July 30, 2025
Citi Strata Elite℠ Card and American Airlines Transfer Partnership
Pam
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.
Getting more AA miles from transferring Citi ThankYou Points makes this a winner.
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.
Related Posts
All About the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
Japan Airlines Business Class Review
American Airlines Business-Class Flight Review
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Can you hold both the Citi Strata cards?
Yes, you can!
I got this card and think it has a great return for the first year. I called a branch and asked if they had a 100,000 bonus offer. He gladly emailed me a link. So for $595 annual fee I will not only get the 100,000 SUB but I can double dip the $300 travel credit and $200 splurge credit (now thru 12/31/25 and then again starting 1/1/26). I also plan to use the Blacklane $200 credit when I need a ride from the airport to a hotel on an international trip instead of public transportation.
Awesome! Let us know how the Blacklane credit works!