Best use of Thank You Points
Nov 25, 2014, 7:53 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: USA
Programs: UA Global Services, TSA Pre✓, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,114
Best use of Thank You Points
I have 13,700 Thank You points sitting in my Citi account from the year or so I used the Citi forward card. I don't intend to get a Thank You points earning card in the near future and would like to dispose of my balance. What are the best uses of my balance?
Nov 26, 2014, 9:20 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,468
Not very familiar with the program, but if you don't have the top two cards (prestige or premier) you cannot redeem to any airline/hotel and so the best bet is to use it for redeeming credits against paid flights.
Nov 26, 2014, 9:53 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: LAX
Programs: AA, TY, UR, UA, US, WN, MR, SPG
Posts: 1,453
If you do not intend to get a Premier or Prestige card, then the best value you'll get for your points is 1cpp. Because gift card denominations can't work out to 13,700, your best bet is to use them for travel-related purchases costing >$137 so that you can clear out the points and pay the balance in cash.
Oct 11, 2015, 5:58 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 28
Best use of TY points without a Citi credit card?
I just learned that airline transfer partners are not available to me as my points were earned from my banking relationship and I have no citi credit card. Any suggestions for the best use of 50k TY pts under these circumstances. A bunch are expiring soon. Thanks guys.
Oct 11, 2015, 7:42 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 28
About 50k in points. I did look at the gift cards. The redemption rates were underwhelming but I guess that will be a last resort if nothing better. I thought I would be able to transfer to an airline partner but Citi only allows that if you have a credit card with them.
I wonder if I opened a credit card with them they would let me use the banking points that way, or whether those points are still excluded from airline transfer. I will have to check and see.
I wonder if I opened a credit card with them they would let me use the banking points that way, or whether those points are still excluded from airline transfer. I will have to check and see.
Last edited by mia; Oct 11, 2015 at 12:00 pm Reason: Combine consecutive replies
Oct 11, 2015, 12:00 pm
#8
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,949
Points earned through banking are classified as "taxable", and are not eligible for Sharing or Transfer. You will need to redeem them directly, but if you had a Premier or Prestige card the redemption value would be higher in some categories. The tax liability will be determined based on the value of the redemption.
Oct 12, 2015, 7:39 am
#10
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,949
You can combine points earned with other credit cards, but nothing other than an IT error at Citi will make taxable points Shareable or Transferrable. Taxable points can be used to purchase travel through the portal on thankyou.com, or redeemed for gift cards or merchandise.
Oct 27, 2015, 2:59 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 109
Best Use of 120k Citi TYP
Hi All,
Just looking for an opinion. I accrued 120k Citi TYP but have absolutely no plans to travel anywhere in the near future, which I suppose would provide the most value. That being said, what's the best value for these points? Gift cards, something else? Thanks!
Just looking for an opinion. I accrued 120k Citi TYP but have absolutely no plans to travel anywhere in the near future, which I suppose would provide the most value. That being said, what's the best value for these points? Gift cards, something else? Thanks!
Oct 27, 2015, 3:22 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,112
You can have a check sent to you at a rate of one cent per point under the perfect of a student loan repayment or mortgage payment. It's obviously better if this is the truth. Some people do it irrespective of the truth. I won't comment on the ethics of it.
