Citi switch companions: Maximize your ThankYou factors with these loyalty applications

Many Citi cardholders redeem their Citi ThankYou Rewards factors for present playing cards or bookings by way of the Citi journey portal. However you probably have a premium Citi ThankYou card, chances are you’ll get larger worth out of your factors by using the Citi switch companions.

On this information, we’ll focus on find out how to earn Citi ThankYou factors you possibly can redeem with the Citi switch companions.

Incomes factors you should use with Citi switch companions

You’ll be able to earn Citi ThankYou factors by way of some Citi bank cards, together with:

Be mindful, although, that not all ThankYou factors have the identical worth. To switch Citi ThankYou factors to most companions described on this information, you should maintain a premium Citi ThankYou card such because the Citi Status® Card (not out there to purposes) or the Citi Premier.

In case you solely have the Citi Rewards+ Card, you will earn extra restricted ThankYou factors that you could switch to JetBlue TrueBlue, Alternative Privileges and Wyndham Rewards. In case you solely have the Citi Double Money Card or the Citi Customized Money Card, you earn money again as “fundamental” ThankYou factors that you could’t switch to companion applications.

Nonetheless, should you additionally maintain the Citi Status or the Citi Premier, you possibly can mix your restricted and fundamental ThankYou factors with these out of your Citi Status or Citi Premier account. Then, you possibly can switch your mixed rewards to any Citi ThankYou switch companions.

The knowledge for the Citi Status card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Associated: Is the Citi Premier definitely worth the annual charge?

Citi switch companion overview

The Citi ThankYou Rewards program presently has 19 switch companions: 14 airline loyalty applications, 4 resort loyalty applications and one retail loyalty program.

Here is an summary of the Citi switch companions and the ratios at which you’ll be able to switch ThankYou factors:

• Accor Dwell Limitless: 2:1 switch ratio
• Aeromexico Rewards: 1:1 switch ratio
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue: 1:1 switch ratio
• Avianca LifeMiles: 1:1 switch ratio
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles: 1:1 switch ratio
• Alternative Privileges: 1:2 switch ratio (2:3 switch ratio for playing cards that earn restricted ThankYou factors)
• Emirates Skywards: 1:1 switch ratio
• Etihad Visitor: 1:1 switch ratio
• EVA Air Infinity MileageLands: 1:1 switch ratio
• JetBlue TrueBlue: 1:1 switch ratio (5:4 switch ratio for playing cards that earn restricted ThankYou factors)
• Leaders Membership: 5:1 switch ratio
• Qantas Frequent Flyer: 1:1 switch ratio
• Qatar Airways Privilege Membership: 1:1 switch ratio
• Singapore Airways KrisFlyer: 1:1 switch ratio
• Store Your Approach: 1:10 switch ratio
• Thai Royal Orchid Plus: 1:1 switch ratio
• Turkish Airways Miles&Smiles: 1:1 switch ratio
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership: 1:1 switch ratio
• Wyndham Rewards: 1:1 switch ratio (5:4 switch ratio for playing cards that earn restricted ThankYou factors)

Often, you might be able to switch Citi factors to pick companions at the next ratio throughout a switch bonus.

To switch Citi ThankYou factors, go to thankyou.com and check in to your account. You could want to pick the ThankYou account you need to use. Then, click on “Journey” on the highest navigation bar and choose “Factors switch.” Every switch have to be not less than 1,000 ThankYou factors however not more than 500,000. ThankYou factors can solely be transferred in increments of 1,000.

Some companions acknowledge transfers from Citi ThankYou Rewards faster than others. Citi says transfers can take as much as 14 days to course of, however our checks on how lengthy Citi ThankYou factors take to switch present most transfers happen a lot faster.

Within the the rest of this information, we’ll focus on every Citi switch companion and whether or not they’ll doubtless present good worth should you switch Citi factors.

