New Citi Strata Elite: $595 Fee, With Point Transfers to American
Key Takeaways
You could offset the Citi Strata Elite's high annual fee with a selection of statement credits, and you'll earn ThankYou points you can transfer to American Airlines.
Article Overview
Quick insights and key information
7 min read
Estimated completion
investment
Article classification
July 27, 2025
01:00 PM
NerdWallet
Original publisher
From an analytical perspective, Interestingly, What caught my attention is Ing the debut of the $0-annual-fee Citi Strata Card, the issuer is launching a premium version: the Citi Strata Elite Card
The Citi Strata Elite Card, which has a substantial $595 annual fee, focuses its rewards and benefits on travel, along with high-end experiences and purchases
Nevertheless, There’s a sizable welcome offer: Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
Beyond that, you’ll earn:12 points per $1 on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on cititravel, in light of current trends
On the other hand, 6 points per $1 on air travel booked on cititravel. 6 points per $1 at restaurants (including food dery services on “Citi Nights”) on Fridays and Saturdays between 6 p
In contrast, Eastern Time, considering recent developments
However, Outside of this timeframe, you’ll earn 3 points per $1 in this category (quite telling)
However, 5 points per $1 on all other purchases
Rewards are in the form of ThankYou points, which you can redeem for cash back, travel, gift cards, purchases at participating retailers and more
Another option is to transfer your points to one of Citi’s transfer partners, but there’s a feature that sets the Citi Strata Elite Card apart: You can also transfer your points to American Airlines’ AAdvantage loyalty gram (this bears monitoring)
Additionally, That’s big news because American hasn’t been a permanent transfer partner for any other card issuer’s rewards grams, including Citi, which issues multiple co-branded cards with the airline
On the other hand, If you carry multiple Citi-issued cards that are connected to one ThankYou rewards account, you could transfer points from another card to the Citi Strata Elite Card to then transfer to American
Full list of Citi transfer partnersAirlinesAeromexico (1:1 ratio) (this bears monitoring)
American Airlines (for holders of the Citi Strata Elite Card), considering recent developments
Air France/KLM (1:1 ratio), given current economic conditions
Asia Miles (1:1 ratio)
However, Avianca (1:1 ratio) (noteworthy indeed)
Meanwhile, Emirates (1:1 ratio)
Etihad (1:1 ratio) (noteworthy indeed)
JetBlue (1:1 or 1:0. 8 ratio, depending on which card you have), considering recent developments
Nevertheless, Qantas (1:1 ratio)
Qatar Airways (1:1 ratio)
Nevertheless, Singapore Airlines (1:1 ratio)
Thai Airways (1:1 ratio) (something worth watching)
Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines (1:1 ratio), in today's market environment
Virgin Atlantic (1:1 ratio)
HotelsAccor Limitless (2:1 ratio) (quite telling)
Choice Hotels (1:2 or 1:1. 5 ratio, depending on which card you have), in today's financial world
This leads to the conclusion that Leading Hotels of the World (5:1 ratio) (this bears monitoring)
Preferred Hotels & Res (1:4 ratio)
At the same time, Wyndham (1:1 ratio or 1:0, considering recent developments. 8 ratio, depending on which card you have), in light of current trends
Nevertheless, EventsVirgin Red (1:1 ratio)
However, Conversely, : Beginning July 27, 2025, Citi is reducing transfer ratios for some transfer partners: On the Citi Strata Premier® Card, Citi Prestige® Card and AT&T Access More Card from Citi, 1 ThankYou Point will be worth 0. 8 Emirates Skywards mile when transferred to Emirates' loyalty gram. (Currently, 1 ThankYou Point is worth 1 Emirates mile
Additionally, )On no-annual-fee cards the Citi Rewards+® Card, Citi Double Cash® Card, and AT&T Points Plus Card, transfer ratios will also be lowered for JetBlue TrueBlue, Wyndham Rewards and Choice Privileges Rewards
Additional travel and lifestyle perks other premium cards, the Citi Strata Elite Card offers a coupon book of benefits that could help offset its annual fee if you’re able to make use of them, amid market uncertainty
On the other hand, They include:A $300 annual hotel credit for stays of two nights or more that are booked through cititravel
Additionally, A $200 annual Splurge Credit for purchases with your choice of two of these brands: 1stDibs, American Airlines, Best Buy, Future Personal Training and Nation
A $200 annual credit (in the form of two $100 credits) for bookings with Blacklane, a chauffeur service
A credit of up to $120 every four years to reimburse the fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry (an important development)
Airport lounge access, which includes four passes per year to American Airlines Admirals s and a free Priority Pass Select membership
However, Conversely, Cardholders can also access:The Reserve by Citi Travel, a selection of high-end hotels you can book through Citi (something worth watching)
You’ll also get free breakfast and Wi-Fi at these perties, along with a $100 experience credit, room upgrades, and early check-in/late checkout
Ticket sales and presales for concerts, sporting events and more through Citi Entertainment
Nevertheless, Cocktail tutorials, s and courses through the Death & Co lifestyle platform (for those ages 21 and up)
Mastercard Collection benefits, such as priority reservations at restaurants, and tickets to events
The Citi Strata Elite is the first card in the new high-end Mastercard World Legend benefits tier
How the Citi Strata cards compareThe Citi Strata Elite card joins a Strata "family" of two other ducts in the issuer's portfolio: the Citi Strata Card and the Citi Strata Premier® Card, Here’s a breakdown of what each card offers:Citi Strata CardCiti Strata Premier® CardCiti Strata Elite CardAnnual fee$0
Sign-up bonusEarn 30,000 ThankYou points after spending $1,000 within the first 3 months of account opening
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou
Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
Additionally, Rewards5 points per $1 on on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on cititravel, amid market uncertainty. 3 points per $1 at super and gas/EV stations, and on select transit. 3 points per $1 on an eligible self-select category of your choice including fitness s, select ing services, entertainment, cosmetic stores/barbershops/hair salons or pet supply stores (something worth watching)
Additionally, 2 points per $1 at restaurants (noteworthy indeed). 1 point per $1 on all other purchases, in this volatile climate. 10 points per $1 hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through cititravel (which is quite significant). 3 points per $1 on air travel and other hotel purchases, restaurants, super, gas stations and EV charging. 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
On the other hand, 12 points per $1 on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on cititravel. 6 points per $1 on air travel booked on cititravel, in this volatile climate. 6 points per $1 at restaurants (including food dery services on “Citi Nights”) on Fridays and Saturdays between 6 p
Furthermore, Eastern Time
On the other hand, Moreover, Outside of this timeframe, you’ll earn 3 points per $1. 5 points per $1 on all other purchases
Nevertheless, Other benefits0% APR motion on purchases and balance transfers, considering recent developments. $100 annual hotel savings benefit (something worth watching)
Moreover, Coverage in the event of trip cancellation, interruption or delay
Coverage if your luggage is lost or damaged
Moreover, $300 annual hotel credit. $200 annual Splurge Credit
Nevertheless, Furthermore, $200 annual Blacklane credit (in the form of two $100 credits), considering recent developments
Up to $120 every four years for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, in this volatile climate
On the other hand, Four passes per year to American Airlines Admirals s (noteworthy indeed)
Priority Pass Select membership, amid market uncertainty
Information related to the Citi Strata and the Citi Strata Elite has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or vided by the issuer or vider of these ducts, amid market uncertainty
Moreover, The ara RathnerSara is a NerdWallet travel and credit cards expert
She has appeared on the “Today” show, Nasdaq and CNBC’s “Nightly Report. ” See full bio.
Related Articles
More insights from FinancialBooklet