Last updated: February 2026
Royal Orchid Plus (ROP) is Thai Airways’ frequent flyer program, and for U.S.-based points collectors, the transfer partner options are narrow: only Citi ThankYou Points and Rove Miles transfer directly to Royal Orchid Plus at a 1:1 ratio. That’s it. Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One miles, and Bilt points do not transfer to ROP. Understanding which Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus transfer partners actually exist—and which don’t—prevents irreversible mistakes and helps identify when this niche program is worth using over better-known Star Alliance alternatives.
Despite limited transfer access, Royal Orchid Plus has genuine sweet spots, particularly for premium cabin flights on Star Alliance carriers between the U.S., Europe, and Asia. The program uses a fixed award chart (not dynamic pricing), which makes it predictable but also means you need to know the rules before committing points.
Key Takeaways
- Only two direct transfer partners feed Royal Orchid Plus from U.S. credit card programs: Citi ThankYou Points (1:1) and Rove Miles (1:1).
- Chase, Amex, Capital One, Bilt, and Wells Fargo do not transfer to Royal Orchid Plus. Period.
- ROP uses a zone-based award chart, not dynamic pricing, making redemption costs predictable but sometimes higher than competitors.
- The best use of ROP miles is Star Alliance premium cabin awards, especially routes involving Thai Airways’ own flights or Lufthansa first class.
- Transfers are irreversible. Confirm award availability and routing before moving any points into Royal Orchid Plus.
Quick Answer: Which Programs Transfer to Royal Orchid Plus?
Two U.S.-accessible credit card point programs transfer directly to Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus: Citi ThankYou Points and Rove Miles. Both transfer at a 1:1 ratio. No other major transferable points currency (Chase, Amex, Capital One, Bilt) has a direct partnership with ROP as of February 2026.
If you don’t hold a Citi ThankYou or Rove Miles earning card, you cannot transfer points into Royal Orchid Plus directly. Your alternative is to use a different Star Alliance frequent flyer program—like United MileagePlus (Chase 1:1), ANA Mileage Club (Amex 1:1), or Avianca LifeMiles (multiple partners)—to book the same Star Alliance flights.
Direct Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus Transfer Partners (2026)
Here’s the complete table of credit card programs that transfer directly to Royal Orchid Plus, based on the Award Travel Hub transfer partners table:
| Credit Card Program | Transfers to ROP? | Transfer Ratio | Estimated Transfer Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citi ThankYou Points | ✅ Yes | 1:1 (1,000 Citi → 1,000 ROP) | Typically instant to 24 hours |
| Rove Miles | ✅ Yes | 1:1 (1,000 Rove → 1,000 ROP) | Varies; confirm before transferring |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | ❌ No | N/A | N/A |
| Amex Membership Rewards | ❌ No | N/A | N/A |
| Capital One Miles | ❌ No | N/A | N/A |
| Bilt Points | ❌ No | N/A | N/A |
| Wells Fargo Rewards | ❌ No | N/A | N/A |
Citi ThankYou Points → Royal Orchid Plus
The primary pathway for most U.S. travelers. Citi transfers ThankYou points to Royal Orchid Plus at a 1:1 ratio, and transfers typically process within minutes to 24 hours. You’ll need a Citi card that earns ThankYou points and allows transfers, such as the Citi Premier Card or Citi Strata Premier.
For a deeper look at all Citi transfer options, see the Citi ThankYou transfer partners guide.
Common mistake: Some travelers assume all Citi cards allow transfers. Only cards with ThankYou point transfer privileges (typically premium cards with annual fees) can send points to airline partners. Double-check your card’s benefits before planning a redemption.
Rove Miles → Royal Orchid Plus
Rove Miles is a newer flexible points program that added Royal Orchid Plus as a 1:1 transfer partner. This gives ROP a second direct transfer pathway, which is meaningful because it reduces reliance on Citi alone. For full details on Rove’s partner list, see the Rove Miles transfer partners guide.
Edge case: Because Rove Miles is relatively new, transfer processing times may be less predictable than Citi’s. Initiate a small test transfer before committing a large balance if you’re booking a time-sensitive award.
