or different journey choices.
Chase Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Amex Gold: Which is best?
The card_name has a decrease annuacard_name, but the card_name has a better rewards charge in bonus classes. On the finish of the day, you may need to evaluate these playing cards based mostly on their welcome gives, rewards charges, perks, and options earlier than you resolve.
Can I earn Chase Final Rewards factors with no-annual-fee bank cards?
Chase doesn’t provide any no-annual-fee bank cards that earn factors that switch to airline and lodge companions. Nevertheless, you possibly can pool factors earned with a Chase money again bank card right into a Chase journey bank card account for premium journey redemptions.