Credit Rewards
Independent educational guide. Not affiliated with American Express, Chase, Capital One, Citi, or any issuer. This site does not offer account login, applications, payments, or card-number forms.
Back to Citi cards

Citi

Citi Strata Premier rewards and benefits guide.

A ThankYou Points card built around broad 3x everyday earning — dining, grocery, gas, and travel — with 21+ transfer partners, a $100 annual hotel credit, and no foreign transaction fees at a $95 annual fee.

Citi

Citi Strata Premier

Last updated: June 20, 2026. Verify current terms with Citi before applying, booking, or relying on coverage.

Core multipliers

  • 10xHotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through cititravel.com.
  • 3xAir travel purchased directly from airlines.
  • 3xHotel purchases not booked through cititravel.com.
  • 3xRestaurants and dining worldwide.
  • 3xGrocery stores. Warehouse clubs and superstores may not qualify — verify with Citi.
  • 3xGas stations and EV charging stations.
  • 1xAll other purchases.

Card snapshot

Annual fee$95
Rewards currencyThankYou Points (transferable)
Primary categoriesDining, grocery, gas/EV, air travel, hotels, cititravel.com portal
Credit structure$100 hotel credit once per calendar year via cititravel.com
Foreign transaction feesNone
Transfer partners21+ airline and hotel programs

What the card is built around

The Citi Strata Premier is Citi's mid-tier transferable-points card. It earns 3x on dining, grocery stores, gas stations and EV charging, and travel — a set of categories broad enough to cover most everyday spending. Unlike cards that concentrate rewards in one or two categories, the Strata Premier spreads the 3x rate across spending types most households use regularly.

The ThankYou Points ecosystem gives access to 21+ transfer partners across airlines and hotels. The strongest paths are through programs that cover international cabin redemptions — Flying Blue, Singapore KrisFlyer, Turkish Miles&Smiles, Avianca LifeMiles, and others. The $95 annual fee and a $100 hotel credit that can offset most of the fee make the card's math relatively simple if you use the credit. No foreign transaction fees adds value for international travel.

Earning category details

10x
Citi Travel portal

The 10x rate applies to hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked through cititravel.com. This is the highest earning rate on the card. Portal bookings may affect hotel loyalty benefits, cancellation terms, and room upgrade eligibility — compare portal pricing with direct rates before booking.

3x
Air travel

The 3x rate applies to airfare purchased directly from airlines. Flights booked through online travel agencies or cititravel.com may not earn at this rate — verify the eligible purchase type with Citi. The 10x portal rate applies specifically to hotels and rental cars, not flights.

3x
Dining and restaurants

The 3x rate covers restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery where coded as a restaurant purchase. Merchant category coding determines eligibility — some food purchases at supermarkets or convenience stores may not code as dining.

3x
Grocery stores

The 3x rate applies to grocery store purchases. Warehouse clubs (Costco, Sam's Club), superstores (Walmart, Target), and specialty food stores may not qualify under Citi's eligible grocery definition. Verify with Citi before relying on 3x for a specific merchant.

3x
Gas and EV charging

The 3x rate covers gas stations and EV charging stations. This is a category that many transferable-points cards at the $95 price point exclude — the Strata Premier's inclusion makes it a competitive everyday earner for drivers.

3x
Hotels (direct)

Hotel stays not booked through cititravel.com earn 3x. Booking directly preserves hotel loyalty credit, room upgrades, and cancellation flexibility that portal bookings may not. The trade-off is giving up the 10x portal rate and the $100 hotel credit eligibility.

Statement credits

Credit Structure Practical read
$100 Hotel Credit Once per calendar year, $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) booked through cititravel.com. If used, this credit reduces the effective annual fee to around $0 for a $95 card. The stay must be at least $500 and booked through cititravel.com. Compare portal pricing with direct hotel rates and check cancellation terms before booking to capture this credit.

ThankYou Points transfer partners

The Citi Strata Premier transfers ThankYou Points to 21+ airline and hotel partners. Most transfer at a 1:1 ratio. Emirates Skywards is a notable exception at 1:0.8 — meaning 1,000 ThankYou Points become 800 Emirates miles. Hotel transfer ratios vary; verify exact ratios with Citi's ThankYou rewards page before transferring. All transfers are final and one-way.

