Many savvy credit card holders are discovering the power of Citi ThankYou Points. While options like gift cards and the Citi travel portal exist, the true potential unlocks when you leverage Citi Thankyou Points Transfer Partners. For those holding premium Citi cards, transferring points can significantly amplify their value, opening doors to premium travel experiences.
This guide will delve into the world of Citi ThankYou Points transfer partners, explaining how to earn these valuable points and, more importantly, how to strategically use them with Citi’s diverse partner network.
Earning Citi ThankYou Points for Transfer
Accumulating ThankYou Points that are eligible for transfer is the first step. Citi offers a range of credit cards that earn these rewards, including:
It’s crucial to understand that not all ThankYou Points are created equal. To access the vast majority of Citi ThankYou Points transfer partners discussed here, you need to hold a premium Citi card. Cards like the discontinued Citi Prestige® Card or the current Citi Strata Premier are your gateways to these enhanced redemption options.
If your wallet only holds cards like the Citi Rewards+ Card, your transfer options are limited to JetBlue TrueBlue, Choice Privileges, and Wyndham Rewards. Cards like the Citi Double Cash Card or Citi Custom Cash Card earn “basic” ThankYou Points, which are essentially cashback and not transferable to partners on their own. The information for the Citi Custom Cash has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
However, there’s a smart strategy to unlock broader transferability. By also holding a Citi Prestige or Citi Strata Premier, you can combine your limited and basic ThankYou Points with the premium points earned on these cards. This consolidation unlocks the full spectrum of Citi ThankYou Points transfer partners for all your accumulated rewards.
The information for the Citi Prestige card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Your Gateway to Global Travel: Citi Transfer Partner Overview
The Citi ThankYou Rewards program boasts a robust network of 19 Citi transfer partners, spanning 14 airline loyalty programs, four hotel loyalty programs, and even one retail program. This diverse selection provides numerous avenues to maximize your points based on your travel goals.
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Here’s a comprehensive overview of the Citi ThankYou Points transfer partners and their respective transfer ratios:
- Accor Live Limitless: 2:1 transfer ratio
- Aeromexico Rewards: 1:1 transfer ratio
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue: 1:1 transfer ratio
- Avianca LifeMiles: 1:1 transfer ratio
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles: 1:1 transfer ratio
- Choice Privileges: 1:2 transfer ratio (2:3 transfer ratio for cards that earn limited ThankYou points)
- Emirates Skywards: 1:1 transfer ratio
- Etihad Guest: 1:1 transfer ratio
- EVA Air Infinity MileageLands: 1:1 transfer ratio
- JetBlue TrueBlue: 1:1 transfer ratio (5:4 transfer ratio for cards that earn limited ThankYou points)
- Leaders Club: 5:1 transfer ratio
- Qantas Frequent Flyer: 1:1 transfer ratio
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club: 1:1 transfer ratio
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer: 1:1 transfer ratio
- Shop Your Way: 1:10 transfer ratio
- Thai Royal Orchid Plus: 1:1 transfer ratio
- Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles: 1:1 transfer ratio
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: 1:1 transfer ratio
- Wyndham Rewards: 1:1 transfer ratio (5:4 transfer ratio for cards that earn limited ThankYou points)
Keep an eye out for occasional transfer bonuses! Citi sometimes offers promotional periods where you can transfer points to select partners at an improved ratio, further enhancing your point value.
Transferring your Citi ThankYou Points is a straightforward process. Simply log in to your account at thankyou.com. Navigate to “Travel” in the top menu and select “Points transfer.” Note that transfers must be within the 1,000 to 500,000 point range and in increments of 1,000.
While Citi states transfers can take up to 14 days, real-world data suggests much faster processing times. However, it’s always wise to allow ample time, especially when aiming for time-sensitive award bookings.
Let’s now explore each Citi transfer partner in detail, assessing their value proposition and highlighting potential sweet spots for maximizing your Citi ThankYou Points.
Related: Best ways to redeem Citi ThankYou points
Hotel Transfer Partners: Accor, Choice, Leaders Club, and Wyndham
Accor Live Limitless
Accor Live Limitless encompasses a vast portfolio of 53 hotel brands, including renowned names like Sofitel, Fairmont, and Raffles. Redemption within the Accor program is straightforward: 2,000 points equate to 40 euros (approximately $44 USD). This translates to roughly 2.2 cents per Accor point.
However, transferring Citi ThankYou Points to Accor at a 2:1 ratio yields just over 1 cent per Citi point. While this is below TPG’s valuation of Citi points at 1.8 cents each, Accor could be a viable option if you have a smaller balance of Citi points and seek slightly better value than the Citi travel portal for hotel stays.
Aeromexico Rewards
Image alt text: Aeromexico airplane in flight, illustrating the airline partner Aeromexico Rewards.
