Chase UR vs Amex MR
Both Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards are credit card points programs. They share enough overlap that travelers regularly compare them, but the right answer depends on your typical trips.
Quick spec comparison
| Spec | Chase UR | Amex MR |
|---|---|---|
| Kind | Credit card points | Credit card points |
| Alliance / network | — | — |
| Fixed award chart? | No (dynamic) | No (dynamic) |
| Fuel surcharges on awards | No | Some partners |
| Expiration | Never expire as long as account is open | Never expire as long as account is open |
| Transfers out to | United, Virgin Atlantic, Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, Air France/KLM, JetBlue, Singapore, Emirates, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG | ANA, Virgin Atlantic, Air France/KLM, British Airways, Iberia, Singapore, Cathay, Delta, Aeromexico, Avianca LifeMiles, Etihad, Qantas, Hilton, Marriott, Choice |
| Signature sweet spots | 1:1 to Hyatt for outsized hotel value, Transfer to Iberia for off-peak Madrid biz (34K), United Polaris US-Europe at 60-77K via UA chart | ANA round-trip US-Japan business for 88K, Virgin Atlantic for Delta One transatlantic (50K), ANA First Class round-trip US-Japan for 110K |
| Flagship benefit | Best hotel transfer partner (Hyatt 1:1) | ANA transfer partnership (only big bank with it) |
Where Chase UR wins
- Chase UR doesn't pass fuel surcharges to most awards (Amex MR does).
- Best for travelers who value Hyatt and want a clean US-based partner ecosystem.
Where Amex MR wins
- Best for premium-cabin redemptions, especially ANA First Class.
Pick Chase UR if…
You want flexible points that can wait until you find the right redemption. Chase UR's top use is its transfer partner network — particularly strong because of: Best hotel transfer partner (Hyatt 1:1).
Pick Amex MR if…
You want flexible points that can wait until you find the right redemption. Amex MR's top use is its transfer partner network — particularly strong because of: ANA transfer partnership (only big bank with it).
Can you have both?
Yes — and you probably should. Holding both bank programs gives you the widest possible transfer partner network. Different cards earn different points; the right card for your spend pattern depends on category bonuses, not which transferable points are 'best'.
Find availability before you transfer
AwardLocker shows live saver award space across every program. Confirm space first, then transfer points only when you're ready to book.
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