Associated: Finest methods to redeem Citi ThankYou factors

Accor Dwell Limitless

Accor Dwell Limitless has 53 manufacturers, together with well-liked names like Sotifel, Fairmont, Raffles and Movenpick. Its redemptions are easy — 2,000 factors are value 40 euros (round $44, primarily based on present trade charges). Which means every Accor level is value round 2.2 cents.

Transferring Citi factors to Accor at a 2:1 ratio means you will get simply over 1 cent per Citi level (considerably decrease than TPG’s valuation of Citi factors at 1.8 cents every). That stated, you probably have a restricted variety of Citi factors, Accor Dwell Limitless may very well be a compelling switch companion that may supply barely extra worth than redeeming your factors for journey by way of the Citi journey portal.

Aeromexico Rewards

Whereas Aeromexico Rewards has an award chart for limited-availability traditional award tickets, it makes use of dynamic pricing for many award tickets operated by Aeromexico, Delta, KLM and Air France. This dynamic pricing varies relying on demand, availability, vacation spot and your class of service — however the charges normally aren’t compelling. Even should you ebook your award on-line, you will nonetheless have to pay an award reserving charge of 365 Mexican pesos (about $22).

You could get good worth from Aeromexico should you use your factors in the fitting conditions, however typically, Aeromexico Rewards is not one of the crucial invaluable Citi switch companions.

Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Air France-KLM Flying Blue is a well-liked program that some would possibly argue is without doubt one of the greatest Citi switch companions. Nonetheless, Flying Blue makes use of dynamic award pricing and provides gas surcharges that may be hefty on some routes.

Flying Blue standardized costs of saver-level redemptions to Europe in late 2023, and you will discover nice worth by way of the month-to-month Flying Blue Promo Rewards and Flying Blue stopovers. You may also use Flying Blue’s calendar search instrument to seek out cheaper award tickets.

Associated: Methods to discover the most cost effective redemption charges utilizing Flying Blue miles

Avianca LifeMiles

With its combined cabin ticketing and low taxes and costs, Avianca LifeMiles is a well-liked foreign money for reserving flights on Star Alliance carriers. Not like some frequent flyer applications, LifeMiles would not move alongside provider surcharges on award tickets.

Though Avianca LifeMiles raised award prices to Asia in late 2022, two of our favourite candy spots stay:

You will additionally usually discover cheap Avianca-operated award flights inside the Americas.

Associated: The most effective web sites to seek for Star Alliance award availability

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles makes use of distance-based award charts for flights by itself steel and Oneworld companion awards. Lengthy-haul flights, comparable to these between the U.S. and Hong Kong, may be costly. Particularly, you possibly can ebook one-way “ultra-long” Cathay Pacific flights of seven,501 miles or longer for 160,000 Asia Miles in top notch, 110,000 miles in enterprise, 75,000 miles in premium economic system and 38,000 miles in economic system.

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles passes on charges and surcharges from different carriers and infrequently prices vital charges by itself tickets. However, even after Cathay elevated most Asia Miles award charges in late 2023, you will nonetheless sometimes discover award flights the place reserving by way of Asia Miles is the best choice.

Associated: Touring quickly? These 10 apps and web sites make award redemptions simpler to seek out

Alternative Privileges

Alternative built-in Radisson Rewards Americas into its loyalty program in mid-2023. Now you possibly can ebook Alternative lodges, together with legacy Radisson Rewards Americas manufacturers, by way of Alternative Privileges. Award nights at most properties worldwide vary from 6,000 to 35,000 factors per evening.

You’ll be able to switch Citi factors to Alternative at a 1:2 ratio (2:3 ratio for playing cards that earn restricted ThankYou factors), which makes it simpler to get good worth. Try our tales on Alternative Inns Candy Spot Rewards and distinctive methods to redeem Alternative factors to learn to maximize Alternative factors.

Associated: Register for Alternative Inns Your Extras to earn present playing cards or different perks on weekday stays

Emirates Skywards

Emirates Skywards is probably most helpful for reserving Emirates business-class or first-class award tickets, however its award costs are excessive. For instance, a business-class one-way flight from New York to Dubai prices 138,000 miles and $839 in taxes and costs.

