Citi ThankYou® Rewards isn’t as popular as alternative like Chase Ultimate Rewards and Capital One Miles. Part of the reason is because Citi ThankYou has only five point-earning credit cards, one domestic airline transfer partner and no hotel transfer partners.
However, ThankYou points are super easy to earn – thus increasing their value. And, with a few tips and tricks, you can maximize their value to be good competition with alternatives. Here’s everything you need to know about Citi ThankYou Rewards.
View the latest Citibank Promotions here and Citi credit card offers here compared to the best credit card bonuses.
Citi ThankYou Rewards Quick Facts
| Credit Cards | Citi Prestige® Credit Card Citi Premier Card Citi Rewards+? Card AT&T Access Card from Citi |
| Redemption Options | Travel via ThankYou Travel Center Statement credits & mailed checks Gift cards Shopping at retail partners Payments toward bills, mortgages or student loans Charitable donations Transfer to partner loyalty programs |
| Average Citi ThankYou Rewards Value | $0.0075 – $0.0125 Up to $0.06 |
Earning Citi ThankYou Rewards
Citi offers a variety of credit cards, but keep in mind that only a few will earn ThankYou points like we mentioned above. Here’s a list of the credit cards and their benefits:
| Credit Card | Welcome Bonus | Ongoing Rewards |
| Citi Prestige® Credit Card $495 annual fee |
50,000 points – spend: $4,000 – time: 3 months |
5x points on air travel & restaurants 3x points on hotels & cruise lines 1x points on all other purchases |
| Citi Premier Card $95 annual fee, waived first 12 months. |
60,000 points – spend: $4,000 – time: 3 months |
3x points on travel & gas stations 2x points on restaurants & entertainment 1x points on all other purchases |
| Citi Rewards+? Card* $0 annual fee |
15,000 points – spend: $1,000 – time: 3 months |
2x points on supermarkets & gas stations – (on up to $6,000 spent each year) 1x points on all other purchases Automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points |
| AT&T Access Card from Citi* No annual fee |
10,000 points – spend: $1,000 – time: 3 months |
2x points on AT&T products & services 2x points on eligible retail & travel websites 1x points on all other purchases |
On top of earning ThankYou points using one of the credit cards above, you can also use a Citibank account. Earn points by completing one direct deposit and one bill payment, or one debit or credit transaction every month. Using both methods in conjunction can net you a large number of points very quickly.
The final method of getting points is to purchase them. However, this isn’t the most recommended method because you will be paying $0.025 per point, which is way more than they are worth. Also, they only come in 1,000 point increments.
Spending ThankYou Points
When considering redeeming your ThankYou points, keep in mind that there are two types of points. The ones you can earn with the Citi Prestige and Citi Premier are worth more, and you can transfer them to one of ThankYou Rewards many travel partners. The points you earn on Citi Rewards+ and AT&T Access from Citi aren’t worth as much, and they’re non-transferable.
Also, as long as yo hold a Citi Prestige or Citi Premier card, you can always combine your points earned from a lower-tier ThankYou card. This will allow you to transfer your lower-tier points to a partner program. Your points will not expires as long as you keep your account open, but late payments can prevent you from earning more points.
With a Citi Prestige or Citi Premier credit card, you have the power to transfer your ThankYou points to the following loyalty programs:
- Avianca LifeMiles
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- EVA Air Infinity MileageLands
- Etihad Guest Miles
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue
- InterMiles
- JetBlue TrueBlue
In a majority of the time, the transfer rate to these programs are a 1:1. However, you must transfer in 1,000 point increments.
Redeem your ThankYou points through the ThankYou Travel Center for airfare, hotel stays, car rentals, cruises and other travel. Point value varies according to which credit card you have and what redemption you choose:
| Credit Card | Flights | All Other Travel |
| Citi Prestige® Credit Card | $0.0125/point ($0.01/point after 09/01/2019) |
$0.01/point |
| Citi Premier Card | $0.0125/point | $0.0125/point |
| Citi Rewards+? Card* | $0.01/point | $0.01/point |
| AT&T Access Card from Citi* | $0.01/point | $0.01/point |
| Redemption | Value Per Point |
| Statement credits | $0.01 |
| Gift cards | $0.01 |
| Bill, mortgage or student loan payment | $0.01 |
| Charitable donations | $0.01 |
| Shop with Points (Amazon or Best Buy) | $0.008 |
| ThankYou Select & Credit | $0.0075 |
| Cash (check by mail) | $0.005 |
You also have the option to share your ThankYou points with anyone that has a ThankYou Rewards account. This is a useful option if someone you know needs extra points to book a trip.
Make sure to follow these guidelines:
- You can transfer up to a maximum of 100,000 ThankYou points per calendar year.
- You can receive up to a maximum of 100,000 ThankYou points per calendar year.
- Transferred ThankYou points will expire within 90 days.
- Transferred ThankYou points cannot be transferred again to another account.
Sign on to your ThankYou points account for further details.
ThankYou Rewards Partner Airline Sweet Spots
With so many airline partners to transfer to, you have plenty of ways to maximize your ThankYou points. Despite the fact that ThankYou Rewards only has with one domestic airline partner, you have great domestic award flight options through its partnerships with international airlines.
Thanks to the extensive list of airline partners, you have a plethora of ways to maximize your ThankYou points. Even though ThankYou Rewards only partners with one domestic airline, you still have great domestic award flight options through its partnerships with international airlines.
