Advertisement Disclosure
Turkish Airlines is kicking off this Monday morning with a bang, offering a 50% transfer bonus when transferring your Citi ThankYou points to Turkish. If you’re considering booking any award travel with Turkish, this may be the time to jump on this fantastic offer while it’s still around. However, there are some major caveats to consider.
The Offer's Terms and Conditions
From May 15 to June 15, 2024, you can earn 50% extra Miles by converting your Citi ThankYou® Points into Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles miles. Here are the key points you need to know:
- 50% additional miles on converted ThankYou® Points
- 50% additional Miles will be awarded to members, but no additional Status Miles will be awarded
- You can earn up to 50,000 extra miles
- The miles earned during the campaign will be credited after the campaign has ended
- This campaign cannot be combined with any other Turkish Airlines campaign
The biggest thing to note is that the bonus miles will not be rewarded until after this promotion has ended, which adds a significant time delay factor to this decision. Given the time sensitivity of award flights, especially the rarer ones, it’s frustrating to have to wait so long to see your bonus points arrive.
Some Context: The Turkish Airlines Devaluation in February 2024
Unfortunately, in February 2024, Turkish Airlines significantly devalued its frequent flyer program. Here are some examples of Turkish Airlines’ former sweet spots:
- U.S. <> Europe business class 45k miles each way → 85k miles each way (89% increase)
- Intra U.S. economy travel (including to/from Alaska + Hawaii) 7.5k miles each way → 10k miles each way (33% increase)
- Intra U.S. business travel (including to/from Alaska + Hawaii) 12.5k miles each way → 15k miles each way (20% increase)
- U.S. <> Central Asia (e.g. Nepal, India) business class 52.5k miles each way → 100k miles each way (90% increase)
- U.S. <> South America (e.g. Aruba, Brazil, Turks & Caicos) business class 35k miles each way → 50k miles each way (43% increase)
This was an enormous devaluation when it was discovered and greatly reduced the value proposition of Turkish Airlines miles.
Turkish Airlines Sweet Spots
Despite the recent devaluation, Turkish Airlines still has some (albeit, few) fantastic sweet spots in their award chart. Here are a few examples:
USA <> Turkey On Turkish Airlines Business Class: 44k Citi ThankYou Points (65k Normally)
Turkish Airlines flies several nonstop routes out of the United States to/from Turkey, and the prices for these routes are not too shabby—just 65,000 Turkish miles one way with okish fees. However, with this 50% transfer bonus, you can get a one way flight for just 43,333 Citi ThankYou points, which is incredible value. This beats out even the likes of Air France’s infamous 50k one ways to Europe, which is pretty impressive.
East Coast USA <> India On Turkish Airlines Business Class: 67k Citi ThankYou Points (100k Normally)
Turkish now prices its award tickets based on the cumulative distance traveled, including any layovers. However, with this in mind, there are still some great awards available when flying to/from India via East Coast USA airports. For example, when flying to India via JFK, BOS, and even ORD, Turkish Airlines only charges 100k miles to fly one-way business class. With this 50% transfer bonus, that becomes just 66,666 Citi ThankYou points, which competes with even American Airline’s amazing pricing for that route.
Domestic USA Business & Economy Flights: 7k & 10k Citi ThankYou Points (10k & 15k Normally)
The Turkish Airlines award chart is split up for partner award bookings, but the most intriguing scenario is for domestic flights within any one country. When looking at this chart, it’s easy to recognize the value that could be derived:
Based on the chart, you can get one way economy flights from mainland 48 states US to Hawaii or Alaska for just 10,000 miles one way. For business class, you’re looking at just 15,000 miles one way, independent of the distance traveled (as long as it is a domestic flight). With this 50% transfer bonus, you’re looking at 6,666 Citi ThankYou points one way in economy and just 10,000 Citi ThankYou points one way in business class.
To really cement how ridiculous this is, let’s take a look at an example booking. A roundtrip cash booking for SFO to HNL costs around $1,300 USD. With this partner booking option, you can get that flight for just 20,000 Citi ThankYou points—a value proposition of 6.5 cents per point.
Is This Worth Doing?
I think so, but proceed with caution. On the surface, this promotion is excellent—the chance to earn 50% bonus miles can significantly enhance the value of your hard earned points and miles. However, it’s crucial to approach this deal with some skepticism. The bonus miles are not credited until after the promotion ends, which means there's a time delay that can really make or break whether you can score high-value awards. If you need the miles immediately or are planning to book a high-demand flight soon, this delay might impact your ability to secure the best deals. So, while the extra miles are definitely a great perk, it's important to factor in this timing when deciding whether to participate in the promotion.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this Turkish Airlines and CitiBank promotion offers a compelling opportunity to boost your Miles&Smiles balance with 50% extra miles. This can open doors to amazing travel experiences and help offset the recent devaluation in the program. However, the delay in crediting the bonus miles is an important factor to consider. If your travel plans are flexible and you can afford to wait for the bonus miles to post, this deal is a fantastic way to maximize your rewards. Just be sure to weigh this timing and plan accordingly.
