If you’re looking to maximize the value of your Citi ThankYou points, transferring them to airline and hotel partners can be a great option. Citi currently has 19 transfer partners, including 14 airlines, 4 hotel chains, and 1 retail partner.
By strategically transferring points to these loyalty programs, you can unlock high-value award redemptions for flights and stays around the world.
Citi ThankYou Partners
Here are all of Citi’s transfer partners and how long it takes for each transfer from Citi ThankYou to each partner program:
Citi occasionally offers limited-time transfer bonuses that allow you to convert ThankYou points to airline or hotel rewards at an improved rate.
How to Earn Citi ThankYou Points
There are only two credit cards that earn ThankYou points that you can transfer to all of Citi’s transfer partners:
- Citi Premier® Card = Best for travel, gas stations, restaurants, and supermarkets.
- Citi Prestige (closed to new applicants)
Citi also offers the no annual fee Citi Rewards+® Card, but it only offers transfers to three programs at lower rates: Choice Privileges (2 to 3), JetBlue (5 to 4), and Wyndham Rewards (5 to 4).
Additionally, there are two other cards that allow you to combine your rewards with the Citi Premier or Citi Prestige and transfer to all Citi ThankYou’s partners:
- Citi® Double Cash Card = Best for everyday purchases.
- Citi Custom Cash℠ Card = 5% back in your top category.
How to Transfer Citi ThankYou Points
Here is how you transfer points to one of Citi’s ThankYou partners:
- Go to ThankYou.com, sign in, hover over the “Travel” menu, and select “Points Transfer” from the dropdown.
- Choose your desired transfer partner from the list and click “Transfer Now” to initiate the process.
- Enter the number of points you want to transfer and provide your frequent flyer or hotel loyalty number if it’s not already linked. Read and agree to the terms and conditions, then click “Continue.”
- Double-check that all the transfer details are accurate, then click “Confirm” to complete the transfer.
Once the transfer is processed, your points will be converted into the corresponding airline miles or hotel points, ready for you to redeem for your next trip.
Rankings of Citi Transfer Partners
Here is how I would rank Citi’s transfer partners from best to worst:
1. Air France KLM Flying Blue
Flying Blue is the frequent flyer program for Air France, KLM, and SkyTeam partners like Delta and Virgin Atlantic, giving you access to award flights across the globe. One of the biggest perks is dynamic pricing paired with Promo Rewards, monthly discounts of up to 50% off select routes. You can sometimes snag a one-way economy award for under 10,000 miles when a Promo Reward lines up with your trip.
Standard saver pricing between the U.S. and Europe starts at 25,000 miles one-way in economy, 40,000 in premium economy, and 60,000 in business. A great sweet spot is North Africa, since Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and the Canary Islands price the same as Europe. You can also reach Hawaii on Delta for far fewer miles than booking directly with Delta, or fly Air France nonstop to Tahiti starting at 35,000 miles one-way.
The Caribbean is another strong option, with one-way economy awards to Europe starting at 30,000 miles and business class from 85,000 miles. Beyond SkyTeam, Flying Blue has valuable non-alliance partnerships with Japan Airlines, Etihad, Copa, Air Mauritius, and Transavia, opening up destinations across Asia, the Middle East, Central and South America, and the Indian Ocean islands.
You can also use Flying Blue miles for upgrade awards on Air France, KLM, and select partners like Aeromexico, China Airlines, Kenya Airways, and Korean Air. Just keep in mind that Flying Blue miles expire after two years unless you fly, shop through the Flying Blue store, or book a hotel stay to keep them active.
2. Avianca LifeMiles
Avianca Lifemiles doesn't get the attention it deserves, but it's one of the more rewarding programs out there if you know where to look. Avianca is Colombia's flag carrier and a member of Star Alliance, which means your miles open the door to dozens of partner airlines across the globe.
You'll find some of the best sweet spots on Lufthansa first class, where a one-way ticket from the U.S. to Frankfurt runs 87,000 miles with no fuel surcharges tacked on. That's a huge discount compared to booking the same seat through other programs.
