Updated: The ability to transfer from Citi ThankYou to American Airlines AAdvantage is scheduled to end Saturday November 13th, 2021. I have poked around the ThankYou website looking for clues of an extension and, so far, there are none. It’s still possible that, magically, we’ll find mention of the expiration date removed by the 13th, but if you have plans for your Citi ThankYou points as AAdvantage miles, don’t forget to transfer by the 13th.
From today through November 13, 2021, Citi ThankYou cardholders are able to – for the first time – transfer Citi ThankYou points into the American Airlines AAdvantage program.
This is a feature that people have been clamoring for for YEARS and, given the myriad ways to get outsized value from AAdvantage miles, this is an opportunity that I’m sure many will jump on.
The transfer ratio varies by card.
Citi Prestige (no longer available): 1:1
Citi Premier: 1:1 (Also see: 80,000 point offer on Citi Premier)
Citi Rewards+: 2:!
Citi ThankYou Preferred (not available to new applicants): 2:1
To me, this transfer will therefore only make sense with a Citi Premier or Prestige, but this is also great news because of new card bonus restrictions. You can get a new Citi Premier for the 80,000 point bonus if you haven’t received a bonus or closed any ThankYou earning personal card in the last 24 months (with the Citi Custom Cash seemingly excluded from counting for now).
The Citi AAdvantage cards are restricted to one bonus per 48 months on each the consumer and business versions.
So, if you are eligible for a new Citi Premier and don’t want to use those points to via the Turkish program, this would be another fantastic use.
I’m personally very surprised they have made this happen, but the demand has been there long enough and I guess Citi was able to find a way to make this happen while delicately balancing the needs of the AAdvantage co-brand credit card portfolio. Perhaps if it’s successful, it will become permanent?
This points transfer is already live in eligible ThankYou accounts.
HT: Business Insider
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I wonder if AA is selling miles to City at a discount, in advance of a devaluation of AAdvantage miles.