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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
Better together: Why the Citi Strata Premier and Strata cards are a great pair
Emily Thompson specializes in beginner content as a credit cards editor. She taps into her prior experience as a high school English teacher to help others demystify credit scores and unlock experiences that credit card rewards can make possible.
Chris Nelson is a credit cards writer for TPG. He specializes in budget travel, hotels, earning elite status through minimal spending and redeeming points for maximum value.
also contributed to this story
September 30, 2025 • 9 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Editorial note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Citi is a TPG advertising partner.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
Pairing two travel-focused cards can unlock dual welcome offers and boost rewards on a wide range of purchases.
Using both cards together covers most bonus categories, with one card excelling at travel, dining and supermarkets, and the other offering flexible bonus categories such as transit and select merchants.
Points earned can be transferred to numerous airline and hotel loyalty programs, often at a favorable 1:1 ratio when holding the premium card.
Strategic redemptions, such as booking business-class flights or boutique hotels, can yield high value per point, especially when leveraging transfer partners.
What to consider
Eligibility for welcome offers is restricted if you have received a bonus on the same or a converted card within the past 48 months.
Points transferred from the non-premium card may have a reduced transfer ratio unless you also hold the premium version.
Cash-back redemptions generally offer lower value compared to transferring points to travel partners.
What you'll miss from the article
Detailed examples of maximizing points value through specific airline and hotel redemptions, including transfer ratios and real-world booking scenarios.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
The Citi Strata Premier features a welcome offer of 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
Meanwhile, the Citi Strata offers 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases within three months of account opening.
Based on TPG's September 2025 valuations, these welcome offers are worth $1,140 and $380, respectively — netting you up to $1,520 in value if you get both cards.
HALFPOINT IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES
Just remember that Citi has an application restriction on these cards. You won't receive the welcome bonus on the Strata or the Strata Elite if you previously received a bonus on the card (or a card that you converted to it) in the past 48 months.
Low combined annual fees
This card duo has a low combined annual fee of just $95. The Citi Strata Premier has a $95 annual fee, and the Citi Strata has no annual fee at all.
Even after you've earned the welcome bonus, the cards' low combined annual fee makes this duo worth keeping in your wallet year after year.
(Since both cards overlap on Citi Travel portal purchases, supermarkets, gas and EV charging, it’s simpler to just use the Strata Premier for those purchases, as it has fewer bonus categories to remember.)
An eligible self-select category* that you can change each quarter (3 points per dollar spent)
*Self-select categories include barber shops, cosmetic stores and hair salons, fitness clubs, live entertainment, pet supply stores and select streaming services.
Both cards earn 1 point per dollar spent on all nonbonus spending. Together, the Strata and the Strata Premier cover most bonus category spending, earning at least 2 points per dollar spent on most purchases.
All the points you earn from the Citi Strata can be transferred to 22 loyalty programs — just at a reduced ratio of 1:0.7 for most. However, by holding the Strata Premier, you can transfer your points at a better ratio of 1:1 (for most partners). So, 100,000 Citi points can turn into 100,000 airline or hotel points or miles (for most partners).
Citi also offers frequent transfer bonuses of up to 50% with select loyalty partners.
You get poor value from your ThankYou Rewards points if you redeem them for cash back at only 0.5 and 0.75 cents per point on the Citi Strata and Strata Premier, respectively.
Qatar Airways Qsuite to Doha for 70,000 Citi points one-way
Another Citi transfer partner that can offer great value is Qatar Airways Privilege Club. For 70,000 Avios one-way (plus about $200 in taxes), you can fly Qsuite, the carrier's flagship business-class product, from any U.S. gateway to Doha. You can use tools like Seats.aero to help you find availability.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
And you aren't limited to Qatar Airways bookings with Avios. After transferring your ThankYou Rewards points to the Qatar Airways Privilege Club program, you can use them to book flights with airlines like British Airways and Aer Lingus.
American Airlines premium economy to Japan for 45,000 Citi points one-way
You can transfer your Citi ThankYou Rewards points to American Airlines AAdvantage to score a premium economy seat to Tokyo for as few as 45,000 American miles (plus taxes and fees of just $5.60).
JORDAN WALLER/THE POINTS GUY
You can find availability at this price even from East Coast airports like New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
United Airlines economy flights within the US for 10,000 Citi points one-way
You can stretch the value of your points by booking short economy flights with United Airlines.
By transferring just 10,000 Citi ThankYou Rewards points to Avianca LifeMiles, you can fly short hops like Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) or from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).
If you're looking to stay at a unique hotel, you can transfer your Citi points to I Prefer Hotel Rewards at a ratio of 1:4 (1,000 Citi points for 4,000 I Prefer points). I Prefer Hotel Rewards is a collection of independent and boutique hotels that you typically wouldn't be able to book with points. You can see the full list of hotels bookable with points here.
I Prefer uses a fixed rate for award nights priced between 15,000 and 150,000 points per night. Since the transfer ratio is 1:4, divide the total number of points needed per night by four to get the number of points you need to transfer.
Seaplane taxis for takeoff in the Inner Harbour of Victoria, British Columbia. SILENTFOTO/GETTY IMAGES
For example, you could stay at the Hotel Grand Pacific, a boutique hotel in the heart of Victoria, British Columbia, in the summer — it's a lovely summer destination — for either $234 or 30,000 I Prefer Hotel Rewards points a night. However, you'd only need to transfer 7,500 Citi points per night to book this hotel, netting you a value of 3.1 cents per point.
Bottom line
The Citi ThankYou Rewards program offers an extensive roster of transfer partners, with international partners spanning every major airline alliance and some lucrative hotel redemptions.
Holding both the Citi Strata Premier and the Strata covers most of your spending, allowing you to maximize earnings and giving you full access to Citi's loyalty partners at the best transfer ratio — all for just $95 in combined annual fees.
Now could be a great time to leverage this card duo as you look to plan future trips.
