The ultimate guide to Citi ThankYou Rewards
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with current information. Citi is a TPG advertising partner.
Citi offers many different rewards credit cards, including cobranded American Airlines cards and cobranded Costco cards. Not all of Citi's credit cards provide access to the company’s valuable ThankYou Rewards program, but two of the cards that do currently have elevated welcome offers for new applicants: the Citi Premier® Card and Citi Rewards+® Card.
Right now, the Premier is offering 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on your card within the first three months of account opening. And the Rewards+ is offering 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 in purchases within three months of account opening.
Whether you’re applying for your first credit card, are a seasoned pro looking to complement a Citi card already in your wallet or are a Chase or American Express loyalist exploring what Citi ThankYou Rewards has to offer, one or more of the cards in Citi’s portfolio might be right for you. Let’s take a closer look at the program, including an analysis of each card offering ThankYou Rewards points and how you can redeem ThankYou Rewards points.
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Best Citi ThankYou Rewards cards
- Citi Prestige® Card: Best for restaurants, airlines and travel agencies.
- Citi Premier® Card: Best for earning full-fledged ThankYou points with a sub-$100 annual fee.
- Citi Rewards+® Card: Best for supermarkets, gas stations and small purchases.
- Citi Rewards+℠ Student Card: Best for students who have a limited credit history.
- AT&T Access Card from Citi: Best for online purchases.
- Citi® Double Cash Card: Best for everyday spending and no annual fee.
Comparing the best Citi ThankYou Rewards cards
| Card | Sign-up bonus | Earning rates | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citi Prestige® Card | Not available to new applicants. |
| $495. |
| Citi Premier® Card | Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on your card within the first three months of account opening. |
| $95. |
| Citi Rewards+® Card | Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 in purchases within three months of account opening. |
| |
| Citi Rewards+℠ Student Card | Earn 2,500 bonus points after spending $500 on the card within the first three months of account opening. |
| $0. |
| AT&T Access Card from Citi | Not open to new applicants. |
| $0. |
| Citi® Double Cash Card | None. |
| $0. |
The information for the Citi Prestige, Citi Rewards+ Student and AT&T Access Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
That’s a lot of information, so let’s take a deeper dive into each card and what each one offers.
Citi Prestige Card
Sign-up bonus: This card is no longer open to new applicants nor is it available via product changing from other cards.
Rewards rate: Earn 5 ThankYou points per dollar on purchases at airlines, travel agencies and restaurants (including cafes, bars, lounges and fast food restaurants), 3 points per dollar at hotels and cruise lines and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
Annual fee: $495 ($350 for qualifying Citigold clients).
Card benefits: Get a complimentary fourth night up to twice each calendar year when you book your hotel through ThankYou.com, receive Priority Pass Select membership with up to two guests or immediate family members (spouse, domestic partner and/or children under 18 years of age), a $250 travel credit every calendar year and Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit every five years. Plus, there are no foreign transaction fees.
Check out the full card review for the Citi Prestige Card.
Citi Premier® Card
Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on your card within the first three months of account opening. Based on TPG’s valuations, 60,000 ThankYou points are worth $1,020.
Rewards rate: You’ll earn 3 points per dollar on air travel, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and gas stations and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
Annual fee: $95.
Card benefits: You’ll be able to enjoy a $100 annual hotel savings benefit when you book a single hotel stay of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, through ThankYou.com once per calendar year. Plus, the card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees and provides World Elite Mastercard benefits.
Who should apply: The Citi Premier® Card provides access to all of the Citi ThankYou Rewards program transfer partners for a $95 annual fee. Plus, it's nice to earn 3 points per dollar on air travel, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and gas stations. Finally, there’s no fee to add an authorized user, so you can boost your earning power by adding a trusted friend or loved one to your account.
Check out the full card review for the Citi Premier® Card.
Official application link: Citi Premier® Card
Citi Rewards+ Card
Sign-up bonus: Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 in purchases within three months of account opening. TPG’s valuations peg the value of these points at $360 if you also have a premium ThankYou Rewards account.
Rewards rate: Earn 2 ThankYou Points per dollar at supermarkets and gas stations (on the first $6,000 per year; then 1 point per dollar) and 1 point per dollar on everything else. Citi automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase.
Annual fee: None.
Card benefits: You’ll get 10% points back for the first 100,000 ThankYou Points you redeem per year, including points earned on other cards if you’ve linked your Citi ThankYou accounts.
The Citi Rewards+ Card offers an introductory 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. After the introductory period, the variable APR will be 17.99 - 27.99%, based on creditworthiness. If you already hold a Citi Prestige or Citi Premier and need to finance a larger purchase, picking up a Rewards+ could be a great option. The ThankYou points earned on those purchases can be transferred to travel partners because you already hold a premium Citi ThankYou card.