Programs That Do NOT Transfer to Royal Orchid Plus
This matters as much as knowing which programs do transfer. Several widely read points blogs have published inaccurate transfer charts suggesting broader ROP access. As of February 2026, the following major programs do not have a direct transfer relationship with Royal Orchid Plus:
- Chase Ultimate Rewards — No ROP partnership. Chase does transfer 1:1 to United MileagePlus, which covers Star Alliance flights. See the Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners guide for alternatives.
- Amex Membership Rewards — No ROP partnership. Amex transfers to ANA Mileage Club (1:1), another Star Alliance program with strong premium cabin redemptions. Check the Amex Membership Rewards transfer partners guide.
- Capital One Miles — No direct ROP transfer. Capital One does partner with other programs for Star Alliance access, including Avianca LifeMiles. Review the Capital One Miles transfer partners guide.
- Bilt Points — No ROP partnership. Bilt transfers to several airline programs but Royal Orchid Plus isn’t among them. See the Bilt Rewards transfer partners guide.
- Wells Fargo Rewards — No direct transfer to ROP. See the Wells Fargo Rewards partners guide.
Decision rule: If your primary points currency is Chase, Amex, Capital One, or Bilt, and you want to fly Star Alliance premium cabins, skip Royal Orchid Plus entirely. Use United MileagePlus (Chase), ANA Mileage Club (Amex), or Avianca LifeMiles (multiple partners) instead.
Why Royal Orchid Plus Matters for Star Alliance Redemptions
Royal Orchid Plus is a Star Alliance frequent flyer program, which means ROP miles can book award flights on any of the 25+ Star Alliance member airlines—including Lufthansa, ANA, Singapore Airlines, United, Swiss, Austrian, EVA Air, and more.
The program uses a fixed, zone-based award chart. This is significant because it means redemption costs don’t fluctuate with demand the way dynamic pricing programs (like United MileagePlus or Delta SkyMiles) can. You know exactly how many miles a route will cost before you transfer.
Where ROP Shines
- Lufthansa First Class: ROP charges approximately 100,000 miles one-way from the U.S. to Europe in Lufthansa first class. This is a well-known sweet spot because Lufthansa restricts first class award availability to certain partner programs, and ROP is one of them.
- Thai Airways Business and First Class to Bangkok: Booking Thai’s own flights with ROP miles avoids the partner award restrictions that sometimes limit availability. Bangkok-bound premium cabin awards are the program’s natural strength.
- Star Alliance partner flights across Asia: ROP can be competitive for intra-Asia Star Alliance flights, particularly on Thai, ANA, EVA Air, and Singapore Airlines.
For a broader look at Star Alliance booking strategies, see the Star Alliance award booking guide.
Where ROP Falls Short
- Round-the-world awards are expensive. ROP’s RTW award pricing can reach 725,000 miles in business class, far above ANA’s 300,000-mile cap for a similar itinerary.
- Limited transfer access. With only Citi and Rove Miles feeding the program, earning enough ROP miles for premium cabin awards requires deliberate planning.
- Fuel surcharges on some partner flights. Thai Airways itself can impose carrier surcharges on certain routes, and partner airlines like Lufthansa and Swiss are known for high fuel surcharges on award tickets.
Calculator Example: Citi ThankYou Points to Thai Airways Business Class
Here’s a real-world example to illustrate the transfer math.
Scenario: Booking Thai Airways business class, one-way from Los Angeles (LAX) to Bangkok (BKK).
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Route | LAX → BKK (nonstop or one-stop on Thai Airways) |
| Award chart cost | ~75,000 ROP miles one-way in business class |
| Transfer source | Citi ThankYou Points |
| Transfer ratio | 1:1 |
| Points needed | 75,000 Citi ThankYou Points |
| Estimated cash price | ~$4,500 one-way in business class |
| Cents per point (CPP) | $4,500 ÷ 75,000 = 6.0 CPP |
| Taxes and fees | Varies; expect $50–$200+ depending on routing and carrier surcharges |
Assumptions: Cash price is an estimate based on typical 2025–2026 fares for Thai business class LAX–BKK. Award chart pricing is based on ROP’s published zone-based chart for travel between North America and Southeast Asia. Actual availability and pricing may differ.
At 6.0 cents per point, this is a strong redemption—well above the commonly cited 1.5–2.0 CPP baseline for Citi ThankYou points. But this value only materializes if award availability exists on your dates.
The critical step: Search for award availability on Thai Airways’ website or through Star Alliance partner search tools before transferring any points. Once Citi ThankYou points land in your Royal Orchid Plus account, you cannot move them back.
