I’ve got the Citi Double Cash card and for the most part, it just sits in the sock drawer. I can do better on non-bonus category spend with my BofA Travel Rewards card at 2.625% on travel credits. And my Amex Business Blue card combined with my Schwab Platinum card allows me to earn 2.5% cashback into my Schwab account. Those two have been my go-to moves for non-bonus category spending.
This new change allowing 2% cash back from the Citi Double Cash card to be transferred to Thank You points adds a third option at a somewhat lower holding cost per card.
With my BofA Travel Rewards card, I need to keep $100,000 on deposit with either Merrill Lynch or Bank of America. With the Amex Blue Business Plus Card, I need to pair it with a Platinum card to get the 2.5% cash back and that’s about a $450 fee. And remember, we lost the ability to redeem airline fee credits for gift cards this year as well. Bye Bye Schwab Platinum at renewal time.
If you hold a Citi Premier card with a $95, fee you’ll earn 1.25 cents per point when redeeming through the Thank You Travel Center. I’ve used that for rental cars in the past and enjoy not digging in the pocket for cash.
I have not spend much time exploring other Thank You Point Travel Redemption center options. But now seems like the right time. I know they have over a dozen transfer partners if that is your goal for higher redemption values on premium cabin travel.
Citi ThankYou travel redemption opportunities
I just checked “Activities Redemptions” in my area and they are varied and interesting. From a walking tour at $6.08 or 608 TY points to a pontoon rental at $240 or 24,000 points. Activities seem to redeem at 1 cent each.
Car Rentals continue to appear to be priced at 1.25 cents value per point, but always shop around before taking this redemption.
Cruises look like you had to call and I personally won’t, as I use vacationstogo.com for their 90 day ticker prices which we have found over the year to be the best around.
Stay away from buying gift cards and shopping with points, as the redemptions are below par. You can even pay your mortgage, student loan or get statement credits if you prefer.
I’m going to concentrate on comparing rental cars and possible pontoon boat rentals. I’ve got plenty of hotel, airline and Ultimate Rewards points. But having one more option never hurts.
Did anything catch your eye as a gr/eat redemption for you and your family. And I’ll do more studying up on family sharing as well. That sounds like it could have some value as well.
Pontoon boat rentals?
Yup. Check out the “activities” option for redemptions. The “activities” are location specific
Don’t knock it till you try it? 🙂
I have the BofA Travel Rewards and the Citi Double cash cards Rick. Honestly, for me, even though there are some higher percentages with the BofA card, I hate how I have to redeem through BofA – as a credit on that card – it’s so inflexible.
One of the ways I like to meet minimum spend on a new card is making a purchase on that new card and then reimbursing myself with the cash back I have from a different card. I can’t meet min spend with the BofA as the only way to redeem is on that card as a credit.
For example, we’ve got a trip to Yosemite next year and we’re paying for the accom via “cash back”. I just applied for a new Chase card and part of how I’m going to make the min spend is to make a payment on my new Chase (earning triple points for travel) and then reimburse that from my Citi cash back. While there’s higher percentages out there, inflexible cash back cards are a real nail in the coffin for me.
Thanks MK for the comment. I have reoccurring tolls that I can pay with my BofA card and a stupid timeshare I bought for nothing on the resale market but have reoccurring annual fees. You are right. If it wasn’t for that the BofA card would be tough to keep
Got it. I just wanted to say my thoughts on the BofA card in case I was missing something. That limited way to redeem is just too hard for me. I always like reading your articles and gleaning from your many years of experience Rick!
“…. we lost the ability to redeem airline fee credits for gift cards this year as well…..” Well, this is not true.
We are all listening PM. Care to share??
UPDATE: a Reddit reader found wording that only program accepting transfer from double cash to ty points is JetBlue. Hang on a few days before moving your cash back balance.
Per DofC