Introduction
Citi ThankYou Rewards is a popular loyalty program that allows cardholders to earn points on their everyday purchases. These points can be redeemed for a variety of rewards, including gift cards, travel bookings, and transfers to partner loyalty programs. While many cardholders choose to redeem their points for gift cards or bookings through the Citi travel portal, those with premium Citi ThankYou cards have the option to transfer their points to a number of airline, hotel, and retail loyalty programs.
In this guide, we’ll discuss how to earn Citi ThankYou points that can be used with Citi transfer partners. We’ll also provide an overview of the Citi transfer partners, their transfer ratios, and tips for maximizing the value of your points when transferring them to partner programs.
Earning Points for Citi Transfer Partners
Citi ThankYou points can be earned through select Citi credit cards, including the Citi Prestige Card (no longer available to new applicants) and the Citi Premier Card. It’s important to note that not all ThankYou points have the same value. Cardholders with the Citi Rewards+ Card earn more limited ThankYou points that can only be transferred to JetBlue TrueBlue, Choice Privileges, and Wyndham Rewards. Similarly, those with the Citi Double Cash Card or the Citi Custom Cash Card earn cash back as “basic” ThankYou points that cannot be transferred to partner programs.
However, cardholders who also hold the Citi Prestige or the Citi Premier can combine their limited and basic ThankYou points with those from their premium card accounts. This allows them to transfer their combined rewards to any of the Citi ThankYou transfer partners.
Overview of Citi Transfer Partners
Currently, the Citi ThankYou Rewards program has 19 transfer partners, including 14 airline loyalty programs, four hotel loyalty programs, and one retail loyalty program. Here’s an overview of the Citi transfer partners and their transfer ratios:
1. Accor Live Limitless: 2:1 transfer ratio
2. Aeromexico Rewards: 1:1 transfer ratio
3. Air France-KLM Flying Blue: 1:1 transfer ratio
4. Avianca LifeMiles: 1:1 transfer ratio
5. Cathay Pacific Asia Miles: 1:1 transfer ratio
6. Choice Privileges: 1:2 transfer ratio (2:3 transfer ratio for limited ThankYou points)
7. Emirates Skywards: 1:1 transfer ratio
8. Etihad Guest: 1:1 transfer ratio
9. EVA Air Infinity MileageLands: 1:1 transfer ratio
10. JetBlue TrueBlue: 1:1 transfer ratio (5:4 transfer ratio for limited ThankYou points)
11. Leaders Club: 5:1 transfer ratio
12. Qantas Frequent Flyer: 1:1 transfer ratio
13. Qatar Airways Privilege Club: 1:1 transfer ratio
14. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer: 1:1 transfer ratio
15. Shop Your Way: 1:10 transfer ratio
16. Thai Royal Orchid Plus: 1:1 transfer ratio
17. Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles: 1:1 transfer ratio
18. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: 1:1 transfer ratio
19. Wyndham Rewards: 1:1 transfer ratio (5:4 transfer ratio for limited ThankYou points)
Transferring Citi ThankYou Points
To transfer Citi ThankYou points to partner programs, cardholders can visit thankyou.com and sign in to their account. They may need to select the ThankYou account they want to use and click on “Travel” in the top navigation bar, then select “Points transfer.” Each transfer must be at least 1,000 ThankYou points but no more than 500,000, and points can only be transferred in increments of 1,000.
It’s important to note that some partners may process transfers quicker than others, with Citi stating that transfers can take up to 14 days to process. However, most transfers occur much quicker based on our tests.
Maximizing Value with Citi Transfer Partners
While each Citi transfer partner offers unique benefits and redemption opportunities, some partners may provide more value than others when transferring Citi ThankYou points. Cardholders should consider factors such as award availability, award pricing, and fees when deciding which partner to transfer points to.
In the following sections, we’ll provide an overview of each Citi transfer partner and discuss whether they offer good value for transferring Citi points. We’ll also highlight any sweet spots or unique redemption opportunities that cardholders can take advantage of when using each partner program.
Accor Live Limitless
Accor Live Limitless is a hotel loyalty program that includes popular brands like Sofitel, Fairmont, Raffles, and Movenpick. With a transfer ratio of 2:1, cardholders can transfer their Citi ThankYou points to Accor at a slightly lower value compared to redeeming points for travel through the Citi travel portal. However, for cardholders with a limited number of Citi points, transferring to Accor Live Limitless could provide slightly more value.
Aeromexico Rewards
Aeromexico Rewards is an airline loyalty program that offers classic award tickets with limited availability and dynamic pricing for most award tickets operated by Aeromexico, Delta, KLM, and Air France. While cardholders may find good value in specific situations, Aeromexico Rewards is generally not considered one of the most valuable Citi transfer partners.
Air France-KLM Flying Blue
Air France-KLM Flying Blue is a popular program with dynamic award pricing and fuel surcharges on some routes. However, cardholders can find value through monthly Promo Rewards, stopovers, and using the calendar search tool to find cheaper award tickets. While Flying Blue has standardized prices for some redemptions, cardholders should carefully consider award availability and fees when transferring points to Flying Blue.
Avianca LifeMiles
Avianca LifeMiles is a valuable program for booking flights on Star Alliance carriers, with mixed cabin ticketing and low taxes and fees. While some award rates have increased, cardholders can still find sweet spots for redemptions, especially on flights within the Americas. By avoiding carrier surcharges on award tickets, Avianca LifeMiles remains a popular choice for maximizing partner redemptions.
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles uses distance-based award charts for flights on its own metal and Oneworld partner awards. Long-haul flights can be expensive, but cardholders may find value in booking ultra-long flights or utilizing the program’s calendar search tool to find cheaper award tickets. While Asia Miles passes on fees and surcharges, there are still occasional opportunities for cardholders to maximize their redemptions through the program.
Choice Privileges
Choice Privileges offers award nights at a range of properties worldwide, with a transfer ratio of 1:2 (2:3 for limited ThankYou points). Cardholders can maximize the value of their points by utilizing Choice Hotels Sweet Spot Rewards and unique redemption opportunities within the program. By transferring points to Choice Privileges, cardholders can access a variety of hotel brands and properties for their travel needs.
Emirates Skywards
Emirates Skywards is known for its premium cabin awards, but award prices can be high, especially on certain routes. Cardholders may find value in booking Emirates business or first-class award tickets, as well as exploring fifth-freedom routes between the U.S. and Europe. By carefully considering award availability and fees, cardholders can maximize the value of their Citi ThankYou points when transferring to Emirates Skywards.
Etihad Guest
Etihad Guest has undergone changes in recent years, with adjustments to award rates and sweet spots. While some partner redemptions have been reduced, cardholders can still find value in using their miles for certain routes and upgrades. By staying informed of program changes and opportunities, cardholders can make the most of their Citi ThankYou points when transferring to Etihad Guest.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Citi ThankYou cardholders have the opportunity to maximize the value of their points by transferring them to a range of airline, hotel, and retail loyalty programs. By earning points through premium Citi ThankYou cards and carefully considering transfer ratios, award availability, and fees, cardholders can make the most of their rewards and enjoy unique redemption opportunities with Citi transfer partners. Whether booking flights, hotel stays, or retail purchases, cardholders can benefit from the flexibility and value offered by the Citi ThankYou Rewards program and its transfer partners.