Here are a few sweet spot airlines to consider:
| TICKET | CLASS | FROM | TO | MILES | AIRLINE |
| One-way | Economy | U.S. | U.S. | 6,500+ | United |
| TICKET | CLASS | FROM | TO | MILES | AIRLINE |
| One-way | Business | U.S. | Europe | 50,000 | Cathay Pacific |
| Roundtrip | Business | U.S. | Europe | 100,000 | Cathay Pacific |
| TICKET | CLASS | FROM | TO | MILES | AIRLINE |
| One-way | Business | New York | Casablanca | 44,000 | Royal Air Maroc |
| One-way | Business | U.S. | Europe | 50,000 | American |
| One-way | Business | U.S. | Japan | 50,000 | American |
| One-way | Business | U.S. | South Korea | 50,000 | American |
| Roundtrip | Business | U.S. | Europe | 100,000 | American |
| TICKET | CLASS | FROM | TO | MILES | AIRLINE |
| Roundtrip | Economy | U.S. | Hawaii | 35,000 | United |
| Roundtrip | Business | U.S. | Hawaii | 69,000 | United |
| One-way | First | New York | Frankfurt | 86,000 | Singapore |
| One-way | First | Los Angeles | Tokyo | 107,000 | Singapore |
| TICKET | CLASS | FROM | T0 | MILES | AIRLINE |
| One-way | Economy | U.S. | U.S. | 12,000 | Delta |
| One-way | Business | U.S. | Europe | 50,000 | Delta |
| One-way | Business | Detroit | Tokyo | 60,000 | Delta |
| One-way | Business | Auckland | U.S. | 62,500 | Air New Zealand |
| Roundtrip | First | Detroit | Tokyo | 110,000+ | ANA |
Citi Credit Card Promotions
 The Citi Rewards+® Card offers 25,000 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. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5 ThankYou Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel 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 18.49% - 28.49%, 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). You'll earn 2X ThankYou® Points at supermarkets & gas stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X Points on all other purchases. In addition, the Citi Rewards+® Card is the only credit card that automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase - with no cap. This card comes with no annual fee. |
 The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® offers 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening. You'll earn: • 2 AAdvantage® miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, and on purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants and at gas stations • 1 AAdvantage® mile per $1 spent on other purchases • 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage mile earned from purchases This card comes with an annual fee of $99 (waived for first 12 months), however, there are no foreign transaction fees. To offset the annual fee, your first checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries to reduce travel costs and boost your bottom line. And you'll get 25% savings on American Airlines inflight Wi-Fi when you use your card. |
 The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is exclusively for Costco members - one of Citi's best cash back rewards cards. You'll earn: • 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter • 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases; • 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com • 1% cash back on all other purchases You'll be able to receive an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including Puerto Rico. This card comes with no annual fee with your paid Costco membership along with no foreign transaction fees. |
 The American Airlines AAdvantage® Mile Up® offers 10,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles and receive a $50 statement credit after making $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. You'll earn: • 2 AAdvantage miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services • 2 AAdvantage miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases • 1 AAdvantage mile for every $1 spent on other purchases • 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage mile earned from purchases This card comes with no annual fee and you can save 25% on in-flight food and beverage purchases when you use your card on American Airlines flights. |
 The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard® offers 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles after making $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. You'll earn: • 2 AAdvantage miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases • 1 AAdvantage mile for every $1 spent on other purchases • 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage mile earned from purchases This card comes with $450 annual fee, however, there are no foreign transaction fees. You can also save when traveling - first checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation. On top of that, you'll get an Admirals Club® membership for you and access for up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you. |
 The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite MasterCard offers 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. You'll earn: • 2X AAdvantage miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants • 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage mile earned from purchases You'll be able to earn a $125 American Airlines Flight Discount after you spend $20,000 or more in purchases during your cardmembership year and renew your card. On top of that, enjoy preferred boarding on American Airlines flights - and get your first checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation. This card comes with an annual fee of $99 (waived for first 12 months) and there are no foreign transaction fees. (See Rates & Fees) |
 With the Citi® Double Cash Card - 18 month BT offer: Earn cash back twice. 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 18.99% - 28.99%, based on your creditworthiness. This card comes with no annual fee. |
 The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card: 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 17.99% - 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening. You'll also get free access to your FICO® score online. In addition, with Citi Entertainment®, get special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events, including concerts, sporting events, dining experiences and more. Shop with confidence knowing that you have dependable protection benefits, including $0 Liability on Unauthorized Purchases and Citi® Identity Theft Solutions. This card comes with no annual fee. |
 The Citi Rewards+SM Student Card offers 2,500 bonus points after you spend $500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for a $25 gift card at thankyou.com. You'll earn 2X ThankYou® Points at supermarkets & gas stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X Points on all other purchases. In addition, the Citi Rewards+? Student Card is the only credit card that automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase - with no cap. This card comes with no annual fee. |
 The Citi Simplicity® Card offers: 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 18.99% - 29.74%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening. There is a balance transfer fee of $5.00 or 5.00% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater. You'll stay protected with Citi® Quick Lock. This card comes with no annual fee, no late fees, and no penalty rate. |
Bottom Line
Despite having a lower point value, ThankYou points can be worth quite a bit if used properly. To unlock the full potential of ThankYou Rewards, we highly recommend carrying either the Citi Prestige or the Citi Premier credit card. Additionally, these cards will allow you transfer to airline partners, giving you chances to score great travel deals.
Citi ThankYou Rewards gives you the ability to earn great value out of easy-to-earn points. One of the only downsides of these points is that there aren’t many transfer partners.
Not only can you get decent transfer ratios, you can also earn points through popular credit cards.
If you’re liking our Citi ThankYou Rewards guide, be sure to share it with a friend. For more posts like this check out our list of credit card bonuses and ways to save money!
In addition, keep up to date with the latest Citibank Promotions.
Leave a Reply