Big news in the points world: Citi has officially launched its brand-new Strata Elite℠ Card, marking its return to the premium credit card space. But even bigger? Citi has permanently added American Airlines AAdvantage® back as a 1:1 transfer partner—and that opens up a whole new world of award travel options.

Even better, Citi has expanded access to most of its travel partners for no-annual-fee cards like the Citi Double Cash®. That’s a huge shift for everyday earners—though there are a few things to keep in mind.

Let’s break down what’s changed and how to use these updates to your advantage.

No-Annual-Fee Citi Cards Now Get Access to More Transfer Partners

Until recently, if you had a no-annual-fee Citi card, your transfer options were limited to just a few hotel and airline partners like Choice, Wyndham, and JetBlue.

That’s no longer the case.

Citi has opened up nearly all of its travel partners to no-annual-fee cards. That means more opportunities to use your ThankYou Points with programs like Flying Blue, Singapore KrisFlyer, Turkish Miles&Smiles, and others—even if you’re not paying an annual fee.

Important: You still can’t transfer directly to American Airlines unless you have a premium Citi card.

But Transfer Ratios Are Lower for No-Fee Cards

While more transfer partners are now unlocked, there’s a catch: you’ll get less value per point on no-annual-fee cards.

Here’s what to expect:

• Airline transfers typically happen at 1,000 ThankYou Points = 700 miles (instead of 1,000 = 1,000 with premium cards)
• Hotel partners are also affected. For example:
  • Choice Privileges: 1,000 = 1,400 (used to be 2,000)
  • Wyndham Rewards: 1,000 = 700
  • Accor: 1,000 = 350

If you’re serious about transferring points, especially to airlines, consider pairing your no-fee card with a premium Citi card. That lets you combine points and transfer at full value.

The Return of American Airlines AAdvantage Transfers

This is the news everyone is buzzing about: Citi is now the only issuer offering a direct 1:1 transfer to American Airlines AAdvantage.

Eligible cards include:

• Citi Strata Elite℠ ($595 annual fee)
• Citi Strata Premier℠ ($95 annual fee) My #1 Pick!
• Citi Prestige® (no longer open to new applicants)

With any of these cards, you can transfer Citi ThankYou Points to AAdvantage miles at a 1:1 ratio, with no cap. This makes premium Citi cards one of the most powerful tools for unlocking American Airlines award travel.

How to Maximize AAdvantage Miles and What to Watch Out For

AAdvantage miles are incredibly versatile, but to get the most out of them, it helps to understand how the program works.

Redeem Miles for American Airlines Flights

Web Special fares can offer incredible value. Domestic flights sometimes start at just 5,000 miles one-way. There have even been deals to Mexico and the Caribbean at that same rate. You might also find business or first class at great value—like Flagship First from Los Angeles to London for 110,000 miles one-way.

Use the award calendar on American’s website to compare prices across a full month. The lowest-mileage dates are often highlighted for easy comparison.

American uses dynamic pricing for its own flights, so award costs vary depending on demand, date, and route.

Redeem Miles for Partner Airlines

American still uses a fixed award chart for its 20+ partners, including Qatar Airways, Japan Airlines, Iberia, Finnair, British Airways, and more.

For example, it costs 57,500 miles to fly to Europe in business class on a partner airline—no surprise pricing, just consistency. The downside? Some partners, like British Airways, pass along hefty fuel surcharges.

The good news is that many other partners offer low-fee or no-fee redemptions and excellent premium cabins. This includes Qatar Airways QSuites, Japan Airlines business class, and Iberia’s lie-flat seats.

American uses dynamic pricing for its own flights, so award costs vary depending on demand, date, and route.

What to Know About Booking Partner Flights

You can book many partner flights directly on American’s website, but not all. If you find award space on a partner airline’s site (like Etihad), note the flight number, date, and route, then call American to complete the booking with your miles.

Be specific when speaking to the agent. Instead of saying “I’d like to fly from New York to Abu Dhabi,” try “I found award space on Etihad flight 130 on January 14.”

Other Ways to Redeem AAdvantage Miles

While flights offer the best value, you can also use AAdvantage miles for:

• Admirals Club day passes
• Seat upgrades
• Main Cabin Extra
• Car rentals and hotels
• Experiences and events

These options usually provide lower value. For example, a $79 Admirals Club pass costs 7,900 miles (just 1 cent per mile). Car rentals and hotels often give even worse value—more like 0.5 to 0.7 cents per mile.

If you have elite status or hold an AAdvantage co-branded card that already grants lounge access or preferred seating, using miles this way doesn’t make sense.

American Airlines Partners You Can Book with Miles

AAdvantage miles can be used on the following airlines:

Oneworld Alliance:

• Alaska Airlines
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Iberia
• Japan Airlines
• Finnair
• Qatar Airways
• Qantas
• Royal Jordanian
• SriLankan Airlines
• Royal Air Maroc
• Fiji Airways
• Malaysia Airlines

Other partners:

• Aer Lingus
• Etihad Airways
• Air Tahiti Nui
• GOL
• JetSmart
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Cape Air
• China Southern
• IndiGo

Final Thoughts

This new Citi and American Airlines partnership makes Citi ThankYou Points more powerful than ever—especially if you hold a premium Citi card.

If you have a no-fee Citi card, you now have more travel options, though the transfer ratios aren’t ideal. But if you’re looking to fly American Airlines or its partners, especially in premium cabins, a premium Citi card may be worth adding to your wallet.

Need help putting together your Citi points strategy or finding award space on American or one of its partners?

Grab a free points consult here.