HUGE Citi Updates - September 2026
Citi just announced Japan Airlines (JAL) as its newest transfer partner! 👏
Rumors were circulating two months ago when Citi added Japan Airlines on a transfer partner page for select accounts.
The Japanese airline has been pushing to “expand mileage and point exchange partnerships” according to a March press release.
We’re certainly feeling that push as Citi now becomes the 4th flexible point currency with access to JAL (after Bilt, Capital One, and Rove).
Our team recently highlighted some Japan Airlines sweet spots last week - and those sweet spots are even sweeter now with a 30% transfer bonus from Citi through October 24.
With this transfer bonus, a 60,000 point Emirates business class flight could be booked for only 47,000 Citi TY Points...
Or a 55,000 point business class redemption to Japan from the US can be booked for only 43,000 Citi TY Points.
The influx of flexible points currencies over to Japan Airlines could push these prices higher in the future - but for right now, we’re celebrating (and searching for flights ASAP).
While we're mentioning Citi, the bank also updated some credit card terms worth covering.
Their longtime 48-month rule has shifted to lifetime language on the Strata lineup of cards affecting the Citi Strata℠ Card, Citi Strata Premier® Card, and Citi Strata Elite® Card.
For example, the following language on the Citi Strata Premier® Card now reads:
New account bonus offer is not available if you currently have or previously had a Citi Strata Premier® account. You also may not be eligible for the new account bonus offer based on a number of factors, such as your history of opening, closing and using credit cards.
Previously, cardholders could earn a signup bonus every 48 months on many of Citi’s cards.
Now, people will be tied to one signup bonus per card per lifetime, depending on how Citi defines the timeframe.
The bright spot is that card term language does not include any information for holding multiple cards - meaning individuals are still eligible for each Strata card signup bonus!