By MarketVedas Editorial Team – October 2025
If you’ve been saving up Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) points, you might be rethinking your ticket to Dubai. Come October 16, 2025, Chase will cut ties with Emirates Skywards, ending the ability to transfer UR points to the airline’s loyalty program. This move is stirring frustration, especially among frequent flyers who rely on those flights for premium cabin redemptions.
What Happened & When
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Chase announced that its Emirates Skywards transfer partner relationship will end on October 16, 2025.
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Earlier this year, transfers were already paused temporarily (from late May through approximately June) as Emirates updated their internal systems.
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Other issuers like Amex and Citi have already devalued their transfer ratios to Emirates — e.g. from 1:1 to 5:4. Rather than accept a devaluation, Chase seems to have decided to part ways entirely.
Why It’s a Big Deal
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Loss of a popular transfer partner: Users who stocked up UR points specifically to redeem on Emirates (for business or first-class wings) are now under pressure to act before the deadline.
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Transfer delays & uncertainty: Reddit threads report wide variability in how long point transfers take — sometimes minutes, sometimes over 24-36 hours or more. That unpredictability makes last-minute redemption risky.
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Diminishing value at Skywards: Surcharges, restricted award availability (especially for first class), and rising distance or route penalties are already making Emirates redemptions less attractive.
Advice for Chase UR Holders
If this change impacts you, here are some steps to consider:
| What You Should Do | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Transfer points to Emirates before October 16 if you need them | After that, no more UR → Skywards transfers. |
| Book premium cabin seats (business/first) soon | Award space often disappears well ahead of deadlines. |
| Compare Emirates vs other UR partners (Aeroplan, BA, Flying Blue, etc.) | These often have better availability, lower surcharges, or more transparent rules. |
| Be wary of transferring large balances if you don’t have a confirmed booking | Miles could sit in Skywards with fewer options. |
| Look into other loyalty programs or transfer partners that still offer 1:1 UR transfers | These may offer more value, both now and in the future. |
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t just about losing one airline partner. It speaks to broader trends in the travel-rewards world:
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Pressure on airlines to get more from credit card issuers per mile redeemed.
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Program devaluations are becoming increasingly common (higher fees, limited access, inflated surcharges).
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Consumer shifting — with frequent flyers more wary and likely to diversify where they earn points.
What to Watch Next
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Will other UR airline partners be dropped or have their transfer ratios altered?
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How will Emirates respond (if at all) to maintain customer loyalty in light of this cut?
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What will Chase offer in place of Emirates, in terms of partner options or bonus promotions?
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Will the reward-travel community see more of this “quiet partner exits” rather than announced devaluations?
