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Continue reading: Is The Citi Strata Elite Card Worth The $595 Fee? 10 Reasons To Apply
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I'll never understand why travel portals associated with credit cards matter. Third-party portals always add unnecessary risk when plans go south because dealing with them can be problematic. I don't know any savvy business traveler who uses portals. I value this aspect of premium cards at $0.00.
I have yet to find even a single expensive credit card that you have made 'is it worth the fee' blog post about, where your answer is 'no it's not worth it'
Pros: The hotel credit is easier to use than other cards because there is a large selection to choose from including a number at a modest price point.
Cons: If you don't decide to keep the card you can't just cancel it or you will lose all the TY points. Instead you need to product change to a different card which you then have to keep alive by charging on it every so often or Citi will close the account without notice.
This is true even if you combine your TY points into a single account.
Some travel portals use something called NDC when booking hotels. It's as if it's a direct booking and one earns loyalty credit and one can use elite benefits. With such a portal, you can contact the property/network to make changes. Unfortunately, Capital One and Citi are not NDC. Rove Miles is NDC.
The annual fee on his card is too high without a slam dunk yearly credit which this card does not have.
Why not just transfer the TY points to a partner airline then close the card before the renewal?
Another pro tip on this card. You can buy a $200 AA gift card and the credit back will cover it. I did one in 2025 and again for 2026. Never expires.
You can but there is significant advantage in keeping the points at the bank since then you can retain the ability to decide later which program to transfer to.
All the other banking points programs allow this so long as you still keep one point earning card open.
Luv to have 8000 coupons bought for with $10k in annual feels that you need a complex spreadsheet for.
Or on Best Buy purchase a $200 digital Amazon card. Did this a few days ago, credited fast!
Or on Best Buy purchase a $200 digital Amazon card. Did this a few days ago, credited fast!
Only got Elite for sub. It’s a mediocre card I will convert to something more useful. And btw Best Buy online kept rejecting my Amazon and apple GC purchase attempts. bought an AA flight instead.
I'll never understand why travel portals associated with credit cards matter. Third-party portals always add unnecessary risk when plans go south because dealing with them can be problematic. I don't know any savvy business traveler who uses portals. I value this aspect of premium cards at $0.00.
Some travel portals use something called NDC when booking hotels. It's as if it's a direct booking and one earns loyalty credit and one can use elite benefits. With such a portal, you can contact the property/network to make changes. Unfortunately, Capital One and Citi are not NDC. Rove Miles is NDC.
Agreed. The first (and only) time I used a travel portal, there was an issue with the flight. The airline told me to take it up with the portal. The portal told me to take it up with the airline. I ended up holding the bag.
I won't use a portal again.
I have yet to find even a single expensive credit card that you have made 'is it worth the fee' blog post about, where your answer is 'no it's not worth it'
Pros: The hotel credit is easier to use than other cards because there is a large selection to choose from including a number at a modest price point.
Cons: If you don't decide to keep the card you can't just cancel it or you will lose all the TY points. Instead you need to product change to a different card which you then have to keep alive by charging on it every so often or Citi will close the account without notice.
This is true even if you combine your TY points into a single account.
Why not just transfer the TY points to a partner airline then close the card before the renewal?
Another pro tip on this card. You can buy a $200 AA gift card and the credit back will cover it. I did one in 2025 and again for 2026. Never expires.
You can but there is significant advantage in keeping the points at the bank since then you can retain the ability to decide later which program to transfer to.
All the other banking points programs allow this so long as you still keep one point earning card open.
Or on Best Buy purchase a $200 digital Amazon card. Did this a few days ago, credited fast!
Or on Best Buy purchase a $200 digital Amazon card. Did this a few days ago, credited fast!
The annual fee on his card is too high without a slam dunk yearly credit which this card does not have.
Luv to have 8000 coupons bought for with $10k in annual feels that you need a complex spreadsheet for.
Only got Elite for sub. It’s a mediocre card I will convert to something more useful. And btw Best Buy online kept rejecting my Amazon and apple GC purchase attempts. bought an AA flight instead.
First, if Citi Travel booked hotels via NDC, the card would be interesting. Second, if Citi wanted to create a "silver bullet" card, do so. Don't make me carry three cards. Fold in the earn rates of the Strata Premier and the Double Cash. Sure, add in the Strata Premier's $95 annual fee. But, don't make me carry three cards.
Can the Admirals Club passes be gifted to someone who actually flies that shithole of an airline?
Yes, we remember, you are based in Turkey, so, I suppose you would want to give those passes to someone else, because it's not like American Airlines is opening up a lounge at IST... (those passes aren't the main reason to get this card, though. More like, SUB, double-dip on credits, transfer AA, close, rinse, repeat.)
I believe the passes are attached to the primary cardholder's AA account and the primary cardholder must be present to use them. The terms and conditions will have the authoritative answer.
Had this card for a year but now with the AF coming due I don't see the value keeping the card as I have other cards for lounge access. They won't let us downgrade to the premier. What is the best move? Where is best to transfer TY points to if I don't have a specific redemption lined up but need to get them out of the account before closure? I have miles with AA/Alaska and I am invested in the Amex system as well.