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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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Why I'm considering a Citi credit card as an Alaska Airlines fan
Olivia Mittak is a credit cards editor at TPG. She specializes in maximizing earn for points and miles, finding the best welcome bonuses and choosing the right credit cards for your wallet.
October 10, 2025 • 7 min read
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Quick summary
Travelers in the Pacific Northwest may find increased flexibility by choosing a card that earns transferable rewards, especially with recent changes allowing points transfers to a major airline loyalty program.
Transferable rewards cards can be used to book award flights on both Alaska and partner airlines, expanding travel options beyond a single carrier.
Some cards offer variable bonus categories that rotate quarterly, which can align with diverse spending habits and provide additional value.
Comparing no-annual-fee cards to those with a modest fee reveals tradeoffs between transfer ratios and bonus categories, impacting overall rewards potential.
What to consider
No-annual-fee cards may have less favorable transfer ratios to airline partners compared to cards with a modest fee.
Bonus categories and welcome offers differ between card options, with higher spending requirements often tied to more valuable bonuses.
Pairing a transferable rewards card with a cobranded airline card can maximize both earning potential and redemption flexibility.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of two popular transferable rewards cards, including which is better suited for frequent Alaska travelers seeking award flight flexibility.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
Living in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska Airlines is one of my preferred airlines. That's because it's easy for me to find flight availability with them to almost anywhere along the West Coast or to Hawaii, especially now that they've merged with Hawaiian Airlines.
While the Atmos Summit still has a place on my list, I'm actually looking to venture into Citi's roster of credit cards first — here's why.
What’s drawing me to Citi over Atmos Rewards
Citi doesn't offer Atmos Rewards as a transfer partner, so why consider them? Easy: Citi ThankYou points can now be transferred to American Airlines AAdvantage. Because American and Alaska are partners, I can book award flights on either.
For example, I could book a one-way flight on Alaska from my home airport, Portland International Airport (PDX), to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) for just 12,500 AAdvantage miles (plus $5.60 in taxes).
AMERICAN AIRLINES
Plus, since I'd earn transferable rewards on a Citi card instead of just Atmos Rewards points on a cobranded Atmos card, I wouldn't be limited to award flights on Alaska, Hawaiian and their partners. Rather, Citi has 21 other transfer partners, offering me the flexibility I want from my points and miles strategy.
SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
Even if you don't care about flying with any airline outside of the Atmos Rewards program, the right Citi card can cover bonus categories that an Atmos Rewards credit card cannot. Plus, opening yourself up to more cards means more welcome bonuses to spend on award flights.
The Citi Strata Card is the no-annual-fee option in Citi's lineup of Strata cards. Given that I already pay over $1,300 in annual fees across five cards, the Strata's lack of an annual fee definitely gives it some brownie points.
I also appreciate the Strata's flexible bonus category since it would change quarterly to match my spending habits. With this card, I could earn 3 points per dollar spent on one of the following options:
Barber shops, cosmetic stores and hair salons
Fitness clubs
Live entertainment
Pet supply stores
Select streaming services
With my current wallet, I only earn bonus rewards on streaming services thanks to my Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see ). That makes the Strata an appealing option, since I also spend in the other categories.
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Of course, this card's welcome bonus also helps its case. Currently, new cardholders can earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Unfortunately, the card's perks are weighed down by a significant downside. Thank You points earned on the Strata card transfer to partners at a poorer ratio than other cards in the Strata lineup. Most transfer at a 1:0.7 ratio (instead of the full 1:1), meaning I'd only get 0.7 AAdvantage miles for every ThankYou point.
Having access to transfer partners with a no-annual-fee card is rare, though, so I can't complain too much. Still, it has me eyeing the Strata Premier as an alternative.
Although the Citi Strata Premier carries a $95 annual price tag, its bonus categories and superior transfer ratio could help justify a place in my wallet.
Dining and supermarkets are the main categories that interest me on this card, earning 3 points per dollar spent. While the Strata earns the same at supermarkets, it earns only 2 points per dollar spent on dining. Food is one of my biggest monthly expenses, so I could use the Strata Premier to earn more points.
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Then, when it's time to transfer my points to AAdvantage, they'll transfer at the full 1:1 ratio, instead of the Strata’s 1:0.7 transfer ratio.
The Strata Premier's welcome bonus is more valuable than the Strata's, too, although it requires more spending. New cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
Why Alaska flyers should consider a Citi ThankYou card
As an Alaska fan who also flies with other airlines, it makes sense for me to prioritize a card that earns transferable rewards rather than points with a single airline program. That might not be the right strategy for everyone, but I'd encourage any Alaska fan to consider a ThankYou-earning card.
Even if you already have or are considering applying for an Atmos Rewards card, a Citi ThankYou card can act as a great complement. I intend to have both a Strata or Strata Premier and an Atmos Rewards card in the future, which will give me the greatest flexibility when planning travel on Alaska.
There may be times, especially when traveling internationally, when it makes sense to go with an airline other than Alaska. Alaska doesn't have a foothold in every country, so one of Citi's transfer partners might be able to get you where you want to go.
D3SIGN/GETTY IMAGES
Alternatively, there may be times when another program offers an award flight between the same airports for much cheaper than Atmos Rewards. If that program happens to be a Citi transfer partner, you'll be able to save yourself a lot of points.
By pairing a Citi ThankYou card and an Atmos Rewards card, you'll have a broader range of options for your travels. You'll also be able to cover more bonus categories across two cards, earning you more rewards than you would with just one.
Bottom line
Before Citi added AAdvantage as a partner earlier this year, I didn't give them much attention.
That's not the case anymore. Given that I can book Alaska flights through AAdvantage, Citi has tangible appeal to this Pacific Northwesterner.
If you're an international traveler like me and love flying Alaska, consider a Citi card. One of their transferable rewards cards can give you access to more options for award flights and additional ways to earn bonus rewards.
