The Guide to Citi Transfer Partners

Are you trying to figure out how to spend your hard-earned Citi ThankYou points? Of course, you can always redeem them for gift cards or statement credits, but the best way to use them — by far — is to move them over to one of Citi’s transfer partners.

With 16 hotel and airline partners from which to choose, you have plenty of options when it comes time to redeem. Let’s look at the different Citi transfer partners and their transfer ratios.

About Citi ThankYou transfer partners

Citi’s transfer partners include 14 airlines and two hotels. Citi also has one non-travel partner in Sears Shop Your Way points, which can be redeemed towards merchandise at both Sears and Kmart.

Note that while these are the transfer ratios cardholders most commonly find, the program does offer one-off promotions that bump up ratios from time to time.

Customers can transfer to Skyteam partner Aeromexico at a 1:1 ratio, meaning that 1 Citi ThankYou point becomes 1 Aeromexico Premier Point in the Club Premier program.

Cardholders can transfer Citi ThankYou points to Asia Miles, a rewards program facilitated by Oneworld member Cathay Pacific, at a 1:1 ratio.

The Lifemiles program belongs to Colombian airline Avianca, a member of Star Alliance. ThankYou points transfer over at a 1:1 ratio.

Citi’s first hotel transfer partner features a variable transfer ratio depending on which card you hold:

• Citi Premier® Card and Citi Prestige® Card holders: 1:2 ratio.

• Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card, Citi Rewards+® Card, Sears Mastercard and Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer cardmembers: 1:1.5 ratio.

Notably, Citi’s transfer ratio over to Choice Privileges beats American Express Membership Rewards and Capital One Miles, both of which transfer at a 1:1 ratio.

Famous for its over-the-top first-class suites, cardholders can transfer their ThankYou points over to Emirates Skywards at a 1:1 ratio.

As another United Arab Emirates airline, customers can opt to transfer points at a 1:1 ratio to Etihad Guest.

A Star Alliance member, EVA Air is a Taiwanese airline to whom points can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio, so 1,000 points = 1,000 Infinity MileageLands miles.

The Flying Blue reward program includes Air France and KLM; Flying Blue miles can be used interchangeably between these two airlines and to book flights with other Skyteam partners. In addition, Citi cardholders can transfer ThankYou points to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio.

A New York City-based airline, JetBlue services destinations in North America, the Caribbean and Latin America. Like Choice Hotels, the transfer ratio you’ll receive will depend on the card that you hold:

• Citi Premier® Card and Citi Prestige® Card holders: 1:1 ratio.

• Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card, Citi Rewards+® Card, Sears Mastercard and Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer cardmembers: 1:0.8 ratio.

This Australian airline, another Oneworld member, allows card holders to convert their Citi ThankYou points to Qantas points at a 1:1 ratio.

Qatar Airways has recently joined the Avios reward program, allowing its miles to be exchanged interchangeably with fellow Oneworld members British Airways, Aer Lingus and Iberia Airlines. In addition, Citi points transfer to Qatar Airways Avios at a 1:1 ratio.

As a member of Star Alliance, those who transfer over their points to KrisFlyer Miles can redeem them to more than 1,000 destinations worldwide. The transfer ratio from Citi to Singapore Airlines is 1:1.

Thai Airways, Thailand’s national carrier and another Star Alliance member, operates its Royal Orchid Plus loyalty program for its customers. Citi ThankYou points can be transferred over at a 1:1 ratio.

With a massive hub in Istanbul, Turkish Airlines flies to more countries in the world than any other airline. As a member of Star Alliance, miles can also be redeemed with partner airlines such as United and Air Canada. Your points will transfer over to Turkish Airlines at a 1:1 ratio.

Despite not being a member of any airline alliance, Virgin Atlantic enjoys several partnerships with airlines such as Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM. Citi points will convert to Virgin points at a 1:1 ratio.

Like Citi’s other hotel partner, the transfer ratio you’ll receive when converting your points to Wyndham Rewards will depend upon the card that you hold:

• Citi Premier® Card and Citi Prestige® Card holders: 1:1 ratio.

• Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card, Citi Rewards+® Card, Sears Mastercard and Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer cardmembers: 1:0.8 ratio.

Citi’s final transfer partner is neither a hotel nor an airline but features the Sears rewards program. You can transfer your Citi points over to Shop Your Ways points at a 1:10 ratio, which means one Citi point becomes ten Shop Your Way points.

A summary of Citi ThankYou partners

Bookmark this table that gives you a quick overview of Citi’s current partners and their transfer ratios.

Earning Citi ThankYou points

Not all Citi credit cards earn transferable ThankYou points. That happy privilege is exclusive to these credit cards:

Note that not all of these cards have access to the full list of Citi transfer partners. While those with the Citi Prestige® Card or Citi Premier® Card can pick any partner from this list of Citi ThankYou points transfer partners, those who hold other cards are limited to just a handful of options from which to choose.

If you want to transfer your Citi ThankYou points

Like other flexible point currencies, Citi ThankYou points become most potent when transferred to partners. Happily, for Citi cardholders, there are various programs from which to choose, including representations from all three major airline alliances.

However, before you transfer your points, you’ll want to make sure that it makes sense. Not all points are equal, and each program will value its currency independently. So it’s a good idea to research Citi’s best transfer partners to maximize your redemptions, no matter where you’re traveling.

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