The Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees) is Citi’s mid-tier journey card. The Strata Premier earns bonus factors on on a regular basis spending classes and unlocks full-value entry to switch companions.
However with so many different good choices, is the Strata Premier well worth the $95 annual payment? Under, we break down the necessary facets of the cardboard so you possibly can resolve whether it is for you.
Welcome supply
The Strata Premier is presently providing 60,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 throughout the first three months from account opening.
Citi ThankYou factors are price 1.9 cents every in response to TPG’s September 2025 valuations, making this bonus price $1,140.
We advocate making use of for the cardboard when a higher welcome offer of not less than 70,000 factors is accessible to maximise your preliminary funding in opening the cardboard and paying the annual payment.
Earlier than making use of, contemplate your eligibility as effectively. In line with Citi:
Bonus ThankYou® Factors should not out there when you acquired a brand new account bonus for a Citi Premier® or Citi Strata Premier® account up to now 48 months or when you transformed one other Citi bank card account on which you earned a brand new account bonus within the final 48 months right into a Citi Premier® or Citi Strata Premier® account.
Associated: Best ways to redeem Citi ThankYou Rewards points
Strong factors incomes
When you ask folks what they like in regards to the Strata Premier, the most typical reply is probably going that it earns factors in well-liked spending classes.
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The cardboard earns 10 factors per greenback spent on points of interest, automobile leases and accommodations booked by the Citi Travel portal.
As well as, the Strata Premier earns 3 factors per greenback spent within the following classes (no caps or annual limits):
- Air journey
- Electrical automobile charging stations
- Gasoline stations
- Motels (non-Citi Journey purchases)
- Eating places (together with takeout)
- Supermarkets
All different purchases earn 1 level per greenback spent.
TPG bank cards author Danyal Ahmed repeatedly makes use of his Strata Premier card to pay for gasoline and groceries, which helps him accumulate ThankYou factors rapidly. Incomes bonus factors on on a regular basis spending and Strata Premier’s spectacular switch companions motivated him to use for the cardboard.
Plus, the Strata Premier’s bonus classes apply worldwide, not like some playing cards that solely supply bonus factors on purchases within the U.S.
Associated: Should you book hotels through Citi Travel?
Switch companions
When figuring out if the Strata Premier’s $95 annual payment is price it, contemplate which airline frequent flyer applications you possibly can entry. Citi has some nice switch companions like Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Air France-KLM Flying Blue and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, however essentially the most notable is the recently-added American Airlines AAdvantage.
Though no-annual-fee Citi cards also transfer to AAdvantage, the ratio is unfavorable at 1:0.7. The Strata Premier is essentially the most inexpensive annual payment card to switch factors at a 1:1 ratio, making it a worthwhile funding.
Danyal is a large fan of the AAdvantage program, and the power to switch ThankYou factors to this system is sufficient motive for him to maintain paying the annual payment 12 months after 12 months.
Resort credit score
As a cardholder, you may get an annual good thing about $100 off a single lodge keep of $500 or extra (excluding taxes and charges) if you guide by Citi Journey.
Nonetheless, whereas this profit sounds promising and is perhaps nice when staying at boutique, impartial properties, it could not yield the $100 in financial savings you anticipate.
Earlier than making a lodge reservation on Citi Journey, examine the value of the lodge when reserving straight to match whether or not you are getting the perfect fee. Citi Journey does not at all times have the bottom fee, so your $100 low cost might not truly be a stable deal.
Bookings by journey portals like Citi Journey usually don’t earn hotel points or honor elite benefits, so issue that into the $100 low cost.
Associated: What you need to know about direct versus third-party travel bookings
Journey and buy protections
The Strata Premier supplies the next journey protections:
Extra details about coverage limits and exclusions may be discovered here.
Purchasing protections embody:
World Elite Mastercard advantages
As a World Elite Mastercard cardholder, you possibly can take pleasure in further perks like World Emergency Companies, a $5 Lyft credit score if you take not less than three rides in a month (supply ends Jan. 31, 2026) and $10 off your second Instacart order every month, together with three months of complimentary Instacart+ (supply ends Jan. 31, 2027).
Leisure perks
Anybody with a Citi bank card, together with the Strata Premier, can entry Citi Entertainment.
This supplies entry to unique occasions and precedence entry for advance ticket gross sales to concert events, movie festivals, performances and exhibits.
Backside line
Because the lodge profit might not present the complete $100 worth, whether or not the Strata Premier is price its $95 annual payment will depend upon the factors you earn and the way you worth them.
When you can maximize the bonus classes and get good worth from Citi’s switch companions, it’s possible you’ll discover that to be a invaluable return effectively past the annual payment. Nonetheless, if you need extra tangible worth from assertion credit and different perks, you may possible need to go along with a different credit card, just like the extra premium Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see rates and fees).
To be taught extra, learn our full review of the Strata Premier.
Apply right here: Strata Premier