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28 Best Ways To Redeem Citi ThankYou Points for Max Value [2024]

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Citi has an assembly of cards that earn Citi ThankYou Points, and one of the best ways to use these points is to transfer them to airline programs — that’s how you’re going to get the most value.

Unfortunately, not all redemption options are of equal value, but Citi offers many ways to use your Citi ThankYou Points for some amazing trips!

Earning Citi ThankYou Points

The best way to earn Citi ThankYou Points is through the strategic use of credit cards that earn these valuable points.

Cardholders of the Citi Premier® Card and Citi Prestige® Card (no longer open to new applicants) have the option to transfer their Citi ThankYou Points to all of Citi’s airline and hotel partners.

Those with the Citi Double Cash® Card, Citi Rewards+® Card, Sears Mastercard® with ThankYou® Rewards, and Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card (no longer open to new applicants) can only transfer ThankYou Points to Choice Privileges at a 1:1.5 ratio and Wyndham Rewards and JetBlue TrueBlue at a 1:0.8 ratio.

Citi Premier® Card

Citi Premier® Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)

Citi Premier® Card

Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
60,000 points
$960
$95
21.24% - 29.24% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Citi Premier® Card is an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-around travel rewards credit card. The card helps you earn points fast with great 3x bonus categories such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Plus, it offers access to airline and hotel transfer partners, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and has a reasonable annual fee!

Pros

  • 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
  • Access to Citi transfer partners
  • Annual hotel credit
  • No foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
  • Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
  • Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
  • Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
  • 60,000 ThankYou® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
  • No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 21.24% - 29.24% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Citi Rewards+® Card

Citi Rewards+® Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This no annual fee card rewards cardholders for everyday purchases. Earn bonus points at supermarkets and gas stations, plus your points are rounded up on every purchase.

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)

Citi Rewards+® Card

This no annual fee card rewards cardholders for everyday purchases. Earn bonus points at supermarkets and gas stations, plus your points are rounded up on every purchase.
Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $250 in gift cards at thankyou.com.
20,000 points
$320
$0
0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months and on purchases. After that, the variable APR of 18.74% - 28.74%.
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-840)
  • Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com
  • Plus, for a limited time, earn 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel(SM) portal through June 30, 2024.
  • 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from date of first transfer and on purchases from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 18.74% – 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
  • Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X ThankYou® Points on All Other Purchases.
  • The Citi Rewards+® Card – the only credit card that automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase – with no cap.
  • No Annual Fee

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months and on purchases. After that, the variable APR of 18.74% - 28.74%.
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each purchase transaction in US dollars

Card Categories

Citi Double Cash® Card

Citi Double Cash® Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)

Citi Double Cash® Card

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!
Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.
$200 cash back
$0
19.24% - 29.24% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Fair to Excellent (580-850)

The Citi Double Cash® Card has long been one of the top cash-back credit cards on the market, and the card now has the ability to earn Citi ThankYou Points!

This means that cardholders of the Double Cash card will now earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou Points. This means each billing cycle, you will earn 1 ThankYou point per $1 spent on purchases and an additional ThankYou point for every $1 paid on your purchase balance as long as there is a corresponding balance in your Purchase Tracker.

Citi has turned the Double Cash card into a top choice for those who are looking for an everyday, no-fuss credit card.

Pros

  • Uncapped 2% for every $1 spent (1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay)
  • Flexible redemption options
  • No annual fee

Cons

  • No bonus categories
  • 3% foreign transaction fees
  • Lack of premium travel benefits
  • Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
  • To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
  • Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
  • If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
  • There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 19.24% - 29.24% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Citi Custom Cash® Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Earn big on purchases in your top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, with no annual fee!

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Earn big on purchases in your top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, with no annual fee!
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
$200
$0
0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%.
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Fair to Excellent (580-850)

The Citi Custom Cash® Card is inventive when it comes to cash-back credit cards. Instead of earning a set amount of cash-back on predetermined bonus categories, the Citi Custom Cash card earns 5% cash-back on your highest eligible spend category each billing cycle, without an annual fee.

