Citi Adds Japan Airlines as Transfer Partner
Tokyo continues to be one of the top international destinations for U.S. travelers. According to recent Citi Travel booking data, Tokyo ranked as the platform’s top international destination and third most-booked destination overall. More than one in three Citi Travel bookings were for international destinations, with Asia and Europe leading the way.
Now Citi ThankYou is adding another option for travelers looking to get to Japan and beyond. Beginning September 20, Citi ThankYou members can transfer points to Japan Airlines Mileage Bank (JAL).
To celebrate the new partnership, Citi is also launching a 30% transfer bonus to JAL Mileage Bank through October 24, 2026.
During the promotional period:
- Eligible cardmembers with an annual-fee card can transfer 1,000 ThankYou Points for 1,300 JAL miles.
- Eligible cardmembers with a no-annual-fee card can transfer 1,000 ThankYou Points for 910 JAL miles.
Following the promotion, the standard transfer rates will be 1,000 ThankYou Points for 1,000 JAL miles for eligible annual-fee cardmembers and 1,000 ThankYou Points for 700 JAL miles for eligible no-annual-fee cardmembers.
Citi ThankYou Transfer Partners
| Partner | Ratio |
|---|---|
| Accor Live Limitless | 2 : 1 |
| Aeromexico Club Premier | 1 : 1 |
| Air France KLM Flying Blue | 1 : 1 |
| American Airlines AAdvantage | 1 : 1 |
| Avianca LifeMiles | 1 : 1 |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 1 : 1 |
| Choice Privileges | 1 : 1.5 |
| Emirates Skywards | 1 : 0.8 |
| Etihad Guest | 1 : 1 |
| EVA Air Infinity MileageLands | 1 : 1 |
| Japan Airlines | 1 : 1 |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | 1 : 1 |
| Leading Hotels of the World | 5 : 1 |
| Preferred Hotels & Resorts | 1 : 2 |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 1 : 1 |
| Qatar Privilege Club | 1 : 1 |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | 1 : 1 |
| Thai Royal Orchid Plus | 1 : 1 |
| Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles | 1 : 1 |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 1 : 1 |
| Virgin Atlantic | 1 : 1 |
| Wyndham Rewards | 1 : 1 |
Guru’s Wrap-up
This is a great addition to the Citi ThankYou transfer partner lineup, especially with JAL being useful for both its own flights and partner awards. The 30% launch bonus makes the new partnership even more interesting, bringing the promotional rate to 1:1.3 for eligible annual-fee Citi cardholders.
There’s also an interesting overlap right now with Capital One is offering its own 30% transfer bonus to JAL through September 30.