A extra viable choice is to take a look at one of many provider’s fifth-freedom routes between the U.S. and Europe. For instance, you possibly can ebook a one-way business-class award from New York to Milan for 87,000 miles plus $106 in taxes and costs, but when you will discover round-trip, saver-level awards, your complete value for the New York-to-Milan fifth-freedom route drops to 108,000 miles plus $248.

Associated: The whole information to the Emirates A380 onboard bar and lounge

Etihad Visitor

Etihad Visitor was a unbelievable program for maximizing companion redemptions. Sadly, Etihad slashed its candy spots and elevated award charges by over 300% on some routes in 2023.

Etihad is making extra loyalty program modifications this yr, together with decreased GuestSeat award costs and the power to redeem miles to improve to the Residence on some A380 flights. Nonetheless, Etihad Visitor award charges are usually excessive, and the award charts you will discover solely checklist introductory charges, so the charges you will discover if you go to ebook will usually be considerably larger.

Associated: Your final information to looking out award availability for the most important airways

EVA Air Infinity MileageLands

EVA Air Infinity MileageLands typically will not be your program of selection. In spite of everything, it’s usually crushed by different applications and is slightly obscure. However there are just a few notable circumstances wherein you would possibly need to use Infinity MileageLands.

One specific space to think about is intra-region round-trip itineraries. You are allowed as much as two stopovers, as much as six segments and one open jaw on round-trip Star Alliance awards — and a few areas are very broad. For instance, the “North Asia” area consists of “Guam, Japan, Micronesia, Palau, Russian Far East, South Korea, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Saipan.” So, you can piece collectively a pleasant island hopper for simply 30,000 miles spherical journey in economic system or 55,000 miles in enterprise class. Likewise, the “South West Pacific” and “South America” areas additionally look interesting.

Try the award chart for Star Alliance awards and the award chart for EVA Air awards.

Associated: Is EVA Air enterprise class value it on the Boeing 787-10?

JetBlue TrueBlue

Redeeming JetBlue TrueBlue factors for the provider’s flights is straightforward: The extra a flight prices in money, the extra it can require in factors. In response to TPG’s valuations, you possibly can count on to get roughly 1.4 cents of worth for each TrueBlue level you redeem, however some flights could yield barely higher or worse worth.

Another choice is to redeem JetBlue factors for journey on Hawaiian Airways. You’ll be able to normally ebook nonstop, one-way intra-Hawaii economic system flights for 7,500 factors plus $5.60. Nonetheless, this is not nearly as good of a deal because it sounds since paid flights are sometimes cheap on these routes.

Leaders Membership

The most recent Citi switch companion is Leaders Membership, the loyalty program of The Main Inns of the World. Leaders Membership makes use of dynamic award pricing, however you will normally get between 6 and eight cents per level. Given that you could switch Citi factors to Leaders Membership at a 5:1 ratio, you will normally get between 1.2 and 1.6 cents per Citi level (decrease than TPG’s 1.8 cents per ThankYou level valuation).

Suppose you need to redeem Citi factors for a keep at a LHW property. In that case, you will normally be higher off transferring factors to Leaders Membership as an alternative of redeeming factors when reserving by way of the Citi journey portal, but it surely’s value doing the mathematics in your particular reserving.

Qantas Frequent Flyer

Qantas Frequent Flyer typically is not essentially the most profitable loyalty program with its excessive gas surcharges and lackluster award charts. You will discover a number of distance-based award charts for this system, so you should choose the right award chart primarily based on the airways you propose to fly.

There are some candy spots to be discovered, together with brief Qantas-operated flights, around-the-world Oneworld tickets, transatlantic business-class awards operated by American Airways and short-haul American Airways flights.

Qatar Airways Privilege Membership

Qatar Airways Privilege Membership is not the most well-liked program, but it surely’s value caring about because it switched to Avios as its foreign money in 2022. Now, it’s the solely Avios-accruing program to companion with Citi ThankYou Rewards.

