Citi ThankYou Rewards guide: How to earn and redeem points
Editor's Note
While Citi offers many cards, only some provide access to its valuable ThankYou Rewards program. Moreover, only cardmembers with select cards can access all Citi ThankYou Rewards transfer partners and transfer to them at the best rates.
Whether you're applying for your first credit card or are a seasoned pro looking for a new travel rewards card, one or more cards in Citi's portfolio might be right for you.
Here's how to earn and redeem Citi ThankYou Rewards points and which cards can help you maximize their value.
Best Citi ThankYou Rewards cards
- Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see rates and fees): Best for premium travel benefits and statement credits
- Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees): Best for unlocking Citi's strongest transfer ratios for a $95 annual fee
- Citi Strata℠ Card (see rates and fees): Best for no-annual-fee bonus categories
- Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees): Best for nonbonus spending
How to earn Citi ThankYou Rewards points
The primary way to earn Citi ThankYou Rewards points is with an eligible Citi credit card, whether through a welcome offer or ongoing spending. However, customers who enrolled an eligible Citibank checking account in ThankYou Rewards before July 18, 2022, may also earn points through that relationship.
Here's a look at how to earn points with some of the best Citi ThankYou Rewards cards:
| Card | Welcome offer | Earning rates | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. |
| $595 | |
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. |
| $95 | |
Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. |
| $0 | |
Earn $200 in cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou Rewards points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. |
| $0 |
*Double Cash cardholders earn cash back in the form of ThankYou Rewards points.
If you want to add one of the above Citi ThankYou Rewards cards to your wallet, read the fine print for the welcome offer and check our page on credit card application rules to ensure you're eligible for the bonus before clicking the "Apply" button.
Citi also currently offers the AT&T Points Plus Card, which earns ThankYou points and may appeal to eligible AT&T customers. Existing cardholders may also earn ThankYou points with several cards that are no longer open to new applicants, including the Citi Prestige, AT&T Access More, Citi ThankYou Preferred, Citi Custom Cash, Citi ThankYou Mastercard, AT&T Universal Rewards World, AT&T Universal Savings and Rewards, AT&T Universal Rewards and AT&T Access.
The information for the Citi Prestige, AT&T Access More, Citi ThankYou Preferred, Citi Custom Cash, Citi ThankYou Mastercard, AT&T Universal Rewards World, AT&T Universal Savings and Rewards, AT&T Universal Rewards, AT&T Points Plus Card from Citi and AT&T Access has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Maximize the Citi Trifecta: Earn and redeem Citi ThankYou Rewards points with 3 cards
How to redeem Citi ThankYou Rewards points
TPG values Citi ThankYou Rewards points at 1.9 cents apiece as of October 2026, although the value you receive will depend on how you redeem them.
Most currently available Citi ThankYou cards let you redeem points through the Citi Travel portal and for many gift cards at 1 cent apiece. Redemption values for cash back, statement credits, Shop With Points and other options vary by card and redemption method, so check the displayed rate before redeeming.
You may get significantly more value from your ThankYou Rewards points by transferring them to airline or hotel partners. However, only travelers with select cards unlock higher transfer ratios. Here's a look at Citi ThankYou Rewards travel partners and their standard transfer ratios by card type.
| Program | Transfer ratio for Citi Strata Elite, Citi Strata Premier, Citi Prestige and AT&T Access More | Transfer ratio for Citi Strata, Citi Double Cash and other select cards** |
|---|---|---|
Accor Live Limitless | 1,000:500 | 1,000:350 |
Air France-KLM Flying Blue | 1,000:1,000 | 1,000:700 |
American Airlines AAdvantage | 1,000:1,000*** | 1,000:700*** |
Avianca Lifemiles | 1,000:1,000 | 1,000:700 |
Cathay Pacific | 1,000:1,000 | 1,000:700 |
Choice Privileges | 1,000:1,500 | 1,000:1,050 |
Emirates Skywards | 1,000:800 | 1,000:560 |
Etihad Guest | 1,000:1,000 | 1,000:700 |
EVA Air Infinity MileageLands | 1,000:1,000 | 1,000:700 |
Japan Airlines Mileage Bank | 1,000:1,000 | 1,000:700 |
JetBlue TrueBlue | 1,000:1,000 | 1,000:700**** |
Preferred Hotels & Resorts (I Prefer) | 1,000:2,000 | 1,000:1,400 |
Qantas Frequent Flyer | 1,000:1,000 | 1,000:700 |
Qatar Airways Privilege Club | 1,000:1,000 | 1,000:700 |
Singapore KrisFlyer | 1,000:1,000 | 1,000:700 |
Thai Royal Orchid Plus | 1,000:1,000 | 1,000:700 |
The Leading Hotels of the World (Leaders Club) | 1,000:200 | 1,000:140 |
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles | 1,000:1,000 | 1,000:700 |
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club/Virgin Red | 1,000:1,000 | 1,000:700 |
Wyndham Rewards | 1,000:1,000 | 1,000:700 |
**The other select cards are the Citi ThankYou Preferred, Citi Custom Cash, Citi ThankYou Mastercard, AT&T Universal Rewards World, AT&T Universal Savings and Rewards, AT&T Universal Rewards, AT&T Points Plus and AT&T Access.
