Citi launches Strata Elite premium journey bank card. Do you have to add it to your pockets?

Citi is launching a brand new premium rewards bank card: the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card. With a $595 annual payment, this card joins different luxurious bank cards in catering to jetsetters seeking to maximize journey financial savings and perks.

But a novel bonus rewards construction and particular advantages for American Airlines — together with the flexibility to switch Citi ThankYou factors to AAdvantage miles — helps the Citi Strata Elite Card stand out for some frequent flyers.

The Citi Strata Elite has a $595 annual payment, which is steep for any cardholder. However, it’s consistent with different premium journey playing cards in the marketplace at this time. It’s additionally a step up from the issuer’s former top-tier journey card, the $495 Citi Prestige Card. That card hasn’t accepted new functions since 2021, however should you’ve been a longtime Citi cardholder, chances are you’ll need to examine it to Citi’s new premium possibility.

Here are the small print:

You can get a whole lot of worth as a brand new cardholder with the Citi Strata Elite’s welcome provide. But how a lot you earn will depend on the way you apply.

When you apply on-line and get accredited, you’ll be able to earn 80,000 bonus ThankYou factors after spending $4,000 throughout the first three months of account opening. If you resolve to go in-branch to a Citi location and get accredited, you’ll be able to earn a fair larger 100,000 bonus factors after spending the identical $4,000 throughout the first three months.

Related: Best bank card sign-up bonuses

• 12x factors on inns, automotive leases, and sights booked on CitiTravel.com

• 6x factors on air journey booked on CitiTravel.com

• 6x factors at eating places each Friday and Saturday night time

• 3x factors at eating places some other time

• 1.5x factors on all different purchases

These rewards classes may help you rack up Citi ThankYou factors towards future journey, however there are some restrictions. First, you’ll solely earn bonus factors on journey booked by the Citi Travel portal — as much as 12x factors (or 6x for flights) is a strong multiplier, however should you favor to e book immediately or by one other third-party service, you’ll solely get the minimal 1.5x in your journey spending.

Dining at eating places is one other frequent class you’ll discover amongst journey rewards playing cards, however the Strata Elite works somewhat in another way. You’ll get a normal 3x at eating places, which will increase to 6x each weekend between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. ET on each Friday and Saturday. If you eat out rather a lot on the weekends, this could be a nice enhance, however all different daytime and weeknight meals will solely earn the common 3x factors.

Related: Best bank cards for eating places

A standard technique to make up for a card’s steep annual payment price is thru annual advantages, and the Citi Strata Elite is not any exception. Here are just a few advantages to count on with this card:

• Up to $300 annual lodge credit score for stays of two nights or extra booked by Citi Travel every calendar 12 months

• Up to $200 annual Splurge Credit, which applies to purchases at your selection of as much as two eligible manufacturers every calendar 12 months: American Airlines, Live Nation, Best Buy, 1stDibs, and Future Personal Training

• Up to $200 annual Blacklane credit score for world chauffeur service (as much as $100 from January by June and one other $100 from July by December)

• Up to $120 credit score for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry payment each 4 years

• Four American Airlines Admirals Club passes every calendar 12 months

• Transfer Citi ThankYou factors to American Airlines AAdvantage miles

• Complimentary Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership

• No overseas transaction charges

These advantages could also be particularly profitable for frequent American Airlines flyers. You’ll get 4 passes per 12 months to American Airlines Admirals Club lounges. American Airlines sells one-day passes to its lounges for $79, so should you fly the airline sufficient to make use of all 4 passes, that’s already value $316 every year. And with the flexibility to switch the factors you earn to American Airlines miles, you’ll have further flexibility once you’re able to e book award flights.

Annual bank card perks like this could add as much as main financial savings every year, however provided that you truly use them. It all the time pays to check your spending and journey preferences to any card’s advantages to be sure you can hold maximizing your worth year-after-year.

