Citi Strata Elite
By Alex Compton · Last verified
Travel-portal rewards, timed dining bonuses and two different lounge benefits
Welcome Bonus
75,000
≈$1,350 value
Spend Requirement
$6,000
in 3 months
Annual Fee
$595
No FTF
Credit Score
Citi
does not publish a guaranteed minimum score; approval considers multiple factors
Current offer note: Public online offer; 48-month product-bonus restriction applies
Common Questions
What are the Strata Elite annual and authorized-user fees?
The published pricing table lists $595 annually and $75 for each authorized user.
Can I earn another Strata Elite bonus after 48 months?
The current public disclosure excludes current and former Strata Elite cardholders. The older 48-month rule does not establish current eligibility.
Does 6x dining apply all weekend?
No. It applies to eligible restaurant purchases authorized in the Friday-night and Saturday-night 6 p.m.–6 a.m. Eastern windows.
Do authorized users get Priority Pass?
Yes. Primary cardmembers and authorized users receive their own membership with up to two guests per visit, subject to lounge rules.
Are four Admirals Club passes the same as membership?
No. The primary cardmember and each adult companion consume a pass. The four passes can be used up in one group visit.
Is the Splurge Credit $200 for each brand?
No. It is $200 total per calendar year across qualifying purchases at activated merchants.
Is Elite the only Citi card with American Airlines transfers?
No. Citi’s current Strata Premier page also lists American Airlines as a transfer partner.
Is a 740 credit score guaranteed to qualify?
No. Citi does not promise approval at a particular score and considers multiple aspects of creditworthiness.
Historical Offers Chart
Every public offer change we've tracked. Hover for details, timing your application is worth hundreds of dollars.
Apply now or wait?
Consider waitingThis card has offered 80k before; the current 75k is below its typical 80k. Elevated offers have been rare lately, so waiting is a gamble.
Current offer
75k
All-time high
80k
Typical offer
80k
In place since
September 2026
| Observed | Offer | Requirement | What changed | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-04 | 75,000 | $6,000 in 3 mo | Bonus decreased: 80,000 → 75,000 · Spend: $4,000 → $6,000Public offer decreased to 75,000 points and required spend increased to $6,000 | Citi Strata Elite product page and pricing details → |
| 2026-01 | 80,000 | $4,000 in 3 mo | Terms reconfirmed | Archive record · no attached snapshot |
| 2025-07 | 80,000 | $4,000 in 3 mo | Earliest recordLaunch offer | Archive record · no attached snapshot |
Primary-source verification log
Append-only evidence ledger- changed
Scoped editorial review: verified fees, earning windows, credit restrictions, lounges and changed bonus eligibility. Numeric welcome offer unavailable; prior offer, history and full verification date preserved. Corrected related comparison exclusivity claims.
Fields: editorialReview, earningRates, credits, benefits, pros, cons, ourTake, creditScore, tagline, creditsNote
Citi product disclosures, pricing and primary lounge sources → - changed
Recorded the current 75,000-point offer with $6,000 spend and added official authorized-user, lounge-pass, credit and protection terms.
Fields: currentOffer, offerHistory, authorizedUserFee, credits, benefits, lastVerified
Citi Strata Elite product page and pricing details →
Source checked 2026-10-26 · spot an outdated offer? Report a correction above.
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Earning Rates
- 12xHotels, car rentals, attractions via Citi Travel
- 6xAir travel via Citi Travel
- 6xRestaurants during Citi Nights: Friday and Saturday 6 p.m.–6 a.m. Eastern, based on authorization time
- 3xDining (other times)
- 1.5xAll other purchases
Credits ($700/yr stated)
Face amounts are not guaranteed savings. Count only eligible purchases you would otherwise make, and observe each benefit’s calendar and booking rules.
- Hotel credit$300
Prepaid Citi Travel stays of 2+ nights; primary cardmember books; benefit applied at checkout
- Splurge Credit$200
Shared $200 per calendar year; activate up to two eligible merchants at a time; exclusions apply
- Blacklane chauffeur credit$200
Direct Blacklane purchases; shared $100 January–June and $100 July–December, based on sale date
Benefits
- ✦Priority Pass Select for primary and authorized cardholders, with up to two guests per visit; participating lounges and capacity rules apply
- ✦Four Admirals Club passes per primary account each calendar year; the primary cardmember and each adult companion use a pass
- ✦ThankYou transfers include American Airlines; this is not exclusive to Elite
- ✦Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application-fee credit per account every four years
- ✦Travel and shopping protections have exclusions and coverage limits; rental coverage is primary outside the eligible renter’s country of residence
Lounge Access
This card opens 2 lounge networks. See exactly what you can walk into at your airport with the Lounge Finder.