***Cardholders whose only eligible card is the Citi ThankYou Mastercard, AT&T Universal Savings and Rewards, AT&T Universal Rewards, AT&T Points Plus Card from Citi, AT&T Access More or AT&T Access cannot transfer to American AAdvantage.
****Cardholders whose only eligible card is the Citi ThankYou Mastercard cannot transfer to JetBlue TrueBlue.
Citi requires at least 1,000 points per transfer, and additional points must be transferred in increments of 1,000. Each transfer is capped at 500,000 points. Transfers are final, and the first and last names on your ThankYou Rewards account and airline or hotel loyalty account must match. Additionally, you can transfer points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Qantas Frequent Flyer only once every 24 hours.
If you have multiple ThankYou accounts, you can combine them online or by calling ThankYou Rewards. Combining eligible credit card points with a Citi Strata Elite, Citi Strata Premier or Citi Prestige account generally unlocks the strongest standard transfer ratios. However, checking-derived taxable points aren't eligible for partner transfers.
With so many transfer partners, your options are plentiful when redeeming Citi ThankYou Rewards points. Here are some redemptions to consider:
- Transfer to Singapore KrisFlyer and snag a Spontaneous Escapes deal.
- Transfer to Choice Privileges and redeem as few as 6,000 Choice points per night for a hotel stay.
- Use Avianca Lifemiles to book United Airlines-operated awards.
- Use Virgin Atlantic Flying Club to fly on Delta Air Lines-operated flights.
- Transfer to Wyndham Rewards and redeem as few as 5,000 Wyndham points per night (or even less if you have select Wyndham credit cards).
- Transfer to Air France-KLM Flying Blue to book a Flying Blue Promo Rewards flight.
- Transfer to American Airlines AAdvantage to book any of the numerous AAdvantage sweet spots.
Related: Strata, Premier or Elite: How to choose a Citi Strata credit card
Bottom line
Having an eligible card, such as the Citi Strata Elite or Citi Strata Premier, is important if you want access to Citi's full partner lineup at the strongest standard transfer ratios. The $95-a-year Citi Strata Premier is the lowest-cost currently available option for unlocking those rates, while the Citi Strata Elite may make sense for cardmembers who can maximize its premium benefits and statement credits.
However, you don't need an annual-fee card to participate in the ThankYou Rewards program. No-annual-fee cards such as the Citi Strata and Citi Double Cash still offer useful earning categories and access to all of Citi's current transfer partners, albeit generally at lower ratios.
Related: The best time to apply for these popular Citi credit cards based on offer history
Frequently asked questions
TPG values Citi ThankYou Rewards points at 1.9 cents each as of October 2026. However, the value you receive depends on how you redeem them, with strong airline and hotel partner transfers potentially providing more value than fixed-value redemptions.
The primary ways to earn Citi ThankYou points are through welcome offers and by spending on eligible Citi credit cards. Some customers who enrolled an eligible Citibank checking account in ThankYou Rewards before July 18, 2022, may also earn points through that relationship.
Select premium and legacy Citi ThankYou cards unlock the program’s strongest standard transfer ratios. Other eligible cards can still transfer points to Citi’s travel partners, but generally do so at lower ratios.
Eligible Citi ThankYou members can transfer points to American Airlines AAdvantage, generally at a 1:1 ratio with select cards or a 1,000:700 ratio with other eligible cards. Some cardholders cannot transfer points to AAdvantage when their only eligible ThankYou card is an excluded product.
Citi lets you combine multiple ThankYou accounts online or by calling ThankYou Rewards. Including a qualifying premium account can unlock the strongest standard transfer ratios for eligible credit card points, although checking-derived taxable points cannot be transferred to travel partners.
Citi ThankYou transfers generally start at 1,000 points and must be made in increments of 1,000 points. Transfers are irreversible, and the name on your ThankYou account must match the name on your airline or hotel loyalty account.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.