I broke my one-issuer rule for a single airline transfer partner

Reading Time: 3 min

I’ve spent the past decade spreading my points across multiple programs, because diversifying is what lets you book more award flights and hotel stays.

But as life has gotten busier, I’ve become less interested in staying loyal to every single issuer. Over the past few years, I’ve pruned down my accounts, focusing only on a few cards and rewards programs at a time.

Then, I made an exception. For the first time ever, I applied for a Citi card, breaking my promise to myself for one specific reason. Here’s what convinced me to go for it.

Citi ThankYou Rewards is a program I had long ignored. For years, it didn’t offer any unique transfer partners that I couldn’t already access through my core three “ABC” programs: American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, and Chase Ultimate Rewards.

I had been a huge fan of Bilt Rewards since its public launch in 2021, and one of my favorite (though short-lived) features was the ability to transfer points to American Airlines AAdvantage. That partnership was eventually replaced by Atmos Rewards, which is still a valuable program, but AAdvantage has always worked better for my personal travel needs.

Then, when Bilt announced major changes to its program and cards earlier in 2026, that was my cue to bow out. I still saw value in Bilt, but the program became more complicated than I wanted it to be.

Not long after, Citi ThankYou Rewards gave me exactly what I was missing: transfers to American Airlines AAdvantage.

I went with the Citi Strata Elite Card, a relatively new addition to the premium card space that launched in July 2025 as Citi’s first premium card in years. The $595 annual fee is steep, but I can offset much of that cost with two benefits I know I’ll use: a $200 annual Splurge Credit, which you can assign to as many as two brands from a short list that includes American Airlines, and up to $300 off one hotel stay of two nights or more booked through Citi Travel each calendar year.

Those credits make it much easier to stomach paying hundreds of dollars in annual fees, but for me, the real selling point is the ability to transfer points to AAdvantage at a 1:1 ratio. Note that this is a rate Citi reserves for its cards that charge an annual fee. (No annual fee cards like the Citi Double Cash transfer to American at a rate of 1,000 points to 700 miles.)

When it comes to diversifying your rewards portfolio, I no longer think it’s about having a credit card with every issuer, big or small. Instead, I intentionally choose rewards programs that transfer to airline and hotel partners that I’ll actually use.

While applying for a card largely for access to one transfer partner might seem narrow-minded, AAdvantage happens to be one of the most valuable programs for domestic flights — the only type of travel I’m booking these days.

I frequently find one-way American Airlines award tickets for as few as 7,500 miles, a price point that can be much harder to find through Delta or United.

The card also has an interesting 6x earning category on dining during “Citi Nights,” which covers Friday and Saturday purchases authorized between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. ET. That works well for me since weekends are when I’m most likely to dine out.

But the 1.5x earning rate on everyday purchases is where I’m building my AAdvantage balance without even thinking about it. I put recurring expenses like insurance premiums, utility bills, and subscriptions on the card, and I’m bringing home nearly enough points every month to book a one-way domestic ticket.

Essential long-flight pain relief, comfort, and peace of mind

Keep your legs and feet comfortable on your next flight with the CHARMKING Compression Socks. Compression socks provide blood circulation, which prevents leg cramping and blood clots.

Get it at Amazon