The News

Citi has officially added American Airlines as a 1:1 transfer partner for its ThankYou Rewards program, making it the only major credit card issuer with direct transfers to American's AAdvantage program. The partnership launched Sunday, July 27, 2025, alongside Citi's new Strata Elite Card announcement.

Key facts:

• Three Citi cards now offer 1:1 American Airlines transfers
• Immediate availability - transfers went live on launch day
• Industry first - American was the last major US airline without transfer options
• New lounge benefits included with the premium Strata Elite Card

This development fundamentally changes the competitive landscape for transferable points programs and gives Citi cardholders unprecedented direct access to American's award chart.

What's Changing

For Existing Citi Cardholders

Current holders of eligible cards can immediately start transferring ThankYou points directly to American Airlines at a 1:1 ratio. This opens access to American's domestic and international award flights without the previous workaround of transferring through Oneworld partners like Qatar Airways or Cathay Pacific.

For New Applicants

The addition makes Citi's card lineup significantly more attractive, particularly the Citi Strata Premier Card with its $95 annual fee and comprehensive transfer partner network. New applicants now have a compelling reason to consider Citi over Chase or American Express for their primary earning strategy.

Background & Context

American Airlines has been the notable absence in the transfer partner ecosystem for years. While Delta partners exclusively with American Express and United works closely with Chase, American's only recent transfer option was a brief partnership with Bilt Rewards that ended in 2024.

This left American AAdvantage members in an awkward position - despite having the most valuable miles among US carriers according to current valuations, there was no direct way to transfer points from major credit card programs. Travelers had to either:

• Earn AAdvantage miles directly through American's co-branded cards
• Transfer points through Oneworld alliance partners like Qatar Airways (often at poor ratios)
• Book American flights through other programs like British Airways Avios

The new Citi partnership represents a strategic shift for American Airlines. As Scott Long, American's senior vice president of AAdvantage, indicated, this is just the beginning of a "broader and deeper" partnership between the two companies.

Citi's motivation is equally clear - adding American gives them a unique competitive advantage. While Chase has United and Amex has Delta, Citi now exclusively offers direct access to American's route network and award chart.

Expert Analysis

This changes the math completely for anyone choosing between major transferable points programs. American's miles consistently value higher than Delta SkyMiles or United MileagePlus miles, making this partnership particularly valuable for award travel enthusiasts.

The timing aligns perfectly with American's fleet modernization and route expansion. The airline recently introduced new Flagship Suites on select international routes and continues expanding its domestic network from key hubs like Charlotte, Dallas, and Phoenix.

From a strategic standpoint, 1:1 transfers preserve full value unlike American's previous transfer options. When transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards to British Airways to book American flights, you often faced higher award pricing and limited availability. Direct transfers eliminate these issues entirely.

The partnership also validates Citi's aggressive expansion of its ThankYou ecosystem. With 21 total transfer partners now including American, Citi offers the most comprehensive selection of any major issuer.

What This Means for Travelers

Winners

Existing Citi cardholders are the biggest winners, instantly gaining access to American's extensive domestic network and premium international routes. This is particularly valuable for travelers in American's hub cities or anyone targeting specific routes where American offers competitive award pricing.

Business travelers benefit significantly since American has strong corporate partnerships and excellent domestic frequency, especially for East Coast-West Coast routes.

International award travelers now have direct access to American's partnerships with Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, and other Oneworld carriers without transfer ratio penalties.

Losers

Chase and Amex cardholders lose some competitive advantage, though both still maintain their exclusive airline partnerships.

American's co-branded cardholders might question their strategy if they were primarily earning AAdvantage miles for transfer flexibility that now exists elsewhere.

How to Adapt Your Strategy

1. Evaluate Your Current Card Portfolio

If you're already earning ThankYou points through the Citi Strata Premier or other eligible cards, you now have significantly more redemption flexibility. Consider increasing your Citi spending to take advantage of this new option.

2. Compare Transfer Partner Networks

Before making your next card decision, compare total transfer options:

• Citi: 21 partners including American Airlines
• Chase: 14 partners including United Airlines
• Amex: 20+ partners including Delta Air Lines

3. Consider the Citi Trifecta Strategy

The Citi Strata Premier paired with Citi Double Cash and Custom Cash now offers compelling earning rates with access to American transfers for just $95 in total annual fees.

4. Book Strategically

Don't automatically transfer to American for every booking. Compare award pricing across all available options using tools like Point.Me or ExpertFlyer - sometimes United or Delta might still offer better value for specific routes.

Related Developments

• Citi launched the new Strata Elite Card with four annual Admirals Club passes
• American Airlines continues expanding its Flagship Suite availability on international routes
• The partnership includes hints of future collaboration beyond just points transfers

Looking Ahead

This partnership appears designed for longevity, unlike American's temporary transfer options during the pandemic. Expect Citi and American to announce additional collaboration in the coming months, potentially including enhanced earning rates or bonus transfer promotions.

The competitive response from Chase and Amex will be interesting to watch. Both issuers may feel pressure to enhance their existing airline partnerships or add new transfer options to maintain their competitive positions. Meanwhile, savvy travelers can use services like Roame Travel to help navigate these new award booking opportunities.

American's executives have indicated this is just the "first step" in their Citi partnership, suggesting more developments are coming that could further strengthen the value proposition for ThankYou cardholders. Stay alert for premium award space using tools like PointsYeah to maximize these new opportunities.

Bottom Line

Citi's addition of American Airlines as a transfer partner is genuinely game-changing for the points and miles landscape. It gives Citi cardholders direct access to the most valuable US airline miles while making the ThankYou ecosystem significantly more competitive with Chase and Amex alternatives.

Source: The Points Guy