How I Earned Nearly 1 Million Chase Ultimate Rewards Points in a Year

For the past decade, points and miles have reshaped the way I travel. Even after redeeming millions of miles, I still earn them at a relatively rapid rate.

These points have enabled me to take aspirational trips to some of the world’s most sought-after destinations, including Japan, Thailand, Brazil, and South Africa, among many others. Even better, the vast majority of my redemptions have been for long-haul international business-class flights.

Here’s my strategy for accumulating nearly 1 million Chase Ultimate Rewards points within a year.

My Strategies for Earning Nearly 1 Million Chase Points

Although there are numerous ways to earn lots of Chase Ultimate Rewards points, the best (and quickest) way is through welcome offers on Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning cards. Of course, other ways also exist, including optimizing everyday spending with the right cards and taking advantage of referral bonuses, as we’ll discuss below.

Applying for New Chase Cards

Here are the 4 Chase cards I applied for that earned me roughly 600,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after meeting spending requirements.

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is Chase’s ultrapremium card. It offers fantastic perks and benefits, including airport lounge access, Points Boost redemptions, and IHG Platinum elite status.

Of course, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card also has a giant welcome offer:

• Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

100,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$2,000

Annual Fee

$795

APR

19.49% - 27.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Excellent

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like worldwide airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus, it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to cover you at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the more than $2,000 in annual credits, which can offset the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 8x points on all Chase Travel purchases
• 5x points on Lyft rides
• 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly

Cons

• $795 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
• Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge^® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^® every 4 years
• Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
• Get complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV and Apple Music for a minimum of one year when activated by June 22, 2027, a value of $288 annually.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.49% - 27.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

To provide all this value, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card has a hefty $795 annual fee. However, it also provides numerous statement credits that help offset the annual fee. This includes a $300 annual travel credit, up to a $500 stays credit with The Edit, a $300 dining credit, and $300 in DoorDash credits.

Sapphire Reserve for Business℠

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card is fantastic for business owners who want to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

It also offers numerous perks and benefits, including airport lounge access, Priority Pass Select membership, and IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status, among many others.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card also has a massive welcome offer:

• Earn 200,000 bonus points after you spend $30,000 on purchases in your first 6 months and access more than $7,000 in total business and travel value in your first year.

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Sapphire Reserve for Business℠

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business card is perfect for frequent traveler business owners who want premium perks.

Apply Now

Sapphire Reserve for Business℠

The Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business card is perfect for frequent traveler business owners who want premium perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 200,000 bonus points after you spend $30,000 on purchases in your first 6 months from account opening and access more than $7,000 in total business and travel value in your first year.

200,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$4,000

Annual Fee

$795

APR

Flex for Business Variable APR: 17.74% - 28.49%

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card is a great pick for business owners who can easily make use of the annual credits for travel, Google Workspace, ZipRecruiter, and more. Plus, it offers helpful bonus categories such as ad spend and offers access to over 1,300 airport lounges — including Chase Sapphire Lounges.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 8x points on Chase Travel purchases
• 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
• 3x points on advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines (uncapped)

Cons

• $795 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 200,000 bonus points after you spend $30,000 on purchases in your first 6 months from account opening.
• $7,000+ in value your first year. 200K points, valued at $4,000 for select flights and hotels through Chase Travel℠, plus $3,000+ in annual value through travel and business benefits.
• Earn 8x points on Chase Travel℠ for airline tickets, hotels, including The Edit℠, car rentals, cruises, activities and tours.
• Earn 5x total points on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
• Earn 4x points on flights & hotels booked direct.
• Earn 3x points on social media & search engine advertising.
• Get the most flexible travel credit compared to any other card, with up to $300 in statement credits each anniversary year on travel purchases.
• Enjoy complimentary access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge^® by The Club network and Priority Pass™ Select membership. Two guests may accompany the Primary Cardmember to the lounges free of charge.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: Flex for Business Variable APR: 17.74% - 28.49%
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

To provide all this value, the Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card has a hefty annual fee of $795, though it offers a variety of statement credits that can help offset that cost.

Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card

The Ink Business Cash card is another good one for small business owners with high spending in specific bonus categories.

With the Ink Business Cash card, you can earn 5% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year. You can also earn 2% cash-back on the first $25,000 in combined dining and gas purchases each account anniversary year.

The Ink Business Cash card also currently has a higher-than-usual welcome offer:

• Earn $750 $1,000 when you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 4 months after account opening.

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card offers great rewards and no annual fee. Any new business owner that needs to get going will enjoy this card.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card

This card offers great rewards and no annual fee. Any new business owner that needs to get going will enjoy this card.

Welcome Offer

Earn $750 $1,000 when you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first four months after account opening.

$750 $1,000

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,000

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 16.74% - 24.74% variable thereafter.

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card has a lot going for it that makes it a compelling choice for small business owners. The card features a very lucrative 5% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year.

