Double Stretch: Citi's ThankYou 🙏🏻

First Stretch: The Earn 📈

Citi ThankYou program currently offers only two major Credit Cards in the US that allow consumers to earn ThankYou points. They offer different perks and are priced accordingly

Strata Premier has a $95 annual fee, but in return has a $100 rebate on a single hotel stay of $500 or more, booked with the card through the CitiTravel.com portal.

You'll be earning:
✅ 10 x ThankYou Points per $1 spent on the CitiTravel.com travel portal for Hotel bookings, Car Rentals and Attractions.
✅ 3 x ThankYou Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases.
✅ 3 x ThankYou Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets.
✅ 3 x ThankYou Points per $1 spent at Gas and EV Charging Stations.
✅ 1 x ThankYou Point per $1 spent on all other purchases

Unlike the Strata Premier - it has no annual fee and feels more "casual" with less benefits.

You'll be earning:
✅ 5 x ThankYou Points per $1 spent on the CitiTravel.com travel portal for Hotel bookings, Car Rentals and Attractions.
✅ 2 x ThankYou Points per $1 spent at Supermarkets and /or Gas & EV Charging Stations on the first $6,000 spent on these two categories per year.
✅ 1 x ThankYou Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

If you know how I operate by now - you know that between the two cards, I lean towards the Strata Premier. Like you, I want every dollar I spend to go further. Much further.

Second Stretch: The Burn 🔥

Burning Citi ThankYou points right is important. CitiTravel.com portal allows you to use your points at a 1-points-per-1-cent cash value. But we can do better...

How to Transfer Citi ThankYou Points to Airline and Hotel Partners (Step-by-Step)

Transferring Citi ThankYou points to travel partners is simple, but knowing the process can help you avoid mistakes.

Here’s a detailed guide on how to transfer points efficiently:

1. Log into your Citi ThankYou account:
   • Make sure you're using an account that is eligible for full access to Citi’s transfer partners, such as those linked to a Citi Premier or Prestige card.
2. Select 'More Ways to Redeem':
   • Once logged in, go to the top right where your account information is displayed. From the dropdown, click on “More Ways to Redeem” and then “Points Transfer.”
3. Choose Your Transfer Partner:
   • On the next screen, you’ll see a list of available travel partners. Select the program you want to transfer points to. For example, if you frequently fly with Turkish Airlines, you’d choose Miles&Smiles.
4. Input the Amount of Points to Transfer:
   • Transfers must be done in increments of 1,000 points. A slider will let you choose how many points to transfer. Be aware that once transferred, the points cannot be reversed.
5. Enter Your Loyalty Account Number:
   • You’ll need to provide your membership number for the partner program. Citi pre-fills your name to match the one linked to your Citi account. You can also save this loyalty account for future transfers.
6. Confirm the Transfer:
   • Double-check all details before confirming. Once you hit “submit,” the points will be deducted from your Citi ThankYou balance. Most transfers are instant, but some may take up to 48 hours depending on the partner.

Key Considerations:

• Transfer Ratios: The majority of Citi partners transfer at a 1:1 ratio, meaning 1,000 Citi points equals 1,000 miles or points in the travel program. However, some partners might have slightly different ratios.
• Expiration: Once points are transferred to a travel partner, they follow the expiration rules of that program.
  For example: Singapore Airlines' KrisFlyer miles expire after 3 years if unused, while others like JetBlue have no expiration as long as your account remains active.
• Pooling Points: If you have multiple Citi ThankYou cards, you can combine points across your accounts. This is handy when one card doesn't give you access to a particular partner, but another does. Pool your points before making a transfer to maximize redemptions.
• No Fees: Citi doesn’t charge any fees for transferring points, making it cost-effective compared to some other programs.

Great Burn Examples, Unique to Citi's Partners

In today's post - I'm sharing three unique partners that have interesting redemptions and where your Citi ThankYou points can go a longer way.

1) Turkish Airlines: Fixed Rate for Longer Distance

The rate is not dynamic and if the class has seats (economy or business) - you're able to book them immediately.

And yes... 110,000 points for Economy is a high redemption (especially if you're able to fly directly cross pacific between the two cities) - but for 275,000 points and potentially a layover in wonderful Istanbul - this is still a good deal for so many hours up in the Air in Business Class

2) Qatar Airways: Saver Inventory via JetBlue

The two airlines share inventories and it's easy to find single and sometimes also double seats available to the Middle-East and the Maldives on JetBlue.com. For low taxes & fees - it's better than booking it on Qatar.com using their Avios currency.

3) AeroMexico's SkyTeam Inventory

One of the last programs in the Americas to still be non-dynamic is AeroMexico and their award chart is still based on region travel. With domestic flights within Mexico priced at 10,000 points per person in Economy or 52,00 points per person to New York in Business Class - this is more than reasonable for today's crazy cash prices.

What makes this program unique is that it's predictable - and if a seat is available - you're able to snag it. Needless to write - not all SkyTeam members will release inventory to AeroMexico - so I would be using their services if I (1) wanted to go to Mexico or (2) wouldn't mind connecting in Mexico City on route to another Central American destination.

Remember: Don't transfer your points unless you see the inventory first. You won't be able to revert the transfer and they will be stuck at the airline's program.

As we wrap it 🆙 - Don't forget to look at other unique partners such as Wyndham, Thai Airways, Choice Privilege and EVA Air. They too can have a great redemption for those Citi ThankYou points.