Citi offers a wide range of rewards credit cards, but not all of them provide access to the valuable ThankYou Rewards program. To gain full access to the program and its transfer partners, you’ll need to hold a premium Citi ThankYou card. In this article, we will take a closer look at the program and analyze some of the best Citi ThankYou Rewards cards.
One of the top cards in the Citi ThankYou portfolio is the Citi Prestige Card. Although it is not available to new applicants, it offers excellent earning rates. Cardholders can earn 5 points per dollar at restaurants, airlines, and travel agencies, 3 points per dollar at hotels and cruise lines, and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. The annual fee for this card is $495, but it comes with standout benefits such as access to all of the Citi ThankYou Rewards transfer partners.
Another popular option is the Citi Premier Card, which offers a sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. Cardholders can earn 10 points per dollar on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through the Citi travel portal, 3 points per dollar at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and other hotels, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. This card has an annual fee of $95 and provides a $100 annual hotel savings benefit.
The Citi Rewards+ Card is a great option for those looking for a no annual fee card. It offers a sign-up bonus of 20,000 points after spending $1,500 within three months of account opening. Cardholders can earn 5 points per dollar on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through the Citi travel portal, 2 points per dollar at supermarkets and gas stations (up to $6,000 in combined purchases each year), and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. This card also offers 10% points back for the first 100,000 ThankYou Points redeemed per year.
If you prefer cash back rewards, the Citi Double Cash Card and the Citi Custom Cash Card are worth considering. The Citi Double Cash Card offers $200 cash back after spending $1,500 within the first six months of account opening. Cardholders can earn 2 points per dollar on all purchases, with 1 point earned at the time of purchase and another point earned when the bill is paid. The Citi Custom Cash Card offers $200 cash back after spending $1,500 within the first six months of account opening. Cardholders can earn 5% cash back on their top eligible spend category (up to $500 spent each billing cycle) and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
When it comes to earning Citi ThankYou Rewards points, not all points are created equal. TPG values Citi ThankYou Points at 1.8 cents each, but this value is based on the potential value you can get by transferring your points to one of the program’s airline or hotel partners. To transfer points to most partners, you’ll need to hold a premium Citi ThankYou Rewards card.
If you only have a non-premium card like the Citi Rewards+, Citi Double Cash, or Citi Custom Cash, you’ll earn “basic” ThankYou points. These points are worth a flat one cent each when redeemed towards gift cards and other cash-like rewards available through Citi ThankYou. However, you can transfer “basic” points to three loyalty programs – Choice Privileges, JetBlue TrueBlue, and Wyndham Rewards – but at a lower rate than with a premium card.
When it comes to redeeming Citi ThankYou points, all the ThankYou Rewards cards allow you to redeem points for statement credits, cash rewards, third-party gift cards, and travel booked through the Citi travel portal at a flat rate of one cent per point. You may also find gift cards on sale that offer a slightly higher redemption rate. However, some redemption options may provide less than one cent per point, so be sure to check the value you’re getting before redeeming.
For those looking to get the most value out of their ThankYou points, transferring them to airline or hotel partners can provide significantly more value. Citi ThankYou has a wide range of transfer partners, including airlines like Aeromexico, Air France-KLM, and Singapore Airlines, as well as hotel chains like Accor Live Limitless and Wyndham Rewards. Transfer ratios and transfer times vary depending on the partner.
In conclusion, Citi offers a variety of rewards credit cards, but not all of them provide access to the valuable ThankYou Rewards program. If you’re looking to maximize the program and its transfer partners, holding a premium Citi ThankYou card is essential. These cards offer excellent earning rates and allow you to transfer your points to a wide range of partners, providing many high-value award booking options. Whether you’re a first-time credit card applicant or a seasoned pro, one or more cards in Citi’s portfolio might be the right fit for you.