Best way to use Citi points.
Verified July 2026
TL;DR
Citi ThankYou Points transfer to 14+ airline partners at 1:1, with standout partners like Turkish Miles&Smiles, Cathay Pacific, and Virgin Atlantic. The Citi Premier earns 3x on travel, dining, gas, and groceries — one of the broadest earning structures. Pairing with the Double Cash card adds 2x on everything else.
Top 5 redemptions.
The highest-value uses for your thankyou points.
Turkish Airlines Star Alliance
5-12 cppTransfer to Turkish Miles&Smiles and book Star Alliance business class for 45,000-63,000 miles one-way. Turkish has some of the lowest partner award chart rates.
Cathay Pacific First Class
8-15 cppTransfer to Asia Miles and book Cathay Pacific first class from the US to Hong Kong for 110,000 miles one-way. Top-tier first class product.
ANA First Class via Virgin Atlantic
20+ cppTransfer to Virgin Atlantic and book ANA's The Suite first class round-trip for 120,000 points.
Singapore Suites via KrisFlyer
10+ cppTransfer to Singapore KrisFlyer and book Singapore Suites from JFK for 92,000 miles one-way. The pinnacle of commercial aviation.
Etihad First Class Apartments
8-15 cppTransfer to Etihad Guest and book the First Class Apartment for 104,000 miles one-way from Abu Dhabi to New York.
Transfer strategy.
Citi ThankYou shines for premium cabin bookings via Turkish Miles&Smiles (cheapest Star Alliance rates), Singapore KrisFlyer (Suites), and Cathay Pacific (Asia first class). Always check Turkish first for Star Alliance routes — their chart often beats United's pricing by 30-50%.
Citi sweet spots.
Turkish business class to Istanbul: 45,000 miles one-way
Cathay Pacific first class to Hong Kong: 110,000 one-way
Singapore Suites JFK-Singapore: 92,000 one-way
Flying Blue Promo Awards: 50% off select routes
Etihad First Class Apartments: 104,000 one-way
Common mistakes.
Using the ThankYou Travel Center at 1 cpp instead of transferring
Not pairing the Citi Premier with the Double Cash for 2x on everything
Overlooking Turkish Miles&Smiles — often cheaper than United for Star Alliance flights
Missing that Singapore KrisFlyer is a Citi transfer partner (great for Suites access)
Forgetting that Citi Premier has no foreign transaction fees — great for travel spending
Frequently asked questions.
What is the best way to use Citi ThankYou points?
Transfer to Turkish Miles&Smiles for Star Alliance business class at the lowest rates, Cathay Pacific for first class to Asia, or Virgin Atlantic for ANA first class. These transfers yield 5-20+ cents per point compared to 1 cpp through the ThankYou Travel Center.
What are the best Citi transfer partners?
Turkish Miles&Smiles (cheapest Star Alliance charts), Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (first class to Asia), Singapore KrisFlyer (Singapore Suites), Virgin Atlantic (ANA/Delta flights), and Etihad Guest (first class apartments).
Can you combine Citi ThankYou points from multiple cards?
Yes, points from the Citi Premier, Custom Cash, and Double Cash can be combined. The Double Cash earns 2x on everything but requires a Premier or Prestige card to unlock transfers to airline partners.
Is the Citi Premier worth it?
Yes — 3x on travel, dining, gas, and groceries is one of the broadest bonus structures. Paired with the no-fee Double Cash (2x on everything), you have a powerful earning system. The $95 annual fee is easily justified by the transfer partner access.
Ready to use your Citi points?
Search award space across every partner — or open the chat and tell it where you want to go.
Need More Points?
Earn bonus points with these credit card offers
Can't find availability at your current points balance? These credit cards offer generous welcome bonuses to help you book your dream flight.
The Business Platinum Card from American Express
Business · Annual fee $895
200,000 points
after $20,000 in 3 months
- Hotel credit ($600)
- Dell credit ($1150)
- Adobe credit ($250)
American Express Business Gold Card
Business · Annual fee $375
200,000 points
after $15,000 in 3 months
- ChatGPT Business Statement Credit ($300)
- FedEx, Grubhub and Office Supply Statement Credit ($240)
- Walmart+ Statement Credit ($155)
The Platinum Card from American Express
Personal · Annual fee $895
175,000 points
after $12,000 in 6 months
- Hotel credit ($600)
- Digital entertainment credit ($300)
- Uber Cash and One credit ($320)
American Express Gold Card
Personal · Annual fee $250
100,000 points
after $8,000 in 6 months
- Dining credit ($120)
- Resy credit ($100)
- Disney Streaming credit ($120)
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Personal · Annual fee $95
100,000 points
after $5,000 in 3 months
- Chase Travel hotel credit ($100)
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit ($120)
- DoorDash DashPass ($120)
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Personal · Annual fee $795
100,000 points
after $6,000 in 3 months
- Travel credit ($300)
- The Edit hotel credit ($500)
- Dining credit ($300)
Credit card approval subject to eligibility. Terms and conditions apply. American Express cards shown are available to US residents only.