Citi Strata Elite: The Card That Just Dropped (and Why You Might Care!)

Hey friends, Philip here from Points of Phillip, and today we're diving into some BREAKING NEWS. Citi has officially confirmed the existence of the Citi Strata Elite card! Not only that, but they've dropped a bombshell: American Airlines is now a transfer partner! Let's get into the details, but first, do me a solid and hit that like and subscribe button. It really helps the channel and lets me know you're finding this stuff useful!

Citi Strata Elite: What's the Deal?

Alright, let's break down this new card:

• Sign-Up Bonus: 80,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months (limited time offer!). Keep an eye out for a possible 100,000 point offer if you have a special relationship with Citi.

• Annual Fee: $595. Ouch.

• Authorized User Fee: $75 per user. A bit cheaper than some other premium cards.

• Earning Structure: This is where things get interesting...

  • 12x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked DIRECTLY on cititravel.com.

  • 6x points on air travel booked on cititravel.com.

  • 6x points at restaurants on "Citi Nights" purchases (Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. ET). Time to do some mental math, West Coasters!

  • 3x points at restaurants at any other time.

  • 1.5x points on all other purchases. Hmm...

• Credits & Perks Galore (Up to $1500 in Value!)

  • Up to $300 annual hotel benefit (for stays of 2+ nights booked through cititravel.com).

  • Up to $200 annual "Splurge Credit" – choose up to two brands from a list including First Dibs, American Airlines, Best Buy, Future Personal Training, and Live Nation. Airline incidentals might be the way to go with the AA option.

  • Up to $200 annual Blacklane credit (global chauffeur service – split into two $100 credits).

  • Priority Pass Select membership (access to 1500+ airport lounges). Sadly, no Priority Pass restaurants.

  • Four Admirals Club passes (American Airlines lounges). Hello, Orlando!

  • Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA Pre-Check credit (every four years).

Max Rewards Gold Plug

Managing all those credits can be a pain, which is why I use Max Rewards Gold! It tracks my credit card accounts, credits, and offers, and tells me which card to use to maximize my points. I even saved $200 on a Waldorf Astoria trip thanks to a hidden Amex offer Max Rewards activated. Use code fill at checkout for three months off your annual subscription, or try the free 7-day trial!

American Airlines Transfer Partner: Why Should You Care?

American Airlines doesn't have many transfer partners, so this is a big deal! We're hoping for a 1:1 transfer ratio, but that's TBD. To see why this matters, I did some quick flight comparisons:

Orlando (MCO) to Washington D.C.

• American Airlines: 10,000 points + $5.60 in fees (one way)

• Delta: Varies wildly based on time of day, but can be as low as 3,400 miles.

Orlando (MCO) to Denver (DEN)

• American Airlines: 16,000 miles (one way), First Class for 28,000 miles.

• Delta: As low as 6,600 miles (Delta Main), First Class from 35,000 miles.

It seems that American Airlines could be a solid option especially for international travel and business class seats.

Final Thoughts

The Citi Strata Elite is here, and it's... complicated. If you're not into the cititravel.com portal, you're basically paying $595 for a card that earns 3x on dining and 1.5x on everything else (like the Chase Freedom Unlimited). However, those Admirals Club passes and the potential for sweet American Airlines redemptions might make it worthwhile for some.

You'll definitely need to stay organized to make the most of the credits. So what do you think? Is the Citi Strata Elite worth it? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for tuning in! See you next time.