The Citi Strata Premier is often overlooked in the crowded world of travel rewards credit cards. With a $95 annual fee and the ability to transfer points to Citi’s broad list of travel partners, it earns its place as a solid mid-tier card. But is it the right card to keep long-term? That’s the decision I had to make—and it wasn’t an easy one.
On paper, the Strata Premier checks a lot of boxes. It’s the only Citi card currently available for new applicants that allows point transfers to travel partners. This makes it a critical component of any Citi-based rewards ecosystem. While Citi lacks domestic airline partners—unlike Chase or Amex—it still shines for those who favor international premium cabin redemptions. Its partnerships span all three major airline alliances: SkyTeam, Star Alliance, and Oneworld.
I originally picked up this card due to an elevated sign-up bonus. Currently, the public offer sits at 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in three months—not bad at all, especially when used with transfer partners. What really makes the Strata Premier stand out are its multipliers: 3x on travel, dining, groceries, and gas. These are essential spend categories, making it a strong candidate for a one-card setup.
That said, this card isn’t perfect. One major criticism is Citi’s $100 hotel credit, which requires a $500 booking through the Citi Travel portal. Many users dislike booking through portals due to customer service hassles, particularly with flight changes. However, I’ve personally had no issues using portals for hotel stays and find the credit easy to use—especially on trips where $500 is easily spent over a few nights.
So, why consider canceling? For someone like me, who’s deep into the points game and already earning 5x in many categories through other cards, the Strata Premier doesn’t get much action. It’s essentially a “sock drawer” card—held for strategic reasons rather than daily use. My main reason for keeping it another year is that we have a significant number of points stranded in a player-two account. Without the Strata Premier, we couldn’t transfer those points to travel partners, severely limiting their value.
We also use the Citi Custom Cash for 5% back on home improvement purchases. Without the Strata Premier to link and convert those points to transfer-eligible ones, they’d simply become cash back. So even if this card isn’t actively used for spending, it still plays a key role in our overall strategy.
Ultimately, I’ve decided to keep it—at least for another year. For anyone building a Citi-based setup or looking for a high-value mid-tier travel card, the Citi Strata Premier deserves serious consideration.
The Rewards Master 