Citi Strata Elite: Citi finally adds a premium travel card — was it worth the wait?
Editor's Note
It's been a busy summer for credit card issuers with all the changes and introductions of new credit cards.
And now, Citi joined the party and finally released the successor to the Citi Prestige® Card — the all-new Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see rates and fees)
This card has been anticipated for years, and now that it's finally here, it's surely surprised everyone with its $595 annual fee and some unique benefits.
Here's a rundown of the new Citi Strata Elite, a card with some flexible offerings and Citi's attempt to align a premium card with its long-standing airline partner, American Airlines.
The information for the Citi Prestige Card have been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
At a glance
The new Citi Strata Elite has a $595 annual fee, substantially higher than that of its Citi Strata counterpart, the Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees), which comes in at $95.
Citi Prestige cardholders will not be converted to the new Citi Strata Elite and can continue carrying their Prestige card. In addition, Prestige cardholders can apply for and be eligible to earn the welcome offer on the Citi Strata Elite, assuming they are within Citi's eligibility rules.
The card offers over $800 in statement credits, several travel protections and Priority Pass lounge access. It is also the only card on the market to offer Admirals Club access in the form of four yearly lounge passes.
The Citi Strata Elite will be issued as a Mastercard World Legend card, the first of its kind, whose perks include priority reservations at high-demand restaurants abroad and tickets to music, theater and sporting events globally.
Related: How long does it take to get statement credits from issuers?
New transfer partner unveiled
Coinciding with the launch of the Citi Strata Elite, Citi added American Airlines AAdvantage as a transfer partner to the ThankYou Rewards program.
Eligible cards that can take advantage of this exciting new partner are the Citi Strata Elite, Citi Strata Premier and Citi Prestige. Citi is the only major credit card issuer to have American Airlines as a transfer partner. The points transfer ratio is 1:1, meaning 1,000 ThankYou points will become 1,000 AAdvantage bonus miles.
The Citi Strata Elite also has access to the rest of the transfer partners of the Citi ThankYou Rewards program.
Related: Best uses of American Airlines AAdvantage miles
Authorized users
Cardholders will have the ability to add authorized users for $75 each.
Authorized users will have access to their own Priority Pass Select memberships, including the ability to bring two guests. They will also have access to all travel and shopping protections offered by the card.
Related: Everything you need to know about authorized credit card users
Surprising earning rates
The new Citi Strata Elite has earning rates that are a little different from what you'd expect from a premium credit card. Cardholders will earn:
- 12 points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through the Citi Travel portal.
- 6 points per dollar spent on airfare booked through the Citi Travel portal.
- 6 points per dollar spent at restaurants, including restaurant delivery services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Eastern time. Cardholders earn 3 points per dollar spent on restaurant purchases outside of these days and hours.
- 1.5 points per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Citi is heavily prioritizing cardholders' use of its own travel portal to earn the most rewards. Although this is similar to what other issuers are offering, the card lacks any other bonus category for travel, such as booking airfare or hotels directly.
This is a real painpoint, as competitors such as The Platinum Card® from American Express and Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) both offer bonus points when booking directly.
On the other hand, the elevated earning rate on Fridays and Saturdays is a unique perk for those who dine out often on the weekends.
Unique lifestyle credits and travel perks
The Citi Strata Elite offers enough statement credits and benefits to offset the card's annual fee, and some of the offerings are distinctive compared to other credit cards.
For starters, Citi and American Airlines are edging closer and closer with their partnership, and cardholders will receive four Admirals Club passes each calendar year in addition to Priority Pass lounge access with the ability to bring two guests.
As a premium travel card, it also has no foreign transaction fees.
The card offers several statement credits:
- $300 annual hotel benefit: Each calendar year, cardholders receive up to $300 off a prepaid hotel stay (minimum two-night booking) when booked through Citi Travel.
- $200 Splurge credit: Each calendar year, cardholders receive up to $200 in statement credits on their choice of two brands: 1stDibs, American Airlines, Best Buy, Future Personal Training and Live Nation.
- $200 Blacklane credit: Receive a biannual statement credit of up $100 (up to $200 annually) for Blacklane chauffeur bookings.
- $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit: Up to a $120 statement credit every four years toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
The statement credits and Admirals Club access are worth about $1,100. Some of the statement credits are easy to maximize, such as the hotel benefit, which instantly discounts eligible bookings by $300 at the time of checkout. The Splurge credit can easily be used to purchase American Airlines airfare or upgrades.
As a frequent traveler, I find the Blacklane credit useful; however, as a chauffeur service, the pricing can be quite high and bookings may exceed $100.
Cardholders will also have access to premium hotels through The Reserve by Citi Travel. This includes access to a collection of 4.5-5-star hotels on Citi Travel and provides perks such as complimentary breakfast for two, free Wi-Fi, a $100 experience credit (varies by property), early check-in, late checkout and room upgrades (subject to availability).
Related: American joins 'grab-and-go' rush, will open new lounge concept in Charlotte
Bottom line
The Citi Strata Elite is the latest premium card to join the ranks dominated by Chase, American Express and Capital One.
Depending on your spending and travel habits, it may have been worth the wait to have access to American Airlines as a transfer partner, Admirals Club passes and unique statement credits. Unfortunately, Citi lacks its own branded airport lounges, and Priority Pass lounges aren't too spectacular nowadays, but it does come with a Priority Pass Select membership.
Cardmembers will enjoy high earning rates for Citi Travel bookings; however, travel booked directly will only earn 1 point per dollar spent, which makes it hard for travelers to maximize their reward earning potential.
The niche earning rate for restaurant purchases is innovative and may be a nice welcome for those who enjoy dining on the weekends.
If you're not a frequent traveler with American Airlines or other Oneworld airlines, or prefer to book travel directly, you may need to explore a different card.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.