While Aeromexico Rewards maintains a classic award chart for limited availability, the program predominantly employs dynamic pricing for award tickets on Aeromexico, Delta, KLM, and Air France flights. These dynamic rates fluctuate based on demand, availability, destination, and class of service, often resulting in less compelling redemption values. Furthermore, even online bookings incur a 365 Mexican pesos (around $22 USD) award booking fee.
While strategic use cases for Aeromexico Rewards might exist, it generally isn’t considered among the most valuable Citi transfer partners.
Air France-KLM Flying Blue
Air France-KLM Flying Blue is a frequently discussed program and arguably one of the top Citi transfer partners. Despite employing dynamic award pricing and potentially substantial fuel surcharges on certain routes, Flying Blue presents numerous opportunities for valuable redemptions.
Recent standardization of saver-level award pricing to Europe and attractive monthly Flying Blue Promo Rewards and stopover options enhance the program’s appeal. Utilizing Flying Blue’s calendar search tool can also help uncover more affordable award tickets.
Related: How to find the cheapest redemption rates using Flying Blue miles
Avianca LifeMiles
Image alt text: Interior of an Avianca airplane cabin, representing Avianca LifeMiles program and flight experience.
Avianca LifeMiles is a popular choice for booking Star Alliance flights due to its mixed-cabin ticketing flexibility and absence of carrier-imposed surcharges on award tickets.
Despite past award chart adjustments, key sweet spots remain, such as:
- Lufthansa business class one-way to Europe for 63,000 miles
- One-way economy domestic awards on United Airlines starting from just 6,500 miles
Affordable Avianca-operated award flights within the Americas are also frequently available.
Related: The best websites to search for Star Alliance award availability
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles utilizes distance-based award charts for both Cathay Pacific and Oneworld partner flights. Long-haul routes, particularly between the U.S. and Hong Kong, can be point-intensive. For instance, “ultra-long” one-way Cathay Pacific flights exceeding 7,501 miles can cost 160,000 Asia Miles in first class, 110,000 in business, 75,000 in premium economy, and 38,000 in economy.
Asia Miles does pass on surcharges from partner carriers and often levies significant fees on its own tickets. Despite recent award chart increases, Asia Miles can still present valuable redemption opportunities in specific scenarios.
Related: Traveling soon? These 10 apps and websites make award redemptions easier to find
Choice Privileges
Image alt text: Exterior view of Cambria Hotel Copper Mountain, showcasing Choice Hotels and their properties.
Choice Privileges integrated Radisson Rewards Americas into its program in mid-2023, expanding its portfolio to include legacy Radisson brands. Award nights at most Choice properties globally range from 6,000 to 35,000 points per night.
The favorable 1:2 transfer ratio from Citi ThankYou Points (and even better 2:3 ratio for limited ThankYou points) enhances the value proposition of Choice Privileges. Explore resources on Choice Hotels Sweet Spot Rewards and unique ways to redeem Choice points to maximize your redemptions.
Related: Register for Choice Hotels Your Extras to earn gift cards or other perks on weekday stays
Emirates Skywards
Emirates Skywards is most appealing for aspirational Emirates business-class or first-class bookings, although award prices are generally high. For example, a one-way business-class flight from New York to Dubai can cost 138,000 miles plus substantial taxes and fees.
Image alt text: Emirates Business Class cabin interior, highlighting the premium experience offered by Emirates.
A more accessible option is exploring Emirates’ fifth-freedom routes between the U.S. and Europe, such as New York to Milan. A one-way business-class award on this route can be 87,000 miles plus taxes and fees. Round-trip saver-level awards on this route can further reduce the total mileage cost.
Related: The complete guide to the Emirates A380 onboard bar and lounge
Etihad Guest
Etihad Guest once held a reputation for maximizing partner redemptions. However, significant award chart devaluations in 2023, with increases exceeding 300% on some routes, have diminished its appeal.
While Etihad is implementing further loyalty program changes in the current year, including reduced GuestSeat award prices and Residence upgrades, Etihad Guest award rates generally remain elevated. Published award charts often display introductory rates, with actual booking costs frequently being considerably higher.
Related: Your ultimate guide to searching award availability for the major airlines
EVA Air Infinity MileageLands
EVA Air Infinity MileageLands is generally not the most straightforward or consistently valuable program. However, specific niche scenarios can warrant its consideration.
Intra-region round-trip itineraries offer potential value. The program allows for up to two stopovers, six segments, and one open jaw on round-trip Star Alliance awards within expansive regions. For example, the “North Asia” region encompasses a wide geographic area, enabling complex itineraries for a relatively modest mileage cost.
Consult the award chart for Star Alliance awards and the award chart for EVA Air awards for detailed information.
Related: Is EVA Air business class worth it on the Boeing 787-10?
JetBlue TrueBlue
Image alt text: JetBlue airplane taking off, representing JetBlue TrueBlue loyalty program and flight network.
JetBlue TrueBlue offers simple redemption for JetBlue flights. Point values are directly linked to cash prices, generally yielding around 1.4 cents per TrueBlue point based on TPG valuations.
