If you hold Citi ThankYou points, two questions come first: which airlines and hotels take them, and whether to transfer now or wait for a bonus. As of October 4, 2026, Citi’s Points Transfer page lists 20 programs: 15 airlines and 5 hotels. With Citi Strata Elite, Strata Premier or Prestige, 1,000 points becomes 1,000 miles at most airlines; with the other eligible cards it is 700.
Two bonuses are running now: 30% to JAL Mileage Bank and 25% to Avianca LifeMiles, for transfers completed from 12:01 AM ET September 20, 2026 through 11:59 PM ET October 24, 2026. Citi’s ThankYou Rewards FAQ (header date October 10, 2025) still lists Aeromexico Rewards and does not list JAL; Aeromexico is not on the Points Transfer page, and Citi ended Aeromexico transfers on January 25, 2026. Use the Points Transfer page as the current list.
Our rule of thumb for the second question: transfer only after the award seat is bookable, because Citi’s terms say a submitted transfer can’t be canceled.
- 15 airline programs
- 5 hotel programs
- 1,000 points minimum, in 1,000s
Roster, ratios, bonuses and terms are from Citi’s Points Transfer page as of October 4, 2026.
At a Glance: Citi ThankYou Transfer Partners
- Airlines (15): American Airlines AAdvantage, Avianca LifeMiles, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, EVA Air Infinity MileageLands, Flying Blue (Air France and KLM), JAL Mileage Bank (added September 20, 2026), JetBlue TrueBlue, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Virgin Red.
- Hotels (5): ALL – Accor Live Limitless, Choice Privileges, Leaders Club, Preferred Hotels and Resorts, and Wyndham Rewards.
- Ratios: 1,000 points = 1,000 miles at most airlines with Citi Strata Elite, Citi Strata Premier or Citi Prestige, and 1,000 = 700 with the other eligible cards. Emirates is 800 and 560; the hotel programs differ (table below).
- Bonuses through 11:59 PM ET October 24, 2026: JAL Mileage Bank 30% (1,300 or 910 per 1,000 points) and Avianca LifeMiles 25% (1,250 or 875 per 1,000 points).
- Transfer terms: 1,000-point minimum, in increments of 1,000, up to 500,000 per transfer; first and last names must match; a submitted transfer can’t be canceled.
- Opinion: transfer only after the award seat is bookable. A bonus that may not come isn’t a reason to risk a seat you can book now.
Transfer partners and terms can change; check Citi’s ThankYou pages before you move points.
Real-World Examples
Example 1: The same points, two cards
You want Flying Blue miles. With a Citi Strata Premier, 1,000 points becomes 1,000 Flying Blue miles. With only a Citi Double Cash, 1,000 points becomes 700.
Takeaway: your card sets the ratio, so check which card your points sit on.
Example 2: The LifeMiles bonus
Through 11:59 PM ET October 24, 2026, 10,000 points becomes 12,500 Avianca LifeMiles on the Strata Elite, Strata Premier or Prestige, and 8,750 on the other eligible cards.
Takeaway: even with the 25% bonus, the second card group stays below 1:1.
Example 3: The JAL launch bonus
JAL Mileage Bank joined on September 20, 2026. Through 11:59 PM ET October 24, 2026, 10,000 points becomes 13,000 JAL miles on the first card group and 9,100 on the second.
Takeaway: JAL is new and the bonus has an end date.
Example 4: A hotel transfer
5,000 points to Choice Privileges becomes 7,500 points on the first card group and 5,250 on the second.
Takeaway: hotel ratios are not 1:1, so compare the program’s own prices before you move points.
Example 5: The seat is bookable now
Citi’s terms say a submitted transfer can’t be canceled. With the award seat available today, transferring now wins over gambling on a bonus that may not come.
Takeaway: this is our opinion, not a Citi rule.
