Credit Cards: The Ultimate Guide to Citi Thank You Rewards

Citi ThankYou Rewards logo

Welcome to the definitive guide to mastering one of the most versatile travel rewards programs on the market. If you are a reader of resortchasers.com, you know that we don’t just travel; we travel smarter.

While Chase and Amex often steal the spotlight, the Citi ThankYou Rewards program remains a compelling transferable points ecosystem in 2026 — adaptable for everyday spenders and luxury travelers alike. With cards like the Citi Strata Elite, Citi Strata Premier, and the everyday earners, your next resort getaway or premium flight might be closer than you think.

1. The Core Ecosystem: Which Cards Earn ThankYou Points?

To build a meaningful stash of points, you need the right tools. Citi offers a range of cards that earn ThankYou points, from no‑fee earners to premium travel options that unlock the full suite of transfer partners.

Citi ThankYou Rewards Credit Cards

Premium Cards (Unlock Full Transfer Access)

These cards unlock the full set of transfer partners and best transfer ratios when points are pooled under one primary ThankYou account:

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (premium travel rewards card):

• 12× points on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com

• 6× points on airfare booked through CitiTravel.com

• Citi Nights℠ dining bonus: 6× points per $1 at restaurants (including delivery) during designated weekend hours (Friday–Saturday, 6 p.m.–6 a.m. ET) and 3× outside those times

• 1.5× points on all other purchases

  This card also offers an annual hotel benefit and other premium credits that help offset its higher annual fee. (Citi)

  
  

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (mid‑tier travel card):

• 10× points on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com

• 3× points on airfare, restaurants, supermarkets, gas & EV charging, and other eligible travel purchases

• 1× on all other purchases (Bankrate)

  
  

Everyday Earners (Stack for Maximum Points)

These cards are great for everyday expenses and complement the premium cards well:

Citi Strata℠ Card (no annual fee):

• 5× points on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com

• 3× points at supermarkets, select transit, gas & EV charging

• 3× points on a self‑select category of your choice (fitness, streaming, live entertainment, beauty/pet stores, etc.)

• 2× points at restaurants

• 1× on all other purchases (Citi)

  
  

Citi Custom Cash® Card (no annual fee):

• 5× points on your highest eligible spend category each billing cycle (up to $500) — categories include groceries, dining, gas, fitness, travel, drugstores, and more

• 1× on all other purchases (Bankrate)

  
  

Citi Double Cash® Card (no annual fee):

• 2% total back (1% when you make a purchase + 1% when you pay it off)

• When converted to ThankYou points and linked to a premium card, this effectively becomes 2× ThankYou points on all spend (NerdWallet)

  
  

Important: Only premium travel cards (Strata Elite or Strata Premier) give you access to all airline and hotel transfer partners at the strongest ratios. Cards like Strata℠, Custom Cash, or Double Cash can earn points, but you must pool them with a premium card to unlock the full partner list and best transfer rates.

2. Everyday Scenarios: Building Your Point Fortune

With the right combination of cards — often referred to as a “Citi Trifecta” — you can earn elevated points across your budget.

Scenario A: The Grocery Guru

Your Citi Custom Cash or Citi Strata℠ Card can earn lots of points on groceries and other common expenses, which compounding across the year turns everyday spending into significant travel purchasing power.

Scenario B: The Daily Commuter

Use your Citi Strata Premier or Strata Elite Card for travel, dining, gas, and everyday expenses to earn 3× or more points in many common categories — powering your points balance even faster.

Scenario C: The “Everything Else” Safety Net

For incidental expenses or spur‑of‑the‑moment purchases that don’t fall in bonus categories, the Citi Double Cash puts 2× ThankYou points in your pocket.