Why it earns its spot
- +Priority Pass membership for primary and authorized cardholders
- +American Airlines transfer access alongside other ThankYou partners
- +Credits can help when they replace spending already planned
Where it costs you
- −Highest travel multipliers require Citi Travel
- −Credits have channel, merchant and timing restrictions
- −$75 annual fee for each authorized user; no extra Admirals passes promised
The Compound Verdict
Strata Elite suits travelers who can use its hotel benefit, selected-merchant credits and lounge access without changing their spending to chase credits. American Airlines transfers are useful but do not, by themselves, justify Elite: Strata Premier also lists that partner. Compare the credits you will actually use and the lounges on your routes before paying the premium fee.
Annual fee and a practical break-even example
The annual fee is $595, plus $75 for each authorized user, with no foreign purchase transaction fee. If the hotel benefit saves you $250 and eligible Splurge purchases save $150, but you would not otherwise use Blacklane, you have offset $400 and still need $195 of value from rewards and other benefits. Adding one authorized user raises that remaining amount to $270. This example excludes interest and compares actual savings, not advertised credit totals.
Citi Strata Elite pricing tableWelcome offer and current eligibility
We could not verify a current numeric bonus, spending requirement or qualifying period from Citi’s live public product and rewards pages. The September 4 offer remains a historical observation, not an available offer. The current product disclosure excludes anyone who currently has or previously had Strata Elite and also allows other eligibility restrictions based on card-opening, closing and usage history. Do not rely on the old 48-month wording to establish eligibility.
Current product page and bonus eligibilityCiti Nights follows Eastern authorization time
The 6x restaurant windows run from Friday 6 p.m. to Saturday 6 a.m. Eastern and Saturday 6 p.m. to Sunday 6 a.m. Eastern. The authorization time determines eligibility, even if the purchase posts later. Eligible restaurants earn 3x outside those windows; other purchases earn 1.5x. Merchant coding matters, and restaurants inside other businesses can be excluded. The 12x hotel/car/attraction and 6x airfare rates require Citi Travel; direct airline bookings fall under the general earning rate.
Earning categories and Citi Nights termsHow the hotel benefit works
Book and prepay a qualifying stay of at least two nights through Citi Travel. The primary cardmember must make the reservation, which can be in the primary or authorized user’s name. The detailed terms allow unused benefit from a booking below $300 to apply to another qualifying stay that calendar year, despite the shorter FAQ’s single-stay wording. The portion covered by the benefit earns no points. Cancellation after year-end can forfeit the previous year’s restored benefit.
Detailed annual hotel benefit termsSplurge and Blacklane use different calendars
Splurge offers $200 total per calendar year, not $200 per selected brand. Activate up to two merchants at a time from 1stDibs, American Airlines, Best Buy, Future Personal Training and Live Nation; selections can change. Merchant-specific exclusions apply. Blacklane is separate: direct app or website purchases share $100 in January–June and $100 in July–December across the account. The merchant’s sale date assigns the period, which may differ from the ride date.
Splurge activation and Blacklane termsPriority Pass and Admirals Club are separate benefits
Primary cardmembers and authorized users each receive Priority Pass Select with up to two guests per visit. Present the physical Strata Elite card and a same-day boarding pass; a digital Priority Pass account is optional. Restaurants, cafes and markets are excluded. The four Admirals Club passes belong to the primary account: each accompanying adult needs a pass, so a primary cardholder with three adult guests can use all four in one visit. The primary must accompany guests, eligible same-day travel is required and capacity restrictions apply. These passes are not an annual Admirals Club membership.
American Airlines pass and companion rulesAmerican Airlines transfers do not require Elite specifically
Citi lists American Airlines as a transfer partner on both Strata Elite and Strata Premier. That makes the lounge benefits, earning categories and usable credits the reasons to compare Elite against Premier, rather than assuming only Elite provides AAdvantage access. Check the transfer ratio and award availability before moving points; a useful transfer partner does not guarantee a useful award for your dates.
Citi Strata Premier transfer partnersCitigold credits depend on your tier when the fee is charged
Qualifying Citigold clients can receive a $145 credit each cardmembership year. Qualifying Citigold Private Clients can receive $595 in the first year and $145 in later years. The primary cardmember must own a deposit account in the relevant relationship tier when the card’s annual fee is assessed. A plan to move into that tier later does not establish eligibility. Compare the cost of keeping assets in the banking relationship with the credit’s value.
Citi Private Client relationship credit termsReview details and sources updated 2026-10-23
This scoped update covers fees, benefit rules and application guidance. The offer record retains its separate verification date.
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