Citi Strata Elite Credit Card Review
Key Takeaways
Citi is the latest issuer to get in the premium credit card game with the Citi Strata Elite. The annual fee is the highest of all Citi cards at $595, and they have tried to incentivize customers with coupons, as all premium cards seem to be doing these days. The generous welcome offer makes the card valuable in the first year, but you’ll only want to keep it around if you find value in the various credits offered to offset that high annual fee.
Why This Card Could Be Right For You
The high signup bonus of 80,000 miles for a low $4000 spend in 3 months is a good start for Citi’s newest premium card. If you are a Citi Gold customer, you earn a $145 rebate on the $595 annual fee, and if you are a Citi Private Client, you earn a rebate on the entire annual fee in the first year and a $145 rebate after that.
Citi tries to make up for that high annual by offering a slew of coupon style credits, discounts, and benefits:
- $300 annual hotel discount when booking through Citi Travel (on stays of 2 nights or more; doesn’t have to be used in one transaction)
- $200 annual Splurge credit (LiveNation and American Airlines are among the merchants for this credit)
- $200 in annual Private Chauffer Credit with Blacklane (two separate $100 credits; one January through June and one July through December)
- Priority Pass Select Membership (with 2 free guests)
- Four American Airlines Admirals Club passes each year (up to 3 children under 18 who are traveling with an adult who redeemed the pass can also enter the lounge)*
- Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA Precheck credit
- $100 experience credit, room upgrade, daily breakfast for two, complimentary wi-fi, and early check-in/late check-out on The Reserve by Citi Travel hotels
- Daily breakfast for two, complimentary wi-fi, and early check-in/late check-out on Hotel Collection hotels
There are also a variety of spending multipliers to help build even more points as you’re working towards your welcome offer:
- 12x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through Citi Travel
- 6x points on airfare booked through Citi Travel
- 6x points on restaurant purchases (including delivery) authorized between 6pm Friday - 6AM Saturday and 6pm Saturday - 6AM Sunday
- 3x on all other restaurant purchases
- 1.5x on all other purchases
*Note that American Airlines is now a transfer partner of Citi
When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply
This card might not be a right fit if:
- You don’t like the coupon book style of credit to offset the high annual fee, and you won’t take advantage of enough to make up for the fee
- You already have Priority Pass and/or Global Entry/TSA Precheck
- You don’t fly on American Airlines or live near a hub so won’t take advantage of those related perks
What to Know About Citi ThankYou Points
Citi points have limited utility; we don’t generally collect them without a clear use in mind
- Choice Hotels and niche airline partners are the best transfer values.
- If you need to take a break from Chase, already have the top Cap One cards, and Amex isn’t offering elevated SUBs, only then should you consider a Citi card.
- Only the Strata Premier card is worth the trouble as it’s the only Citi card with transferable miles and a 60-80k point SUB
- Points are flexible with a breadth of airline partners, some exclusive to Citi (like Avianca, Cathay Pacific, Turkish, and Singapore, amongst others)
How The Citi Strata Elite Credit Card Fits In The Citi ThankYou Points Ecosystem
The Citi Strata Elite is the newest, premium card offered by Citi to compete with the Chase Sapphire Reserve and American Express Platinum card. If you’re looking for a premium card, those two cards have comparable benefits and annual fees. You’ll have to compare the details of each to decide which is best for your situation (if you’re only choosing one).
When it comes to the Citi ecosystem, there are three other Citi cards offered. The Citi Strata Premier is the only other one with an annual fee ($99), and it comes with a 75,000 mile signup bonus. It offers a $100 hotel credit but it can only be redeemed when you spend $500 or more. It is the only other Citi card that offers transferable miles to Citi’s hotel and airline partners, which is the best way to gain maximum value out of your points (The Citi Prestige card also allows transfers to partners, but it is not accepting new applications).
The other two cards do not earn transferable miles, and neither have an annual fee. Both also have much lower signup bonuses - $200 cash back for the Citi Double Cash and Citi Custom Cash cards, respectively. The spending multipliers can be nice - 2x points on all purchases with no limits for the Double Cash and 5x points on your top eligible spending category each billing cycle. We don’t recommend either of these cards though because they don’t earn transferable miles. If the Strata Elite doesn’t seem worth it to you, go with the Strata Premier.
Card Information
| Bonus Points | Minimum Spend | Point Value | Annual Value | Annual Fee |
1st Year Value
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80,000 | $4,000 | 1.4 ¢ | $290 | $595 |
$871
|
Award System
Current Offer
$4,000 spend.
Spend Categories
6X points
8.4¢ Per Dollar Spent
1.5X points
2.1¢ Per Dollar Spent
12X points
16.8¢ Per Dollar Spent
3X points
4.2¢ Per Dollar Spent
12X points
16.8¢ Per Dollar Spent
Card Benefits
Every calendar year, receive 4 Admirals Club Citi Strata Elite Passes for access to nearly 50 Admirals Club lounges (over $300 in value).
Receive a statement credit, up to $120 every four years, as reimbursement for your application fee for Global Entry or TSA Precheck.
You will pay no foreign transaction fees when you use your card for purchases made outside the United States.
Each calendar year, enjoy up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit, Up to $200 Annual Splurge Credit and $200 Annual Blacklane Credit .
Complimentary breakfast for two, free Wi-Fi, $100 experience credit (varies with property), early check-ins ,late check -out and room upgrades.
Point Transfer Options
Transfer To Spouse/Partner Yes
Transfer To Friends Yes
Travel Partner Transfers
Citi ThankYou Points Outside Point System
Transfers Out To
1:1 57% value retained
1:1 100% value retained
1:1 93% value retained
1:1 86% value retained
1:1 86% value retained
1:1 71% value retained
1:1 93% value retained
1:1 93% value retained
1:1 86% value retained
1:1 86% value retained
1:1 93% value retained
1:1 57% value retained
1:1 86% value retained
1:1 100% value retained
1:1 71% value retained
Citi Strata Elite Application Rules
You'll be declined if you apply for a third Citi card within 65 days
You'll be declined if you apply for a second Citi card (business and/or personal) within 8 days
You'll be declined if there are 6 or more hard inquiries on your credit report the past 6 months
Card approval not subject to 5-personal-cards-in-24-months rule
