My Citi Strata Elite Approval
The Citi Strata Elite card launched a few month ago and it is currently offering a welcome bonus of 100,000 points. In order to get this this bonus you need to spend $6,000 in the first 3 months.
This is a premium credit card that comes with an annual fee of $595, but it also comes with several credits. While it might not be enough to justify keeping the card longer term for me, it is definitely worth applying right now. Normally you can double-dip some of these credits, and right now it gets even better with the triple-dip.
I don’t have affiliate links and the offer is not available through referral. So if you plan to apply, you can do so by supporting one of your favorite bloggers. But I just wanted to highlight the value of the card, especially if you apply now.
Approved!
I applied for the Citi Strata Elite Card three days ago and I was instantly approved with a credit limit of $13,000. I also received an instant card number with a temporary expiration date and security code.
As promised, the card arrived today within 3 business days.
Earning Rates
- 12x ThankYou Points for each $1 spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through Citi Travel via cititravel.com or 1-833-737-1288 (TTY:711).
- 6x ThankYou Points for each $1 spent on air travel booked through Citi Travel via cititravel.com or 1-833-737-1288 (TTY:711).
- 6x ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at restaurants, including restaurant delivery services, for purchases authorized between Friday 6:00 PM through Saturday 6:00 AM ET, and Saturday 6:00 PM through Sunday 6:00 AM ET (“Citi Nights”). Citi Nights eligibility is based on the day and time your restaurant purchase is authorized, not when the transaction is posted to your Account.
- 3x ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at restaurants, including restaurant delivery services, for purchases authorized at any time outside of Citi Nights.
- 1.5x ThankYou Points for each $1 spent on all other purchases.
Perks & Benefits
- $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of 2 nights or more when booked with Citi Travel via cititravel.com or 1-833-737-1288 (TTY:711). To receive the annual hotel benefit, you must pre-pay for your complete stay with your Citi Strata Elite Card, ThankYou Points, or a combination thereof. If you choose to use the benefit, up to $300 will be applied to your reservation at the time of booking. If your reservation is less than $300, the remaining amount of the annual hotel benefit will be available for your next qualifying purchase in that same calendar year. If your hotel purchase qualifies for the $300 Annual Hotel Benefit, you won’t earn points on the portion of the purchase that is offset by the benefit.
- Up to $200 Annual Splurge Credit on Eligible Brands: Every calendar year, earn up to $200 in statement credits on your choice of up to 2 of the following brands: 1stDibs, American Airlines (exclusions apply), Best Buy, Future Personal Training and Live Nation (exclusions apply). Once a Splurge Credit merchant is activated, credits will be issued for purchases at the activated merchant that post to the Citi Strata Elite Card, up to a total of $200 each calendar year.
- Priority Pass Select Lounge Membership: Your Priority Pass Select membership includes access to airport lounges participating in the Priority Pass Select network but does not include benefits at restaurants, cafes, or markets in the network.
- Four Admirals Club Citi Strata Elite Passes to American Airlines Admirals Club Lounges: The primary cardmember must redeem one Pass to enter an Admirals Club lounge and may redeem available passes for each accompanying adult 18 years of age or older. The primary cardmember may redeem all four passes in one visit to bring in a maximum of three adult guests.
- Global Entry Or TSA Precheck Application Fee Credit: Up to $120 every four years.
- $200 Annual Blacklane Credit Every calendar year: Ride in style with up to $200 in statement credits toward a chauffeur service with Blacklane. Earn up to $100 in the first half of the year and up to $100 in the second half of the year.
- Access to The Reserve by Citi Travel.
Triple-Dip
Citi normally charges the annual fee at the end of the first statement. So if you apply in December (and even late November), you will be able to triple dip any credits that are based on calendar year. In my case I was approved on December 16, 2025 and the annual fee will post in mid-January, 2026 and then again in January, 2027. Then I’ll have another 30 days to decide if I want to keep the card or cancel it and have Citi refund the full $595 fee.
That means that I now have two more weeks to use 2025 credits, a whole year for 2026 credits, and over a month for 2027 credits. Triple-dip!
But what you can actually triple-dip on this card?
- $200 Annual Splurge Credit: This credit alone can cover the annual fee, as I can get it three times for a total of $600 (3x$200). Best Buy is one of the eligible merchants, which makes it easy to find something to buy. You can also buy gift cards such as Amazon, Apple, Disney, DoorDash, Airbnb, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and more.
- $300 Annual Hotel Credit: You can get this credit three times as well, but it’s not worth face value for me. You can get up to $300 off a hotel stay of 2 nights or more when booked with Citi Travel via cititravel.com. Most likely that will not translate to a free stay.
- $200 Annual Blacklane Credit: This credit is broken down to $100 for Jan-Jun and another $100 for Jul-Dec. So you can use $100 in 2025, $200 in 2026, and then another $100 in 2027 for a total of $400. I have not looked too much into this credit, but I doubt it will be very valuable for me.
- Four Admirals Club Passes: Another triple dip opportunity here for frequent travelers.
Guru’s Wrap-up
This is a great time to apply for the Citi Strata Elite Card since you can triple-dip some of the credits. You get 100,000 points for a fee of $595, but you also get $600 in Annual Splurge Credits, and discounts on hotels and door-to-door chauffeur service among other things.
Let me know what you think!