Who should apply: If you’re looking for a no-annual-fee card that earns bonus points at supermarkets and gas stations, the Citi Rewards+ Card is a good option, especially if you also have a Citi Prestige or Citi Premier card to unlock the full range of transfer partners. Otherwise, the Citi ThankYou points earned solely via the Citi Rewards+ Card are worth a flat one cent each when redeemed for travel through the Citi portal, gift cards, statement credits and more. If you don't have a premium card, then your only transfer options from the Rewards+ card will be Choice Privileges, JetBlue TrueBlue and Wyndham Rewards.
Check out the full card review for the Citi Rewards+ Card.
Offical application link: Citi Rewards+ Card
Citi Rewards+ Student Card
Sign-up bonus: Earn 2,500 bonus points after spending $500 on the card within the first three months of account opening. TPG’s valuations peg the value of these points at $42 if you also have a premium ThankYou Rewards account.
Rewards rate: Earn 2 ThankYou points dollar at supermarkets and gas stations (on the first $6,000 per year, then 1 point per dollar) and 1 point per dollar on everything else. Citi automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase.
Annual fee: None.
Card benefits: You’ll get 10% points back for the first 100,000 ThankYou Points you redeem per year, including points earned on other cards if you’ve linked your Citi ThankYou accounts.
Depending on creditworthiness, you could score a 0% introductory APR for seven months on purchases (after the introductory period ends, the variable APR will be 14.49% - 24.49% based upon your creditworthiness). So if you plan on applying for a Citi Prestige or Citi Premier down the road and need to finance a larger purchase now, picking up a Citi Rewards+ Student Card could be a great option. By doing so, you’d not only have access to a 0% intro APR, but ThankYou points earned on those purchases could be transferred to travel partners if you also hold a premium Citi ThankYou card.
Who should apply: If you’re entering college and you’re looking to establish your credit history and maximize travel rewards, kudos to you. Be sure to read our collegiate guide for maximizing rewards, top starter cards for college students/graduates and our guide to paying college tuition on a credit card. Citi’s Rewards+ Student Card largely mimics the conventional Rewards+, but it includes a modest sign-up bonus and features that are especially intriguing to those in school.
The information for the Rewards+ Student card 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 reading: Best credit cards for college students
AT&T Access Card from Citi
Sign-up bonus: No longer open to new applicants but possibly available via product changing from another Citi credit card.
Rewards rate: Earn 2 ThankYou Points per dollar on eligible retail and travel websites and on products and services purchased directly from AT&T, including payment of monthly phone, cable or internet bills. Earn 1 point per dollar on everything else.
Annual fee: None.
Card benefits: No standout benefits.
Who should apply: The AT&T Access Card is the remaining cousin of the previously offered AT&T Access More card, which is no longer available. There’s nothing overly compelling about the card. So it’s likely not a card to add to your wallet unless you have the Citi Prestige or Citi Premier and are looking to earn 2 points per dollar on eligible retail and travel websites.
Related reading: These are the best cards for online shopping
Citi® Double Cash Card
Sign-up bonus: None.
Rewards rate: Earn 2 ThankYou Points per dollar on all purchases as follows: earn 1 point per dollar when making purchases and another point when paying your bill.
Annual fee: None.
Card benefits: Receive a 0% introductory APR for 18 months on balance transfers (then 18.49% to 28.49% variable APR based on your creditworthiness).
Who should apply: Those looking for increased earning rates on everyday spending, since you can use this cards 1+1 points structure to earn 2 ThankYou Points on each dollar you spend. The card has no annual fee and allows for transferring points to Choice Privileges, JetBlue TrueBlue and Wyndham Rewards. However, if you have the Citi Premier or Citi Prestige card, you can combine your points with those cards to access the full range of Citi's transfer partners (and with better transfer ratios to Choice, JetBlue and Wyndham).
Related reading: Even more rewarding starting in March: A review of the Citi Double Cash card
Earning Citi ThankYou Rewards points
Not all ThankYou points are created equal. TPG values Citi ThankYou Points at 1.7 cents each. This valuation is based on the value that can be obtained by transferring your Citi ThankYou points to one of the program’s airline and hotel partners. But to be able to transfer your points to most partners, you must hold a premium Citi ThankYou card, such as the Citi Prestige Card or Citi Premier® Card.
If you only have the Citi Rewards+® Card, the Citi Rewards+℠ Student Card or the AT&T Access Card from Citi, you’ll earn what we'll “basic” ThankYou points. They’re worth a flat one cent each when redeemed toward gift cards and other rewards available on the ThankYou.com website, but they can’t be transferred to most of the ThankYou travel partners. You'll have access to just three transfer partners and these come at reduced transfer ratios. However, if you hold either the Citi Prestige or Citi Premier, you can combine the “basic” ThankYou points into your Citi Prestige or Citi Premier account and then transfer them to any of the Citi ThankYou travel partners.
If you’re looking to sign up for multiple Citi ThankYou cards, note that under Citi’s application rules you can only receive a sign-up bonus on cards in the ThankYou Rewards family if you haven’t received a sign-up bonus or closed a card in that family in the past 24 months. So, you’ll want to time your applications correctly if you’re looking to earn new cardmember bonuses on your cards.