Since you possibly can mix your Avios throughout the loyalty applications that use Avios, you possibly can switch Citi factors to Qatar after which ebook candy spots within the British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus loyalty applications.

Associated: Guide Qatar Qsuites earlier than anybody else

Singapore Airways KrisFlyer

Singapore Airways KrisFlyer is normally your greatest wager should you’re seeking to ebook Singapore Airways first-class Suites with factors and miles. You will normally solely discover Benefit area for 243,000 miles one-way in top notch on the nonstop flight from New York to Singapore. However, if you wish to fly in enterprise class on this flight, Benefit awards value 143,500 miles, and Saver awards value 111,500 miles. If there is not an award out there if you ebook, you possibly can be a part of the waitlist.

If these business- and first-class award charges appear a bit excessive, you can too discover worth within the month-to-month KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes program.

Store Your Approach

Store Your Approach is a purchasing rewards program. You’ll be able to’t see your redemption choices till you may have sufficient Store Your Approach factors. Nonetheless, in response to an article on the Store Your Approach web site, 1,000 factors are value $1 towards a present card.

Citi factors switch to Store Your Approach at a 1:10 switch ratio, which suggests you’d get about 1 cent per Citi level should you switch to Store Your Approach. Contemplating you will get 1 cent per level when redeeming Citi factors for a press release credit score or verify, there’s little cause to switch your factors to Store Your Approach.

Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus

Regardless of some first rate intra-region award pricing, you will not discover a lot worth in Thai Royal Orchid Plus. Yow will discover the Thai award chart for originating in Bangkok right here, the Thai award chart for connecting in Bangkok right here and the Star Alliance companion award chart right here.

Turkish Airways Miles&Smiles

The Turkish Miles&Smiles program has been a favourite amongst award vacationers lately. Nonetheless, Turkish Airways devalued its award charts final month. Though this devaluation actually dropped among the program’s attraction, there’s nonetheless some worth to be discovered.

You will nonetheless get essentially the most worth if you use your miles to ebook Turkish- or Star Alliance-operated flights. Primarily based on the Miles&Smiles region-based award charts, one-way awards are bookable for half the worth of a round-trip award. Nonetheless, gas surcharges are excessive on some Miles&Smiles redemptions.

Probably the greatest methods to redeem Turkish miles is on home flights operated by one of many Turkish Miles&Smiles companions. This candy spot works in lots of international locations with companion hubs, however you will pay 10,000 miles one-way in economic system and 15,000 in enterprise class on United flights inside the U.S., together with Hawaii.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership

Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership has been a favourite of award vacationers, however this system has eliminated a lot of its candy spots over the previous couple of years. In 2021, Virgin Atlantic axed a lot of its Delta candy spots. In 2023, Virgin Atlantic elevated ANA first-class redemptions and devalued the award chart for a lot of Delta flights outdoors Europe and the UK.

There are nonetheless methods to seek out worth, particularly when you think about the Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership companions. For instance, Delta Principal Cabin flights between the U.S. and the U.Ok. on commonplace season dates begin at 15,000 Virgin factors every method. You’ll be able to typically get good worth by reserving discounted award flights by way of Virgin Atlantic Promo Rewards.

Associated: Methods to ebook Delta award flights with Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership factors

Wyndham Rewards

Wyndham Rewards has a easy award chart: Every award evening prices 7,500, 15,000 or 30,000 factors, relying on the property you select. Not all properties are deal, however you possibly can typically discover bargains in costly cities, at high-end properties or throughout peak journey dates.

You may also redeem Wyndham factors for stays at Wyndham trip membership resorts, Caesars Rewards properties and Vacasa trip leases.

Associated: The 12 greatest Wyndham lodges on the planet

Backside line

As you possibly can see, there are many Citi switch companions. As such, it will probably make sense to earn Citi ThankYou factors even when you do not know precisely how you will need to spend them. As soon as you recognize the place you need to go, you possibly can decide which switch companions present the perfect choices and worth in your journey.