How To Book a Last-Minute Mardi Gras Trip With Chase Ultimate Rewards

Mardi Gras is just weeks away, but it’s not too late to book a trip to New Orleans, especially if you have Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Despite the peak demand, there are still award flights and hotel nights available from cities around the country, so you’re only on the hook for beignets, po’boys, and Sazeracs.

That’s thanks to Chase’s expansive list of transfer partners, which range from United MileagePlus to World of Hyatt, along with flexible booking options through the Chase Travel booking portal. Here’s how to use Chase Ultimate Rewards points to put together a quick Mardi Gras getaway, even at the last minute.

How To Earn 100,000+ Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

Earning 100,000 or more Chase Ultimate Rewards points is easier than it may sound. Chase runs regular elevated welcome offers on many of its personal and business credit cards, which can quickly build a balance large enough for a Mardi Gras trip — or something much bigger.

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

Chase’s flagship personal credit card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, currently has a welcome offer worth up to $2,500 based on Upgraded Points’ current Ultimate Rewards valuation.

Plus, the card earns:

• 8x points on Chase Travel bookings
• 4x points on hotels and airfare booked directly
• 3x points on dining
• 1x point on all other purchases

While the card has a high $795 annual fee, it’s largely offset by built-in credits, including a $300 annual travel credit, $500 in hotel credits with The Edit, and $300 in StubHub credits. Cardholders also get access to Priority Pass lounges, Chase Sapphire Lounges, and select Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges when flying a Star Alliance airline.

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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 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

125,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$2,500

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

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Card Highlights

• Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Get more than $2,700 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 Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $250 annually
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

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

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Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase also offers a range of business credit cards, many of which boast high welcome offers.

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

If you’re open to a business card, the Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card is another strong option. Its welcome offer is currently worth $2,000, and it earns 3x Ultimate Rewards points on up to $150,000 per year (then 1x) in combined spending on:

• Shipping purchases
• Advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines
• Internet, cable, and phone services
• Travel (including local transit like taxis)

The card has a $95 annual fee and pairs well with a Sapphire card, if you’re also interested in holding a personal card.

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Ink Business Preferred^® 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 Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

100,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$2,000

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.49% - 25.49% 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.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card is a powerhouse for earning lots of points from your business purchases, especially for business owners that spend regularly on ads.

Plus the card offers flexible redemption options, including access to Chase airline and hotel transfer partners where you can achieve outsized value.

Business owners will also love the protections the card provides like excellent cell phone insurance, rental car insurance, purchase protection, and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x Ultimate Rewards points per $1 on up to $150,000 in combined purchases on internet, cable and phone services, shipping expenses, travel, and ads purchased with search engines or social media sites
• Cell phone protection
• Purchase protection

Cons

• No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access

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Card Highlights

• Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
• Earn 5x total points on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
• With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
• Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
• Go further when you book with Chase Travel℠. Enjoy competitive rates, seamless booking and premium benefits.
• Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
• Receive complimentary access to DashPass by DoorDash.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.49% - 25.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Chase Ultimate Rewards

There are other great Chase Ultimate Rewards points-earning credit cards out there, too. Read through our complete guides to the best personal and business Chase credit cards to find the card that works best for your wallet.

How To Book Flights to New Orleans Using Ultimate Rewards Points

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is well-connected to cities across the U.S., which gives travelers plenty of flexibility, even close to Mardi Gras.

Use Chase’s Airline Transfer Partners

From Houston, for example, nonstop United flights around Mardi Gras are available for 20,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points round-trip, plus about $60 in taxes and fees. More flights are bookable through United MileagePlus, but expect to pay more miles for your trip. You can transfer Ultimate Rewards points to both Aeroplan and MileagePlus at a 1:1 ratio.

If you’re flying from St. Louis (STL) to New Orleans, Southwest offers round-trip flights for 24,500 Southwest Rapid Rewards points on weekdays surrounding Mardi Gras, which is a good deal if you have a flexible schedule.

Like Aeroplan, Ultimate Rewards points transfer at a 1:1 ratio to Rapid Rewards.

Check Chase Travel and Points Boost

If award space through transfer partners is limited, Chase Travel can sometimes offer better value, especially with Points Boost.

For example, a round-trip United flight from Newark (EWR) to New Orleans costs 36,098 points in first class through Chase Travel using the Points Boost feature. That results in a value of 2 cents per point.

That said, Points Boost rates vary by route, airline, and the Chase card you have in your wallet. In this case, you’d spend fewer points through Chase Travel than you would transferring points to United MileagePlus.

When Paying Cash Makes More Sense

Most major budget airlines fly to New Orleans, which can make paying cash the smarter move.

During Mardi Gras season, Frontier offers nonstop round-trip flights from Chicago O’Hare (ORD) for about $111, while Spirit flies from Orlando for about $106 round-trip.

At prices like these, it can make sense to save your Ultimate Rewards points for a higher-value redemption later.

While budget airlines don’t include many of the extras, such as seat selection and a full-size carry-on, your Ultimate Rewards points could go much further toward an international trip.

How To Book Mardi Gras Hotels With Ultimate Rewards Points

New Orleans has no shortage of points-friendly hotels, even close to Mardi Gras.

Transferring Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt often yields the best value. At the time of writing, several Hyatt properties still had award availability:

• Hyatt Centric French Quarter (Category 4): 15,000-18,000 points per night, with cash rates reaching more than $500
• Hyatt Regency New Orleans (Category 3): 12,000-15,000 points per night, with cash rates up to $452

Points Boost can also work well for hotels. For example, a three-night stay at the Voco St. James Hotel costs $977 but can be booked for 55,830 points through Chase Travel with Points Boost — just under 1.75 cents per point in value.

And if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, don’t forget the limited-time $250 brand-specific hotel credit for eligible Chase Travel bookings. This credit applies to select brands, including IHG, and can be stacked with Points Boost by charging $250 to your card and covering the rest with points.

Final Thoughts

It’s not too late to book a last-minute trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras using Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Between airline transfer partners, Points Boost opportunities, and strong hotel availability, Ultimate Rewards points offer multiple ways to keep costs down, even during one of the city’s busiest weeks. And if Mardi Gras isn’t in the cards this year, the same strategies apply to other high-demand events and last-minute trips.