SWISS business class is another standout. You can fly nonstop to Zurich for 63,000 miles each way, and again, you won't pay those brutal surcharges that usually come with European carriers.
Closer to home, United's transcontinental Polaris business class between the East and West Coasts costs just 25,000 miles one-way. It's a fantastic way to try a premium cabin without committing a fortune in miles.
Asia is where things get really interesting. ANA business class between Hawaii and Tokyo runs 48,000 miles, and short flights within North Asia (think Seoul to Taipei) drop to just 22,500 miles each way on carriers like EVA Air, THAI, and Asiana.
Economy flyers aren't left out either. You can reach South Asia for 39,000 miles or the southern tip of South America for 30,000 miles one-way.
Add in a flat $25 booking fee, no close-in fees, and generous award availability, and Lifemiles becomes a program worth building a strategy around.
3. Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
Turkish Airlines’ Miles&Smiles program increased their award prices in 2024, but there are still many good deals:
- Fly anywhere within the US including Alaska and Hawaii for 10,000 miles in economy and 15,000 miles in business class one-way on United Airlines.
- Fly from the US to Turkey for 65,000 miles in business class one-way on Turkish Airlines
- Fly from the US to Europe for 80,000 or 85,000 miles in business class one-way on Turkish Airlines, or 85,000 or 90,000 miles on Star Alliance airlines.
4. Qatar Airways Privilege Club
Qatar Airways' Privilege Club runs on Avios, the same currency used by British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus. That shared currency is a big deal: you can pool Avios across programs and book whichever airline's award chart gives you the best rate for a given route.
Qatar sits in the Oneworld alliance, which opens up redemptions on American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Qantas, and more. You'll find some of the strongest value on short-haul domestic flights. Routes under 650 miles cost just 6,000 Avios in economy, and you can stretch that to Caribbean and Mexico flights under 1,151 miles for 9,000 Avios. Business class shines too: domestic routes under 1,151 miles run 16,500 Avios, sometimes on wide-body aircraft with lie-flat seats.
For a splurge, Qatar's own Qsuites business class is widely considered among the best in the sky, with private suites and doors. You can fly nonstop from a dozen U.S. cities to Doha for 70,000 Avios, or push on to India or the Maldives for 85,000.
Transcontinental fans should look at American's 3-cabin A321 flights between New York and the West Coast, where first class runs 51,500 Avios one-way, though award space can be tough to find.
Outside Oneworld, Qatar has built partnerships with JetBlue, LATAM, Bangkok Airways, Middle East Airlines, RwandAir, and Virgin Australia, giving you even more ways to put your Avios to work beyond the alliance's usual suspects.
5. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is one of the more underrated loyalty programs out there, and Virgin Points can go a long way if you know where to use them. Virgin joined SkyTeam in 2023, so you can redeem points on Delta, Air France, KLM, Korean Air, and other alliance members, plus a solid roster of non-alliance partners like ANA, Air New Zealand, Virgin Australia, and South African Airways.
The standout redemption is ANA first class to Japan. You'll pay from 72,500 points one-way from the West Coast, and it's one of the best first-class products in the sky. Business class runs from 52,500 points one-way on the same route.
Virgin Atlantic's own Upper Class is another strong option. Round-trip awards between the U.S. and U.K. start at 57,000 points off-peak, though fuel surcharges and U.K. taxes can push fees above $1,600 round-trip.
Delta redemptions deserve attention too. Since Delta doesn't publish its own chart, Virgin's distance-based pricing can undercut SkyMiles significantly. You can fly Delta One Suites to Europe from 47,500 points one-way, or snag short nonstop economy hops for as little as 7,500 points.
Other highlights include Air France and KLM business class from the East Coast to Europe starting at 48,500 points, and Air New Zealand business class from the West Coast to the South Pacific from 45,000 points one-way. For something completely different, you can even book Richard Branson's Necker Island for 2 million points.
6. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
Singapore Airlines' KrisFlyer program is one of the most rewarding frequent flyer currencies out there, especially if you love premium cabins. As a Star Alliance member, Singapore gives you access to an enormous network that includes United, Lufthansa, ANA, Air Canada, Turkish Airlines, and dozens more.
