Citi ThankYou Points now transfer to Copa Airlines ConnectMiles at 1:1 on Citi’s annual-fee cards, effective October 25, 2026. Cards with no annual fee transfer at 1,000:700, so 10,000 points become 7,000 ConnectMiles. We found no press release from Citi or Copa and no launch bonus. Frequent Miler spotted the change on October 25.
AwardWallet calls Citi the first credit card currency to partner with Copa. Before this, the easy route in was Rove, which ran a 40% launch bonus to Copa through September 30.
What changed
- Before: no Citi card transferred to ConnectMiles. US earners needed Rove Miles at 1:1 or Marriott Bonvoy points at 3:1.
- Now: ThankYou Points move to ConnectMiles at 1:1 from the Citi Strata Premier, the Citi Strata Elite, the Citi Prestige and the AT&T Access More.
- No-fee cards: the Citi Strata Card, the Citi Double Cash, the Citi Custom Cash and other no-fee ThankYou cards transfer at 1,000 points to 700 miles.
- Who it affects: Citi cardholders who fly to Panama, Central America, South America or the Caribbean, and anyone booking Star Alliance awards with Citi points.
- Launch bonus: none so far.
Key terms
- Minimum: Citi’s Strata Premier page says, “The minimum transfer is only 1,000 points.”
- Linking: you need a free ConnectMiles account before your first transfer. Use the same name on it as on your Citi account.
- Timing: Citi hasn’t published a posting time for Copa. We’re not sure yet whether transfers land in minutes or days, so move points a few days before you need them.
- Transfers are final: points you send to Copa don’t come back to Citi.
- The partner network: Copa joined Star Alliance in June 2012 and serves 91 airports in 32 countries from its Panama City hub, according to Star Alliance’s Copa page.
What ConnectMiles is good for
ConnectMiles still publishes a fixed award chart, which is rare in 2026. Most programs price awards from the cash fare, so the cost isn’t known until you search. AwardWallet’s breakdown of the chart lists these one-way saver prices from the US cities in Copa’s North America 1 zone:
| One way, saver award | Economy | Business |
|---|---|---|
| North America 1 to Panama | 15,000 miles | 30,000 miles |
| North America 1 to Mexico | 17,500 miles | 30,000 miles |
| North America 2 to Panama | not listed | 40,000 miles |
Saver awards also price Copa’s partners, including other Star Alliance airlines and Emirates. Frequent Miler points out three features: Emirates awards with no fuel surcharges, a free stopover and two open-jaws on round-trip awards. An open-jaw means you fly into one city and home from another.
Copa routes its flights through its Panama City hub, so a round trip to Lima or Buenos Aires has room for a few days in Panama for no extra miles. Search those trips on Copa’s own site with its multi-city option.
How Copa fits next to Citi’s other partners
Citi already sends points to two other Star Alliance programs, Avianca LifeMiles and Turkish Miles&Smiles. It also added Japan Airlines Mileage Bank on September 20. Copa doesn’t replace any of them. It adds a fixed chart for Latin America and a stopover the others don’t offer.
| Route into ConnectMiles | Ratio | Points for a 30,000-mile award |
|---|---|---|
| Citi Strata Premier or Strata Elite | 1:1 | 30,000 ThankYou Points |
| Citi no-fee card | 1,000:700 | about 43,000 ThankYou Points |
| Rove Miles | 1:1 | 30,000 Rove Miles |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 3:1 | 90,000 Marriott points |
The no-fee figure comes from 30,000 divided by 0.7, which is 42,857, rounded up to the next 1,000 points.
Our take
We’d use Copa for a specific award to Panama or South America that you’ve already found, and we wouldn’t transfer on spec. Our points valuation guide puts Citi ThankYou Points at about 1.9 cents each. At that rate, a 30,000-mile business class seat to Panama costs about $570 of points from a Strata Premier (30,000 × 1.9 cents). When the cash fare on your date is well above $570, the transfer is a good deal.
The no-fee cards change the answer. The same seat requires about 43,000 points at 1,000:700, or about $817 of points, so the cash fare needs to top $817 before the transfer beats our valuation. Double Cash holders who plan to use Copa often get the 1:1 rate by combining their points with a Strata Premier account. Our Citi Strata explainer covers each card’s fee and transfer rate.
Act if you hold a Strata Premier or Strata Elite and you fly to Latin America. Skip it if you mostly fly to Europe or Asia, where Citi’s Cathay Pacific partner and LifeMiles often price better. If you’re picking a card for Citi’s partners, start with our best travel credit cards guide.
FAQ
What is the Citi to Copa transfer ratio?
1:1 from the Citi Strata Premier, Citi Strata Elite, Citi Prestige and AT&T Access More. No-fee Citi cards transfer at 1,000:700.
Is there a transfer bonus from Citi to Copa?
No. Citi added Copa on October 25, 2026 with no launch bonus. Rove’s 40% bonus to Copa ended September 30.
What is the minimum Citi transfer to ConnectMiles?
1,000 ThankYou Points, per Citi’s Strata Premier page.
Is Copa ConnectMiles part of Star Alliance?
Yes. Copa joined Star Alliance in June 2012, so ConnectMiles books awards on partners such as United.
What are ThankYou Points worth at Copa?
A 30,000-mile business class saver award to Panama costs about $570 of ThankYou Points at our 1.9-cent valuation.
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