Thanks to that unique perk, you’ll never need to worry about whether you’re using the right card for the right purchase, as your Citi Custom Cash card will always pay you 5% back on whichever category you end up spending the most on each month.

Pros

  • 5% cash-back (on up to $500 each billing cycle) from your largest purchase category, including restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment
  • No annual fee
  • Multiple redemption options
  • No redemption minimums

Cons

  • Your 5% category is limited to $500 in spend ($25 in cash-back) each month
  • Not particularly rewarding for any purchases outside of your top 5% cash-back category
  • Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
  • 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash® Card account per person.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%.
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 3%

Card Categories

Transferring Citi ThankYou Points to Travel Partners

The Citi ThankYou Program provides 2 ways to redeem ThankYou Points for flights:

Using the Citi ThankYou Travel Portal

Citi ThankYou cardholders can redeem points for flights through the Citi ThankYou travel portal at a rate of 1 cent per point.

The Citi ThankYou travel portal is a useful tool because it will give you access to using your reward points with airlines beyond the Citi ThankYou airline partners.

Citi Travel Center
Citi ThankYou travel portal. Image Credit: Citi

A great perk of using ThankYou Points to purchase flights via the Citi ThankYou travel portal is that you will earn miles with the airline you fly (or the airline you choose to credit the flight). In effect, this provides a nice rebate when you use ThankYou Points to book airfare.

Cardmembers can redeem ThankYou Points for flights at around a rate of 1 cent per point. This means that a $100 flight will cost 10,000 ThankYou Points.

Citi ThankYou Transfer Partners

Citi airline partners include some great programs like Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Etihad Guest, JetBlue TrueBlue, Avianca LifeMiles, and Turkish Miles&Smiles. Most have a 1:1 transfer rate, depending on the card you hold.

SCROLL FOR MORE
Citi Transfer PartnerMin TransferTransfer Ratio
(Citi > Partner)
Transfer Time
Aeromexico Club Premier1,0001:1Almost Instantly
Air France / KLM Flying Blue1,0001:1Almost Instantly
ALL – Accor Live Limitless1,0002:1Almost Instantly
Avianca Airlines Lifemiles1,0001:1Almost Instantly
Cathay Pacific1,0001:1Almost Instantly
Choice Privileges1,0001:2Almost Instantly
Emirates Skywards1,0001:1Almost Instantly
Etihad Airways1,0001:1Almost Instantly
EVA Air1,0001:12 Days
JetBlue Airways1,0001:1Almost Instantly
Qantas Airways1,0001:1Almost Instantly
Qatar Airways1,0001:12 Days
Singapore Airlines1,0001:12 Days
Thai Airways1,0001:14 Days
Turkish Airlines1,0001:1Almost Instantly
Virgin Atlantic1,0001:1Almost Instantly
Wyndham Rewards1,0001:1Within 24 Hours

 

The 28 Best Ways To Use Your Citi ThankYou Points

Sure, you could use your points for statement credits, gift cards, or one of the other redemption options. But to get the maximum value from your Citi ThankYou Points, you should transfer your points to frequent flyer programs.

These redemptions are especially valuable for international flights.

Please keep in mind that these options aren’t the only options for redemption, but are some of the best ways to use your Citi ThankYou Points to boost your points’ value.

Hot Tip: Need to earn points first? See our article on the best ways to earn Citi ThankYou Points.

1. Fly Singapore Suites on the A380 (KrisFlyer)

Singapore Airlines new A380 First Suite Double Bed
Singapore Airlines’ new A380 Suites features a double bed and separate lounge chair. Image Credit: Greg Stone

Many people transfer points to Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer so that they can experience Singapore Suites, one of the premier first class products available. If you have a travel date, you can even enjoy a double bed in the sky! It’s safe to say this is one experience you don’t want to miss.

There is only 1 option to fly Singapore Suites from the U.S., and that’s out of New York. For 97,000 miles you can try Suites from New York to Frankfurt.

