#4 Among Transferable Points
Point Value
1.5 ¢
Program Score
8.4
Citi points offer solid value thanks to a strong transfer partner list, highlighted by exclusive access to American Airlines.
Opening new credit cards and earning welcome offers is the fastest and easiest way to build points balances, and Citi is no exception. However, Citi has fewer high-end cards and elevated welcome offers than Chase and Amex, which limits your long-term earning potential.
You can still earn ThankYou points through welcome bonuses and spending multipliers, especially if you hold either the Citi Strata Elite or Citi Strata Premier, since those cards unlock full transfer access to Citi’s airline and hotel partners. You just won't earn as much as fast as with other banks.
Many Citi users pair multiple cards together to maximize everyday spending rewards while keeping annual fees relatively low. This setup is commonly referred to as the Citi Trifecta:
This strategy requires tracking spending categories and using the right card for each purchase, but it’s still an effective way for existing Custom Cash cardholders to maximize Citi ThankYou points when they’re not actively working on new signup bonuses.
Combine rewards from multiple Citi cards
If you have more than one Citi card that earns ThankYou Points, you can combine those rewards into a single ThankYou account. In most cases, you'll want to combine points into the account tied to your Citi Strata Premier or Citi Strata Elite card to maintain access to Citi's full list of airline and hotel transfer partners.
Share points with others
Citi ended ThankYou Points sharing between members in 2026. You can no longer transfer ThankYou Points directly to another person's ThankYou account.
Special Offers Related to Citi ThankYou Rewards. Click the arrow to see more.
Citi Travel is targeting some cardholders with $75 off a hotel booking of $400 or more through the Citi Travel portal. Book by August 7, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET, with travel valid through the end of the current booking calendar. The $75 discount is applied directly at checkout and can stack with Citi’s existing hotel credits. Strata Premier cardholders can combine it with the card’s $100 annual hotel credit on stays of $500 or more, while Strata Elite cardholders can stack it with the card’s $300 hotel credit on eligible two-night stays of $400 or more.
Citi is removing JetBlue as a transfer partner for its no-annual-fee ThankYou Rewards cards, including the Citi Double Cash, Custom Cash, Rewards+, and Citi Strata Card, effective September 20, 2026. Those cards currently transfer to JetBlue at a reduced 1:0.7 ratio, while the Citi Strata Premier and Citi Strata Elite will continue to offer the full 1:1 transfer ratio. This is another small devaluation for cardholders who rely on Citi's no-fee cards to access transfer partners, although most serious points enthusiasts will likely already have a Strata Premier or Elite.
Citi ThankYou Rewards is offering a 50% transfer bonus to Accor Live Limitless. The standard transfer ratio is 2:1, so with the bonus, you’ll receive 750 Accor Live Limitless points for every 1,000 Citi ThankYou Rewards points transferred. Offer expires July 18, 2026.
Citi ThankYou Rewards is offering a 30% transfer bonus to Qatar Airways Privilege Club. The standard transfer ratio is 1:1, so you'll receive 1,300 Avios for every 1,000 ThankYou points transferred. A minimum transfer of 1,000 points is required, and the offer expires June 30, 2026. One important caveat: this bonus is being provided by Qatar Airways rather than Citi, so it will not appear on Citi's transfer page. Bonus Avios are expected to be deposited by July 31, 2026, so if you're planning to book an award flight in the near future, don't count on having the bonus points available immediately.
Citi’s transfer partner network has improved in recent years. While it still trails Chase and American Express, the gap has narrowed. As with all transferable point systems, transferring points to partners typically provides the best value. Be sure to check out all the sweet spots with Citi's transfer partners.
If you have multiple Citi cards, combine points with the Strata Premier or Strata Elite to access all partners at the best rates. The Citi Strata card also transfers to partners, but at a reduced rate. The Citi Double Cash can transfer points to just three programs: JetBlue, Choice Privileges, and Wyndham, and at lower ratios.
Because of this, combining points from no-fee Citi cards with the Strata Premier or Elite can unlock full partner access and maximize value. Just be aware that Citi points remain associated with the account that earned them. If you close a card, the points earned from that card must be used within 90 days, even if you combined them with points from another Citi card.
You can redeem through the Citi Travel Portal at 1¢ per point, but value is limited and you won’t earn loyalty points on these bookings.
The main reason to use the portal is to use the hotel credits that come with Citi’s premium cards:
Both credits must be used through the Citi Travel Portal. These are similar to perks offered by:
These redemption options offer poor value compared to transferring points:
Discover your points' highest-value redemption options. Use the filters to find the optimal sweet spot for your next trip.
Citi is the only major transferable points program with direct American Airlines transfers and 1:1 transfers to EVA Air. Prioritize those harder-to-access partners over options you can book with other transferable points.
Citi has unusually useful hotel transfer partners, including Choice, Wyndham, Preferred Hotels, and Leading Hotels of the World. Compare hotel award prices before assuming airline transfers are the best use.
Citi regularly offers limited-time transfer bonuses to select partners. Check current offers before transferring, but only move points after confirming award space and pricing.
Not every Citi card unlocks the same transfer partners or ratios. Before planning a redemption, make sure your card gives you access to the partner you want at the best available rate.
Citi ThankYou Rewards is an underrated transferable currency with a growing list of valuable partners and several unique sweet spots. The ecosystem is particularly attractive for travelers who fly American Airlines, as Citi is the only major transferable points program that transfers directly to the airline. If you live near an AA hub or are loyal to American, Citi ThankYou points deserve serious consideration.
Citi can work well for beginners thanks to simple earning structures on its lower-tier cards, but experts will be able to extract the most value through Citi's transfer partners. American Airlines partner awards remain one of the biggest reasons to collect ThankYou points, while Citi's hotel partner lineup provides additional redemption opportunities that help distinguish it from other ecosystems.
Citi's smaller card lineup is its biggest limitation. With only two premium transferable-points cards, the Citi Strata Elite and Citi Strata Premier, it's harder to build large balances of points compared to some competing ecosystems. You'll have to get creative with spending multipliers across multiple Citi cards to continue building your points balance after earning welcome bonuses. Even so, travelers near American Airlines hubs or those looking to diversify beyond Chase, Amex, or Bilt should give Citi serious consideration.
If you cancel or downgrade a Citi card, you have a 37-day grace period to receive a refund of your annual fee. After that, Citi generally does not offer a prorated refund.
Citi ThankYou points remain associated with the account that earned them, even if you combine points from multiple Citi cards. If you close a Citi card, the points earned from that card must be used within 90 days, even if you combined them with points from another ThankYou-earning card.
Yes. ThankYou points are Citi’s rewards currency. You can redeem them for cash back at 1 cent per point, but if you have a card that earns transferable points, you can move them to an airline or hotel partner and redeem them for much more value.
They can be. Cash or statement credit redemptions give you 1¢ per point. Transferring points to an airline or hotel partner can unlock redemptions worth twice that amount or more, especially when you take advantage of partner sweet spots.
Yes. You can book flights through the Citi Travel Portal, but that’s usually poor value. If your card allows transfers, moving points to an airline partner typically gives you a much better return than booking through the portal at a simple 1:1 rate.
Yes. You can redeem points for a statement credit to help pay your bill. We only recommend this if you can’t pay your balance in full and would otherwise incur interest. Otherwise, transferring to an airline or hotel partner will give you better value.
Tracking Points & Transfer Options
