We’ve just seen a new transfer bonus introduced for those looking to move Citi ThankYou points to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles…
In this post:
Cathay Pacific 15% transfer bonus from Citi
Between June 17 and July 20, 2024, the Citi ThankYou program in the United States is offering a 15% bonus on points transfers to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles.
Ordinarily points transfer at a 1:1 ratio (in 1,000 point increments), while through this promotion you’d get 1,150 Asia Miles for every 1,000 Citi ThankYou points transferred.
It’s fairly rare to see transferable points currencies offering bonuses when moving rewards to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, so this is worth considering. There are several great cards earning Citi ThankYou points, including the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (review), and it’s easy to combine points between the cards.
Is this Cathay Pacific transfer bonus worth it?
The Cathay Pacific Asia Miles program is one that has become increasingly useful over time, even though it’s one I historically haven’t really liked.
The single biggest thing to be aware of is that while Cathay Pacific belongs to the oneworld alliance, Cathay Pacific restricts a vast majority of its first and business class award space to members of the Asia Miles program, so that award space isn’t bookable through programs like Alaska Mileage Plan and American AAdvantage. That didn’t used to be the case, and it’s the single biggest way that the value of this currency has improved.
There are also some situations where partner redemptions represent a good deal, though I’d say they’re the exception rather than the norm. For example, one valuable partner sweet spot of the program is that when booking through Asia Miles, British Airways flights have lower carrier imposed surcharges than through other programs.
Bottom line
Through July 20, 2024, the Citi ThankYou program is offering a 15% bonus when you transfer points to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. While this is hardly the most lucrative promotion ever, it’s worth taking advantage of if you’re going to make a transfer anyway. For example, I recently used the Asia Miles program to book a Cathay Pacific award ticket, as partner programs didn’t have any award space.
I wouldn’t take advantage of this speculatively, but if you have a specific use in mind and you know what you’re doing, this could be worth it.
Are any OMAAT readers taking advantage of this Asia Miles transfer bonus?
So what are the sweet spots? What do you like and what don’t you like?
Doesn't work. Only transfered 1000 miles, not 1150 when I just tried.
Boo.
What’s good are Cathay miles? You can’t redeem them. They are like US dollars on the titanic.
Cathay has lost a lot of its lustre in the last five years or so.
I hope they can gain it back.