If 7 hours in suites class isn’t enough, you can continue on to Singapore for a total of 148,500 miles. Feeling adventurous? You can fly from New York to Sydney for 188,000 miles, which would give you over 24 hours in luxury!

If you aren’t based in New York, you can still enjoy suites after connecting there to start your journey.

Need help booking? See our step-by-step guide for booking Singapore Suites or first class.

2. Fly United Domestic Economy or Business Class (KrisFlyer)

If you’re looking for a transcontinental flight on United you can use KrisFlyer miles.

One-way in business class costs 26,000 KrisFlyer miles, and one-way in economy class will cost 14,000 KrisFlyer miles.

3. Fly Between the Continental U.S. and Hawaii (KrisFlyer)

Hawaii
Use your Citi ThankYou Points to travel to Hawaii for vacation! Options are available in economy and business/first class if you transfer your points to KrisFlyer. Image Credit: Darren Lawrence via Unsplash

Flying to Hawaii is without a doubt one of the most popular uses of miles and reward points. KrisFlyer again provides a great way to utilize the Star Alliance network.

For economy or business/first class flights, you will need 19,500 miles or 39,000 miles, respectively. United charges much more than that for the same flights in many cases.

4. Fly to Europe From the U.S. (KrisFlyer)

Looking for a cheap way to get to Europe? You can get a one-way flight in economy class on a Star Alliance partner for only 30,500 KrisFlyer miles.

5. Fly to the Middle East or North Africa From the U.S. (KrisFlyer)

The KrisFlyer program has some amazing partner redemption options to the Middle East and North Africa: one-way in economy class for 52,000 miles, one-way in business for 88,000 miles, or one-way in first class for 114,000 miles.

6. Fly From the U.S. to Central or South Africa (KrisFlyer)

Flying to Central and South Africa is not always easy and often expensive, but KrisFlyer provides a great option in business class. You can book a one-way flight on a Star Alliance partner in business class for 111,000 miles.

7. Fly From Los Angeles to Tokyo (KrisFlyer)

Check out Singapore Airlines flights from Los Angeles to Tokyo. For 120,500 miles, you can enjoy a great first class experience.

8. Fly From San Francisco to Hong Kong (KrisFlyer)

Singapore Airlines Airbus A350 Business Class
Singapore Airlines Airbus A350 business class. Image Credit: Greg Stone

If you’re looking for a premium experience to Southeast Asia, you can use KrisFlyer miles to fly Singapore business class to Hong Kong for 100,500 miles, or get to Singapore for 146,500 miles.

Need help booking? See our step-by-step guide for booking Singapore business class using points.

9. Fly Virgin Atlantic Upper Class to Europe (KrisFlyer)

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Cabin from Front
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Cabin from Front. Image Credit: Greg Stone

While Singapore Airlines has 1 award chart for all Star Alliance partners, it has a separate one for flights on Virgin Atlantic.

However, you can experience Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class product for only 58,500 miles one-way.

Need Help Booking? Check out our step-by-step guide to booking Virgin Atlantic Upper Class using points.

10. Fly Lufthansa First Class to Europe (Avianca LifeMiles)

Lufthansa B747-8 First Class Seat
Seats 1A and 1K. Image Credit: Cherag Dubash

Without a doubt, Lufthansa first class is an aspirational experience that should be on your list. For 87,000 Avianca LifeMiles, you can fly to Europe and enjoy one of the best first class products in the sky.

To top it off, if you connect in Frankfurt, you will have a chance to visit the Lufthansa First Class Terminal. This is a lounge experience of a lifetime, so make sure your connection leaves you a few hours.

Best of all, you won’t be hit with enormous fuel surcharges!

Need help booking? Check out our step-by-step guide to booking Lufthansa first class.

11. Fly Between the South Pacific Islands (KrisFlyer)

If you’d like to visit some South Pacific islands, KrisFlyer miles can be a great choice.

Singapore charges 13,500 miles in economy. At 34,500 miles for business, KrisFlyer is no longer the great deal it used to be. United charges 30,000 miles for business class, in comparison.

