Citi Strata Elite: Is It Right for You?
Citi just entered the premium travel card game with the launch of the Citi Strata Elite Card. If you’re someone who’s been thinking about getting more value out of your points - especially for travel - this card might have caught your eye. But premium doesn’t always mean “right for you.” This post breaks down what this card actually offers so you can figure out if it fits your goals.
What You Get: Welcome Bonus + Annual Fee
Let’s start with the basics. Citi is currently offering 80,000 ThankYou® (TY) Points when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months. Some people have been able to get a 100,000-point offer by applying in person at a Citi branch.
The annual fee is $595, which puts it under other premium travel cards like the AMEX Platinum Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve, but more expensive than the Capital One Venture X. That’s a big number, but the card comes with a bunch of credits and benefits that are meant to help offset that cost - if you use them.
Statement Credits: What’s Real vs. Hype
Citi claims you can get up to $1,500 in value from the credits and benefits, but that’s only true if you use everything. Here’s a breakdown of just the credits:
$300 Hotel Credit: Every year, you get $300 back on a hotel stay of 2 nights or more when booked through CitiTravel.com.
$200 “Splurge” Credit: You choose up to 2 brands from a list like American Airlines, Best Buy, Future Personal Training and Live Nation and get a total of $200 in statement credits each year.
$200 Blacklane Credit: Blacklane is a fancy ride service. You can get $100 off from January-June and another $100 from July-December.
$120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck: $120 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck every four years.
How to think about this: Add up the credits for things that you were already going to spend money on, then subtract that number from the $595 annual fee. That gives you your effective annual fee, which is way more helpful when deciding if the card makes sense. For example, if you normally pay for a hotel once a year and fly once a year, you would likely be able to take advantage of the $300 hotel credit and the $200 splurge credit for a total of $500 in credits. The $595 annual fee minus the $500 in credits leaves you with a $95 effective annual fee.
How You Earn Points
The Strata Elite earns Citi ThankYou® Points, and the earn rates are highest in categories tied to travel and dining:
12x on hotels, car rentals and attractions (but only if booked through CitiTravel.com),
6x on flights booked through CitiTravel.com,
6x at restaurants on “Citi Nights” (Friday and Saturday nights between 6pm - 6am ET),
3x at restaurants all other times,
1.5x on everything else.
The high earn rates are nice - but they’re mostly tied to Citi’s travel portal and specific dining times. If you like booking directly with airlines or prefer flexibility, that’s worth considering.
Travel Benefits That Come with the Card
The Strata Elite is clearly built for travelers. Here’s what comes with it:
Airport Lounge Access: You get 4 passes to American Airlines Admirals Clubs each year and full Priority Pass membership (1,500+ lounges worldwide).
Hotel Perks: When you book through Citi’s “Reserve” hotel collection, you get VIP perks like free breakfast, late checkout and potential room upgrades.
Travel Insurance: Includes trip cancellation and interruption insurance, rental car insurance, lost baggage coverage and more.
No Foreign Transaction Fees: You can use this card abroad without paying extra.
Transfer Partners: You can transfer your TY points to transfer partners such as American Airlines, Air France, Emirates, JetBlue, Choice Hotels, Wyndham Hotels and more. You can often stretch your points further by transferring them to transfer partners.
Smart Pairings: Other Citi Cards That Work Well
You don’t have to go all-in on just one card. If you want to earn TY points more efficiently, consider pairing the Strata Elite with these no annual fee cards:
Citi Double Cash®: Earns 2x points on everything. Simple and effective.
Citi Custom Cash®: Earns 5x points in your top monthly spending category (up to $500). That could be gas, groceries or streaming - whatever you spend most on that month.
When used together, these three cards can help you rack up points faster and cover a wider range of spending.
A More Affordable Alternative: Citi Strata Premier
If the $595 fee feels too steep, or your normal spending doesn’t include any of the credits to help offset the fee, the Citi Strata Premier® card might be a better fit. It has a $95 annual fee, and you still earn 3x points on:
Airfare
Hotels
Dining
Supermarkets
Gas stations
You also get a $100 hotel credit on bookings of $500+ through CitiTravel.com and all the same transfer partners as the Elite. No lounge access or luxury perks, but it’s a solid points earner with a lower cost.
Final Thoughts
The Citi Strata Elite is clearly designed for frequent travelers who want premium benefits and are willing to book through Citi’s systems. It could be worth it if you travel often and use most of the credits. But if you’re more casual about travel or don’t like booking through travel portals, the Premier - or a combo of lower-fee Citi cards - might offer better value.
Want help figuring it out? Book a consultation. We’ll walk through your spending and goals to see if this card (or another setup) makes sense for you.