Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to Turkish Airlines happen through the Chase travel portal, but the path depends on which Chase card you hold

Not all Chase cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points can transfer directly to Turkish Airlines. Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders can transfer points to Turkish Airlines through Chase's transfer partners. If you hold a different Chase card—such as the Freedom Unlimited or a co-branded card—you cannot transfer points directly to any airline. Instead, you can only redeem points through the Chase travel portal at a fixed rate, typically 1 point per cent of travel cost.

Turkish Airlines is part of the Star Alliance network, which matters because Chase's transfer partnerships work through airline alliances rather than individual airlines. When you transfer points from a Sapphire card, you are sending them to Turkish Airlines' frequent flyer program, called Miles&Smiles, where they become actual airline miles that you can use for flights, seat upgrades, and other airline perks.

Key Takeaways

  • Only Chase Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve cardholders can transfer Ultimate Rewards points directly to Turkish Airlines; other Chase cards cannot transfer to any airline.
  • Transfers to Turkish Airlines happen through Chase's online transfer portal and typically arrive within 24 hours, though the airline may take additional time to post them to your account.
  • Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles miles can be used for flights on Turkish Airlines and its Star Alliance partners, including United, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines.
  • The transfer rate is usually 1 Chase point to 1 Turkish Airlines mile, though Chase occasionally runs promotions offering bonus miles on transfers.

Check which Chase card you own and whether it qualifies

Open your Chase account online or in the Chase mobile app and look at the card name on your account. The two cards that allow transfers to airline partners are the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Both are premium travel cards. If your card says "Freedom," "Ink," "Amazon," or any other name, you cannot transfer points to Turkish Airlines or any other airline partner.

If you do not have a Sapphire card but want to use your points for Turkish Airlines travel, you can still redeem through the Chase travel portal. You will pay a fixed rate—usually 1 point per cent of the ticket price—rather than getting the bonus value that transfers provide. This route is slower and typically costs more points per dollar of travel.

Log into your Chase account and locate the transfer page

Go to chase.com and sign in with your username and password. From the main account page, look for a link labeled "Transfer Points" or "Manage Points." This is usually found under the rewards or benefits section of your card account. If you cannot find it, search the page for "transfer" using your browser's search function (Ctrl+F on Windows, Command+F on Mac).

Once you click the transfer link, Chase will show you a list of transfer partners. This list changes slightly depending on your card and your account status, but Turkish Airlines should appear if you hold a Sapphire card. The page will also show you your current points balance and let you choose how many points to transfer.

Select Turkish Airlines and enter your Miles&Smiles account number

Find Turkish Airlines in the transfer partner list and click on it. Chase will then ask you to enter your Miles&Smiles account number. This is the frequent flyer account number you use to log into Turkish Airlines' website. If you do not have a Miles&Smiles account yet, you must create one before you can transfer points. You can sign up for free at turkishairlines.com.

Double-check the account number you enter. If you type it incorrectly, your points will transfer to someone else's account, and Chase's fraud department will need to investigate to recover them. This process can take weeks. Copy and paste the number from your Miles&Smiles account page rather than typing it by hand.

Choose your transfer amount and confirm

Enter the number of points you want to transfer. Chase will show you how many miles this equals (usually a 1-to-1 ratio) and confirm the transfer will be free. There are no fees for transferring Ultimate Rewards points to airline partners. Review the details one more time, then click the button to confirm the transfer.

Chase will send you a confirmation email when ready. The points typically leave your Chase account within a few hours. Turkish Airlines usually posts the miles to your Miles&Smiles account within 24 hours, though it can occasionally take up to 48 hours. You can log into your Miles&Smiles account to check the balance, but do not be alarmed if the miles do not appear right away—the delay is normal.

What to do if the transfer option does not appear

If you log into Chase and cannot find a transfer option, or if Turkish Airlines does not appear in the partner list, your card does not support transfers to airline partners. This is the case for most Chase cards outside the Sapphire line. Your only option is to redeem points through the Chase travel portal, which requires you to book a flight and pay with points at checkout.

If you hold a Sapphire card but still do not see the transfer option, contact Chase customer service. Sometimes the transfer feature is temporarily unavailable due to system maintenance, or your account may have a restriction that prevents transfers. Chase's phone number is on the back of your card.

Using your Turkish Airlines miles after the transfer

Once the miles arrive in your Miles&Smiles account, you can use them to book flights on Turkish Airlines or any of its Star Alliance partners. Star Alliance includes United, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Air Canada, and many others. You can also use miles for seat upgrades, lounge access, and other perks depending on your account status.

Turkish Airlines typically requires fewer miles for flights within Europe or the Middle East and more miles for long-haul international flights. The exact cost depends on the route and how far in advance you book. You can search award availability on turkishairlines.com by logging into your Miles&Smiles account and using the "Book with Miles" option.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for points to show up as Turkish Airlines miles?

Chase removes the points from your account within a few hours of the transfer. Turkish Airlines typically posts the miles to your Miles&Smiles account within 24 hours, though it can take up to 48 hours. If the miles do not appear after two business days, contact Turkish Airlines customer service with your transfer confirmation number from Chase.

Can I transfer points from a Chase Freedom card to Turkish Airlines?

No. Only Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve cardholders can transfer points to airline partners. Freedom card holders can redeem points through the Chase travel portal at a fixed rate, but cannot transfer to Turkish Airlines directly.

Is there a limit to how many points I can transfer at once?

Chase does not publish a specific limit, but most accounts can transfer up to 100,000 points in a single transaction. If you want to transfer more than that, you can do multiple transfers on different days. Some accounts may have lower limits; Chase will tell you the maximum when you attempt the transfer.

Do I lose points if I transfer them to Turkish Airlines?

No. The transfer is a 1-to-1 conversion in most cases—1 Chase point becomes 1 Turkish Airlines mile. Occasionally Chase runs promotions offering bonus miles (such as 1.25 miles per point), which you should watch for before transferring.

What happens if I enter the wrong Miles&Smiles account number?

The points will transfer to the account number you provided. Contact Chase when ready with your confirmation number and explain the error. Chase's fraud team can investigate and attempt to recover the points, but this process takes time and is not may provide. Always verify the account number before confirming the transfer.