Citi Strata Elite vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve: Reserve Wins

Between the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, the latter comes out ahead for most travelers because of its flexible $300 travel credit, robust travel protections and access to valuable partners like Hyatt. Still, the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card is worth considering if you fly American Airlines or prefer simpler, merchant-based credits.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a popular premium travel card that's been around since 2016. Its annual fee recently increased to $795, and the card now includes more than $2,400 in credits — though the usefulness of these benefits depends on your spending habits.

The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card, which has an annual fee of $595, is a newcomer to the premium travel credit card space. It offers elevated rewards on dining and travel, $820 in credits and a unique ability to transfer points to American Airlines.

Both cards offer lounge access, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credits, complimentary travel insurance and flexible points that can be redeemed for travel, cash back or transferred to loyalty partners. Here’s how the two cards compare on rewards, perks and overall value.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Why the Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes out ahead

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is generally the better choice if you can use the credits, book travel directly with airlines and hotels and take advantage of Chase’s transfer partners, especially Hyatt.

Better rewards on direct bookings

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers 4 points per dollar spent on flights and hotels booked directly compared to the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card's 1.5 points per dollar spent for those purchases.

» Learn more: How much are points and miles worth?

More than $2,400 in credits

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has a higher annual fee of $795, but offers a wider range of credits, including:

• $300 annual travel credit.

• $500 annually for hotels booked via The Edit in two $250 credits (two-night minimum; applied to the first two eligible reservations for The Edit made in a calendar year).

• $420 for DoorDash ($35 monthly, U.S. only).

• $120 for a DashPass membership.

• $120 for Lyft (U.S. only, $10 monthly).

• $120 for Peloton. 

• $300 for StubHub/Viagogo ($150 semiannually).

• $300 dining credit at exclusive restaurants ($150 semiannually). 

• $250 for Apple TV and Apple Music subscriptions.

• Up to $120 for Global Entry, Nexus or TSA PreCheck (every four years).

The $300 general travel credit is the easiest to use since it applies to all purchases in the travel category. If you can use at least $495 of the other credits, the card effectively pays for itself.

» Learn more: Benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve

You can transfer points to Hyatt

Chase points transfer 1:1 to many airline and hotel programs, but Hyatt is a standout partner. Hyatt points are valued at 1.8 cents each, which is more than many airline miles or hotel points.

Other partners include Aer Lingus, Air Canada, British Airways, Iberia, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and some hotels that aren’t offered by Citi. If you transfer points to these programs, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a better option.

» Learn more: Chase transfer partners: What to know

Better travel insurance

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers more robust travel insurance than the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card. While both cards offer trip cancellation and interruption coverage, Chase’s limit is $20,000 per trip vs. Citi’s $5,000 per trip.

Additionally, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® has other protections that the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card lacks, including baggage delay, emergency medical coverage, emergency evacuation, travel accident insurance, roadside assistance and return protection. If travel insurance is important to you, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers far more comprehensive coverage.

» Learn more: Guide to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®'s travel insurance

Why you might pick the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card instead

The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card is ideal if you book trips through Citi, fly American Airlines, dine out often or value Citi’s transfer partners. The card earns 1.5 ThankYou points per $1 on non-bonus spending, which helps maximize points accumulated.

High earning rate on dining and everyday purchases

The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card earns 6 points per $1 at restaurants (including food delivery services) on Fridays and Saturdays between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Eastern Time, a benefit called “Citi Nights." Outside of this timeframe, you’ll earn 3 points per $1 in this category.

That outpaces the Chase Sapphire Reserve®’s flat 3 points per dollar spent on dining. It also earns 1.5 points per dollar spent on all other purchases compared to 1 point per dollar spent on the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

Lower annual fee and more flexible credits

With an annual fee of $595, the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card is significantly cheaper than the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and generally offers more flexible credits:

• $300 annual hotel credit (two-night minimum, booked through Citi Travel).

• $200 annual ($100 semiannually) credit with Blacklane, a chauffeur service.

• $200 annual Splurge Credit across two selected merchants (i.e., the luxury resale marketplace 1stDibs, American Airlines, Best Buy, Future Personal Training and Live Nation).

• Up to $120 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (every four years).

These credits may be easier to use if your spending aligns with eligible merchants. Notably, the Blacklane credit works abroad, unlike Chase Sapphire Reserve®’s U.S.-only Lyft credit.

You can transfer points to American Airlines

Citi is the only bank that allows point transfers to American Airlines. The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card also includes four Admirals Club passes annually, providing a valuable perk for American flyers without a lounge membership.

In addition, Citi’s transfer partners include Aeromexico, Avianca, Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Qantas Airways, Qatar Airways, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Red and multiple hotel programs that Chase doesn’t offer. If you transfer points to these partners, Citi is a better match.

» Learn more: Citi ThankYou transfer partners: A complete guide

Citi’s 1.5x everyday rate vs. Chase’s Points Boost

Although both cards allow point redemptions through their respective portals, with Citi, the math is simple: 1.5x earn rate on non-bonus spending x 1 cent each when redeemed for travel = consistent 1.5x return.

Chase’s Points Boost feature offers up to 2 cents per point, but only on select flights and hotels. NerdWallet's research found fewer than 10% of flights qualified for Points Boost and most were on United Airlines. All other redemptions were worth 1 cent per point. Unless you frequently book premium flights that qualify, Citi’s 1.5x earning rate wins.

Which card is right for you?

Although both of these premium travel credit cards provide lounge access, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credits, flexible points and many other credits, they shine in different areas.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a good bet if you book directly with airlines and hotels, transfer points to Hyatt or Chase's other partners, can use at least $795 of annual credits and want a card with solid travel insurance.

The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card is a solid option if you’re loyal to American Airlines or Citi’s other partners, spend frequently on dining and takeout, prefer a lower annual fee with simpler credits and want a consistent 1.5x return on everyday purchases.

While both cards hold their own in the premium travel card space, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers an overall superior value, especially for frequent travelers who can take advantage of everything the card has to offer.