Related: Complete listing of bank card perks that reset every calendar 12 months

If you’re already a Citi cardholder, chances are you’ll profit from utilizing this card together with different Citi points-earning playing cards. For instance, you should utilize the Strata Elite to maximise journey spending by Citi Travel and at eating places (particularly on weekends) whereas utilizing the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card to earn 3x factors on on a regular basis purchases at supermarkets and fuel stations. Then, mix the factors from each playing cards once you need to e book a visit.

In addition to redeeming ThankYou factors for journey by the issuer, Citi has a variety of airline and lodge companions you’ll be able to switch your factors to, together with Air France KLM Flying Blue, JetBlue TrueBlue, Avianca LifeMiles, Choice Privileges, Wyndham Rewards, and extra.

While the American Airlines AAdvantage program wasn’t beforehand a Citi switch accomplice, now you can switch your Citi Strata Elite factors to the airline. If you’re a daily American Airlines flyer or have already got elite standing throughout the program, this may be an effective way to benefit from your ThankYou factors.

However, there are some potential drawbacks to bear in mind. Like we talked about above, you’re restricted to reserving journey by Citi Travel if you wish to earn the best rewards fee provided. Other journey bank cards typically have extra flexibility to earn factors and miles with different reserving choices.

The worth you’ll acquire from the cardboard’s advantages may also rely rather a lot in your spending. If you typically fly with American Airlines, you’ll be able to almost recoup the annual payment price simply from the Admirals Club lounge passes and selecting American Airlines on your annual Splurge Credit. But different credit could also be tougher to maximise if the eligible manufacturers aren’t already in your common funds, for instance, otherwise you already get airport lounge entry with one other card.

Related: Best airline bank cards

Today’s bank card market has a number of nice choices for maximizing rewards on journey whereas getting nice advantages. If you journey typically and don’t thoughts paying a steep annual payment for perks like lounge entry, journey credit, standing perks, and extra, make certain to contemplate these playing cards as nicely:

Why we prefer it: After its current overhaul, the Chase Sapphire Reserve now carries the best annual payment among the many playing cards on this listing. It additionally has one of the crucial versatile annual journey credit out there at this time, providing as much as $300 in assertion credit for any journey purchases charged to your card. Like the Citi Strata Elite, this card additionally has airport lounge entry perks, a payment credit score for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, lodge credit, and extra.

While its highest 8x rewards class additionally requires reserving journey by the issuer’s Chase Travel portal, you’ll be able to nonetheless earn 4x factors with the Chase Sapphire Reserve once you e book immediately with inns and airways.

Read our full Chase Sapphire Reserve overview.

Why we prefer it: The Platinum Card can be anticipated to endure a refresh later this 12 months, however present cardholders can get loads of advantages whereas touring for a $695 annual payment (see rates & fees). These embrace airport lounge entry, as much as $200 in airline payment credit for incidental costs together with your selection airline, as much as $200 in assertion credit for choose pay as you go lodge bookings by Amex Travel, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite standing and Hilton Honors Gold standing, and lots of extra.

Like the Citi Strata Elite, you’ll get the very best Amex Platinum rewards once you e book by the issuer — 5x factors on flights and pay as you go inns booked by Amex Travel. But you’ll be able to earn the identical fee on flights booked immediately with airways, too (as much as $500,000 spent on mixed flight purchases every year).

Read our full overview of The Platinum Card from American Express.

Why we prefer it: Among premium journey card choices, the Capital One Venture X has the bottom annual payment — however that doesn’t imply it’s missing in worth. You can earn boosted rewards for reserving journey by Capital One Travel on high of a flat 2x miles on each buy. As for advantages, there’s a $300 annual journey credit score you can too use on Capital One Travel purchases, plus airport lounge entry, a ten,000-mile bonus yearly beginning in your first anniversary, and extra.

Read our full overview of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

This article was edited by Alicia Hahn.

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