Availability on this one can be tough, but it will be worth the effort if you can make it work with your schedule. You can learn about more KrisFlyer redemptions by using Singapore Airlines’ Star Alliance award chart.

12. Fly Air France or KLM With Promo Rewards (Flying Blue)

Air France 777 Business Class Business Class Cabin From Front
Use your Citi ThankYou Points to access Air France business class! Image Credit: Nick Ellis

Air France/KLM Flying Blue utilizes a variable award pricing calculator, which it says is tied to revenue prices. This simply isn’t true; as a result, it’s very difficult to pin down an exact cost, as there are many award pricing levels now.

Probably the best way to use the Flying Blue program is its Promo Rewards. These awards run throughout the year and change every few months. You will generally receive a 25% to 50% discount on economy and business class award tickets from Europe to specific cities.

Typically, Flying Blue awards between the U.S. and Europe cost 21,500 to 27,000 miles for economy class and 53,000 to 71,000 miles for business class. With just a 25% discount, that drops the mileage cost to 16,125 to 20,250 miles and 39,750 to 53,250 miles, respectively.

Flying Blue award flights do incur surcharges, so keep that in mind when booking these. Even with the surcharges, though, these awards can provide great value.

Hot Tip: If you need extra Flying Blue miles, you can also transfer any points you have with your Chase Ultimate Rewards cards, including the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.

13. Take Advantage of a Broad Definition of Europe (Flying Blue)

Flying Blue really shines with its broad definition of Europe. This gives you access to countries such as Algeria, Israel, Morocco, Tunisia, and the Canary Islands at a lower redemption level.

Rooftops of Israel
You could see the rooftops of Israel, North Africa, or Europe for only 25,000 miles (or less with a Promo Reward)! Image Credit: Rostislav Ageev via Shutterstock

As mentioned above, a one-way business class award flight to “Europe” will cost 53,000 to 71,000 miles, which is a solid redemption. If you’re booking an economy class award flight, 21,500 to 27,000 miles for a one-way flight to Israel or North Africa is a fantastic deal.

14. Fly to Hawaii From the Continental U.S. (Flying Blue)

Another great redemption option is for flights from the continental U.S. to Hawaii. At only 15,000 miles for economy class and 30,000 miles for business class award flights on Flying Blue partner Delta, these are among the cheapest options available.

This is actually cheaper than using Delta’s own SkyMiles program to book an award flight with Delta! Read this article for more ideas on using Flying Blue miles.

15. Fly to Mexico at Domestic Redemption Rates (Flying Blue)

Unlike many programs, Flying Blue includes Mexico in the same region as the U.S. rather than the Caribbean and Central America. Because of this, you can book a one-way award flight from the U.S. to Mexico for only 12,500 miles.

16. Fly From the U.S. to the Caribbean (Flying Blue)

Speaking of the Caribbean, you can book an award flight from the U.S. for 15,000 miles one-way. This means you will save at least 5,000 miles per round-trip flight compared to using a U.S. carrier’s program.

17. Cheap Awards to Australia and the South Pacific (Flying Blue)

Flying Blue provides a solid redemption option to the South Pacific, with one-way business class award flights costing 75,000 miles. The program also provides the cheapest award option in economy class at 48,000 miles one-way.

At these rates to Australia, Flying Blue becomes a competitive program for flights down under. You can also fly directly from Los Angeles (LAX) to Tahiti (PPT) for 25,500 Flying Blue miles!

To see how many miles you would need for an award flight, check out Flying Blue’s miles price estimator.

18. A Cheap Business Class Flight to Europe (Etihad)

Brussels Airlines business class
Using Etihad Guest miles to fly Brussels Airlines business class is a great way to visit Europe. Image Credit: Brussels Airlines

While Etihad may not be a member of a major airline alliance, it does have tons of partners. It also has a different award chart for each partner airline. Though the booking process may be tedious, there are some solid awards to be found.