Redeeming JetBlue points for Hawaiian Airlines flights is another option. Intra-Hawaii one-way economy flights can often be booked for 7,500 points plus minimal fees. However, compare these rates to cash prices, as paid flights on these routes are frequently inexpensive.
Leaders Club
Leaders Club, the loyalty program of The Leading Hotels of the World, is a recent addition to the Citi transfer partners network. Leaders Club employs dynamic award pricing, typically yielding between 6 and 8 cents per point. The 5:1 transfer ratio from Citi ThankYou Points translates to a value of 1.2 to 1.6 cents per Citi point, generally below TPG’s 1.8 cent valuation.
When considering LHW property stays, transferring Citi ThankYou Points to Leaders Club is often more advantageous than booking through the Citi travel portal, though it’s prudent to calculate the specific value for your intended booking.
Qantas Frequent Flyer
Qantas Frequent Flyer is generally not considered a top-tier program due to high fuel surcharges and less compelling award charts. The program utilizes multiple distance-based award charts, requiring careful selection of the appropriate chart based on operating airlines.
Sweet spots do exist, including short Qantas-operated flights, Oneworld around-the-world tickets, transatlantic American Airlines business-class awards, and short-haul American Airlines flights.
Qatar Airways Privilege Club
Image alt text: Qatar Airways Qsuite business class seat, showcasing the premium cabin product of Qatar Airways.
Qatar Airways Privilege Club gained prominence with its adoption of Avios as its currency in 2022. It is now the sole Avios-accruing program among Citi ThankYou Rewards transfer partners.
The ability to combine Avios across programs within the Avios ecosystem allows you to transfer Citi ThankYou Points to Qatar and subsequently access sweet spots within British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus programs.
Related: Book Qatar Qsuites before anyone else
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is often the preferred program for booking Singapore Airlines first-class Suites. First-class Suites on routes like New York to Singapore typically require Advantage award space at 243,000 miles one-way. Business-class awards on the same route range from 111,500 miles for Saver awards to 143,500 miles for Advantage awards. Waitlisting is also an option if desired award space is unavailable.
Consider the monthly KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes program for potential value on discounted award flights.
Shop Your Way
Shop Your Way is a retail rewards program. Redemption options are only visible once you accrue sufficient Shop Your Way points. According to the Shop Your Way website, 1,000 points equal $1 towards gift cards.
With a 1:10 transfer ratio, transferring Citi ThankYou Points to Shop Your Way yields approximately 1 cent per Citi point. Given that you can redeem Citi points for statement credits or checks at the same 1 cent per point value, transferring to Shop Your Way generally offers limited added benefit.
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus
Thai Royal Orchid Plus generally lacks significant value, despite some potentially favorable intra-region award pricing. Refer to the Thai Airways award charts for flights originating in Bangkok, connecting in Bangkok, and Star Alliance partner awards for detailed information.
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
Image alt text: Turkish Airlines business class seat, highlighting the onboard product of Turkish Airlines.
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles has been a popular program among award travelers. Recent award chart devaluations have reduced some of its allure, but pockets of value remain.
Booking Turkish Airlines or Star Alliance flights remains the most valuable use of Miles&Smiles. Region-based award charts allow one-way awards for half the price of round-trip tickets. However, be mindful of potentially high fuel surcharges on certain redemptions.
Domestic flights operated by Turkish Miles&Smiles partners can present sweet spots. For example, United flights within the U.S. (including Hawaii) can be booked for 10,000 miles one-way in economy and 15,000 in business class.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club has historically been favored by award travelers, but numerous sweet spot removals and devaluations have occurred in recent years, particularly affecting Delta and ANA redemptions.
Despite these changes, value can still be found, particularly when considering Virgin Atlantic Flying Club partners. Delta Main Cabin flights between the U.S. and the U.K. can start at 15,000 Virgin points each way during standard season dates. Virgin Atlantic Promo Rewards can also offer discounted award flight opportunities.
Related: How to book Delta award flights with Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points
Wyndham Rewards
Wyndham Rewards features a simplified award chart with award nights costing 7,500, 15,000, or 30,000 points. While not universally advantageous, Wyndham Rewards can offer bargains in expensive cities, at higher-end properties, or during peak travel periods.
Redemption options extend to Wyndham vacation club resorts, Caesars Rewards properties, and Vacasa vacation rentals.
Related: The 12 best Wyndham hotels in the world
Bottom Line: Unlock Enhanced Value with Citi Transfer Partners
As this guide illustrates, the array of Citi transfer partners provides a wealth of opportunities to maximize the value of your Citi ThankYou Points. Even if your immediate travel plans are undefined, accumulating Citi ThankYou Points can be a strategic move. Once your destination and travel style are clear, you can strategically analyze the Citi ThankYou Points transfer partners to pinpoint the programs that offer the most advantageous redemption options for your specific travel aspirations.
