15 Benefits of the Citi Strata Elite Card

The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card has a $595 annual fee, but it offers travel benefits that could make the expense worthwhile. In addition to high rewards rates on travel bookings and dining, you’ll earn a generous welcome bonus. Plus, you can chip away at the card’s fee by using a few of its available credits for specific purchases.

Frequent American Airlines flyers can transfer points to the airline, as it’s one of Citi’s transfer partners for select cards including the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card. Other card issuers don’t feature American as a transfer partner.

Here's what to know about the key benefits of the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card.

» MORE: Which Citi Strata credit card is right for you?

Points: Spending rewards

1. High ongoing rewards rate in certain categories

The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card earns:

• 12 points per $1 on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on cititravel.com.

• 6 points per $1 on air travel booked through cititravel.com. 

• 6 points per $1 at restaurants (including food delivery services) on “Citi Nights” on Fridays and Saturdays between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Eastern Time. Outside of this timeframe, you’ll earn 3 points per $1 in this category.

• 1.5 points per $1 on all other purchases.

2. A generous welcome offer

New cardholders can earn this bonus: For a limited time, earn 80,000 bonus Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening​.

3. Flexible redemptions

Rewards are earned in the form of ThankYou® points, which you can redeem for travel booked through Citi, as well as for cash back, gift cards and online purchases at participating retailers. You can also transfer points to one of Citi’s airline and hotel partners, including American Airlines.

Note that points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed for travel through Citi, but point values can vary for other redemption options. If you redeem for cash back, for example, points are worth only 0.75 cent each.

» MORE: Why my new favorite American Airlines card is the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

Perks: Goodies that come with the card

4. Up to $300 annual hotel credit

Get up to $300 off a hotel stay of two or more nights if you book through cititravel.com.

5. Up to $200 annual ‘Splurge Credit’

Get up to $200 in credits for purchases with up to two of these merchants: 1stDibs, American Airlines, Best Buy, Future Personal Training and Live Nation.

Some exclusions apply. For example, eligible American Airlines purchases include flights purchased directly through the airline, but purchases such as car rentals and hotel reservations through American are excluded. For the Live Nation credit, you must make your purchase on livenation.com or ticketmaster.com, not through a third-party service.

You can activate up to two merchants for the Splurge credit, and you can change your merchants whenever you’d like.

6. Up to $200 annual Blacklane credit

Get two $100 credits per year toward Blacklane, a chauffeur service. You can use one credit from January through June, and the other from July through December.

7. Priority Pass Select membership

Get access to Priority Pass airport lounges with a Priority Pass Select membership, valued at $469, per Citi.

8. American Airlines Admirals Club passes

Each year, you’ll get four passes to access American Airlines Admirals Clubs’ nearly 50 locations.

» MORE: Citi Strata Elite vs. AAdvantage Executive: Which wins?

9. TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit

Receive a reimbursement for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees every four years.

10. The Reserve by Citi Travel benefit

Enjoy benefits for stays at participating hotels booked through cititravel.com. These include a $100 experience credit, complimentary breakfast for two guests, free Wi-Fi, early check-in/late checkout and room upgrades.

11. Citi Entertainment benefit

Via Citi Entertainment, access ticket sales, presales and exclusive experiences for live events, including concerts, sporting events and more.

12. Complimentary access to online cocktail tutorials

Take classes through Death & Co’s online learning platform. Death & Co is a cocktail bar with a handful of locations in the U.S., and cardholders ages 21 and up can learn to make cocktails in the comfort of their own kitchens.

13. Mastercard Collection benefits

Get reservations at sought-after restaurants, preferred tickets and ticket presale access for live events, and access to Mastercard airport lounges and fast-track security lines at select international airports.

Protections

14. Purchase protections

If an item you purchased within the last 90 days was damaged or stolen, you can be covered for up to $1,000 per incident and $10,000 per item, with a maximum annual reimbursement of $50,000. Covered items include electronics such as smartphones, laptops and tablets, as well as furniture and home appliances. Some purchases are excluded from this benefit, such as cars, currency, watches, jewelry, firearms and more.

» MORE: Purchase protection: Which credit cards cover your belongings

15. Travel protections

You’ll have coverage in the event your trip is canceled or interrupted, or delayed. There’s also coverage for lost or damaged luggage, as well as rental car insurance.