One of these bookings is a round-trip business class trip on Brussels Airlines between New York (JFK) and Brussels (BRU) for 88,000 miles. You can book a round-trip economy class award flight for only 54,000 miles if economy is more your style. The same redemption rates can also be found from Toronto (YYZ) and Washington, D.C. (IAD).

Availability can be tough to find, but for one of the best award flight deals, it’s definitely worth the patience!

19. Fly American Airlines in Flagship Business or Flagship First (Etihad)

American Airlines First Flagship Business Class Miami to Boston aisle
Flying American Airlines in business class using Etihad Guest is a steal! Image Credit: Chris Hassan

Etihad’s award chart for American allows you to book flights on American Airlines at some exceptional prices.

Let’s take a look at some of the great options you have by flying American Flagship First or Flagship Business with Etihad miles:

  • Fly to Europe for 50,000 miles in business class or 62,500 miles in first class
  • Fly to Asia 1 (Japan, Korea, Mongolia) for 50,000 miles in business class or 62,500 miles in first class
  • Fly to Asia 2 (China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, etc.) for 55,000 miles in business class and 67,500 miles in first class
  • Fly to the South Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, etc.) for 62,500 in business class and 67,500 in first class

Need Help Booking? See our step-by-step instructions on booking American Airlines first class or business class using points.

20. Fly Royal Air Maroc to Casablanca (Etihad)

Royal Air Maroc B787 business class cabin
Maybe you haven’t heard much about Royal Air Maroc, but keep them in mind if you want to visit Morocco! Image Credit: Ryan Smith

Etihad’s award chart for Royal Air Maroc is distance-based. This is different than the region-based award chart for its partnership with American Airlines. It’s also different than an award chart with specific routes, like its partnerships with Brussels Airlines and Czech Airlines.

For flights of 2,001 miles or more on Royal Air Maroc, you can book a one-way ticket in economy for 22,000 miles or business for 44,000 miles. This includes the routes between New York (JFK) to Casablanca (CMN), Miami (MIA) to Casablanca (CMN), and Washington, D.C. (IAD) to Casablanca (CMN), which is an amazing way to reach North Africa!

21. Fly Oman Air in Business Class (Etihad)

Oman Air B787-9 Business Class - Cherag Dubash
Experience a great business class product on an under-the-radar airline, Oman Air. Image Credit: Cherag Dubash

Etihad has 2 great award flights on Oman Air. If you are in London, you can fly from London to Muscat one-way in business class for 44,000 miles.

If you are already in the Middle East, check out Oman Air’s route between Muscat and Singapore. For only 42,000 Etihad miles, you can fly one-way in business class on Oman Air.

While not as well known as some major international airlines, Oman Air’s business class has received great reviews.

22. Fly Delta One Suites Round-trip (Virgin Atlantic)

Delta One Suites A350-900
Delta One Suites A350-900. Image Credit: Stephen Au

Always wanted to try Delta One Suites, the phenomenal business class product from Delta Air Lines? You’re in luck! Virgin Atlantic, a Delta partner, has some of the best redemption rates for Delta One Suites.

Here are the routes you can take:

A350 Routes

  • Atlanta (ATL) – Seoul (ICN)
  • Detroit (DTW) – Amsterdam (AMS)
  • Detroit (DTW) – Beijing (PEK)
  • Detroit (DTW) – Seoul (ICN)
  • Detroit (DTW) – Shanghai (PVG)
  • Detroit (DTW) – Tokyo (NRT)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Shanghai (PVG)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo (HND)
  • Seattle (SEA) – Tokyo (NRT)

777 Routes and Flight Start Dates

  • Atlanta (ATL) – Paris (CDG)
  • Atlanta (ATL) – Tokyo (NRT)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Sydney (SYD)
  • Minneapolis (MSP) – Paris (CDG)
  • Minneapolis (MSP) – Seoul (ICN)
  • Minneapolis (MSP) – Tokyo (HND)

In general, the best sweet spots are flights between the U.S. and Europe (excluding the United Kingdom), which cost 50,000 miles one-way in Delta One Suites. All other flights will be significantly more expensive, including flights to the U.K., Asia, and Australia.

