Confused about Chase CC points and transferring to United Mileage Plus..
 

I'm very new to accruing points and miles... and very, very confused about how the United Mileage Plus membership works and how to use any accumulated and/or transferred miles.
Not getting any straightforward answers on the United site.

Here is my situation:
I'd like to purchase 3 flights to France and back (open-jaw from Chicago to Paris, then from Marseilles to Chicago) in late March/early April.
I also plan to get premium economy seats.

I have a little over 100,000 points currently on our Chase cc.
I have the option of booking a flight on the Chase Rewards site and using points toward the overall purchase, or -
I can transfer points, 1:1, to our United Mileage Plus membership.

I just signed up for the latter. Also found out that husband already is a member, but he currently only has 818 miles. He's been using this for work.

So, I know I can transfer the Chase points to United, but - what happens when I do?
Can I use those points toward paying for flights, or do I have to wait to have so many points to get an "award" flight? I hope that makes sense...
So, in summary, I can transfer up to 100,000 points right now to United - what could I do with those if I do?

Thanks so much for any help and suggestions! And I hope this made sense!

I can tell you that you don't have nearly enough points to book 3 flights and possibly not enough to book even 1 flight. The minimum is 60,000 points for a round-trip, and that's in basic coach. Premium Economy will cost more. I don't know what 100,000 points on Chase translates to in United Mileage Plus miles, but I'd book the tickets directly on the Chase site and then buying the other two on the same flight. Just be sure they are all available at the same time and realize that you may not get seats together.

Thanks! That might be a good plan...

Actually, my husband just figured out where to look on the United site to see how the miles can be used.
We're more interested in buying coach tickets and using miles to upgrade - or getting a free coach ticket and upgrading all three, even if to PE.
It looks like 55,000 miles will get a round-trip to Paris. Wonder what it would be one-way...

I know that if we buy through Chase, for 82,000 pts., we can get one of the open-jaw tickets for free - and right now, United is wanting 109.00 to upgrade to PE. I'm assuming I can go onto United site after purchasing through Chase and upgrading to PE. It also looks like we can plug in our UMP numbers on the Chase site when buying the tickets.

Or we may do as you suggest and buy the other two separately through United... We don't need to all sit together. My daughter will be 16, but I can buy my husband's separately, since her ticket is discounted anyway.

Alright, think I figured it out.
On United, 85,000 miles plus $77.20 will get us one of the open-jaw tickets we need.

If we keep the points on Chase, 82,200 will get us one of the tickets - and nothing extra to be paid.

Looking more and more like I will just purchase tickets through Chase, then.

However, if anyone has some other advice or tips I should be aware of, please let me know! I'd really appreciate it.

You usually will save money by purchasing on the Chase site. If you use points for your purchase you get 15~20% discount from what those tickets would cost in cash on the united web site. If you pay partly in Chase points and partly in cash, the discount is not as big. you can compare by looking on the United site, then going to Chase and choosing the exact same flights from them.

The only time I'd convert into miles would be if you had other miles with United and need some extra to be able to get a free ticket or upgrade.

If you are trying to earn status on United (in order to get free baggage or other perks) it is good to know that you don't earn premier miles on trips purchased with FF miles. You do earn the miles if you purchase tickets using Chase points.

Thank you, lcuy. I was wondering if I earned miles on United through Chase. So apparently I do.. I ran through a trial purchase, and the Chase site does ask for our UMP numbers. Good to know.
Thanks!

Note a couple of things
you can't upgrade an economy ticket you purchased with miles.

BUT United Econ Plus is NOT a true Premium Economy product and not a true upgrade - better seat is all.

If you purchase Economy tickets and want to U/G to Business class there is also a co pay of 3-500 per ticket./ PLUS the miles.

Actually, United Plus isn't even a better seat. It's just more leg room and a free drink (and near the front of the cabin). That's it really. But the upgrade cost is only about $100, so for many people it's worth it. Real Premium Economy costs about double regular economy.

Sorry ... United Economy Plus

"better seat" as in more leg room and on a few flight configurations, two across and not 3 across.

Thanks for that info, newtome.

Doug_Stallings - more legroom is a better seat!
Especially for my husband, who is 6 ft tall.