When you factor in that the card has no annual fee, and 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 16.74% - 24.74% variable thereafter. , you could be adding big value back into your business for no cost out of pocket.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Earn 5% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year
• Earn 2% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases on dining and gas, and 1% back on all other purchases
• Travel insurance and purchase protection

Cons

• Spending caps in bonus categories
• Low points earning outside of bonus categories

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn $750 $1,000 when you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first four months after account opening
• Earn 5% cash back at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year on the first $25,000 in combined spend
• Earn 2% cash back on dining and gas each account anniversary year on the first $25,000 spent in combined spend.
• Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn.
• Earn 5% total cash back on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
• As a Chase cardmember, you’ll be automatically checked for a credit line increase at least every 6 months.
• Complimentary three-month lnstacart+ membership.
• No Annual Fee
• 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 16.74% - 24.74% variable thereafter.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Best of all, the Ink Business Cash card has no annual fee and offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 16.74% - 24.74% variable thereafter.

Hot Tip:

Although the Ink Business Cash card is marketed as a cash-back card, its rewards are actually earned as Chase Ultimate Rewards points. When paired with an eligible Chase card, these points can be transferred to Chase’s travel partners.

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

The Ink Business Unlimited card is terrific for small-business owners looking for a simple earning strategy. With the Ink Business Unlimited card, you can earn an unlimited 1.5% cash-back on every purchase.

Like the Ink Business Cash card, the Ink Business Unlimited card also currently has a high welcome offer:

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Ink Business Unlimited card is a stellar option for business owners looking for a no-fuss uncapped 1.5% cash-back card without an annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card

The Ink Business Unlimited card is a stellar option for business owners looking for a no-fuss uncapped 1.5% cash-back card without an annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn $750 $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening.

$750 $1,000

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,000

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 16.74% - 24.74% thereafter.

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

As a business owner, you likely keep pretty busy and probably prefer a credit card that just keeps things simple.

If so, the Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card might be just the card for you. From zero annual fee to a flat cash-back rate, the card is a no-frills option that you don’t have to think twice about.

Don’t forget too, 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 16.74% - 24.74% thereafter.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 1.5% cash-back on all purchases
• No annual fee
• 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 16.74% - 24.74% thereafter.

Cons

• 3% foreign transaction fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn $750 $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening
• Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
• No Annual Fee
• Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards^®.
• Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
• Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
• With Zero Liability you won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
• 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
• Earn 5% total cash back on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 16.74% - 24.74% thereafter.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Rewards Center

• Chase Ultimate Rewards

• Earn $750 $1,000 bonus cash-back after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening.

The Ink Business Unlimited card has no annual fee and offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 16.74% - 24.74% thereafter.

Bottom Line:

By applying for and meeting the spending requirements of 4 personal and business credit cards, I earned more than 500,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points. When applying for Chase cards, it is recommended to space out credit card applications and factor in Chase’s approval rules, like the Chase 5/24 Rule.

Maximizing Card Spending

While optimizing card spending takes time and effort to learn, it is a crucial part of earning points efficiently, as it helps ensure you capture the highest possible rewards on every dollar spent.

For example, dining is one of my biggest expenses, with monthly expenses often exceeding $2,000. To boost my rewards earnings potential, I put that spending on the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, as it offers 3x points on all dining purchases worldwide. This means I can expect to earn around 72,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points each year just from going out to eat.

Travel purchases also account for plenty of my spending. For personal travel, I use the Chase Sapphire Reserve card to earn 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly. On the other hand, I use my Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card for business travel expenses. Between the 2 cards, I expect to earn roughly 70,000 points per year in these categories.

Card Referrals

Another underrated way I earn thousands of extra points each year is through credit card referrals. Most credit card issuers offer referral programs that award points or miles when someone you refer is approved for a card.

In my experience, referrals are one of the easiest ways to earn rewards, allowing you to accumulate points while helping friends and family find cards that align with their needs and spending habits.

Because these strategies have worked so well for me, I often recommend them to those around me. Many of my closest friends and family members turn to me for advice when they’re considering a new credit card, and fortunately, those opportunities arise several times each month. As a result, card referrals have become a meaningful source of additional points and miles.

Most programs limit the total number of referrals or points you can earn per year. This year, I nearly maxed out my referrals for several popular Chase travel rewards cards, earning over 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

How Much Are 1 Million Chase Points Worth?

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are among the most valuable transferable currencies available. We value Chase points at 2 cents apiece, only behind American Express Membership Rewards points.

A balance of 1 million Chase points can be worth around $20,000 toward travel, making it a significant rewards milestone for frequent travelers like me.

Of course, these points can be worth a lot more (or less), depending on how you redeem them. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points, including using them for gift cards or statement credits, shopping with points, and booking travel through Chase Travel.

However, the usual best way to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points is by transferring them to Chase’s transfer partners. Fortunately, Chase has incredibly valuable hotel and airline travel partners, including Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, United Airlines MileagePlus, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, and World of Hyatt.

Final Thoughts

Though earning roughly a million Chase Ultimate Rewards points in a year was a ton of fun (but also required diligent work), redeeming them for travel brings me a lot more joy. I have already begun redeeming them for long-haul, business-class travel.

Between welcome offers, category bonuses, and credit card referrals, you can continue earning points at high rates. It’s important to look out for better-than-normal welcome offers and maximize bonus categories to get the most points possible.