Related reading: The best limited-time credit card offers to sign up for this month
Redeeming Citi ThankYou Rewards points through the Citi Travel Center
All of these credit cards can redeem ThankYou points for statement credits, cash rewards, third-party gift cards and more at a flat rate of one cent per point.
Related reading: Amex vs. Citi vs. Chase: Which booking portal is best for hotels?
Transferring Citi ThankYou Rewards points to partners
Cardholders of premium Citi ThankYou cards also have another option for redeeming their ThankYou Rewards points: transfers to airline partners. To be able to transfer your points to most ThankYou partner loyalty programs, you must hold either the Citi Prestige or Citi Premier. As long as you hold one of those two cards, you can combine ThankYou points earned from one of the lower-tier cards to transfer those as well.
Related: The ultimate guide to Citi ThankYou Rewards transfer partners
Unlike Chase Ultimate Rewards, which mostly (with a few exceptions) transfer instantly across its airline and hotel partners, ThankYou transfer times include a few options that can take 2-3 days — even one that can take a week. Be sure to plan those awards carefully.
| Program | Ratio | Transfer Time |
|---|---|---|
| Aeroméxico Club Premier | 1:1 | Instant |
| Air France/KLM Flying Blue | 1:1 | Instant |
| Avianca LifeMiles | 1:1 | Instant |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 1:1 | Instant |
| Choice Privileges | 1:2 (1:1.5 for non-premium cards) | Instant |
| Emirates Skywards | 1:1 | Instant |
| Etihad Guest | 1:1 | Instant |
| EVA Infinity MileageLands | 1:1 | 3 Days |
| InterMiles (formally known as JetPrivilege) | 1:1 | Instant |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | 1:1 (5:4 for non-premium cards) | Instant |
| Malaysian Enrich | 1:1 | 2 Days |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 1:1 | Instant |
| Qatar Privilege Club | 1:1 | 2 Days |
| Singapore KrisFlyer | 1:1 | <24 hours |
| Thai Royal Orchid Plus | 1:1 | 7 Days |
| Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles | 1:1 | 1 Day |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 1:1 | Instant |
| Wyndham Rewards | 1:1 (1:0.8 for non-premium cards) | Instant |
With so many transfer partners, your options are plentiful when it comes to maximizing ThankYou points. Here’s a sampling of what you can do with them:
- Transfer 100,000 points to Etihad Guest for a round-trip business-class flight to Europe on American Airlines. Another option is to fly one-way in first class on American’s 777-300ER to Brazil or Argentina for only 62,500 Etihad Guest miles.
- Transfer to Singapore KrisFlyer and book United-operated flights from North America to Hawaii for just 19,500 miles each way in economy. Other options with KrisFlyer exist, but some were devalued in July and August of 2022. Also, beware of fuel surcharges when booking KrisFlyer awards.
- Use Avianca LifeMiles to book one-way United-operated economy awards within the U.S. for between 6,500 miles to 13,500 miles one-way plus a booking fee of $10 to $25. For example, New York (LGA) to Houston (IAH) is 10,000 miles plus a booking fee of $15.
- Use Virgin Atlantic to fly nonstop on some Delta-operated flights. For example, you can fly one-way in business class from the U.S. to Europe from 50,000 miles when booking through Virgin Atlantic.
With so many options, you’ll want to review some of our favorite tips and tricks on redeeming Citi ThankYou points:
- Redeeming Citi ThankYou Points for maximum value.
- Best ways to redeem Citi ThankYou points on Oneworld airlines.
- Best ways to redeem Citi ThankYou points on SkyTeam airlines.
- Best ways to redeem Citi ThankYou points on Star Alliance airlines.
- Best sweet spots with Citi ThankYou Rewards.
Related reading: Savvy rewards travelers focus on transferable points for the most flexibility
Bottom line
Citi’s ThankYou Rewards points are perhaps the most underrated of the major points and miles currencies. Despite some negatives, they remain a valuable transferable asset, especially for those looking to book award flights on international carriers. It’s vital to have a Citi Prestige or Citi Premier in the mix, as those two enable transfers to partners, unlocking a multitude of aspirational booking opportunities.
If you’re a heavy traveler who tends to book a few expensive stays each year of four nights or longer, the Citi Prestige and Citi Premier both offer discounts that can add up to big savings on your upcoming hotel stays. That's in addition to their points transfer perks and high-quality earning categories.
Related guides
- The best Citi credit cards
- The best rewards credit cards
- The best travel credit cards
- The best rewards credit cards for each bonus category
- Is Citi ThankYou Rewards the most underappreciated and misunderstood program?
- Citi Prestige vs. Citi Premier
- Amex Everyday vs. Citi Rewards+
- The Platinum Card from American Express vs. Citi Prestige
- Battle of the premium travel rewards cards: Which is the best?
- The best credit cards with annual fees under $100
Additional reporting by Darren Murph.
Top offers from our partners
How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus MilesAnnual Fee
$250Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees