The card earns 10 points per dollar spent on attractions, car rentals, and hotels booked through the Citi Travel portal. It also provides three points per dollar on air travel, electric vehicle charging stations, gas stations, hotels (not booked via Citi Travel), restaurants (including takeout), and supermarkets. All other purchases earn one point per dollar.
Danyal Ahmed, a credit cards writer for The Points Guy (TPG), stated that he uses his Strata Premier card regularly for gas and groceries to accumulate ThankYou points quickly. He added that earning bonus points on everyday spending and having access to strong transfer partners motivated him to apply for the card.
A key feature is its access to airline transfer partners such as Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, and American Airlines AAdvantage. While some no-annual-fee Citi cards can also transfer to AAdvantage miles at an unfavorable ratio of 1:0.7, the Strata Premier allows transfers at a 1:1 ratio.
Ahmed commented on this benefit: "The ability to transfer ThankYou points to [the AAdvantage] program is enough reason for him to keep paying the annual fee year after year."
Cardholders receive an annual $100 discount on hotel stays costing $500 or more when booked through Citi Travel. However, travelers are advised to compare rates directly with hotels since booking through portals like Citi Travel may not always yield savings or provide hotel loyalty benefits.
Travel protections offered by the card include car rental coverage for rentals under 31 days; lost or damaged luggage coverage up to $3,000 per trip ($2,000 for New York residents); trip cancellation and interruption coverage up to $5,000 per trip; and trip delay coverage up to $500 per covered trip.
Shopping protections consist of extended warranty protection (an additional two years) and damage/theft protection covering repair or replacement within 90 days of purchase (up to $10,000 per item).
As part of World Elite Mastercard benefits, users get perks such as Global Emergency Services; monthly Lyft credits with qualifying rides until January 2026; discounts on Instacart orders; and complimentary Instacart+ membership until January 2027.
Additionally, all Citi credit card holders have access to exclusive events via Citi Entertainment.
In summary, whether the Strata Premier is worth its annual fee depends largely on how much value users derive from its rewards structure and transfer partner options versus tangible statement credits or perks available from other cards in the market. Those who maximize bonus categories and transfer opportunities may find it valuable beyond its cost; others seeking direct cash-back or premium perks might consider alternatives like the higher-end Citi Strata Elite Card.
For further details about this product’s features and policies see https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/compare/view-all-credit-cards.
Alerts Sign-up