If you’d like to see some other great ways to book Delta One flights, check out our booking guide!

23. U.S. to Australia on Cathay Pacific (Asia Miles)

On Cathay Pacific, U.S. to Australia awards now price under the ultra-long-haul one-way price of 85,000 miles in business or 125,000 in first.

Remember that for each of these award prices, you will need to stop in Hong Kong before continuing to Australia. Here are a few routes you can use:

  • Boston (BOS) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Adelaide (ADL)
  • Chicago (ORD) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Melbourne (MEL)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Brisbane (BNE)
  • New York (JFK) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Perth (PER)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Sydney (SYD) 

24. See 2 Asian Cities and 3 Pacific Islands (EVA Air)

EVA Air 777-300ER business class
EVA Air 777-300ER Business Class. Image Credit: Stephen Au

EVA Air’s Infinity MileageLands program doesn’t provide many great options for award bookings, but it does have some solid options in Asia. It also allows 2 stopovers and an open-jaw on round-trip Star Alliance award flights.

To see 3 islands and 2 Asian cities, you can fly round-trip in business class on United Airlines and Asiana for 55,000 miles.

For example, you can start in Tokyo and stopover in Guam with Saipan as your destination. You can then open-jaw to Palau by using 12,500 United miles for an economy class flight. From Palau, you can then fly to Seoul for your second stopover before returning to Tokyo.

25. Fly to Hawaii, Then Central America (EVA Air)

If you want a fun island adventure, you can fly round-trip in business class for 80,000 EVA Air miles to see Hawaii and 2 Caribbean islands.

Here’s an example of a possible routing: fly from San Francisco to St. Thomas with a stopover in Hawaii, then open-jaw to St. Maarten, and finally stopover in Toronto before returning to San Francisco.

26. Fly Around Europe (EVA Air)

Another fun option with EVA Infinity MileageLand miles is to fly around Europe. For 30,000 miles in economy class or 55,000 miles in business class, you can see several cities in Europe.

EVA Air’s award chart includes both Iceland and Russia in “Europe,” so you have a lot of options!

A sample routing could include a flight from Istanbul to Rome (stopover) and then on to Frankfurt (destination). You could then open-jaw to Berlin before flying to Copenhagen (stopover) and back to Istanbul. This route would include flights on Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, and SAS.

Other than the above options, Singapore Airlines is probably the better deal for transferring points from the Citi ThankYou reward program to a partner airline. For more award flights, see EVA’s award charts.

Hot Tip: For more information, check out these ways to redeem EVA Air Miles for maximum value.

27. Fly Qatar Airways in Business Class (Qatar)

Qatar Airways Boeing 777 Qsuite Business Class Cabin
Qatar Airways Qsuites are a sight to see. Image Credit: Greg Stone

The Qatar Airways Privilege Club doesn’t provide a lot of great redemptions, but you can fly in business class to Doha at a reasonable redemption rate.

For 70,000 Avios, you can book a one-way award flight from the U.S. to Doha on Qatar Airways and experience one of the best business class products in the sky.

You can even try one of the most coveted business class products in the world: Qatar Airways Qsuites.

28. East Coast to Dubai Round-trip on Emirates (Qantas)

Emirates A380 Business Class
Emirates A380 business class. Image Credit: Cherag Dubash

Emirates is known to have one of the best economy products and a fantastic business class.

There are several East Coast cities in this points range that fly direct to Dubai, including Boston (BOS), New York (JFK), and Toronto (YYZ). For Emirates award flights, you should reference the first Qantas award chart; since the one-way distance is less than 7,000 flown miles, Zone 7 pricing applies.

Need Help Booking? Read our guide on how to book Emirates business class using points.

How To Transfer Citi ThankYou Points to Partners

You can visit the Citi ThankYou travel portal and click Travel, then select Points Transfer from the dropdown menu, or you can jump straight to the Points Transfer page.

