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Bank points guides

BANK POINTS GUIDE

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Compare airline rewards programs, explore business-class prices, and plan your Citi points transfers.

Explore with CitiCompare My Points

Find better flights with your points

BUSINESS CLASS · RESEARCHED EXAMPLEChicagoMadridBook through American Airlines AAdvantage72k points + $6Low Price Explore this route ↗

Know your points

Citi points at a glance

Best value in our researched routes

3.8¢

per bank point

$3,800

per 100k points

See the route

Estimated flight value after fees, not cash value. Prices and availability vary.

Transfer ratio

Examples use the premium Citi transfer tier. Most modeled airlines are 1:1; Emirates is 5:4.

Transfer increments

Usually 1,000 points. Your card and partner determine the eligible ratio and minimum.

Timing of Transfers

Processing varies by airline rewards program. Confirm the estimate before transferring.

Confirm the live transfer quote and account terms.

Choose your earning tools

Best Transfer Cards

These cards unlock the premium transfer tier used for this guide’s examples.

Credit card disclosure: We may receive cash, points or other rewards if you apply for a credit card through links on this site and meet the referral or affiliate offer requirements. Disclosure details

Citi Strata Elite card

Personal · Allows point transfers to airlines

Citi Strata Elite

  • Earn up to 12 points per dollar on travel via Citi Travel.

75,000 welcome bonus points

Spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

Welcome bonus last confirmed Oct 17, 2026

Card details & offer terms
Citi Strata Premier card

Personal · Allows point transfers to airlines

Citi Strata Premier

  • Earn 3 points per dollar on dining and supermarkets.

60,000 welcome bonus points

Spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

Welcome bonus last confirmed Oct 17, 2026

Card details & offer terms

Other ThankYou cards may have different partner access or lower ratios. Combine eligible accounts before relying on the premium transfer quote.

Bring your balances together

Combine points without confusing the rules

Combining Your Own Cards

  • Combine eligible cards into one ThankYou account.
  • Account profile details must match. Use ThankYou.com or the ThankYou Service Center.
  • The linked cards determine your available redemption options.

Combining Family Points

  • Sharing points between separate cardholders ended May 17, 2026.
  • Combining your own eligible ThankYou accounts remains a separate option.
  • Older pages may still describe the discontinued sharing feature.

Authorized Users

  • Authorized-user spending earns into the primary card account’s balance.
  • Use an eligible airline rewards program account with matching cardmember details.
  • An additional card does not create a separate ThankYou balance or household pooling right.

Your airline rewards programs

Airline Rewards Programs

  • Shown first: selected airline rewards programs for comparison, including those used in the examples.
  • The ratio shows Citi points transferred : airline currency received.
  • Choose by route, seats and total cost.
Airline rewards programTransfer ratioSearch focus
Etihad Guest1:1Check Etihad and eligible partner itineraries and booking rules.
Air France–KLM Flying Blue1:1Explore Air France, KLM and eligible partner awards.
American Airlines AAdvantage1:1Compare American and eligible oneworld partner awards.
Avianca LifeMiles1:1Compare available Star Alliance awards and the complete fees.
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles1:1Compare available Turkish and eligible Star Alliance awards.
Qatar Airways Privilege Club1:1Check Qatar Airways and eligible oneworld awards.
Additional airline rewards programs
Airline rewards programTransfer ratioSearch focus
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club1:1Check eligible Virgin Atlantic and partner flights; cash charges can vary.
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles1:1Compare Cathay Pacific and eligible oneworld partner awards.
Emirates Skywards5:4Compare Skywards prices and carrier charges together.
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer1:1Explore Singapore Airlines and eligible partner availability.

The Optimizer assumes the recorded Strata Elite transfer tier. A different Citi card can produce a different points requirement.

Airline rewards program vs. operating airline

  • An airline rewards program issues the award ticket; a different airline may operate the flight.
  • A seat offered by one airline rewards program may be unavailable through another.
  • Our table covers modeled partners; the bank’s full partner list may include other programs.
Explore Destination Guides

Business-class examples

What might your points book?

  • Prices use the airline rewards program’s points. Bank points needed depend on the transfer ratio.
  • Cash fees are additional. Prices are researched examples, not live availability.

Low Price: the lowest researched price, sometimes available on only a few dates. Broader Availability: The upper end of the typical award price range. Flights on most dates were available between the Low Price and this amount. Actual prices and availability vary by date. About our research

Understand the value

Transfer or use Citi Travel?

Transfer to an airline rewards program

  • Find available award seats first.
  • Compare miles, cash charges, connections and ticket rules.
  • Transfers are final; allow time for points to arrive.

Use Citi Travel

  • Check the actual Citi Travel fare before comparing points.
  • A transfer can require fewer points, but award seats must be available.
  • Review the change and cancellation rules for each booking method.

Example value of transferred points

Chicago → Madrid · Business Class · One way

Book through American Airlines AAdvantage

Estimated purchase price

$1,800

Chicago to MadridCountry borders from Natural Earth. The line illustrates the city pair, not an actual flight path or confirmation of nonstop service.ChicagoMadrid

Transfer Citi Points to American Airlines AAdvantage

72k points + $6

72k points = $1,794

$1,800 purchase price − $6 fees

2.5 cents per point

Use Citi Travel

180k points

180k points = $1,800

Assumes the same $1,800 fare in the portal

1 cent per point

ThankYou points used through Citi Travel generally have a value of 1 cent per point.

Illustrative example. Confirm actual fares and award pricing for your dates.

Six steps

Transfer and book

  1. Search the airline rewards program and confirm the award cost.
  2. Open ThankYou Rewards using your eligible card.
  3. Combine your own eligible accounts if needed for the redemption options.
  4. Choose Points Transfer and link the eligible loyalty account.
  5. Confirm the card-specific ratio, points amount and processing time.
  6. Complete the transfer and book through the airline rewards program.

Transfer only what you need

  • Award: 75,400 miles. Existing balance: 12,000 miles.
  • Shortfall: 63,400 miles → transfer 64,000 Citi points at 1:1.
  • After booking: 600 miles remain. Fees additional; no bonus assumed.

Example assumes 1,000-point transfer increments. Check your partner’s actual ratio and increments.

Beyond airline transfers

Other uses for Citi points

  • Compare Citi Travel, transfers, gift cards and eligible cash redemptions.
  • Citi Travel generally gives 1 cent per point toward bookings.
  • Card benefits and transfer ratios can differ even when two cards earn ThankYou points.

Quick answers

Quick questions

Does every Citi card have the same transfer rates?

No. This guide models the premium tier; verify your card’s logged-in quote.

Can I still combine my own Citi cards?

Yes, eligible cards can be combined into one ThankYou account. This differs from the discontinued sharing between cardholders.

Does an American Airlines card earn ThankYou points?

A Citi AAdvantage card earns AAdvantage miles directly. That balance remains separate from ThankYou points.

Can I transfer just for a bonus?

Find a suitable award first. A transfer bonus does not guarantee seats.

Does enough points mean enough seats?

No. Confirm availability for every traveler before transferring.

Put your Citi points to work

Explore with CitiOpen the OptimizerBooking checklist
Sources & research

Program sources reviewed October 17, 2026. Your account’s terms and live quotes govern. Card details and offer terms are linked beside each card.