The crown jewel redemption is Singapore Suites Class on the A380, a first class product with a double bed that's only bookable with KrisFlyer miles. You won't find it released to partner programs. You can still book it on international routes like Singapore to Hong Kong, Sydney, or London, starting around 47,500 miles one-way.
Beyond Suites, KrisFlyer shines on Star Alliance redemptions. United domestic first class runs from 43,000 miles one-way, often a better deal than United's own MileagePlus pricing. Flights from the U.S. to Europe in economy start at 27,500 miles, and Star Alliance economy awards to Europe run 32,500 miles.
You'll also want to consider:
- Lufthansa first class to Europe for 133,500 miles.
- South Pacific island hopping on Air New Zealand starting at just 14,500 miles.
- Virgin Australia domestic flights from 13,000 miles, useful since Virgin isn't part of any alliance.
KrisFlyer also allows generous stopovers on many awards, letting you add an extra destination to your trip for free or a small fee. Just keep an eye on award surcharges, which vary by partner airline and route
7. Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Cathay Pacific's Asia Miles program rewards you handsomely if you know where to look, and the best value almost always comes from long-haul flights in premium cabins.
Cathay Pacific belongs to the Oneworld alliance, which opens up bookings on American Airlines, British Airways, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Japan Airlines, Iberia, Finnair, and several others. You can also redeem miles on nonalliance partners like Air Canada, Air New Zealand, and Lufthansa, giving you even more routes to choose from.
One of the standout redemptions is the Oneworld multicarrier award. This lets you build a round-the-world itinerary using multiple Oneworld airlines for a single price, and it's often the single best way to stretch your miles. You could fly Japan Airlines business class, Qantas business class, and Qatar Airways Qsuites all on one ticket for a fraction of what those flights would cost booked separately.
Cathay Pacific's own first and business class cabins are another highlight. A one-way first class flight between the U.S. and Hong Kong starts at 125,000 miles, and thanks to Cathay's distance-based chart, you can sometimes continue onward to Europe for the same price.
Qatar Airways Qsuites is widely considered the best business class product flying today, and you can book it with Asia Miles for as little as 84,000 miles one-way from several U.S. cities. Just budget for fuel surcharges on partner awards, since Cathay's own flights skip these fees entirely.
8. EVA Air Infinity MileageLands
EVA Air’s frequent flyer program, Infinity MileageLands, offers several attractive options for redeeming miles on flights. One of the best ways to redeem EVA Air miles is for flights on EVA Air itself, particularly in business class.
For example, a one-way business class ticket from Chicago (ORD) to anywhere in Asia costs just 80,000 miles, which is a fantastic deal considering the high quality of EVA Air’s business class product and the fact that these tickets often cost over $3,000 when paying cash.
Another sweet spot in the EVA Air award chart is for flights within Asia. A round-trip business class ticket from Taipei to other destinations in Asia, such as Japan, South Korea, or China, costs just 25,000 miles one-way. This is an excellent deal for intra-Asia travel, especially when you consider that EVA Air allows stopovers on roundtrip awards, effectively allowing you to visit multiple cities for the price of one award ticket.
In addition to these specific sweet spots, EVA Air miles can be redeemed for flights on any of EVA Air’s Star Alliance partners, which includes airlines like United, Lufthansa, and ANA. While the award pricing for partner flights may not always be as competitive as for EVA Air’s own flights, there are still some good deals to be found.
9. Etihad Guest
Etihad Guest miles won't get you the alliance perks you'd find with Star Alliance or Oneworld — Etihad isn't part of any major alliance. But it makes up for that with individual partnerships across more than 50 airlines, giving you plenty of ways to put your miles to work.
American Airlines is your best bet for premium cabin value here. You can book business class from Charlotte to London for 80,000 miles one-way, or fly first class from Los Angeles to Sydney for 200,000 miles. Economy awards on American are solid too, with routes like Dallas to Shanghai running 75,000 miles each way.
