Why Citi’s newest transfer partner has changed my credit card and points and miles strategies

Earlier this year, I wrote about why the list of transfer partners for Citi's ThankYou Rewards program was less than ideal.

Citi just didn't have strong enough partners to compete with similar credit card programs, such as Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards. For instance, if I wanted to book a great award flight redemption or luxury hotel stay, I found myself utilizing Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards instead of Citi's program. However, this has now changed.

I was more than ecstatic to hear that Citi ThankYou Rewards added American Airlines AAdvantage as its latest 1:1 transfer partner.

Overnight, it forced me to rethink both how to use my rewards-earning credit cards and my points and miles earn‑and‑burn plan.

Coinciding with the launch of the new Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see rates and fees), ThankYou Rewards points have gone from a secondary consideration in my wallet to the primary currency I earn.

Here's why that matters — and how I'm adapting.

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Why AAdvantage miles are so valuable

I believe AAdvantage miles are more valuable than Delta SkyMiles or United MileagePlus miles, and I'm not the only one.

In TPG's August 2025 valuations, American AAdvantage miles are worth 1.55 cents each, versus United MileagePlus miles at 1.3 cents and Delta SkyMiles at 1.2 cents. These figures aren't guesses; they are calculated using TPG's data-driven method, analyzing thousands of individual data points on round-trip itineraries across the U.S. and around the world.

On American-operated flights, the lowest‑level awards routinely cost less through AAdvantage, especially across the Atlantic to Europe — business-class flights start at 65,000 AAdvantage miles. This is cheaper than booking through MileagePlus (from 80,000 miles) and SkyMiles (from 145,000 miles).

The bigger edge lies in partner awards booked with AAdvantage miles.

The premium‑leaning Oneworld alliance gives AAdvantage members access to aspirational carriers like Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines, while many of United Airlines' and Delta Air Lines' alliance partners are, in my eyes, less desirable. AAdvantage's published, region‑based partner chart preserves astonishingly good value despite industry shifts to dynamic pricing even for partner-operated flights.

Some of the best AAdvantage partner sweet spots include:

• Japan Airlines' new Airbus A350-1000 first class to Tokyo for 80,000 miles
• Qantas business class to Australia for 80,000 miles
• Qatar Airways' Qsuite business class to India, the Maldives or Nepal via Doha's Hamad International Airport (DOH) for 70,000 miles
• Finnair's "no recline" business class to Europe for 57,500 miles
• Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines to Hawaii in economy for only 20,000 miles

In short, I would much rather transfer my credit card points and miles to AAdvantage than MileagePlus or SkyMiles.

How I'm changing my credit card strategy

I have several credit cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards points, as well as some cobranded cards.

Due to the slightly differing nature of the transfer partners for Chase, Capital One and Citi, I've been spreading my spending across the three credit card loyalty programs in order to maximize my transfer options. I was recently approved for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees), and that card has been my default, as I've just reached the minimum spending required to earn the welcome offer. I'll probably transfer those Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt, as I believe that to be the single best Chase transfer partner.

Since I value American miles so highly, I've now switched virtually all of my credit card spending to ThankYou Rewards points-earning cards, purely so I can transfer the points to AAdvantage.

I already hold the Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees), which earns 3 points per dollar spent at supermarkets, gas stations, EV charging stations and restaurants, and on air travel and other hotels.

To supercharge my AAdvantage mileage earning, I'm considering applying for the new Citi Strata Elite Card. For a limited time, new Citi Strata Elite cardholders can earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 within the first three months from account opening.

Additional benefits include Admirals Club lounge passes and some pretty incredible earning rates for travel booked through Citi Travel and the intriguing new CitiNights℠ promotion.

In short, the Strata Premier Card has now become my everyday credit card, and the Strata Elite is on my radar to add to my wallet.

Related: First look: American's new Flagship Lounge and Admirals Club in Philly shine in big debut

How I'm changing my points and miles strategy

While the new Citi transfer option to AAdvantage is currently available, I worry the surge in transfers could bring two consequences:

• Fewer award seats available to AAdvantage members
• A devaluation of the fantastic AAdvantage partner award chart if it suddenly becomes too popular

So, I'm planning to transfer my Citi ThankYou Rewards points to AAdvantage at a 1:1 ratio and then redeem those miles as quickly as possible, both to grab any available seats and protect myself from devaluations. This flexibility is the same reason I'm choosing to focus on earning Citi points rather than just earning AAdvantage miles directly on cobranded American Airlines credit cards.

I'm based in London and regularly travel across the Atlantic. I've been consistently impressed recently with the rates and availability of American Airlines-operated business-class flights to and from London. This includes American's fancy new Flagship Suites, which I'm keen to try out soon.

I also use the fantastic Seats.aero award search tool to find partner award availability. I want to try Japan Airlines' new A350 in business or first class and have another go at Finnair's no-recline business-class product. Plus, Qatar Airways' award-winning Qsuite business-class product is never a bad idea.

I certainly hope the partner award chart keeps the great rates it currently has, as AAdvantage is one of the most generous airline loyalty programs. However, I'm also realistic that in the points and miles industry, devaluations (often without notice) are an unfortunate reality.

So, I'm booking sooner rather than later.

Related: Air France-KLM Flying Blue program increases award prices but promises better availability

Bottom line

Citi's introduction of direct AAdvantage transfers has swiftly transformed the ThankYou Rewards loyalty program into one of the best credit card programs in the market.

I'll keep the Strata Premier Card as my go-to card for everyday purchases and may add the Strata Elite for its generous welcome bonus, lounge access and superior Citi Travel earning rates.

If your goal is long‑haul, premium-cabin award flights, and you don't already earn AAdvantage miles, pairing an eligible Citi ThankYou Rewards points-earning credit card with AAdvantage transfers is now one of the smartest ways to get there.

Related reading:

• The 8 best ways to redeem 80,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles
• Why you should master a few credit card transfer partners, and (most likely) leave the rest behind
• Credit card transfer partners: Guide to transferring points and miles to airlines and hotels
• Why transferable points and miles are worth more than other rewards