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A new transfer partner has just been added to Citi's ThankYou Points program: Emirates Skywards. Effective immediately, Citi ThankYou Rewards members can transfer points to Emirates at a 1:1 ratio. This addition brings the total number of Citi's airline transfer partners to 16.
While Citi hasn't yet announced the addition, Emirates Skywards was added to the list of ThankYou Points partners on Sunday afternoon:
This new partnership comes eight months after Emirates Skywards joined as a Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partner. Emirates is also a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards (1:1 transfer ratio), Capital One Miles (2:1 ratio), and Marriott Bonvoy (3:1 ratio, with 5,000 bonus miles for transferring 60,000+ points). That means that Emirates is now a transfer partner of all five major transferrable currencies.
Valuable Uses of Skywards Miles
We recently published a comprehensive guide of the best uses of Emirates Skywards miles, and it's worth giving that guide a full read. However, let's review just some of the excellent options on fifth-freedom routes between the U.S. and Europe:
- Newark (EWR) – Athens (ATH): 45,000 miles round-trip in economy
- Newark (EWR) – Athens (ATH): 90,000 miles round-trip in business
- Newark (EWR) – Athens (ATH): 135,000 miles round-trip in first class
- New York City (JFK) – Milan (MXP): 45,000 miles round-trip in economy
- New York City (JFK) – Milan (MXP): 90,000 miles round-trip in business
- New York City (JFK) – Milan (MXP): 135,000 miles round-trip in first class
While these are excellent mileage rates, Emirates Skywards passes along significant fuel surcharges on its awards. Also, these lower Saver mileage rates aren't available on one-way awards, so you will need to book round-trip.
Still, it's hard to beat business class nonstop between New York JFK and Milan, Italy (MXP) for 90,000 miles round-trip—even after factoring in the nearly $1,100 in taxes and fees:
If you're looking to fly Emirate's legendary first-class product, availability is wide open in 2021 for 135,000 miles round-trip:
To cut back your out-of-pocket costs, you'll want to originate in Europe. Instead of over $1,100 for a round-trip award, you'll pay just €448 (US$487) round-trip for the same flights by originating in Europe instead:
Cards That Earn ThankYou Points
If this news leaves you more excited about the Citi ThankYou Point program, here are some Citi credit cards that earn ThankYou Points:
- Citi Premier℠ Card
- Citi Prestige® Card
- Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card
- Citi Rewards+℠ Card
- Citi Rewards+℠ Student Card
- Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card for College Students
Plus, you can effectively earn 2X ThankYou Points per dollar spent on the Citi® Double Cash Card by converting the cashback earned through this card to a card that earns ThankYou Points.
If you're looking to pay down debt or finance a larger purchase, this card also comes with one of the best available introductory APR offers on balance transfers.
- 2% cash back on every purchase - 1% when you buy + 1% when you pay
- 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the (Variable) APR will be 13.99% – 23.99% based on your creditworthiness
- No annual fee
How to Transfer Citi Points to Emirates
If you're interested in taking advantage of this new partnership, log into your Citi ThankYou Points account and browse to Citi's Emirates Skywards transfer point page. Either use the scrollbar or enter the number of ThankYou Points you'd like to transfer to Emirates. Note that transfers must be made in increments of 1,000 points:
Next, scroll down to enter—and then re-enter—your Emirates Skywards member number. If you want to make future transfers easier, click the button for Citi to remember your number. Accept the terms and conditions and click “continue” to move to the next step:
On the next page, you'll have a chance to review the number of points you're transferring and the account number before clicking “transfer now” to initialize the transfer. Note that the terms and conditions state that “point transfers may take up to 14 days.”
Other ThankYou Point Transfer Partners
Emirates joins 15 existing airline partners of ThankYou Points. Points transfer from Citi ThankYou Points to all of these airlines at a 1:1 ratio—with periodic transfer bonuses to help sweeten the deal.