How to Transfer Points to Royal Orchid Plus (Step-by-Step)
From Citi ThankYou
- Confirm award availability. Search on ThaiAirways.com or call Thai Airways’ reservation line. Verify the specific flight, date, and cabin class.
- Log in to Citi’s ThankYou portal at thankyou.com or through the Citi mobile app.
- Select “Transfer Points” and choose Royal Orchid Plus from the airline partner list.
- Enter your ROP member number. Make sure the name on your Citi account matches your Royal Orchid Plus account exactly. Mismatches can delay or block transfers.
- Enter the transfer amount. Transfer only what you need for the specific booking.
- Confirm and wait. Transfers are typically instant but can take up to 24 hours.
- Book the award on ThaiAirways.com or by phone once miles appear.
From Rove Miles
- Confirm award availability first (same process as above).
- Log in to your Rove Miles account.
- Navigate to the transfer partners section and select Royal Orchid Plus.
- Enter your ROP member number and transfer amount.
- Confirm the transfer and monitor your ROP account for the miles to post.
Common pitfall: Transferring points before confirming availability. Award seats can disappear between the time you search and the time you book. If you transfer 75,000 points and the seat is gone, those miles are stuck in ROP with no easy way to use them unless you find another redemption.
Fees, Surcharges, and Pitfalls to Know
Award Ticket Fees
Royal Orchid Plus charges service fees for award bookings, changes, and cancellations. As of late 2025, cancellation fees range from approximately $60 for domestic Thai flights to $190 for intercontinental awards. These fees increased in September–October 2025, so budget accordingly.
Fuel Surcharges
This is a real cost that can erode the value of an ROP redemption. Thai Airways and several Star Alliance partners (Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, Air Canada) impose carrier-imposed surcharges on award tickets. On long-haul routes, these can add $200–$600+ per ticket.
Workaround: Some Star Alliance carriers impose lower or no surcharges. United, for example, generally doesn’t add fuel surcharges to award tickets. If your routing allows it, choosing a low-surcharge carrier can save hundreds of dollars.
Devaluation Risk
Royal Orchid Plus has not announced any 2026 award chart changes, but the program partnered with IBS Software’s iLoyal platform in October 2025 to modernize its loyalty infrastructure. This kind of technology overhaul sometimes precedes award chart restructuring or a shift toward dynamic pricing. There’s no confirmed timeline, but it’s a factor worth considering before stockpiling large ROP balances.
Expiration
ROP miles expire if your account is inactive for 36 months. Any earning or redemption activity resets the clock. If you transfer points into ROP and don’t book within three years, those miles will vanish.
Best Uses of Royal Orchid Plus Miles
Best for:
- Thai Airways premium cabin flights to/from Bangkok. This is the program’s core strength—direct access to Thai’s own inventory.
- Lufthansa First Class. One of the few programs with access to Lufthansa’s notoriously restricted first class award seats.
- Travelers who hold Citi ThankYou cards and want a Star Alliance redemption option beyond United MileagePlus.
- Fixed award chart fans who prefer predictable pricing over dynamic award costs.
Not ideal for:
- Travelers without Citi or Rove Miles cards. Without a direct transfer path, you can’t efficiently fund an ROP account.
- Domestic U.S. flights. ROP’s award chart isn’t competitive for short-haul domestic travel.
- Frequent flyers who prefer flexibility. With limited transfer partners and a smaller program, ROP miles are harder to earn and use opportunistically compared to United or ANA miles.
- Budget-conscious travelers sensitive to surcharges. Some ROP award routings carry steep carrier-imposed fees.
Alternatives: Star Alliance Programs With More Transfer Partners
If you can’t access Royal Orchid Plus or want more flexibility, these Star Alliance programs have broader transfer partner coverage:
| Program | Chase | Amex | Capital One | Citi | Bilt | Rove |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United MileagePlus | ✅ 1:1 | ❌ | ✅ 1:1 | ❌ | ✅ 1:1 | ❌ |
| ANA Mileage Club | ❌ | ✅ 1:1 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Avianca LifeMiles | ❌ | ✅ 1:1 | ✅ 1:1 | ✅ 1:1 | ✅ 1:1 | ❌ |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | ✅ 1:1 | ✅ 1:1 | ✅ 1:1 | ✅ 1:1 | ✅ 1:1 | ❌ |
| Royal Orchid Plus | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ 1:1 | ❌ | ✅ 1:1 |
For most travelers, Avianca LifeMiles or Air Canada Aeroplan offer more versatile Star Alliance access because they accept transfers from four or five major programs. ROP is best treated as a specialist tool for specific sweet spots, not a general-purpose Star Alliance currency.
