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There is a new kid in town. (Well, a new kid in the “Citi.”) The Citi Strata Elite^℠Card is alive now for applications with an 80K Citi ThankYou® points welcome offer. But if you can go into a bank to apply in person, the in-branch offer is 100K points. Even better news is that Citi ThankYou® points now transfer to American Airlines! This means that the new Citi Strata Elite^℠ Card transfers to AA, and the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card does too!  Here’s everything you need to know about this new card and whether it’s worth a look.

All information about the Citi Strata Elite^℠ Card has been collected independently by Travel Mom Squad. The Citi Strata Elite^℠ Card is no longer available through Travel Mom Squad.

All information about the Citi Strata Premier^℠ Card has been collected independently by Travel Mom Squad. The Citi Strata Premier^℠ Card is no longer available through Travel Mom Squad.

 

 

Here are the details on the new Citi Strata Elite^℠ Card:

Annual Fee and Minimum Spend

The annual fee is a steep one: $595. But if you use the card’s benefits, it will offset that annual fee. The minimum spend is $4,000 in the first three months, which is pretty average.

 

Card Benefits

• $300 annual hotel benefit when booking a two-night stay at cititravel.com.
• Up to $200 annual Splurge Credit^℠: Earn up to $200 credit on up to two of the following brands: 1stDibs, American Airlines (exclusions apply), Best Buy^®, Future Personal Training, and Live Nation (exclusions apply)
• Up to $200 annual Blacklane® credit: This is a a premium global chauffeur service. Earn up to $100 on Blacklane® purchases January through June and up to $100 July through December.
• Priority Pass^™ Select membership
• American Airlines Admirals Club^® lounge access passes: Every calendar year, receive four Admirals Club® Citi Strata Elite^℠ Passes
• Up to $120 Global Entry^® or TSA PreCheck^® application fee credit every four years

 

Okay, I am not thrilled with those benefits. I might possibly use the $200 Annual Splurge Credit^℠, but I don’t see using the others. Still, I would get the card to take advantage of the welcome offer of 80K to 100K transferable points for the first year, with a transfer to American Airlines in mind. 

 

 

Category Spends

• 12 points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on cititravel.com
• 6 points per dollar spent on air travel booked on cititravel.com
• 6 points per dollar spent at restaurants on Citi Nights^℠ purchases, Friday and Saturday from 6 PM through 6 AM ET
• 3 points per dollar spent at restaurants any other time
• 1.5 points per dollar spent on all other purchases

 

Application Rules

Bonus ThankYou® Points are not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi Strata Elite℠ account in the past 48 months or if you converted another Citi credit card account on which you earned a new account bonus in the last 48 months into a Citi Strata Elite℠.​

 

Bottom Line

While this card won’t be a mainstay in my wallet, I can see applying for it at some point. The card’s welcome offer and benefits may make it worthwhile for the first year, at least, and I always love an opportunity to earn more American Airlines miles!  It’s exciting to finally have a points program that allows transfers to American Airlines again. 

 

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