Airline Partners on the Citi ThankYou Roster
Per Citi’s Points Transfer page, as of October 4, 2026, these are the programs and base ratios. Ratios depend on your card: the first column is Citi Strata Elite, Citi Strata Premier, Citi Prestige (and AT&T Access More); the second is Citi ThankYou Preferred, Citi Strata Card, Citi Double Cash, Citi Custom Cash and the other eligible cards.
| Program | Strata Elite, Strata Premier, Prestige | Other eligible cards |
|---|---|---|
| American Airlines AAdvantage | 1,000 | 700 |
| Avianca LifeMiles | 1,000 | 700 |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 1,000 | 700 |
| Emirates Skywards | 800 | 560 |
| Etihad Guest | 1,000 | 700 |
| EVA Air Infinity MileageLands | 1,000 | 700 |
| Flying Blue (Air France and KLM) | 1,000 | 700 |
| JAL Mileage Bank | 1,000 | 700 |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | 1,000 | 700 |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 1,000 | 700 |
| Qatar Airways Privilege Club | 1,000 | 700 |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | 1,000 | 700 |
| Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus | 1,000 | 700 |
| Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles | 1,000 | 700 |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Virgin Red | 1,000 | 700 |
Two bonuses apply through 11:59 PM ET October 24, 2026: Avianca LifeMiles 25% (1,250 per 1,000 points on the first column, 875 on the second) and JAL Mileage Bank 30% (1,300 and 910). JAL Mileage Bank was added on September 20, 2026. American Airlines AAdvantage is not available to cardholders who hold only a Citi ThankYou Mastercard or an AT&T-branded card, per Citi’s Points Transfer terms.
American Airlines is on this roster. If American is your goal, our American Airlines Executive vs Amex Platinum comparison covers a different card route to it.
Hotel Programs
Per Citi’s Points Transfer page, as of October 4, 2026, these are the hotel programs and base ratios (same two card groups as the airline table):
| Program | Strata Elite, Strata Premier, Prestige | Other eligible cards |
|---|---|---|
| ALL – Accor Live Limitless | 500 | 350 |
| Choice Privileges | 1,500 | 1,050 |
| Leaders Club | 200 | 140 |
| Preferred Hotels and Resorts (I Prefer) | 2,000 | 1,400 |
| Wyndham Rewards | 1,000 | 700 |
Citi’s FAQ also lists Shop Your Way under Retail. It is not on the Points Transfer page or in its terms and is not a travel partner.
How Citi Transfers Work: Cards, Minimums, and Timing
Per the Points Transfer terms on Citi’s Points Transfer page, as of October 4, 2026:
- Eligible cards: you need a ThankYou account and one of these cards enrolled in ThankYou Rewards: Citi Strata Elite, Citi Strata Premier, Citi Prestige, Citi ThankYou Preferred, Citi Strata Card, Citi Double Cash, Citi Custom Cash, Citi ThankYou Mastercard, or an eligible AT&T card. Citi says the redemption rates vary by card.
- Minimum and increments: at least 1,000 points, then increments of 1,000, up to 500,000 points per transfer. There is no fee.
- Names: “the first and last names on both your ThankYou Account and Travel Loyalty Program Account must match.”
- Timing: your ThankYou points are deducted immediately. For most programs Citi says transfers are often completed within 24 hours but may occasionally take up to 5 business days.
- No cancellations: “A submitted request to transfer points may not be canceled and the points in a submitted request may not be returned to your ThankYou Account.”
- Join first: you need an account with the airline or hotel program, and most programs require registering your membership number in advance.
If you hold more than one ThankYou card, Citi’s FAQ says you may combine them into a single ThankYou account. Check your own transfer screen to see the ratio that applies to your combined points before you move anything.
Transfer Now or Wait for a Bonus?
The decision rule, as of October 4, 2026, is our opinion: transfer only after the award seat is bookable.
- A transfer bonus is not guaranteed, and Citi’s current JAL (30%) and LifeMiles (25%) bonuses end at 11:59 PM ET on October 24, 2026.
