In reading blog posts from around the Internet for our week in review around the web post (which publishes later tonight), I came across a post from Milelion (a Singapore-based blog) saying that Citibank had lost Garuda Indonesia as a transfer partner. It isn’t uncommon for banks with a presence in multiple countries to have different transfer partners, so I wasn’t immediately sure whether this would affect US-issued cards. However, after logging in to ThankYou.com, I can confirm that I no longer see Garuda Indonesia under the options for points transfer.
Milelion reports receiving a tip on this a few days ago and confirming it with Citibank today. Again, while I initially expected this to only affect Singapore-issued cards, the fact that I don’t see them listed any longer at ThankYou.com tells me that it’s at least fairly likely that Citi has cut ties with Garuda for US-issued cards as well.
This isn’t a huge loss for Citi ThankYou rewards as Garuda neither has a compelling award chart nor is it easy to redeem miles (as many will remember from the huge 90%-off fiasco a few years back). In fact, Garuda is not found at all in our list of Citi ThankYou points sweet spots. That said, this leaves Flying Blue as Citi’s lone SkyTeam partner. Further, I don’t love to see an obscure foreign program removed as those are often the source of unexpected value.
H/T: Milelion
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[…] Apparently, Citi lost Garuda Airlines as a ThankYou transfer partner. […]
[…] Citi loses Garuda Indonesia as a points transfer partner […]
Kind of almost like when the USA version of the Aeroplan visa stopped taking applications last month & no one noticed… If a card dies in the forest & no blogger hears about it, did anyone care?
lolol you’re right, not exactly an uprising or the typical litigious, much less indignant, outcries
[…] Hat tip to Milelion via Frequent Miler […]
Guess that leaves Enrich as the next top pitiful Thank You transfer program to goof on.
Be nice I have about 100k points which they got me to HNL (8x),CDG on United . I can’t get anymore Chase cards what are u supposed to Do stay home ??
CHEERs
Hey CD, I always say where there’s a will there’s a way – I actually stand amazed at people’s creativity traveling on more obscure methods. Safe travels wherever/however one may lead you!
I’ll be @ Masada on my B day next month lets hope they have Cheap wine there !!
Thanks for ur Ideas .
CHEERs
Wonderful vineyards, heading back myself next fall when AA starts back direct service to Tel Aviv. You’re kind, thank you too!
To me the problem is the lack of notice and disclosure