Citi ThankYou, which is one of the four major transferable points programs, has just added a new hotel partner. This is the second hotel partner that the program has added in recent weeks, as Choice Privileges was added as a transfer partner in October. This development also comes a day after American AAdvantage was removed as a Citi ThankYou transfer partner.
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Transfer Citi points to Wyndham at a 1:1 ratio
The Citi ThankYou program has just added Wyndham Rewards as its newest transfer partner. Assuming you have one of the premium Citi cards, like the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (review), the transfer ratio is 1:1, and you can transfer points in increments of 1,000 points.
Citi ThankYou is the second major points currency to partner with Wyndham Rewards, after Capital One.
There are several great cards earning Citi ThankYou points, and as long as you have a premium card like the Citi Strata Premier, then all points can be transferred to the ThankYou airline and hotel partners.
Is transferring Citi points to Wyndham worth it?
While more transfer partners being added is a good thing, I have a hard time getting excited about this. Personally I value Wyndham Rewards points at 0.7 cents each, and when Wyndham has a promotion on purchased points, you can typically acquire points for under a cent each.
For context, Wyndham Rewards properties cost either 7,500, 15,000, or 30,000 points per night, and while there are some premium properties, they’re the exception rather than the norm. So while there might be some situations where it can be worth buying Wyndham points for under a cent each, I still don’t see much value in taking advantage of this transfer opportunity, given the better uses of these points.
This is quite a contrast to Choice Privileges, where points transfer at a 1:2 ratio. I value Choice Privileges and Wyndham Rewards points roughly equally, so as you can tell, transferring points to Choice is a much better value, since the ratio is twice as good.
Bottom line
The Citi ThankYou program has added Wyndham Rewards as a transfer partner, making it the program’s second hotel partner. It’s always exciting to see new transfer partners added with the major programs. Unfortunately, I have a hard time seeing the value in this, given the 1:1 transfer ratio, and my valuation of 0.7 cents per Wyndham point.
Anyone have a different take, and think transferring Citi points to Wyndham makes sense?
I find roughly same value for Choice / Wyndham points puzzling, Choice seems to constantly have higher price, and way less aspiring redeeming opportunities.
Yesssssss. I’m in a holding pattern right now until Jan 1, 2022 then I start stacking massive amounts of American loyalty points with my Citi AADVANTAGE and Barclays Aviator Silver. So I will move 1,000 citi points over to Wyndham. I am two stays away from having Wyndham out of my life.
It’s super easy to derive .02+ cents/mile value at Grands, Club Wyndhams, & Vacasa. Which is really where I would ever see you booking anyway! But yes a def pass on the lower 3/4 of the chains’ brands, you’d do better paying cash than a point transfer.