It’s been a hectic summer for credit card companies with all thechanges and introductions to new credit cards.
And now, Citi has entered the scene and finally unveiled the successor to theCiti Prestige® Card— the brand-new Citi Strata Elite℠ Card.
This card has been anticipated for years, and now that it has arrived, it has certainly surprised everyone with its $595 yearly charge and some distinctive advantages.
Here’s an overview of the new Citi Strata Elite, a card that offers some adaptable benefits and Citi’s effort to match a high-end card with its established airline partner, American Airlines.
The data regarding the Citi Prestige Card and Citi Strata Elite Card has been gathered separately by The Points Guy. The information presented on this page has not been evaluated or supplied by the card’s issuing company.
At a glance
The updated Citi Strata Elite comes with a $595 yearly charge, significantly more than the Citi Strata version, theCiti Strata Premier® Card(see pricing and charges), which totals $95.
Citi Prestige cardholders will not be transitioned to the new Citi Strata Elite and will be able to keep their Prestige card. Furthermore, Prestige cardholders can apply for and qualify to receive the welcome offer on the Citi Strata Elite, provided they meet the criteria.Citi’s eligibility rules.
The card provides more than $800 in statement credits, various travel protections, and access to Priority Pass lounges. It is also the sole card available that offersAdmirals Clubreceive four annual lounge memberships.
The Citi Strata Elite will be offered as a Mastercard World Legend card, the initial version of its kind, featuring benefits such as priority bookings at popular restaurants overseas and access to music, theater, and sports events worldwide.
Related: How long does it take to receive statement credits from the issuer?
New transfer partner unveiled
Coinciding with the release of the Citi Strata Elite, Citi introducedAmerican Airlines AAdvantage as a partner for transferring milesto the ThankYou Rewards initiative.
The Citi Strata Elite, Citi Strata Premier, and Citi Prestige cards are eligible to benefit from this new partner. Citi is the only major credit card company offering this.American AirlinesAs a transfer partner, the points conversion rate is 1:1, which means 1,000 ThankYou points will be converted into 1,000 AAdvantage bonus miles.
The Citi Strata Elite also receives access to the rest of theCiti ThankYou Rewards program affiliated entities.
Related: Top ways to use American Airlines AAdvantage miles
Authorized users
Cardholders can add additional users for a fee of $75 per person.
Authorized users will be able to access their own Priority Pass Select memberships, which include the option to bring two guests. They will also have access to all travel and shopping protections provided by the card.
Related: All the information you should be aware of regarding authorized users on a credit card
Surprising earning rates
The new Citi Strata Elite offers reward rates that are somewhat different from what you might anticipate from apremium credit card. Cardholders will earn:
- 12 points earned for every dollar spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions reserved via theCiti Travel portal.
- Six points earned for every dollar spent on air travel purchased via the Citi Travel website.
- Six points for every dollar spent at restaurants, including restaurant delivery services on CitiNights℠ transactions, every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Eastern time. Cardholders receive three points for each dollar spent on restaurant purchases outside of these days and hours.
- 1.5 points for every dollar spent on other purchases.
Citi is placing a strong emphasis on encouraging cardholders to utilize its own travel portal in order to maximize their rewards. While this approach is comparable to what other issuers provide, the card does not include additional travel-related bonus categories, such as purchasing airline tickets or hotel stays directly.
This is a significant issue, as competitors likeThe American Express Platinum Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve®(see pricing and charges) both provide additional points when reserving directly.
On the other hand, the higher income rate on Fridays and Saturdays is a special benefit for individuals who frequently eat out during the weekend.
Special lifestyle credits and travel benefits
The Citi Strata Elite provides sufficient statement credits and perks to justify its annual fee, with several features standing out from other credit cards.
To begin with, Citi and American Airlines aregetting closer and closer with their collaboration, and cardholders will be granted four Admirals Club passes annually along with Priority Pass lounge access that allows bringing two guests.
As a top-tier travel card, it also offersno foreign transaction fees.
The card provides multiple statement credits:
- $300 annual hotel benefit:Every year, cardholders can get up to $300 off a pre-paid hotel reservation (requiring a minimum of two nights) when arranged via Citi Travel.
- $200 Splurge credit:Every year, cardholders are eligible for up to $200 in statement credits for two brands of their selection: 1stDibs, American Airlines, Best Buy, Future Personal Training, and Live Nation.
- $200 Blacklane credit:Get a statement credit of up to $100 every six months (up to $200 per year) for Blacklane driver bookings.
- $120 credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck:A $120 credit statement every four years towardsGlobal Entry or TSA PreCheck.
The statement credits and access to the Admirals Club are valued at approximately $1,100. Certain statement credits are simple to maximize, like the hotel benefit, which immediately reduces qualifying bookings by $300 when checking out. The Splurge credit can be conveniently used for buying American Airlines flights or upgrades.
As someone who travels often, I find the Blacklane credit beneficial; nevertheless, as a driver service, the costs can be quite steep, and reservations might go over $100.
Cardholders will also gain entry to exclusive hotels via The Reserve by Citi Travel. This offers access to a selection of 4.5 to 5-star hotels on Citi Travel, along with benefits like free breakfast for two, complimentary Wi-Fi, a $100 experience credit (which may differ per hotel), early check-in, late checkout, and possible room upgrades (depending on availability).
Related: An American individual enters the ‘grab-and-go’ trend, planning to launch a new lounge concept in Charlotte.
Bottom line
The Citi Strata Elite is the newest high-end credit card entering a market currently led by Chase, American Express, and Capital One.
Depending on your spending patterns and travel frequency, it might have been beneficial to wait for the benefits of having American Airlines as a transfer option, Admirals Club access, and special statement credits. However, Citi doesn’t offer its own airport lounges, and Priority Pass lounges aren’t particularly impressive these days, though it does include a Priority Pass Select membership.
Cardholders can benefit from high reward rates when making Citi Travel purchases; however, travel booked directly will only earn 1 point for every dollar spent, which can make it challenging for travelers to fully maximize their rewards.
The specialized income rate for restaurant transactions is creative and could be a pleasant addition for individuals who like to eat out on weekends.
If you’re not a regular traveler with American Airlines or other Oneworld carriers, or if you like to arrange your trips yourself, you might need to look into other options.different card.
Related: New Citi Strata Card is now taking applications
Editorial note: The views shared here are solely those of the author and do not reflect the positions of any bank, credit card company, airline, or hotel group. These opinions have not been examined, approved, or supported by any of the mentioned organizations.
