Transferring Citi ThankYou Points: Everything You Need to Know

Citi ThankYou points make up one of the big, fancy currencies you can transfer around, and with them, you’re holding the wifi password to the luxury travel lounge. Sure, there are other ways to use them (cash back, anybody?), but nothing beats flipping them to airline or hotel buddies for the red carpet treatment—usually at warp speed. But wait, what about passing them like a baton to someone else? Let’s dive into the rules of this high-stakes game, whether you’re shifting points to another ThankYou account or beaming them into someone else’s frequent flyer stash.

Which Citi Cards Let You Earn ThankYou Points?

Before we roll up our sleeves and get into the nitty-gritty of transferring, let’s talk shop about the arsenal of Citi cards that let you pile up ThankYou points.

• Citi Strata Elite℠ Card: This one comes with a $595 annual fee and rewards so shiny, they almost blind you—benefits, credits, and even sweet lounge perks to soften the blow of that steep fee.
• Citi Strata Premier® Card: Just $95 a year, boasting great bonus categories, and a nice $100 hotel credit, making it a high-scoring player.
• Then there’s Citi Strata℠ Card, Citi Double Cash® Card, and Citi Custom Cash® Card—all fee-free and built to skyrocket your points pool.

Now, a little tidbit—if you mix and match the premium and no-fee cards, you can transfer points to airline and hotel buds at the best cocktail ratio. On their own, though, the no-fee cards don’t get you the top-shelf conversion.

Can You Transfer Citi ThankYou Points to Others?

Everyone plays by their own set of rules when it comes to sharing points. But Citi does stand out for acting a bit more generously. Here’s the scoop: you can drop your points into another ThankYou account holder’s barn without needing to be related or roommates, but hold your horses—you can’t sell or barter those points like you’re in an episode of ‘The Great British Bake Off’.

The small print?

• Come the end of the year, each ThankYou account can whisper sweet points nothings up to a cool 100,000 points—with that number being your overall yearly cap, not per friend.
• On the receiving end, individual ThankYou holders are also capped at accepting 100,000 points annually.
• Shared points have a notoriously short life—like milk, they expire in just 90 days if not cashed in.
• A receiver of shared points can’t keep the party going by sharing further.

Is There a Cost to Transfer Citi ThankYou Points?

Can you get something for nothing? With Citi, yes, at least when you’re shifting points in this game of generosity. Inside those friendly limits, this game is free.

How Do You Transfer Citi ThankYou Points?

Ready to play point courier? Jump into your account, tap “More Ways to Redeem,” then “Points Sharing.” A friendly digital guide will show you how far you can go with sharing for the year.

Start by hitting “Begin Sharing,” and decide how many points will make the journey. Enter the receiving member’s name and account number, and voilà—transfer complete. Easy peasy, like sharing jokes at Val Seny ski resort with a ski lift buddy!

Can You Transfer ThankYou Points to Someone Else’s Loyalty Account?

Now here’s where the gears grind to a halt. There’s a big ol’ wall between your ThankYou points and someone else’s frequent flyer account. Points can only moonwalk into an account bearing your name.

So if Aunt Lucy’s frequent flyer account is the destination, she’ll need to first catch them in her ThankYou account. Then she can transfer them to frequent flyer nirvana herself.

Should You Transfer Citi ThankYou Points?

Citi gives you a fairly loose leash to frolic with point transfers, but should you dip into this pool?

• If passing points will get someone all set for that dream trip booking, it’s a no-brainer.
• The option’s also great if you’re closing a card but those points are in limbo—just make sure the beneficiary acts fast before the 90-day expiry window slams shut.
• Bypassing the premium card barrier through a friend who does have one can unlock those bonus transfer ratios to partner programs.

Bottom Line

Citi ThankYou’s game of point-sharing comes with wins and pitfalls. Pass up to 100K? Yes, please. Points expiring in 90 days? Hmmm, better make quick decisions. While the doors to frequent flyer accounts remain locked to direct transfers, savor the privilege to share within boundaries, unleashing the full potential of your points for that picture-perfect ski lodge reward at Val Seny ski resort.

Have you ever moved your Citi ThankYou points into someone else’s piggy bank? What’s your vibe on Citi’s transfer setup?