Citi Transfer Partners Guide
Citi ThankYou Rewards is one of the best travel rewards programs, offering transferable points that can be redeemed for flights, hotels, and more. With 14 airline and 4 hotel transfer partners, Citi ThankYou points can unlock awesome travel experiences like Singapore Airlines First Class Suites and EVA Air Royal Laurel Business Class.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Citi Transfer Partners, including how to transfer points, the best ways to redeem them, and which Citi cards allow you to transfer points.
Transfer Citi ThankYou Points for Singapore Airlines First Class Suites.
Citi Airline Transfer Partners
Citi ThankYou points transfer to 14 airline loyalty programs, covering all three major airline alliances: Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam. Most transfers happen at a 1:1 ratio, though occasional transfer bonuses can increase value.
Best Citi Airline Transfer Partners
| Airline Partner | Transfer Ratio | Best Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Aeromexico Rewards | 1:1 | Aeromexico flights |
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | 1:1 | Monthly Promo Awards, great for Europe & Delta flights |
| Avianca LifeMiles | 1:1 | Transatlantic and Transpacific Star Alliance flights |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 1:1 | Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines business and first class flights |
| Emirates Skywards | 1:1 | Best for Emirates First Class |
| Etihad Guest | 1:1 | Etihad first class and JetBlue Mint |
| EVA Air Infinity MileageLands | 1:1 | EVA business class flights to Asia |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | 1:1* | Etihad and Qatar business class flights |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 1:1 | Qantas international flights and American Airlines domestic flights |
| Qatar Privilege Club Avios | 1:1 | QSuites and short haul Oneworld flights |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | 1:1 | Exclusive access to Singapore Suites and First Class awards |
| Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus | 1:1 | Thai Airways flights |
| Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles | 1:1 | Turkish Airlines flights and domestic United flights |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 1:1 | Great for Virgin, Delta One, and ANA First Class flights |
Note that Citi TYP only transfers 1:1 to JetBlue if you hold the Citi Prestige, Citi Strata Premier, or AT&T Access More cards.
Not all transfer partners have a 1:1 transfer ratio.
Citi Hotel Transfer Partners
Citi ThankYou Rewards also partners with four hotel loyalty programs, offering opportunities to book free hotel stays.
Best Citi Hotel Transfer Partners
| Hotel Partner | Transfer Ratio | Best Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Accor Live Limitless | 2:1 | Hotel stays |
| Choice Privileges | 1:2 | Nordic, Japan, & Preferred Hotels |
| Preferred Hotels & Resorts I Prefer | 1:4 | High-end boutique stays |
| Wyndham Rewards | 1:1 | Vacasa vacation rentals (15K per bedroom per night) |
Redeeming ThankYou Points
While Citi ThankYou points can be used for cashback, gift cards, and merchandise, transferring points to airlines gives the best value.
Best Ways to Redeem Citi ThankYou Points
- Transfer to airline partners for business & first-class flights at a fraction of the price.
- Book luxury hotel stays using Citi's hotel partners.
- Leverage transfer bonuses when available to get extra miles or points.
How To Transfer Citi ThankYou Points
Transferring Citi ThankYou points is simple and can be done in just a few steps:
- Log in to ThankYou.com and go to the "Points Transfer" section under "Travel."
- Choose your airline or hotel partner from the list.
- Enter the number of points you want to transfer and provide your loyalty program account number.
- Confirm and submit the transfer.
- Book your flight or hotel directly through the airline or hotel website.
Most transfers happen instantly, but some may take up to 2-4 days to process.
Combining ThankYou Points From Different Accounts
You can combine Citi ThankYou points from different accounts to maximize your redemptions:
- Pooling Points: You can link Citi Double Cash and Citi Strata Premier accounts to combine points.
- Transferring to a friend: You can share up to 100,000 points per year with another Citi ThankYou account. However, shared points expire in 90 days.
You can share points with friends and family for free.
Earning Citi ThankYou Points
You can earn Citi ThankYou points through various Citi credit cards:
Best Citi Cards for Earning Transferable Points
| Credit Card | Bonus Categories | Transfer Partner Access |
|---|---|---|
| Citi Strata Premier | 3X on hotels, airfare, restaurants, supermarkets, gas | Full access to all transfer partners |
| Citi Rewards+ | 2X on groceries & gas | Limited access (Choice Privileges, Wyndham, JetBlue only) |
| Citi Double Cash | 2X on all purchases (1X when you buy, 1X when you pay) | Limited access (Choice Privileges, Wyndham, JetBlue only) |
| Citi Custom Cash | 5X per month on your top category (up to 2,500 points) | No access |
Citi Transfer Bonuses
Citi regularly offers limited-time transfer bonuses between 10% and 30%, giving you extra miles or points when converting to certain partners.
Citi occasionally has transfer bonuses that help sweeten deals!
FAQs About Citi Transfer Partners
What is the best Citi transfer partner?
The best Citi transfer partner depends on your travel needs. My personal recommendation is for EVA Air because Infinity MileageLands has excellent business class availability, often with seats for 2 or more passengers on many dates.
Other great partners are Avianca LifeMiles, Qatar Privilege Club, Flying Blue, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles.
How long do Citi ThankYou transfers take?
Most transfers are instant, but some take up to 4 days (e.g., EVA Air, Singapore Airlines).
Can I transfer Citi ThankYou points to American Airlines or United?
No, but you can book American Airlines flights through Cathay Pacific Asia Miles or Qantas, and United flights through Avianca LifeMiles or Turkish Miles & Smiles.
Can I transfer Citi ThankYou points to someone else?
Yes! You can transfer up to 100,000 points per year to another Citi ThankYou account, but they expire 90 days after being transferred.
Which Citi credit cards allow point transfers?
The Citi Strata Premier allows full access to all transfer partners. Other cards, like the Citi Double Cash, only allow transfers to limited partners (Choice Privileges, Wyndham, JetBlue).
Does the Citi Custom Cash have transfer partners?
No, the Citi Custom Cash doesn’t offer transfer partner access. To unlock full transfer access, you’ll need a Citi Strata Premier card.
Final Thoughts
Citi ThankYou points are best used for travel redemptions, and transferring to airline or hotel partners can get you high-value redemptions. If you want premium travel experiences, Citi’s transfer partners are an excellent way to make the most of your points.