- Aeromexico (Club Premier)
- Air France (Flying Blue)
- Avianca (LifeMiles)
- Cathay Pacific (Asia Miles)
- Etihad Airways (Etihad Guest)
- Eva Air (Infinity MileageLands)
- InterMiles
- JetBlue Airways (TrueBlue)
- Malaysia Airlines (Enrich)
- Qantas (Frequent Flyer)
- Qatar Airways (Qmiles)
- Singapore Airlines (KrisFlyer)
- Thai Airways (Royal Orchid Plus)
- Turkish Airlines (Miles&Smiles)
- Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club)
Most ThankYou Point transfers occur instantaneously, with transfers to Etihad Guest and Thai Miles & Smiles being notable exceptions. Based on AwardWallet's Transfer Time Tracker Tool, the average transfer times for each program are as follows:
Final Thoughts
Citi ThankYou Points isn't known for being the most-valuable transferrable currency. While we would still love to see another US-based airline—such as American Airlines—added as a Citi transfer partner, Citi has built up quite a broad selection of eclectic airline partners.
Many travelers may see Emirates as another niche transfer partner for the ThankYou program, but it's always nice to have more options. And, as we see, this new partnership can be especially valuable for those who want to fly Emirates' fifth-freedom routes between the U.S. and Europe.
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Now, Emirates has reduced the award fees and taxes by up to 90%, so another door of opportunity has opened.
Great news. It seems to me a good initiative of Citi to provide transfer of points 1 to 1 to one of the best airlines that exist.
That is good news , new airlines are always good , the downside is the fuel surcharges but to fly firstclass between europe and US using shower on A380 drinking champagne in Emirates is still a good deal
Nice addition to the Citi programme! – It would be nice for them to add AA too.
This program will most likely remain a source of foreign airline miles.
I think Emirates even in economy/coach is very impressive. It is like premium economy in most other airlines. I hope the introduction of premium economy to Emirates doesn’t lead to a drop in standards.
Sounds good, but then again you need a ton of Skywards points…
I like Emirates, but I don’t find much value in their frequent flyer program. But it’s nice to have another transfer partner.
Neither do the Thai and Malaysia programs offer much value.
Taxes and charges do appear to be on the high side which is a shame.
Emirates is now partnering with all major bank credit card point transfer programs. It is just not a good time now for this but it should be easier to get Emirates miles.
While I appreciate having more transfer partners, I wish Citi would add more usable partners, and some hotel partners.
The lack of hotel partners is a big blow to the TY program.
I wish they would ad AA as an option.
Me too! Hopefully that will be one good thing to come out of the COVID-19 crisis.
Any of AA, Delta, or United would be good, or maybe SW too. Chase and Amex each have a major carrier so Citi getting one would be good.
Already heard from Emirates couple of days back.
Citi Thank You expanding their partners further is a good thing for us customers. I applaud Citi for doing this.
Nice partner, I hope I’ll use them next year. Right now I’m planning next year routes – it helps in isolation time
This deal seems to be very good. I plan on travelling to Europe as soon as the silly travel bans are lifted. We need to get back to work. Deals like this can help.
Citi is REALLY upping their game and trying to be a contender as of late. This is good. I still say they need a good domestic transfer partner though. Jet Blue just doesn’t cut it for most people.
Yes, while I constantly see Jet Blue as a well-regarded airline, I also constantly can’t fly them for the most part because of their limited routing. So, not cutting it for me, unfortunately.
Muy buen blog, y hay buenas ofertas.
This does improve their offerings somewhat. However, even with the hint about originating in Europe, I’m not sure I would like to pay those type of surcharges for even the best first class product.
Excellent, a new way to redeem our point in Citi, but I think I´ll not use it 🙂
But it is good to have in your back pocket. More options are not a bad thing.
Exactly, you never konw when you will reach for your back pocket 🙂
Or if you’re not careful, when they’ll reach for your back pocket. Watch out for those devaluations and never transfer until you’re ready.