Citi Adds Copa Airlines
Look who just got one more new transfer partner. Just over a month after adding Japan Airlines, Citi adds Copa Airlines ConnectMiles. The new transfer partnership appeared on Citi’s website this morning. The Panama City-based airline operates routes across the Caribbean, Central America, South America and North America, and it is also part of Star Alliance. Citi is now the first U.S. credit card program to offer transfers to Copa Airlines. Citi follows in the footsteps of Rove, the shopping and travel portal that also added Copa as a partner in September. The standard transfer ratio will be 1:1 for those who hold a Citi card with an annual fee (such as the Citi Strata Premier℠ or the Citi Strata Elite℠). Let’s take a look at the new partnership.
Citi’s Newest Transfer Partner
As Citi adds Copa Airlines ConnectMiles, the standard transfer ratios will be as follows, depending on the Citi cards you hold:
- Eligible annual-fee cardholders*: Transfers will be at a 1:1 ratio, with 1,000 ThankYou Points = 1,000 Copa Airlines ConnectMiles
- *Citi Strata Elite®, Citi Strata Premier®, Prestige® and AT&T Access More cardmembers
- Eligible no-annual-fee cardholders**: Transfers will be at a 1:0.7 ratio, with 1,000 ThankYou Points = 700 Copa Airlines ConnectMiles
- **Citi ThankYou® Preferred, Citi Strata® Card, Citi Double Cash® Card, Citi Custom Cash® Card, Citi ThankYou® Mastercard®, AT&T Universal Rewards World, AT&T Universal Savings and Rewards, AT&T Universal Rewards, AT&T Points PlusSM Card from Citi or AT&T Access cardmembers
Citi’s terms say transfers to ConnectMiles will typically be completed within 24 hours, “however the process may occasionally take up to 5 business days.” If you transfer from Citi to ConnectMiles, please report your DPs in the Facebook group.
Redeeming ConnectMiles
Copa Airlines operates flights between more than 90 destinations across the Caribbean, Central America, South America and North America. ConnectMiles has a region-based fixed award chart. Pricing between the U.S. and the Caribbean, Central America and South America starts at 15,000 miles in economy. It has two award types: saver and standard, with the more expensive standard flights more widely available. ConnectMiles expire after 24 months, but the expiration clock can be reset by earning or redeeming miles. The program also allows free stopovers on eligible award itineraries.
The ConnectMiles program does not pass on carrier-imposed surcharges on award flights, which is an excellent perk when redeeming miles for flights on partners like Lufthansa, Swiss, ANA and Emirates. You can also book San Francisco or Los Angeles to New York in United Polaris from 25,000 miles (saver pricing) or 55,000 miles (standard pricing).
Citi Adds Copa Airlines: ToP Thoughts
The news that Citi adds Copa Airlines ConnectMiles is great for those with a stash of ThankYou Points. The Panama City-based program can be useful for booking award flights on Star Alliance carriers. Historically, ConnectMiles has had few U.S. transfer partners. Citi is now the only U.S. credit card program to transfer to ConnectMiles. It joins Rove (which added Copa as a 1:1 partner last month) and Marriott Bonvoy (which has a 3:1 transfer ratio to the ConnectMiles program). If you’re new to searching ConnectMiles, you can begin by using tips from our award booking guide. What are your thoughts on this addition? Tell us over on the Facebook group.
