Best Way to Use Citi Points

Citi ThankYou Points guide for 2026

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 ways to use your thankyou points

1

Turkish Airlines Star Alliance

5-12 cpp

Transfer 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.

2

Cathay Pacific First Class

8-15 cpp

Transfer 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.

3

ANA First Class via Virgin Atlantic

20+ cpp

Transfer to Virgin Atlantic and book ANA's The Suite first class round-trip for 120,000 points.

4

Singapore Suites via KrisFlyer

10+ cpp

Transfer to Singapore KrisFlyer and book Singapore Suites from JFK for 92,000 miles one-way. The pinnacle of commercial aviation.

5

Etihad First Class Apartments

8-15 cpp

Transfer 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 to Avoid

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

Related Resources

Citi Points Value

What are your points worth?

Citi Transfer Partners

All airline & hotel partners

Search Award Flights

Find available seats

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 flight availability across all partner airlines in one place.

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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 Card | Annual Fee: $895

US Only

200,000 Membership Rewards® points

after $20,000 in purchases in the first 3 months

Key Benefits:

  • 5x points on flights & hotels via Amex Travel
  • 1.5x points on purchases over $5,000
  • Airport lounge access
Learn More & Apply

American Express® Business Gold Card

Business Card | Annual Fee: $375

US Only

100,000 Membership Rewards® points

after $15,000 in purchases in the first 3 months

Key Benefits:

  • 4x points on top 2 spending categories (up to $150K/yr)
  • Up to $240 in annual statement credits
Learn More & Apply

Chase Ink Business Preferred®

Business Card | Annual Fee: $95

100,000 Ultimate Rewards points

after $8,000 in purchases in the first 3 months

Key Benefits:

  • 3x points on travel & shipping
  • 3x points on advertising
  • 3x points on internet/cable/phone
Learn More & Apply

The Platinum Card from American Express

Personal Card | Annual Fee: $695

US Only

80,000 points

after $8,000 in 6 months

Key Benefits:

  • $200 airline fee credit
  • $200 hotel credit (FHR/THC)
  • $200 Uber credit
Learn More & Apply

Capital One Venture Rewards

Personal Card | Annual Fee: $95

75,000 miles

after $4,000 in 3 months

Key Benefits:

  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
  • No foreign transaction fees
Learn More & Apply

Capital One Venture X Rewards

Personal Card | Annual Fee: $395

75,000 miles

after $4,000 in 3 months

Key Benefits:

  • $300 annual travel credit (Capital One Travel)
  • 10,000 bonus miles annually
  • Capital One Lounge access
Learn More & Apply

* Credit card approval subject to eligibility. Terms and conditions apply. American Express cards shown are available to US residents only.