For more on LifeMiles, see the Avianca LifeMiles transfer partners guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Royal Orchid Plus? No. Chase does not have a transfer partnership with Royal Orchid Plus. For Star Alliance awards using Chase points, transfer to United MileagePlus at 1:1.
Can I transfer Amex Membership Rewards to Royal Orchid Plus? No. Amex does not partner with ROP. The closest Star Alliance alternative via Amex is ANA Mileage Club at 1:1.
What is the transfer ratio from Citi ThankYou to Royal Orchid Plus? 1:1. Every 1,000 Citi ThankYou points becomes 1,000 Royal Orchid Plus miles.
How long do Citi to Thai Airways transfers take? Typically instant to 24 hours. In rare cases, transfers may take longer. Always allow buffer time before a booking deadline.
Does Rove Miles transfer to Royal Orchid Plus? Yes. Rove Miles transfers to ROP at a 1:1 ratio. This is a newer partnership added in early 2025–2026.
Are there ever transfer bonuses to Royal Orchid Plus? Transfer bonuses to ROP are rare. Citi has occasionally offered bonuses to select partners, but no active ROP bonus has been confirmed as of February 2026. Check Citi’s transfer portal periodically.
Can I cancel a points transfer to Royal Orchid Plus? No. Transfers from Citi or Rove Miles to ROP are irreversible. Once points leave your credit card account, they cannot be returned.
Do Royal Orchid Plus miles expire? Yes. ROP miles expire after 36 months of account inactivity. Any qualifying activity (earning or redeeming) resets the expiration clock.
Does Royal Orchid Plus use dynamic pricing? No. ROP uses a fixed, zone-based award chart. Redemption costs are set by origin/destination zones, not by demand or cash fare prices.
Can I book United flights with Royal Orchid Plus miles? Yes. As a Star Alliance member, ROP miles can book award seats on United and other Star Alliance carriers, subject to partner award availability.
What are the fuel surcharges on ROP awards? It depends on the operating carrier. Thai Airways and European Star Alliance carriers (Lufthansa, Swiss) often impose significant surcharges. United generally does not. Check the total cost including taxes and fees before committing to a booking.
Is Royal Orchid Plus worth it for U.S. travelers? It’s a niche program. If you hold a Citi ThankYou card and want specific sweet spots—like Lufthansa first class or Thai business class to Bangkok—ROP can deliver excellent value. For general Star Alliance bookings, programs with broader transfer access (Aeroplan, LifeMiles) are usually more practical.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Royal Orchid Plus is a specialist program, not a general-purpose one. For U.S.-based points collectors, the transfer partner landscape is simple: Citi ThankYou Points and Rove Miles are the only direct paths in. If you don’t hold cards in either of those ecosystems, ROP isn’t accessible to you—and that’s fine, because other Star Alliance programs cover similar routes with broader transfer partner support.
Here’s what to do next:
- If you hold a Citi ThankYou card: Bookmark Royal Orchid Plus as a tool for specific sweet spots (Lufthansa first class, Thai premium cabins). Search for award availability before transferring any points.
- If you hold Rove Miles: Same approach. Treat ROP as a targeted redemption option, not a default.
- If your points are in Chase, Amex, Capital One, or Bilt: Use United MileagePlus, ANA Mileage Club, Avianca LifeMiles, or Air Canada Aeroplan for Star Alliance awards instead.
- Before any transfer: Confirm the exact flight, date, cabin, and total cost (including taxes and surcharges). Transfers are one-way and permanent.
- Monitor for changes: ROP’s partnership with IBS Software could lead to program updates. Watch for award chart revisions or new transfer partnerships.
For a complete view of which credit card points transfer where, visit the Award Travel Hub transfer partners table.
Content on Award Travel Hub is independently created by Award Travel Hub Editorial Desk and, where noted, reviewed by Award Travel Hub Review Desk. Some pages may contain affiliate links, but compensation does not determine our coverage, opinions, or methodology.