The U.S. credit card program now offers a transfer option to Copa Airlines, another Star Alliance member based in Panama City that flies to almost 90 destinations in 32 countries. As of October 25, 2026, you will be able to transfer Citi ThankYou Points to Copa's ConnectMiles program.

ConnectMiles is available for flights, but there's more to get excited about. These include a free stopover program, Copa's on time performance, future Starlink Wi-Fi and a fixed, reliable award chart. Here are the key points to understand about Citi and Copa's new tie-up and why it might be worth a look.

Citi has become a Transfer Partner of Copa

On October 25, Citi ThankYou Points added a new partner for transferring points. The ratio varies according to the Citi card you have:

• Cards that require annual dues, like Citi Strata Elite Card, Citi Strata Premier Card and Citi Prestige Card (no new applications accepted), move over at 1 to 1.
• Cards that don't charge an annual fee like the Citi Double Cash Card, Citi Strata Card, and Citi Custom Cash Card come into the card at 0.7 to 1.0.

This means that no annual fee cardholders receive 70 miles per 100 points and annual fee cardholders receive a 1:1 transfer rate. If you have multiple Citi cards, it makes sense that you'll want to discuss with yourself which account your points will reside in before you transfer them, as the ratio depends on the type of card.

What Changed

Up until now, the only methods for earning Copa ConnectMiles have involved flights, the purchase of Copa miles and promotions with merchants in Panama. Only Rove Miles (1 to 1) and Marriott Bonvoy (3 to 1) were available for transfers and a 5,000 mile bonus was offered for transferring 60,000 points at a time.

It is now possible to earn points on a credit card that can be redeemed for ConnectMiles at 1 to 1 ratio. It's quite a convenient move for Citi points collectors; it means they can now easily earn Copa flights not just from their Citi cards, but from any Star Alliance card that they use, too.

This is a good thing because

ConnectMiles is a unique program, and it is still based on a static award chart. That provides certainty. The price will not go up a couple of digits simply because you are travelling on a holiday. When an award seat is offered, you do not need to look at a calendar to find out the price of the seat.

There are decent rates available for Copa and Star Alliance flights as well. Here are a few examples:

• Flights from one U.S. or Canadian airport to another, in economy, are 12,500 miles one way.
• U.S. to Central America/Caribbean is 15,000 miles (economy) or 30,000 miles (business)
• The economy class distance from the U.S. to northern South America is 15,000 miles or 35,000 miles one way in business class.
• The economy class economy U.S. to Europe ticket is 30,000 miles and the business one way is 70,000 miles.
• The U.S.-to-Panama economy-class fare on Copa is $17,500 and its business class is $30,000.

There is a lot of ease in planning with a fixed chart. Can calculate ahead of time how many points are required and determine if a transfer is relevant or not instead of trying to guess at an ever-changing target. That predictability is a strong asset for weary travelers who aren't in the mood for dynamic pricing.

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A Free Stopover in Panama

Copa also has a great stopover program. The traveler may then go on to Panama for up to 15 days without paying any extra airfare, and from there on to his/her next flights. It's a wonderful way to travel to another country on the same ticket and can make a short trip an easy vacation.

As Copa's home base, many trips between the U.S. and Latin America already include the city of Panama. A stopover is an opportunity to visit the city before continuing to another destination without an additional cost for the flight.Keeping everyone on schedule and providing a great Onboard Experience.

Copa is known for its reliability. In 2025, Cirium voted Copa as the most on-time airline in Latin America, achieving 90.75% on-time performance. If you've ever missed a flight, you know how important it is to arrive on time.

The airline also hopes to add Starlink Wi-Fi to its flights, enhancing the in-flight experience. Another standout feature for those seeking a comfortable flight is Copa's lie flat business class seating.Another highlight for travelers seeking a comfortable flight is Copa's lie flat business class seating. If you wish to learn more about the experience, there are reviews of Copa flights in economy and business classes, and the Copa Club lounge in Panama City.

Is It Worth Using

Many travelers see the point of travel as being simple. ConnectMiles is a helpful tool to use for short hauls and Central America, the Caribbean and the northern part of South America, where prices are low, the stopover is free, and there is no fixed chart. The annual fee card transfer rate is also quite high, 1:1.

Remember, ConnectMiles isn't the most well-known points and miles program. Space on any airline may be limited, so be sure to verify before transferring points. Generally, transfers cannot be reversed and it is important to make sure you have the flight you want available before you book a transfer.

The Bottom Line

Now, Citi ThankYou Points can be transferred to Copa Airlines ConnectMiles. For different cards, transfers occur at 1 to 0.7 or 1 to 1 ratio. It's not necessarily a well-known program in the points and miles world, but Copa is making a lot of effort to enhance its passenger experience and ConnectMiles is no exception.

For those who have Citi points and plan on traveling to Latin America, the Caribbean or outside this region, this new partner should be taken into account.