Prime Highlights
- Citi introduces its new premium Strata Elite Credit Card at a $595 annual fee.
- The card offers high-value travel perks and flexible reward multipliers through Citi’s ThankYou program.
Key Fact
- Cardholders can receive up to $800 in annual credits including hotel, luxury shopping, and chauffeur services.
- Users can earn up to 12x points on bookings through cititravel.com and enjoy exclusive airport lounge access.
Key Background
Citigroup has formally launched the ultra-premium credit card business with the launch of its Strata Elite Credit Card. It targets high-spending consumers who desire an easy but rewarding experience, with the card having a $595 annual fee, less than its nearest rivals such as the AmEx Platinum ($695) and Chase Sapphire Reserve ($795). The launch places Citi in the premium travel card business again after it scrapped the Citi Prestige card.
Strata Elite is built on a client-centric platform with a mission of delivering maximum value in terms of simplicity. Rewards earning is broken down into tiers: 12x ThankYou points for hotel stays, car rentals, and attraction bookings made at cititravel.com; 6x for flight bookings booked through the same website; and 6x for dinner on Citi Nights (weekends). There are 3x points for everyday dining and 1.5 points for the rest, so it appeals to both high-flyers and luxury lifestyle spenders.
To offset the annual fee, Citi offers various annual statement credits totaling over the value of the fee. They are a $300 hotel credit, $200 in some “treat yourself” merchants like airlines and electronics stores, $200 for Blacklane chauffeur rides, and up to $120 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fees. The card is then a high-reward card with actual rewards that are usable and redeemable easily.
Other benefits keep its travel-first value reinforced: Priority Pass Select airport lounge privileges, American Airlines four-year Admirals Club passes, and reasonable travel protections like trip cancellation, delay insurance, loss of baggage, and car rental protection. Foreign transaction fees are not imposed, and existing Citigold or Private Client members could be eligible for credits that eliminate or reduce the annual fee. The Strata Elite represents Citi’s strategic move to offer a competitive alternative in the elite card category—blending premium perks with straightforward value.
