Citi adds JAL mileage transfers with 30 percent bonus through October 24

If you are sitting on a stash of credit card points and dreaming of your next family trip or business flight, listen up. Citigroup, the massive global banking giant, just added Japan Airlines as a direct transfer partner. That means you can now move your Citi credit card points straight into your Japan Airlines frequent flyer account at a one to one ratio. Even better, Citi is running a limited time promotion through October 24 at 11:59pm Eastern time giving you a 30 percent bonus. If you transfer your points before that deadline, you will get 1,300 Japan Airlines miles for every 1,000 Citi points you move over. Even if you hold a no annual fee Citi card, you can still get a transfer ratio that beats many competitors. This is a big deal because neither American Express nor Chase points transfer to Japan Airlines directly. You can use these miles to book flights on dozens of partner airlines including American Airlines, Air France, Emirates, British Airways, and LATAM. Round trip awards start at 12,000 miles in coach or 24,000 miles in business class. You can book sweet spots like John F. Kennedy International Airport to London for 45,000 miles round trip in coach or 80,000 miles in business class. Newark to Athens runs 47,000 miles round trip in coach or 85,000 miles in business class. Just remember that newly opened Japan Airlines accounts can take up to 7 days before you can redeem miles after a transfer. Also, keep in mind that Japan Airlines miles expire 36 months after they are earned no matter what, so do not hoard them without a trip in mind. Here is what this means for you: check your credit card portal today before you book your next ticket to see if a point transfer can save you thousands of cash dollars. At least your credit card points finally feel like they are paying for your coffee, even if the banker gets the last laugh.