Citi has added a new airline to its ThankYou Rewards program. As of October 25, 2026, ThankYou points can move to Copa Airlines ConnectMiles, the loyalty program of the Panama-based Star Alliance carrier.
Copa is not a household name for many U.S. travelers. But it flies a large network across Central America, South America and the Caribbean from its hub in Panama City. For anyone with a stash of Citi points, it is now one more way to book those trips.
How the transfer ratios work
Like most Citi partners, the rate depends on which card you hold.
- 1:1 for the Citi Strata Elite, Citi Strata Premier, Citi Prestige and AT&T Access More cards.
- 1,000 to 700 for the ThankYou Preferred, Citi Strata, Citi Double Cash, Citi Custom Cash, ThankYou Mastercard, several AT&T Rewards cards, AT&T Points Plus and AT&T Access.
If you hold both a premium card and a no-fee card, you can usually combine points in one account first. That way, all of your points move at the better 1:1 rate.
Transfer times can vary, so don't move points until you have found the seat you want.
Why this matters
Before this change, ConnectMiles had very few points partners in the U.S. Frequent Miler and Upgraded Points both note that Rove Miles transfer at 1:1 and Marriott Bonvoy points move at 3:1, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points. Citi is the first major bank program to join that list.
Copa joins Citi's other Star Alliance partners, such as Avianca LifeMiles, Turkish Miles&Smiles and Singapore KrisFlyer. Each program has its own award chart and its own rules, so having one more is useful when the others price a trip badly.
What award flights cost
ConnectMiles uses a zone-based award chart. Upgraded Points lists these one-way prices on Copa flights:
| Route | Economy | Business |
|---|---|---|
| Within U.S. and Canada | 12,500 | Not listed |
| U.S. to Panama | 17,500 | 30,000 |
| U.S. to Central America or Caribbean | 15,000 | 30,000 |
| U.S. to northern South America | 15,000 | 35,000 |
Upgraded Points also lists U.S. to Europe partner awards at 30,000 miles in economy and 70,000 in business.
One wrinkle: the U.S. to Panama price is higher than the price to the rest of Central America. That means a trip that connects in Panama to a city beyond it may cost fewer miles than a trip that ends in Panama.
Stopovers and other perks
ConnectMiles has some useful routing rules. Upgraded Points says members can add a free stopover in Panama of up to 15 days. That lets you see Panama City on the way to or from another country for no extra miles.
Frequent Miler adds that the program does not pass on fuel surcharges on Emirates awards. It also allows a free stopover and two open-jaws on award tickets. Those rules can make complex trips much cheaper than they would be elsewhere.
Copa also has a strong record on time. Upgraded Points cites Cirium data that rated Copa the most punctual airline in Latin America in 2025, with an on-time rate of 90.75%.
What to watch
Award space and taxes vary by route and date. Check the ConnectMiles site for real seats and the full price before you transfer, because transfers can't be undone. If you only hold a no-fee Citi card, the 30% haircut makes these awards less appealing, so compare with other programs first.
What people are saying on X
Points fans on X were quick to share the news.
Sources
- Frequent Miler: Citi adds new transfer partner Copa ConnectMiles
- Upgraded Points: Citi ThankYou points now transfer to Copa Airlines
Photo: Acroterion on Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