If you're on the East Coast, Brussels Airlines business class to Belgium runs 80,000 miles one-way, and it's a great alternative to the usual transatlantic suspects. ANA is another standout: a one-way business class ticket from Seattle to Tokyo costs just 100,000 miles.
Smaller partners open up some surprisingly cheap options too. Air Serbia flights around Eastern Europe start at just 6,000 miles in economy, and Virgin Australia has some excellent short hops around Oceania and the Pacific islands for as little as 12,000 to 15,000 miles.
Don't overlook Etihad's own metal, either. The program often releases extra award space to its own members, so if you're chasing a seat in the airline's famous First Class Apartments, booking directly with Etihad Guest miles may be your best shot, especially within 30 days of departure.
10. Qantas Frequent Flyer
Qantas Points open the door to some of the most rewarding redemptions in the frequent flyer world, especially if you're chasing premium cabins. Qantas is a Oneworld alliance member, which means you can redeem points on partners like American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, and several others across the alliance.
You'll also find some standout non-alliance partners. Emirates and El Al both offer excellent business class redemptions that are tough to book with other loyalty currencies.
One of the best perks of using Qantas Points on Qantas-operated flights is early access to award space. Qantas releases first class seats 353 days out, giving you an edge over partner airlines that open availability later.
Short-haul flights on American Airlines can also be a bargain, sometimes costing as little as 16,000 points round-trip for routes under 600 miles.
East Coast travelers can also find solid value flying Emirates or Fiji Airways to more far-flung destinations, with round-trip economy awards starting around 75,000 to 90,000 points.
If you're feeling ambitious, Qantas is one of the few programs that still offers a round-the-world award. You can string together multiple Oneworld carriers, several stopovers, and up to 35,000 miles of flying for a single price, all starting at 132,400 points.
Just keep in mind that award pricing depends on which chart applies to your itinerary, since Qantas uses separate charts for its own flights, Jetstar, other partners, and Oneworld-only bookings. Understanding which one governs your route will help you avoid surprises when it's time to book.
11. JetBlue TrueBlue
JetBlue TrueBlue offers a straightforward rewards program with flexible redemption options. Members can redeem points for any seat on JetBlue flights, with no blackout dates. The program uses a revenue-based model, typically offering solid value for economy bookings. In fact, our analysis shows that TrueBlue points are worth approximately 1.31 cents each when redeemed for economy flights. This value proposition makes TrueBlue points particularly attractive for budget-conscious travelers.
For those seeking premium travel experiences, TrueBlue points can be used for JetBlue's Mint business class, though the redemption value is generally lower, averaging about 1.1 cents per point. Despite this lower redemption rate, the program truly shines with its partnership redemptions, particularly with Qatar Airways. Members can book Qatar Airways flights directly through JetBlue's website, often securing excellent value for long-haul business class travel.
Another notable partner is Hawaiian Airlines, offering opportunities for inter-island hops and flights between Hawaii and the U.S. mainland. These redemptions can provide good value, especially during peak travel periods when cash fares are high.
TrueBlue's user-friendly features include points that never expire and fee-free changes or cancellations on award bookings. This flexibility allows members to book with confidence, knowing they can adjust their plans if needed.
While JetBlue doesn't belong to a major airline alliance, its partnerships with Qatar Airways and Hawaiian Airlines expand redemption options beyond JetBlue's network. This combination of simplicity, flexibility, and strategic partnerships makes TrueBlue an appealing program for both casual and frequent travelers, offering consistent value for economy redemptions and unique opportunities for premium travel experiences.
12. Emirates Skywards
Emirates Skywards is Dubai-based Emirates' loyalty program, and it comes with an important quirk: Emirates isn't part of any of the three major global alliances. Instead, you'll find value through individual partnerships with airlines like Air Canada, Japan Airlines, Qantas, Korean Air, and TAP Air Portugal, among others.
The showcase redemption is Emirates First Class, especially on the Boeing 777-300ER or Airbus A380. You'll get inflight showers and fully enclosed suites, though award space is limited to Skywards Silver, Gold, or Platinum members. If you don't have status, you can book business class and upgrade with additional miles.