3. Citi Nights℠: Supercharged Weekend Dining

One unique perk for Citi Strata Elite cardholders is Citi Nights℠ — a dining bonus that earns 6× ThankYou points per dollar on eligible restaurant and restaurant delivery purchases during specific weekend hours:

• Friday 6 p.m. – Saturday 6 a.m. ET and Saturday 6 p.m. – Sunday 6 a.m. ET

• Outside that window, dining earns 3× points per dollar on the Strata Elite Card (NerdWallet)

  
  

This effectively turns weekend dinner and delivery spending into one of the highest dining reward rates available (6× points) if you time it right.

4. How to Redeem for Maximum Value

Not all redemptions are created equal. Citi ThankYou points can be redeemed directly for travel through the Citi Travel℠ portal, but the best value nearly always comes from transferring points to loyalty programs.

Travel Portal Redemptions

Booking travel directly through Citi Travel typically gives you roughly a fixed cents‑per‑point value, which is fine for flexible scheduling but often pales in comparison to partner redemptions.

Transfer Partners: Airline & Hotel Loyalty Programs

When you transfer points, you can unlock outsized value — especially for premium cabins and luxury stays. Below are the major partners you can transfer to when you have a qualifying premium ThankYou card:

Airline Transfer Partners

• Aeromexico Rewards

• American Airlines AAdvantage

• Air France‑KLM Flying Blue

• Avianca LifeMiles

• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

• Emirates Skywards

• Etihad Guest

• EVA Air Infinity MileageLands

• JetBlue TrueBlue

• Qantas Frequent Flyer

• Qatar Airways Privilege Club

• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

• Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus

• Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

  
  

Hotel Transfer Partners

• Accor Live Limitless (ALL)

• Choice Privileges

• Preferred Hotels & Resorts (iPrefer / Leaders Club)

• Wyndham Rewards

  
  

Transferring points strategically can unlock exceptional redemptions across global airline alliances and a wide range of hotel brands.

2026 “Sweet Spots” for Resort Lovers and Travelers

Luxury Hotel Stays:

Transfer to hotel programs like Choice Privileges or Preferred Hotels & Resorts to stretch ThankYou points — sometimes earning multiple cents of value per point when redeeming for high-end properties or vacation rentals.

Premium Flights:

Transferring to airline partners like Virgin Atlantic, Turkish Airlines, or Qatar Airways can unlock premium cabin award space (e.g., long-haul business or first class) that would cost significantly more if booked with cash or less flexible rewards programs. Also, American Airlines AAdvantage is a rare and powerful partner that allows for high-value domestic and international Oneworld bookings.

The magic of the ThankYou ecosystem is being able to tailor your redemption strategy to *the kind of travel you want* — from domestic luxury city stays to international business and first-class adventures.

5. Pro Tips for Managing Your Points

• Link and Pool Points: Combine points from multiple Citi cards into a single premium ThankYou account to access the strongest transfer options.

• Hold a Premium Card: Without a Strata Elite or Strata Premier card in your lineup, your transfer options and ratios are often limited.

• Plan Your Transfers: Only transfer when you have a specific award redemption in mind — transfer partners and ratios can vary by card and can change over time.

• Points Sharing: Citi allows you to transfer up to 100,000 points per year to any other ThankYou member for free. Note: These points expire 90 days after sharing.

• The 10% Back Rule: If you have the (now discontinued) Citi Rewards+® Card, you get 10% of your points back on the first 100,000 points you redeem every year.

  
  

Summary: Is Citi ThankYou Rewards Right for You?

In 2026, Citi ThankYou Rewards remains a versatile and rewarding program suited for both everyday point builders and aspirational travel redemptions. With strong earn rates from Citi Strata cards — including the unique Citi Nights℠ dining boost — and a rich roster of airline and hotel partners, you can turn grocery runs, weekend dining, and daily spending into memorable travel experiences.

Whether you’re aiming to stretch a modest points balance into a few nights at a resort or booking premium flights around the world, the Citi ThankYou ecosystem — anchored by the family of Strata cards — offers flexible avenues to make that happen.

If you’d like, I can also add 2026 real‑world sweet spots and example redemption scenarios using these transfer partners!