Chase’s 100,000-Point Bonus Can Book 4 Hawaii Trips for 104,000 Points

Q: Is a 100k point Hawaii trip worth more than a simple $1,000 cash bonus from a competitor card?

Yes—if you will actually use the points for Hawaii travel, the 100,000-point offer is generally worth more than a plain $1,000 cash bonus. At a bare minimum, 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points can usually be redeemed for $1,000 in cash, so that is the floor. But the Hawaii example shows higher value: four round-trip United tickets from Los Angeles to Honolulu cost 104,000 points plus $44.80 in taxes and fees, or 26,000 points per person. If those tickets would otherwise cost well above $250 each, the redemption beats a simple $1,000 cash bonus. Independent valuations also support that. The Points Guy’s May 2026 estimate values 100,000 Chase points at about $2,050 when used well through transfer partners. Even more conservatively, redeeming through travel channels can put the value around $1,250 to $1,500, still ahead of $1,000 cash. That said, the better choice depends on how certain you are to travel. The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee and requires $5,000 in spending in three months. A competitor’s $1,000 cash bonus is simpler, more flexible, and carries no risk of award-seat scarcity or changing airline prices. So the travel offer wins on potential value, especially for a family Hawaii trip from cities with low United award pricing. The cash bonus wins on certainty and flexibility. If you are ready to book Hawaii flights, the points are likely the better deal.

3 articles · Updated · The Points Guy · Jun 15

104,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points plus $44.80 in taxes can cover four round-trip economy tickets to Hawaii, according to The Points Guy’s latest redemption example.
United MileagePlus is the key route: Chase points transfer 1:1, usually instantly, and Hawaii awards start at 13,000 points one way plus $5.60 in taxes.
Los Angeles-to-Honolulu offers the clearest family example, with four travelers able to fly round-trip for 26,000 points each, while other sample routes from San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and Houston price higher.
The strategy is tied to Chase Sapphire Preferred’s limited-time 100,000-point welcome bonus after $5,000 in spending over three months; that spending also earns at least 5,000 additional points.
For travelers weighing value, The Points Guy pegs the redemption at about 1.75 cents per point, framing Hawaii flights as a simple use of a $95-a-year card’s signup offer.