Citi American Airlines Points Transfer Now Available at 1:1 Ratio

Citi cardholders have just received a significant upgrade to their points game. Starting July 27, 2025, eligible Citi ThankYou cardholders can now transfer their points directly to American Airlines AAdvantage miles at a 1:1 ratio.

This fills a long-standing gap for enthusiasts of the Citi American Airlines partnership who previously had to rely on other transfer options or cash redemptions. It also makes Citi ThankYou the only transferable points system to partner directly with AAdvantage miles for transfers (BILT ended their transfers to American in 2024). The move strengthens Citi’s relationship with American Airlines, for which it already serves as the co-branded credit card issuer.

Transfer Citi ThankYou Points to AAdvantage Miles

The new transfer option is pretty straightforward – every 1,000 Citi ThankYou points becomes 1,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles. There’s no complex math or reduced ratios to worry about. The transfers are available to cardholders with premium Citi cards, including the Strata Premier, Strata Elite, and Prestige cards.

What makes this partnership particularly valuable is that American Airlines has one of the largest route networks in the world, with strong domestic coverage and solid international partnerships through the oneworld alliance. It’s also worth noting that Citi doesn’t appear to have set maximum transfer restrictions, giving you flexibility in how many points you move and allowing you to redeem for award flights easily.

The timing is also strategic. American Airlines has been working to improve its award availability and redemption options, making AAdvantage miles more valuable than they’ve been in recent years. This provides Citi cardholders with another solid option among Citi’s airline transfer partners.

Which Citi Cards Work with American Airlines Transfers

Only three Citi cards qualify for these American Airlines transfer partner benefits:

Suppose you only have a basic Citi ThankYou card (like Double Cash or Custom Cash). In that case, you can now transfer points to Citi travel partners, albeit at a lower conversion ratio (usually 1000:700) compared to travel credit cards. But if you have a basic card plus one of the cards listed above (Citi’s travel cards), you can combine your points from the cards and transfer them to partners at the preferred transfer ratio (usually 1000:1000).

As for the co-branded American Airlines cards from Citi, you earn AAdvantage miles directly, so the transfer option isn’t necessary for those products.

How This Compares to Other Transfer Options

Citi already offers transfers to several airlines, but American Airlines was a notable gap in their lineup, and it’s now their only domestic carrier aside from JetBlue. What sets this apart is the combination of Citi’s existing relationship as American’s co-branded card issuer and their competitive ThankYou earning structure. 

The 1:1 ratio aligns with what most other airline partners offer, ensuring you’re not getting shortchanged on value. Combined with Citi’s other airline transfer options, this gives ThankYou cardholders a better set of redemption choices.

Citi Airline Transfer Partners

What This Partner Means for Your Citi Points Strategy

This new option gives Citi cardholders more flexibility in their redemption strategy. American Airlines miles can be particularly valuable for domestic travel within the U.S. and for international flights through oneworld partners like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Japan Airlines. They had also previously been hard miles to acquire without flying frequently with AA.

The key is knowing when to transfer versus using other redemption options. American Airlines miles are most effective when you can find saver-level award availability, which has improved significantly over the past year. For casual travelers, a cash back card option through Citi might still make more sense, but frequent flyers now have a compelling reason to consider the Strata card lineup.

Bottom Line 

The new Citi American Airlines transfer partnership adds real value for ThankYou cardholders, especially those who frequently fly American or its oneworld partners. The 1:1 ratio is competitive, and the lack of transfer caps gives you flexibility in your redemption strategy. Although it took longer than expected for Citi to add American Airlines to its transfer lineup, the partnership is now live and ready for use.

Related articles:

• Citi Brings Back Point Transfers to American Airlines. This Time, It’s for Good. – Upgraded Points
• Citi now offers transfers to American Airlines from Strata Elite, Prestige & Strata Premier – Frequent Miler
• Citi Launches the Citi Strata Elite Credit Card – Citigroup

Citi ThankYou Rewards and AAdvantage Program FAQs

Which Citi cards can transfer points to American Airlines?
Only the Citi Strata Premier, Strata Elite, and Prestige cards are eligible for American Airlines transfers. Basic ThankYou cards (like Double Cash or Custom Cash) don’t qualify.

What’s the transfer ratio from Citi to American Airlines?
The transfer ratio is 1:1, meaning 1,000 Citi ThankYou points equals 1,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles.

Is there a minimum or maximum transfer amount?
Transfer minimums typically start at 1,000 points, but Citi hasn’t announced specific maximum transfer limits to redeem for the American Airlines partnership.

How long do transfers take to process?
Most Citi airline transfers process within 24-48 hours, though it can occasionally take up to a few business days.

Can I transfer points from co-branded Citi American Airlines credit cards?
No, co-branded American Airlines cards from Citi earn AAdvantage miles directly, so they don’t need or offer transfer options.

Are there any fees for transferring points?
Citi typically doesn’t charge fees for airline transfers, but you should check your specific card’s terms to confirm.

Can I reverse a transfer if I change my mind?
No, airline transfers are typically final and cannot be reversed once processed.

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