- If the seat is bookable now and a bonus is uncertain, transferring now is the safer choice.
- If the seat will still be there when a bonus ends, waiting for a bonus can beat a base-rate transfer. If no seat exists yet, don’t transfer speculatively.
Since the rule starts with a bookable seat, searching award space is the natural first step:
Search award space before you transfer
Check partner award availability first, then move points. Seats.aero shows open award seats across major programs.
Search awards on Seats.aero Paid link
Disclosure: Roaming Cactus earns revenue from on-site advertising and may be compensated if you use the Seats.aero link in this box. See How we make money. That doesn't change our editorial opinions.
The Seats.aero search above works the same way for points from other banks. For a related decision, see our post on Citi’s JAL and LifeMiles bonuses.
Transfer partners and terms can change; check Citi’s ThankYou pages before you move points.
Transfer Partner Guides for Other Banks
If you hold points from another bank, these guides cover their transfer partners:
- Amex Membership Rewards transfer partners
- Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners
- Capital One miles transfer partners
TL;DR – Verdict
The roster: as of October 4, 2026, Citi’s Points Transfer page lists 15 airline programs and 5 hotel programs. JAL Mileage Bank joined on September 20, 2026; Aeromexico Rewards, still on Citi’s FAQ, is no longer on the Points Transfer page.
The ratios: 1,000 points = 1,000 miles at most airlines with Citi Strata Elite, Strata Premier or Prestige, and 700 with the other eligible cards. Emirates and the hotel programs differ.
The bonuses: 30% to JAL Mileage Bank and 25% to Avianca LifeMiles through 11:59 PM ET October 24, 2026.
The rule: in our view, transfer only after the award seat is bookable. Citi’s terms say a submitted transfer can’t be canceled.
Transfer partners and terms can change; check Citi’s ThankYou pages before you move points.
Frequently Asked Questions
What airlines can I transfer Citi ThankYou points to?
As of October 4, 2026, Citi’s Points Transfer page lists American Airlines AAdvantage, Avianca LifeMiles, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, EVA Air Infinity MileageLands, Flying Blue, JAL Mileage Bank, JetBlue TrueBlue, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Virgin Red.
Is Aeromexico still a Citi ThankYou transfer partner?
No. Aeromexico Rewards is not on Citi’s Points Transfer page as of October 4, 2026, and Citi ended Aeromexico transfers on January 25, 2026. Citi’s FAQ page still lists it.
Which hotel programs take Citi ThankYou points?
ALL – Accor Live Limitless, Choice Privileges, Leaders Club, Preferred Hotels and Resorts, and Wyndham Rewards, as of October 4, 2026. Their ratios are in the hotel table above.
What are the Citi ThankYou transfer ratios?
For most airlines, 1,000 points = 1,000 miles with Citi Strata Elite, Strata Premier or Prestige, and 1,000 = 700 with the other eligible cards, including the Strata Card, Double Cash and Custom Cash. Emirates is 800 and 560, and the hotel programs differ. See the tables above.
What is the minimum transfer, and how long does it take?
The minimum is 1,000 points, then increments of 1,000, up to 500,000 per transfer. For most programs Citi says transfers are often completed within 24 hours but may occasionally take up to 5 business days, and a submitted transfer can’t be canceled.
Are there Citi transfer bonuses right now?
As of October 4, 2026: 30% to JAL Mileage Bank and 25% to Avianca LifeMiles, for transfers completed through 11:59 PM ET October 24, 2026. On the Strata Elite, Strata Premier or Prestige that is 1,300 JAL miles or 1,250 LifeMiles per 1,000 points; on the other eligible cards it is 910 or 875.
Should I transfer now or wait for a bonus?
In our view, transfer only after the award seat is bookable. A bonus is not guaranteed. If the seat is bookable now and a bonus is uncertain, transferring now is the safer choice; if the seat will still be there when a bonus ends, a bonus transfer can beat a base-rate one.