Link: Learn more about the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card
The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (review) is Citi’s recently launched premium credit card. Up until recently, the card was offering more bonus points when applying in a Citi branch than when applying online, but that’s no longer the case, as we’re also seeing en elevated bonus online.
I want to post a reminder of this, as it’s anyone’s guess how long this limited time offer sticks around, and this is a card that’s definitely worth picking up, if eligible.
In this post:
Earn 100,000 ThankYou points with the Citi Strata Elite Card
The $595 annual fee Citi Strata Elite Card is offering an online limited time welcome bonus of 100,000 ThankYou points after spending $6,000 within the first three months. Previously, the card was offering a welcome bonus of 80,000 ThankYou points if applying online, so this is a very nice improvement, as you can earn the same number of points with the bonus online as in a Citi branch.
Personally, I value Citi ThankYou points at 1.7 cents each, so to me the welcome bonus is worth $1,700. There are lots of great uses of Citi ThankYou points, and they can also be transferred to the Citi ThankYou airline and hotel partners, including American AAdvantage.
Who is eligible for the Citi Strata Elite Card bonus?
Who is eligible for the welcome bonus on the Citi Strata Elite Card? In line with Citi’s 48-month rule, the welcome bonus on this card isn’t available if you’ve received a bonus on this exact card in the past 48 months. Since this card is still quite new, that means a vast majority of people are eligible for this product.
Eligibility for the card (including the welcome bonus) is unrelated to having any other Citi Strata product, like the Citi Strata Premier® Card (review) or Citi Strata℠ Card (review). Learn more about Citi Strata eligibility, learn more about Citi Strata welcome bonuses, and learn about my experience applying for the card.
Beyond the above, Citi has fairly limited application restrictions. The main thing to be aware of is the 8/65 rule, whereby Citi will approve consumers for at most one card every eight days, and at most two cards every 65 days. This is a rolling limit, so you’ll want to space out your Citi applications a bit, to maximize your odds of approval.
Why the Citi Strata Elite Card is worth applying for
Beyond the initial welcome bonus of 100,000 ThankYou points, there are many reasons to consider holding onto the Citi Strata Elite Card:
- The Citi Strata Elite has some unique bonus categories, including offering 6x ThankYou points on dining on “Citi Nights”
- The Citi Strata Elite offers a variety of credits that can help add value, including a $300 annual hotel credit, a $200 annual “Splurge Credit,” and a $200 annual Blacklane credit
- The Citi Strata Elite offers some lounge access perks, including four annual Admirals Club passes and a Priority Pass membership
With some of the credits and benefits being based on the calendar year rather than the cardmember year, it’s also worth calling out the card’s particularly good first year value, in terms of in some cases being able to “double dip” perks with the card’s first annual fee.
Let me also mention that while the card has a steep $595 annual fee, you can get that reduced by $145 if you have a Citigold account, meaning the card would only cost you $450 per year.
Bottom line
The Citi Strata Elite Card has a limited time online welcome bonus of 100,000 ThankYou points upon completing minimum spending, better than the previous bonus of up to 80,000 points (and matching the 100,000 points offered in Citi branches).
This is a card that’s potentially worth picking up, given its ongoing perks. At a minimum, it’s a card worth giving a try for a year, given its strong first year value. If you’ve been on the fence about applying for the card, an elevated online bonus is certainly a reason to consider doing so.
Do you plan on picking up the Citi Strata Elite Card with 100K bonus points?
If I am currently a Citi Prestige cardholder, am I ineligible for the card and/or sign up bonus? Will it affect my Citi Prestige card membership?
This is a joke, right? Regardless. No thank you, to Citi’s thank you program. I only deal with professional and reputable businesses.
I received an email saying they're still honoring the 5000 extra points for people who signed up before the card became available. So my offer is 105,000 points if I apply and get approved.
No disclaimer of so many people report getting 4506-C months after opening this card?
Citi have made good on that issue, apparently, per Upgraded Points "Citi Waives Annual Fee, Gives 100K Points to Strata Elite Cardholders After 4506-C Issue"
https://upgradedpoints.com/news/citi-strata-elite-card-4506-c-issue/
If I were to get this card, could I use the benefits for someone else? Like, can I book a hotel room for someone else and get the hotel credit? Same with the Blacklane credit or the Splurge credit?
Can I transfer Citi TYPs to another Citi card member?
@ TravelinWilly -- You can transfer up to 100K Citi ThankYou points to others, though they expire after 90 days, unless you to a partner loyalty account. More info here:
https://onemileatatime.com/guides/transfer-citi-thankyou-points-others/
Many of the credits can be used for others, like the Blacklane and Splurge credits. The hotel credit must be used for the primary cardmember or authorized user (though you can add authorized users at no cost).
Let me know if you...
@ TravelinWilly -- You can transfer up to 100K Citi ThankYou points to others, though they expire after 90 days, unless you to a partner loyalty account. More info here:
https://onemileatatime.com/guides/transfer-citi-thankyou-points-others/
Many of the credits can be used for others, like the Blacklane and Splurge credits. The hotel credit must be used for the primary cardmember or authorized user (though you can add authorized users at no cost).
Let me know if you have any other questions!
As always, thank you, Ben!
I currently have a Strata Premier. If I acquire an Elite card, I would transfer my TY points earned from the Elite to the Premier every month. If I close the Elite account after a year, will I lose any points transferred to the Premier, or will all points remain intact in my Premier TY account?
Any idea how long this promotion will last?
@ Regis -- Sadly not. It's anyone's guess, but generally these kinds of offers are around for more than a few weeks but not for several months. So my assumption would be anywhere from one to three months, but that's not based on any inside information.
When transferring TY points to FF programs using Avios, and trying to secure a business class award ticket using avios from my Qatar Airways account, how much are typically the taxes and fees for an award ticket between the US and Southeast Asia? When I try to do a dummy booking, it only gives me the mileage cost, not the taxes and fees. It seems that it only displays taxes and fees if you have...
When transferring TY points to FF programs using Avios, and trying to secure a business class award ticket using avios from my Qatar Airways account, how much are typically the taxes and fees for an award ticket between the US and Southeast Asia? When I try to do a dummy booking, it only gives me the mileage cost, not the taxes and fees. It seems that it only displays taxes and fees if you have enough avios to finalize the purchase.
Can anyone give me a ballpark figure regarding taxes and fees for such an award ticket? Thank you
@ Daniel B. -- I just pulled up an IAD-DOH-BKK award in business class, and the taxes and fees came out to $288.80 one-way. Hope that helps.
@Lucky: thank you, most definitely helps!
@Lucky: sorry, one more thing: would you look at the taxes and fees for me back from BKK to IAD? Thank you.
@ Daniel B. -- $331 total in that direction.
@Lucky. Thank you so much! This helped me to decide whether to take advantage of the 30% transfer bonus with UR points or the 25% transfer bonus with TY points. Really appreciate your help!
Can I apply for this card given that I currently have the Citi Prestige?
@ Sam -- Yep, you sure can! I also have the Citi Prestige, and picked up this card (and qualify for the bonus).
Will Citi match the 100 bonus for already approved 80K bonus offer just a week ago?
@ Sam -- It can't hurt to send a message and ask, though no guarantees. It seems to be a case of "your mileage may vary."
Ben, do you have a contact to make this type of an appeal. I applied under the 80K promotion just 2 weeks ago and would like to push out an appeal.