Citi ThankYou Rewards has added Copa ConnectMiles as a new transfer partner, effective immediately. Top-tier Citi cardholders can move points at a 1:1 ratio, while most other ThankYou cards transfer at a 1,000:700 rate. The addition is significant because Copa unlocks some genuinely rare award sweet spots - most notably, Emirates flights with no fuel surcharges and round-trip awards that allow a free stopover plus two open-jaws.
| Copa ConnectMiles transfer rates from Citi ThankYou | |
Citi has rolled out two different transfer ratios depending on which card you hold. Here is the full breakdown:
1:1 transfers (1,000 Citi points = 1,000 ConnectMiles)
Citi Strata Elite
Citi Strata Premier
Prestige
AT&T Access More
1,000:700 transfers (1,000 Citi points = 700 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 Plus Card from Citi
AT&T Access
If you hold a Citi Strata Premier or Strata Elite, this is a clean, no-friction 1:1 transfer. The weaker 1,000:700 ratio on the cash-back cards is less exciting but still opens the door to Copa's award chart for cardholders who might not otherwise have a path there.
| Why Copa ConnectMiles is worth your attention | |
Copa Airlines is a Panama-based SkyTeam carrier, and ConnectMiles is its frequent flyer program. On its own, Copa offers decent award availability on its own flights across Latin America. But the program's real draw is how it lets you book partner airlines - and at what price.
The headline sweet spot: Emirates flights bookable through Copa with no fuel surcharges. Emirates typically levies heavy surcharges on its own award tickets - sometimes hundreds of dollars per person. Booking the same Emirates seat through Copa bypasses those fees entirely, meaning you pay only the base taxes, which are often just $20-$50 for shorter routes.
Copa's round-trip award structure also allows a free stopover and two open-jaws on a single round-trip ticket. That is a feature most US-facing programs have eliminated, making it a meaningful differentiator for travelers who want to visit multiple cities on one award booking.
| What is the value of Citi points transferred to Copa ConnectMiles? | |
Let's work through a concrete example. Emirates economy between the US East Coast and Dubai runs around 35,000-55,000 ConnectMiles one-way, depending on the route and season. The same ticket in cash can easily cost $800-$1,200. At 50,000 ConnectMiles for a one-way, you are getting roughly 1.6 to 2.4 cents per mile in value - and that is before factoring in the fuel surcharge savings, which could add another $200-$400 on top.
For a Citi Strata Premier cardholder transferring at 1:1, that means 50,000 ThankYou points could be worth $800 or more in Emirates flight value once surcharge savings are included. You can model different redemption scenarios using the Miles & Points Daily Award vs Cash Calculator.
If you are on one of the 1,000:700 cards, the math softens but does not disappear. Transferring 71,500 ThankYou points at that rate yields 50,050 ConnectMiles - still enough for many Emirates award seats, but at a slightly higher cost in points.
| How to take advantage of Citi to Copa transfers | |
Here are the practical steps to get started:
Log into your Citi ThankYou account and navigate to the 'Rewards' section, then 'Transfer Points'
Select Copa ConnectMiles from the partner list and enter your ConnectMiles membership number
Check award availability on Copa's website (copaair.com) before transferring - transfers are generally not reversible
Search for Emirates flights on Copa's partner award search, then transfer the exact amount you need
Book the award directly through Copa's call center or website and pay only base taxes at checkout
A few practical notes: Copa's online award search can be hit-or-miss for partner availability. If you do not see Emirates space online, it is worth calling Copa's service line. Also, do not transfer points until you have confirmed the specific award seat is available and are ready to book immediately.
It is also worth noting that if you have been accumulating ThankYou points across multiple Citi cards, this adds a meaningful new redemption avenue. For context on other ways to use Citi points with transfer bonuses currently live, see our Citi ThankYou transfer bonus roundup.
| Catches and limitations to know before you transfer | |
Copa ConnectMiles is a solid program, but there are a few things to keep in mind before moving your points:
The 1,000:700 ratio on cash-back Citi cards (Double Cash, Custom Cash, etc.) means you are leaving 30% of your points on the table relative to 1:1 cards. If you have a Strata Premier, use that account to transfer instead.
Copa's partner award chart and availability are not always transparent online. Emirates space in particular can be inconsistent, and availability changes.
ConnectMiles has its own expiration rules - miles typically expire if your account is inactive for 36 months. Confirm current terms directly with Copa.
Citi point transfers are generally processed within a few minutes to a few hours, but allow up to a few days before calling Copa if the miles do not appear immediately.
Copa's stopover and open-jaw rules, while generous, apply to round-trip awards - one-way awards do not carry the same flexibility.
Also worth checking: Citi currently has a 35% transfer bonus to Qatar Privilege Club Avios ending this Saturday, October 31. If Qatar/Avios is on your radar, that bonus window closes soon. Copa is a new, permanent partner with no introductory bonus announced at this time.
| Frequently asked questions | |
Which Citi cards transfer to Copa ConnectMiles at 1:1?
The Citi Strata Elite, Citi Strata Premier, Prestige, and AT&T Access More cards all transfer to Copa ConnectMiles at a 1:1 ratio. All other ThankYou-earning cards transfer at a less favorable 1,000:700 rate.
Can I book Emirates flights through Copa ConnectMiles without fuel surcharges?
Yes - one of Copa ConnectMiles' standout features is the ability to book Emirates award flights with no fuel surcharges, paying only base taxes. This can save several hundred dollars compared to booking the same award directly through Emirates' own program.
Does Copa ConnectMiles allow stopovers on award tickets?
Copa allows one free stopover plus two open-jaws on round-trip awards. This is an unusually generous policy that most major US-facing programs no longer offer.
Are Citi to Copa point transfers instant?
Transfers typically process within minutes to a few hours, though Citi advises allowing up to a few business days. Confirm award availability before initiating a transfer since points cannot typically be returned once sent.
| The bottom line | |
Citi's addition of Copa ConnectMiles is a meaningful expansion of the ThankYou ecosystem. For Citi Strata Premier and Strata Elite cardholders, the clean 1:1 transfer ratio paired with Copa's Emirates sweet spot - and no fuel surcharges - makes this one of the more compelling new uses for ThankYou points. The stopover and open-jaw flexibility is a bonus on top.
There is no introductory transfer bonus announced, so there is no urgency to act today - but if Emirates award space appears on a route you want, having this transfer path in your toolkit is genuinely valuable. Use the Citi Points Calculator to estimate how many ThankYou points you would need for your target award before pulling the trigger on a transfer.
| 💳 Best Card Signup Offers Right Now | |
These are the top credit card welcome bonuses we're tracking. Offers change frequently - see all cards.
1. Business Platinum Card: Welcome offer varies, you may be eligible for an offer. ($8.95/yr)
2. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Earn 200,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on t... ($5.5/yr)
3. Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points and a Free Night Reward after you spend ... ($1.95/yr)
