Yesterday, we reported an e-mail that was sent to Citi Premier cardholders, letting them know that, on 7/27/25, there will be a reduction in the transfer rate to Emirates Skywards from 1:1 to 1:0.8.
That’s not the only bad news for ThankYou points, however. It turns out that another notice was sent to cardholders of the Citi Double Cash, Points Plus and Rewards+ cards, notifying them that direct transfer rates to several partners would be decreasing on the same day as well.
It’s worth noting that this only affects Double Cash and Rewards+ customers who do not have a Premier or Prestige card.
The News
- Starting 7/27, Citi ThankYou Rewards will be reducing the direct transfer rates to several partners for cardholders of the Double Cash, Points Plus or Rewards+ cards who do not also have a Prestige or Premier card as well:
| Current Redemption Value for Points Transfers: |
| 1,000 ThankYou Rewards Points are transferable for 800 TrueBlue Points 1,000 ThankYou Rewards Points are transferable for 1,500 Choice Privileges Points 1,000 ThankYou Rewards Points are transferable for 800 Wyndham Rewards Points |
| New Redemption Value for Points Transfers, effective 07/27: |
| 1,000 ThankYou Rewards Points are transferable for 700 JetBlue) Points (down 12.5%) 1,000 ThankYou Rewards Points are transferable for 1,400 Choice Points (down 6.7%) 1,000 ThankYou Rewards Points are transferable for 700 Wyndham Points (down 12.5%) |
Quick Thoughts
Many Double Cash and Rewards+ cardholders don’t realize that they have the ability to transfer directly to partners to begin with. Although it’s possible, it’s never something that we recommend, as the transfer rates are terrible, especially compared to the 1:1 ratios for JetBlue and Wyndham and 1:2 ratio to Choice Privileges you can get if you also hold the Citi Premier or Prestige cards (as well as a much broader menu of travel partner options.
In general, by using those reduced transfers, you’re not getting much better than 1 cent per point, which is the same that you by instantly using ThankYou points for statement credits. I’m sure that some people occasionally took advantage of it, either to top off balances or for high-value awards, but having the Premier as well makes it a much richer proposition.
Like I wrote yesterday, my hope is that this doesn’t signal any greater changes for ThankYou points, either in terms of transfer partners or rates. I don’t remember the last time that a transferable program changed the rates for several partners in such quick succession. In and of themselves, they’re all fairly minor. But if this heralds further devaluations to the Premier and Prestige portfolio down the road, it would make me much less grateful for ThankYou points.
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I never realized that these cards could transfer directly to programs. Thank You points are already among the toughest to get, I’m not sure that devaluing them is really that great a move.
Hey Tim, I have these 2 CCs (Citi Double Cash & Rewards+) but have not received emails about the changes. I also have the Citi Strata Premier, so maybe they are suppressing emails for Citi Double Cash and Rewards+.
One possible idea is that transfers from TYPs to AA will cost much more other TYP partners (JetBlue, Choice, Wyndham, and Emirates), so TYP is savings money on those transfers in order to afford AA transfers. Just an idea…
I didn’t know I could do these transfers. I don’t have the Premier or Prestige cards.
Am I reading this right that transferring to Choice from Citi DC at 1:1.5 is a better deal than transferring from Capital One or Amex which is 1:1? Not as good as Presige’s 1:2 but still better.
I’m staying in some Strawberry hotels and using Choice points looks attractive. Haven’t done the math yet if it’s better to buy points but I’m adverse to buying points generally.
Yep, that’s correct.
Any way to transfer from my citi double to P2 Strata?
Yes, you can. You’re limited to 100,000 points per year and transferred points expire after 90 days…so make sure you move them to whatever programs you want them to end up in. We cover it here.
you’d think that I could remeber things like thois, Tim.
It stinks to get old!
Hopefully this is more a sign that Citi will be adding American Airlines as a Thank You points transfer partner. Otherwise, I agree that this is a disturbing trend by Citi.
Everyone says this capability is coming and a possibl explanation but correlation doesn’t equal causation. I’m confused why making other transfers less attractive is necessary when adding AA as a partner. Unless Citi is getting a great deal at buying AA points and wants everyone to transfer their TY points to AA.
It could be a set-up to make AA a bad transfer ratio. If it matched the bottom end of these new ratios, then Citi can say it is within family. That might be able to get them into a better business position for AA transfers.
That’s a reach. AA’s transfer ration will be compared to United and Delta from the other programs.