Citi’s Airline Transfer Partners

If free travel is on your wishlist, Citi ThankYou points can make it happen. Though not as widely talked about as other programs such as American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou points still hold great value when you transfer them to one of Citi’s airline partners. If you’re unsure where to begin, this article breaks down the current landscape of Citi airline transfer partners to help you leverage your ThankYou points for unforgettable travel experiences.

Overview of Citi’s Point Currency

The Citi ThankYou Rewards program is a loyalty program launched back in 2004 by Citibank. It allowed cardholders to earn Citi ThankYou points through various credit cards. These points could then be redeemed for a variety of awards, most commonly cash rewards, gift cards and travel.

Over the years, Citi has expanded and evolved the ThankYou Rewards program to compete with other major credit card loyalty programs. Citi has continued to introduce various credit card products with different earning structures and perks. One notable feature of the program is the ability to transfer points to a selection of travel partners, which gives ThankYou points added flexibility and is the main appeal to many travel enthusiasts.

In total, Citi has 18 transfer partners, 14 of which are airlines. Most transfers can be done at a 1:1 ratio, so this often yields the best value for your ThankYou points compared to other redemption options.

List of Citi’s Airline Partners

Citi currently has 11 airline transfer partners, summarized in the table below:

This list of partners, as well as their specific transfer ratios and transfer bonus offers, can change over time. For the latest information, refer to the official list provided by Citi.

For all partners, the minimum transfer is 1,000 points, and you can increase this in increments of 1,000. Most Citi transfers will be completed within 24 hours but can take longer in some cases. Citi recommends checking the terms for the specific partner for more information on transfer times.

Best Practices for Transferring Points

When transferring your ThankYou points to partners, keep the following best practices top of mind.

Confirm Award Availability First

After you initiate a transfer to a partner, this request cannot be canceled or reversed. Once you’ve converted your points into a specific partner’s currency, there’s no going back.

To avoid any regrets, it’s crucial to check the award availability for your planned travel before making a transfer request. Additionally, be aware of any potential expiration policies set by partner airlines for their miles; for example, Emirates miles may expire three years after transfer.

As a general guideline, if award availability isn’t confirmed, hold off on transferring your ThankYou points. Keeping them in your Citi account maintains their flexibility, and they’ll remain valid as long as your account stays open and in good standing.

Research and Compare Partners

Your preferred flight route can be served by multiple airlines. Similar to when buying flights with cash, take the time to research and compare the points cost associated with each option. This comparison can help you pinpoint the most economical points redemption for your trip.

Citi has a direct partnership with 14 airlines, but in reality, you have access to a broader range through airline alliances. For example, Avianca’s Star Alliance membership means you have the flexibility to book just about any Star Alliance award seat through the Avianca LifeMiles program.

Check For Transfer Bonuses

Leveraging transfer bonuses is a key strategy to enhance the value of your Citi ThankYou points. Citi occasionally provides transfer bonuses to specific airline partners.

Though it can be hard for a transfer bonus to align with your preferred program at the right time, the potential rewards are significant. A transfer bonus can easily yield an additional 15% to 30% (or more) value from your points. For example, a 30% transfer bonus to Avianca turns 1,000 ThankYou points into 1,300 LifeMiles.

Program Rules and Limitations

Before transferring your points using the Citi ThankYou program, be aware of the following rules and limitations.

Eligible Cards

To get access to all of Citi’s transfer partners, you must have one of the following credit cards:

• Citi Prestige Card
• Citi Strata Premier℠

If you hold at least one of these cards, you can then combine ThankYou points that you earn with other Citi cards to use with transfer partners as well. These other ThankYou points-earning cards are the following:

• Citi Rewards+® Card
• Citi Double Cash® Card
• Citi Custom Cash® Card

Note that on its own, the Citi Rewards+® Card also earns ThankYou points. However, they only have access to a few of Citi’s transfer partners, and none of their airline partners.

 The information related to the Citi Rewards+® Card has been collected by 10xTravel.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service

Minimum and Maximum Transfer Limits

When transferring to Citi airline partners, the minimum number of ThankYou points you can transfer is 1,000. You can increase this amount in increments of 1,000.

There is also a maximum of 500,000 ThankYou points per transfer.

Expiration Policies

As long as your credit card account is open and active, your ThankYou points will never expire. However, if you transfer points to an airline partner, they become subject to expiration policies for that partner. Because many airline mileage programs do include expiration dates, be mindful before making a points transfer.

Restrictions and Blackout Dates

You can transfer ThankYou points at any time without worrying about restrictions and blackout dates. However, it’s possible that partner airlines may have their own blackout dates and restrictions for procedures with award bookings.

Earning Citi ThankYou Points

To earn ThankYou points, spend using any Citi credit card from this list:

• Citi Prestige Card
• Citi Premier® Card
• Citi Rewards+® Card
• Citi Double Cash® Card
• Citi Custom Cash® Card

As we mentioned before, all of these cards will earn the same ThankYou points as long as you hold either the Citi Prestige or Citi Premier, since only those two cards have access to all of Citi’s travel partners.

Each of these cards comes with different sign-up bonuses and spend categories. Not every card is going to be the best fit for your spending habits, so spend some time researching each card before applying.

Citi is unlike many of the other major credit card programs, which also have shopping portals to help you earn additional points. Spending on Citi credit cards is the only way to earn ThankYou points.

Conclusion

Instead of breaking the bank for your next vacation, you can redeem your Citi ThankYou points for air travel with one of Citi’s many airline partners. By spending within the Citi ecosystem, you can slowly but surely accrue a substantial amount of ThankYou points. Then, simply transfer them to your chosen airline partner and you’ll be able to make an award redemption.

Citi’s transfer partners, bonuses and program terms and conditions are all subject to change. Given how fast things can change in this industry, we recommend keeping an eye out for important updates in the ThankYou Reward program so you can always maximize the value of your points.