Updated: October 27, 2025
Learn what actually matters and what not.
Citi finally put real thought behind its new premium card. Strata Elite is at 100,000 ThankYou points after $6,000 in 3 months. The headline isn’t just the number—it’s that Citi points now transfer 1:1 to American Airlines. That flips the value equation for a lot of U.S. flyers.
Before we get cute, a reality check: the rollout had bumps. Some early applicants hit account lockouts and document requests. It’s not universal, but it happened—go in eyes open and keep records of your application, bonus terms, and spend.
What actually earns
Citi wants you in-portal and out at dinner on weekends. You get 12x on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com, 6x on air through CitiTravel, 6x dining on Fri/Sat from 6pm–6am ET, 3x dining the rest of the week, and 1.5x on everything else. No foreign transaction fees. Translation: the big numbers live in the portal and on weekend dining; otherwise, you’ve got a 1.5x floor.
If you’re allergic to portals, you’ll feel that. Sometimes CitiTravel prices are fine; sometimes they’re not. Don’t overpay cash just to print pretty multipliers.
Credits that are actually usable
- $300 hotel once per calendar year on a 2+ night CitiTravel booking. Because it’s calendar-year, new cardholders can often hit it twice in their first membership year (once now, once early next year).
- $200 “Splurge” each calendar year at up to two brands you pick (currently options include American Airlines, Best Buy, Live Nation/Ticketmaster, 1stDibs, Future, and more).
- $200 Blacklane each calendar year, split $100 Jan–Jun / $100 Jul–Dec—perfect for an airport run.
This is how you offset the fee. If you can’t use these cleanly, skip the card.
Lounge reality
You get Priority Pass Select (card at the door; restaurants/markets excluded) and 4 Admirals Club passes per calendar year (AA/oneworld ticket required, 24-hour validity, kids can come in with the adult who redeems a pass). Authorized users can get their own Priority Pass access for $75 each—which is inexpensive for handing family PP on a premium card.
Why the 100K matters now
Two words: AA transfers. With 1:1 to AAdvantage, your bank points become same-day AA or oneworld awards the minute space opens. If you’d rather play partner sweet spots, you can still send points to programs like Virgin Atlantic, Flying Blue, Cathay, and EVA, plus hotels like Choice and The Leading Hotels of the World. The win is flexibility—not being trapped at 1.0¢ in a portal.
Who this fits (and who it doesn’t)
Get it if you’ll actually:
- Book one CitiTravel 2+ night hotel stay per year ($300 back),
- Burn the $200 Splurge at brands you genuinely use (Best Buy, AA, Live Nation are easy), and
- Grab a Blacklane ride or two across the year ($200 total).
Stack that with Priority Pass and the 4 AA lounge passes, and the first-year value is straightforward—before even touching the 100K.
Skip it if you hate portals, won’t track credits, or don’t care about AA and transfer partners. In that case, a simpler cash-back setup will make you happier.
Fine print that actually matters
- Annual fee: $595 primary; $75 per authorized user. No foreign transaction fees.
- Eligibility: Product-specific 48-month rule—no bonus if you’ve earned a Strata Elite new-account bonus (or converted into it) in the past 48 months.
- Citi pacing: Don’t stack apps—Citi typically enforces 1 approval every 8 days, 2 every 65 days.
- Launch hiccups: Rare but documented. Screenshot everything and respond fast if Citi asks for documents.
How I’d play it (simple and effective)
- Apply only if $6k/3mo is clean. Don’t force spend. The 100K is limited-time, but not at the cost of interest.
- Front-load credits by the calendar. Hit the $300 hotel now, pick Splurge brands you’ll actually burn (gift cards at Best Buy have historically worked; use judgment), and schedule a Blacklane to the airport—then repeat in January.
- Point strategy: Default to AA 1:1. When AA space is dry, pivot to partner plays (Virgin/Flying Blue/Cathay/EVA). Use the portal only when the math beats cash.
- Use the lounge passes smartly. The AA passes are 24-hour—chain them on connections, bring the kids, and make them count.
Bottom line (no sugar-coating)
At 100K + AA 1:1, Strata Elite finally has teeth. If you can actually use the $300 hotel / $200 Splurge / $200 Blacklane and you’re willing to book select trips through CitiTravel, the first-year value is real—and the ongoing case is decent if you keep pulling those credits. If that sounds like a chore, pass. If it sounds like your normal life, this is the first Citi premium card in a while that’s worth the pull.
