City Cards and American Airlines: New Transfer Options

City recently revealed that American Airlines has become a transfer partner for earning reward points. Before this, American Airlines Aadvantage was notably absent from the loyalty programs associated with major credit card issuers.

Originally, point transfers to American Airlines were limited to certain City Cards that come with an annual fee, specifically the Citi StrataPremier® Card and the City Strata Elite Card.

Now, with American Airlines on board, City Cards can facilitate transfers, even with some decline in the transfer rate.

Transfer Options for City Card Holders

If you possess one of the fee-free City Cards, you can transfer your points to Aadvantage at a 1:0.7 ratio. Essentially, that implies you will get 700 Aadvantage miles for every 1,000 City points transferred.

Moreover, continues to allow point transfers at a 1:1 ratio for those with the appropriate City Cards. It’s important to stay updated on these details.

Personal Perspective

Personally, I’m quite satisfied that City is allowing American Airlines to be associated with fee-free cards. It’s significant for cardholders who might be hesitant to shell out annual fees but still wish to take advantage of valuable transfer partners.

Honestly, I don’t mind the lowered transfer rate—it seems fair to have a full 1:1 ratio linked to cards with annual fees. This aligns well with how other partners work, like JetBlue TrueBlue, as seen with other Citi cards.

For those seeking maximum value, pairing cards that have fees with free cards can help accumulate valuable rewards more effectively.

Conclusion

Citi’s new feature allowing year-round transfers to American Airlines is a positive step for many cardholders who prefer not to incur annual fees. However, keep in mind that the transfer ratio has changed. If you want to fully benefit from a 1:1 transfer rate, it may be wise to consider a City Card with fees.