New 20% Transfer Bonus from Citi ThankYou Points to Qantas Frequent Flyer
Citi ThankYou 20% transfer bonus to Qantas. Image Credit:Citi
Why this matters
Transfer bonuses to Qantas are rare, and this is the first one we've seen from Citi in a long time. While Qantas isn't always the go-to program for award flights, there are some great sweet spots.
How it works
The bonus is pretty straightforward. If you hold the Citi Strata Elite or Citi Strata Premier card (or certain AT&T cards), you'll get the full 1:1.2 transfer ratio. That's 1,200 Qantas points for every 1,000 Citi points you transfer.
Transfers need to be made in increments of 1,000 points minimum, and you have until 11:59 PM ET on November 8 to take advantage. The bonus is built right into the transfer partner page, so there's no guessing what you see is what you get.
CitiThank 20% Bonus Transfaring to Qantas
Where Qantas points shine
Here's where things get interesting. Qantas has some genuinely useful redemption opportunities, especially if you know where to look.
Emirates premium cabins
Qantas points are among the best options for booking Emirates flights.
For example, an Emirates Business Class from New York (JFK) to Dubai (DXB) would cost you 113,900 points normally.
With this transfer bonus, you'd only need 94,917 Citi points for that flight.
The taxes and fees on Emirates can be high, especially on routes ex-Australia, but shorter flights from Asia to Dubai or within the Middle East offer better value.
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Emirates Flight availability with Roame SkyView Search
American Airlines within the US
Qantas uses distance-based pricing for American Airlines flights, which can be good for trips requiring connections through non-hub airports.
Short domestic hops on American start at just 9,200 points in economy.
East Coast to Europe
Flying from the US East Coast to Europe on Oneworld partners starts at 23,300 points in economy. With the 20% bonus, that's only 19,417 Citi points for a transatlantic flight a solid deal if you find availability.
Cards that unlock this bonus
To get the full 1:1.2 transfer ratio, you'll need one of these cards:
Citi Strata Premier (my pick for most people):
- $95 annual fee
- 3x points on dining, gas, supermarkets, and more
- Currently offering 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 spend
- $595 annual fee
- 3-6x points on dining
- Up to $300 hotel credit, $200 Splurge credit, Priority Pass membership
- Currently offering 100,000 bonus points after $6,000 spend
If you hold a different Citi card, you'll get a reduced transfer ratio (typically 1:0.84), which isn't worth it even with the bonus.
Should you transfer speculatively?
In general? No. Qantas points can't be transferred back once you move them, and availability on partner airlines can be spotty.
However, if you have a specific redemption in mind particularly for Emirates or a last-minute American Airlines flight this bonus can save you a meaningful chunk of points.
Finding availability the smart way
Here's where things get tricky. Emirates award availability has become more erratic in recent years, with seats sometimes released in batches rather than at a predictable schedule. One day you'll see nothing, the next day there are suddenly seats for the next few weeks.
Finding availability on premium cabin awards can be challenging. That's where Roame's SkyView comes in handy. You can track award availability across multiple airlines and cabin classes in real-time, getting alerts the moment seats open up. This is especially useful for Emirates first class, where seats can appear and disappear quickly. Head to roame.travel/skyview to start tracking availability today.
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Australia to Dubai in Emirates First Class Found Using Roame
Final Thoughts
This 20% Citi to Qantas bonus isn't the largest transfer bonus, but it's worth considering if you have a specific use in mind. Emirates premium cabins, American domestic flights, and transatlantic economy seats are where you'll find the best value.
Just remember: don't transfer speculatively. Make sure you've found award availability first, then pull the trigger on the transfer. The bonus ends November 8, so you've got a few weeks to scope out your options.