Round-trip bookings almost always beat one-way redemptions in value. Emirates also runs a few standout fifth-freedom routes, including New York to Milan and Bangkok to Hong Kong, that let you sample premium cabins without paying long-haul mileage prices.
Partner airlines often unlock better value than Emirates metal itself. Japan Airlines offers reasonable pricing between Tokyo and Australia or Hawaii. Korean Air has cheap domestic awards, including flights to Jeju Island for as little as 10,000 miles one-way. TAP Air Portugal opens up short hops between Portugal, Morocco, Madeira, and the Azores for a modest number of miles, plus solid business class options across the Atlantic.
You can also use miles to upgrade a paid ticket, starting at just 7,020 miles, or combine cash and miles if you're short on balance. Just budget for Emirates' famously steep taxes and fees, which run lower on partner awards.
13. Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus
Thai Airways’ frequent flyer program, Royal Orchid Plus, offers several opportunities to redeem miles for flights on Thai Airways and its partner airlines. One of the best ways to redeem Thai Airways miles is for flights on Thai Airways itself, particularly in business and first class.
For example, a one-way first class ticket from Bangkok to Sydney costs just 65,000 miles, which is an excellent deal considering the high quality of Thai Airways’ first class product and the fact that these tickets often cost over $5,000 when paying cash.
Another sweet spot in the Thai Airways award chart is for flights within Southeast Asia. A round-trip economy class ticket from Bangkok to other destinations in Southeast Asia, such as Singapore or Hanoi, costs just 15,000 miles. This is an excellent deal for intra-Asia travel, especially when you consider that Thai Airways allows stopovers on these awards, effectively allowing you to visit multiple cities for the price of one award ticket.
Thai Airways also offers competitive award pricing for flights to Europe. A round-trip business class ticket from Bangkok to Europe costs just 130,000 miles, which is a great deal compared to what many other airlines charge for similar awards. Like the intra-Asia awards, Thai Airways allows stopovers on these tickets, providing even more value.
In addition to these specific sweet spots, Thai Airways miles can be redeemed for flights on any of Thai Airways’ Star Alliance partners, which includes airlines like United, Lufthansa, and ANA.
14. Leaders Club (5 to 1)
Leading Hotels of the World (LHW) is a prestigious collection of over 400 independent luxury hotels, spanning 80 countries across the globe. Many travelers may be familiar with some of the properties in the LHW portfolio without realizing their affiliation with the group.
When it comes to redeeming points, LHW offers free night redemptions starting at a modest 4,000 points. However, the actual number of points required for a complimentary stay varies depending on the hotel’s cash rate at the time of booking. To determine the specific cost in points for a desired stay, members can log into their account on the LHW website and search for available hotels on their preferred dates.
Although the redemption rates may fluctuate, it appears that LHW points typically provide a value of around eight cents per point when applied towards the cost of a hotel stay.
15. Choice Privileges (1 to 2)
Choice Privileges points give you the most bang for your buck outside Choice's own hotels, so keep that in mind before you book a standard property.
You can redeem for stays at any of Choice's 22 brands, including Comfort, Quality Inn, Cambria, and the Americas-based Radisson properties, starting around 6,000 points per night. Pricing is mostly fixed rather than dynamic, so you'll see consistent point costs by season, and some properties even let you book suites for the same price as a standard room.
The real value, though, comes from Choice's partnership with Preferred Hotels & Resorts. This gets you access to hundreds of upscale and luxury independent properties around the world, from Nordic gems like the Clarion Hotel Stockholm to boutique stays like The Mosaic Hotel Beverly Hills. Many of these bookings deliver two to three times the typical redemption value you'd get at a standard Choice property.
Choice also has a reciprocal relationship with PENN Entertainment, so you can earn and redeem points at PENN casino hotels, along with a status match between the two loyalty programs.
If you want to stretch a shorter balance, Points Plus Cash lets you combine points and cash on a booking once you have at least 6,000 points saved up.