Transfer Citi Points
Click on “Points Transfer” to proceed to the screen where you can transfer your points. Image Credit: Citi

Now, it’s time to choose which airline you want to transfer your ThankYou Points to.

Citi Transfer Partners
You will see a list of all the airlines you can transfer your points to and the rates of each transfer. Each transfer starts at a minimum of 1,000 points. Image Credit: Citi

Once you select a transfer partner, you’ll need to choose how many points you would like to transfer.

Citi Point Transfer
You can choose the number of points to transfer using the slider or by manually entering a number. It will tell you how many points you have available to transfer. Image Credit: Citi

Then it’s time to enter your loyalty program number.

Citi Point Transfer
Enter your loyalty account information for your desired airline. You can save it for later! Image Credit: Citi

Once you accept the terms and conditions, you are only 1 step away from completing the transfer.

Citi Transfer
Accept the transfer amount and the terms and conditions to complete the transfer. Image Credit: Citi

Once you confirm the transfer, there is no way to reverse it. Make sure you want to transfer the points before confirming!

Bottom Line: Still have more questions? Check out this list of FAQs about Citi ThankYou Points to get answers.

Final Thoughts

Transferring your Citi ThankYou Points to one of its partner airlines can provide some fantastic travel options, and is in our opinion the best way to use Citi points.

Make sure you do your research when deciding between transferring your miles to a partner’s program and using the Citi ThankYou travel portal.

With a little planning, you’ll be on your way to Frankfurt in Singapore’s luxury suites class or to Brussels in business class for the fewest points possible.

The information regarding the Sears Mastercard® with ThankYou® Rewards was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

The information for the Citi Prestige® Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information for the Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Citi points?

Citi’s primary rewards program is ThankYou Rewards and the points you earn are Citi ThankYou Points.

Which credit cards earn Citi ThankYou Points?

There are currently several Citi cards that earn ThankYou Points: the Citi Prestige card, Citi Rewards+ card, Double Cash card, and the Sears card with ThankYou Rewards.

The Citi Prestige card and Citi ThankYou Preferred card also earn points but are no longer open to new applicants.

What are Citi ThankYou Points worth?

The value of Citi ThankYou points depends on the redemption. Overall, we value Citi ThankYou Points at 1.6 cents per point when redeemed with travel partners. That being said, redemptions for less than 1 cent per point should be avoided.

Airline partners are where you will find the most value for your points, particularly on award flights in international premium cabins. Transferring your ThankYou Points to partners can increase your ROI to around 3 to 10 cents per point!  

If you redeem for flights through the Citi ThankYou travel portal, the value of your ThankYou Points will max out at about 1 cent per point when you hold a Citi Premier card. That’s like getting a $100 ticket for the equivalent of about 10,000 ThankYou Points.

While you can redeem points for gift cards and statement credit for 1 cent each, we highly recommend using points for travel rewards.

What are Citi ThankYou Points worth on Amazon?

You can pay with points on Amazon.com at a rate of 0.8 cents per point.

While it may be tempting to use ThankYou Points to buy any number of items on Amazon, you would be better off using your ThankYou Points on travel.

Who are Citi ThankYou airline partners?

Citi’s transfer partners include:

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When do Citi ThankYou Points update in your account?

Points earned will appear in your account at the end of each monthly billing cycle.

When do Citi ThankYou Points expire?

Citi ThankYou Points will never expire as long as you have an open Citi card that earns ThankYou Points. You will have 30 days from account closing to use your Citi ThankYou Points.

Spencer Howard's image

About Spencer Howard

Always a fan of flying, it was only natural that Spencer was drawn to finding a way to improve the travel experience.

Like many, he started this journey searching for cheap flights to take him around the world. This was fun for a while, but Spencer was intrigued by the idea of flying in business and first class!

Throwing himself into what became an extensive research project, Spencer spent 3-4 hours per night learning everything he could about frequent flyer miles over the course of several months (he thinks this is normal). He runs Straight to the Points, an award-seat alert platform.

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