You can transfer Choice points out to a range of airline partners, but the ratio is a steep 5,000 points for 1,000 miles, so it's rarely worth it unless you're topping off an account for a specific redemption
16. Accor Live Limitless (2 to 1)
Accor Live Limitless (ALL) is the loyalty program for Accor hotels, which includes brands like Fairmont, Sofitel, Novotel, and Ibis. ALL points can be redeemed for a variety of rewards, but the most common use is for hotel stays.
Accor Live Limitless (ALL) operates differently from many other hotel loyalty programs when it comes to redeeming points. Rather than using an award chart with varying redemption tiers, ALL points have a fixed value of approximately 2.2 cents per point when redeemed for hotel stays (specifically 2,000 points equals 40 euros).
While this means there are no traditional “sweet spots” to maximize point value, it does offer a more straightforward and practical approach to redemptions. Members can easily calculate the value of their points without worrying about finding the most optimal redemption option.
17. Shop Your Way Rewards (1 to 10)
Shop Your Way is a loyalty program associated with Sears, Kmart, and Lands’ End. Members can earn points on purchases made at these retailers and redeem them for a variety of rewards, including merchandise, gift cards, and travel.
When it comes to redeeming Shop Your Way points, it’s important to understand their value. Each point is worth 0.1 cents, meaning that 1,000 points are equal to $1 in redemption value. This conversion rate is consistent across all redemption options, making it easy for members to calculate the value of their points.
One of the most popular ways to redeem Shop Your Way points is for gift cards. Members can visit the Shop Your Way website and browse a variety of gift card options from popular retailers and brands. The number of points required for each gift card varies based on the face value of the card, but the 0.1 cent per point rate remains the same.
18. Wyndham Rewards
Wyndham Rewards has one of the easiest award charts to wrap your head around. Free nights fall into just three tiers: 7,500, 15,000, or 30,000 points, depending on the property. Budget brands like Days Inn and Super 8 sit at the bottom, while upscale picks like The New Yorker in Manhattan or the Wyndham Hotel Melbourne top out at 30,000. You'll also find Wyndham Vacation Club properties, including Club Wyndham and WorldMark, priced at 7,500 points per bedroom per night, so a two-bedroom villa runs 15,000 points.
If you're short on points, "Go Fast" points-and-cash bookings let you cover part of the cost with cash. A 30,000-point night, for example, can drop to 6,000 points plus a cash copay.
Beyond hotel stays, Wyndham has a partnership with Cottages.com for UK vacation rentals, running 15,000 points per bedroom per night, plus a similar deal with Vacasa for U.S. vacation homes at 15,000 or 30,000 points per bedroom depending on cost. Both require a phone call to book.
You can also convert points to Caesars Rewards credits, up to 30,000 points annually, or use Wyndham Rewards Experiences to snag Minor League Baseball tickets and unique fan experiences for as few as 2,500 points.
If you'd rather use Wyndham points toward flights, you can transfer them to airline partners, though the math is rough: 6,000 Wyndham points typically becomes just 1,200 airline miles. It's worth doing only if you have points about to expire, or during a rare transfer bonus promotion.
19. AeroMexico Club Premier
The AeroMexico Club Premier program is not a program that I recommend. The prices of their flights are quite high:
- US/Mexico to Europe for 150,000 points one-way in business class during the low season.
- US/Mexico to Southeast and Northeast Asia for 230,000 points one-way in business class during the low season.
The Verdict
Citi ThankYou Points offer a wide range of valuable transfer partners, providing flexibility and opportunities to maximize the value of your rewards.
With 19 partners to choose from, including airlines in all three major alliances and several hotel chains, Citi cardholders have plenty of options for redeeming their points. Some of the best Citi ThankYou transfer partners include Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Avianca LifeMiles, and Turkish Miles&Smiles, which offer high-value redemptions for luxury travel experiences.
By strategically planning your rewards and transferring points to the right partners, you can unlock incredible value and enjoy unforgettable trips. While Citi may lack a major U.S. airline partner, its extensive network of international carriers and hotel chains makes Citi ThankYou Points a valuable currency for savvy travelers looking to explore the world in style.