Partner Type Transfer ratio
Aeromexico Rewards Airline 1:1
Avianca LifeMiles Airline 1:1
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles Airline 1:1
Emirates Skywards Airline 1:0.8
Etihad Guest Airline 1:1
EVA Air Infinity MileageLands Airline 1:1
Air France–KLM Flying Blue Airline 1:1
JetBlue TrueBlue Airline 1:1
Qantas Frequent Flyer Airline 1:1
Qatar Airways Privilege Club Airline 1:1
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Airline 1:1
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus Airline 1:1
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Airline 1:1
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Airline 1:1
Accor Live Limitless Hotel Verify with Citi
Choice Privileges Hotel 1:2
Preferred Hotels & Resorts I Prefer Hotel Verify with Citi
Wyndham Rewards Hotel 1:1

Redemption strategy

High-value transfer paths

The most valuable ThankYou Point redemptions are typically through airline transfer partners for international premium cabin awards. Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) runs regular promo awards and can price well for transatlantic routes. Singapore KrisFlyer offers access to Singapore Airlines first and business class and Star Alliance partner awards. Turkish Miles&Smiles is often cited for low award rates on United and Star Alliance metal. Avianca LifeMiles books Star Alliance partners including United and Lufthansa.

Cash redemption baseline

ThankYou Points can be redeemed for statement credits, direct deposit, check, or purchases at retail partners including Amazon. Cash-equivalent redemptions typically value points at 1 cent each. Transferring to airline or hotel programs is generally the path to higher per-point value — but transfer value depends entirely on finding and booking award space at the right rate.

Pairing with Citi Double Cash

Citi Double Cash (2% cash back, no annual fee) can convert its cash-back rewards to ThankYou Points if you also hold the Strata Premier or another qualifying transferable Citi card. This makes the Double Cash a 2x ThankYou earning card on all purchases, effectively turning a flat-rate no-fee card into a transfer-eligible points card.

Transfer timing

All ThankYou Points transfers are final and one-way. Do not transfer points until you have confirmed award availability with the destination program. Transfer processing times vary by partner — verify current transfer timing with Citi before booking time-sensitive awards.

Travel and purchase protections

Protection What is covered Key limits and notes
Trip Cancellation and Interruption Reimburses non-refundable prepaid travel expenses if a trip is cancelled or interrupted due to covered reasons including illness, severe weather, and other listed events. Coverage requires that the trip be purchased with the Strata Premier. Covered reasons are defined in the benefit guide. Verify current limits and covered events with Citi before relying on this for a specific trip.
Trip Delay Protection Covers reasonable expenses incurred when a covered trip is delayed by a specified number of hours due to a covered reason. Eligible expenses typically include meals and lodging. The delay must exceed the minimum hours listed in the benefit guide. The trip must be paid with the card.
Lost or Damaged Baggage Covers loss or damage to checked or carry-on bags during a covered trip. Coverage is subject to per-bag and per-trip limits in the benefit guide. File claims promptly with the carrier and document losses before filing with Citi.
Rental Car Damage Protection Covers damage to or theft of eligible rental vehicles when you decline the rental company's collision damage waiver and pay for the entire rental with your Strata Premier card. Verify whether coverage is primary or secondary. Excluded vehicle types and countries may apply. Confirm eligibility with Citi before relying on this for a specific rental.

What is not included

  • No airport lounge access — the Strata Premier does not include Priority Pass, lounge membership, or proprietary lounge access.
  • No travel credits beyond the $100 annual hotel credit via cititravel.com.
  • No airline fee credit, TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit, or similar.
  • No sign-up bonus is documented in this guide — verify current welcome offer terms with Citi directly.
  • Emirates Skywards transfers at 1:0.8, not 1:1 — factor this into point valuations before selecting Emirates for a redemption.

Fit checklist

  • You spend meaningfully in dining, grocery, gas, or travel — the 3x rate covers all of these simultaneously, unlike cards that concentrate on one or two categories.
  • You want access to international airline transfer partners without paying more than $95 per year.
  • You stay in hotels at least once per year and can use the $100 hotel credit via a $500+ cititravel.com booking to offset the annual fee.
  • You have no foreign transaction fee requirement for international purchases.
  • You do not need airport lounge access from your mid-tier card — the Strata Premier does not include lounge access.
  • You are comfortable with Citi's ThankYou ecosystem and its partner list, which emphasizes international carriers over U.S. domestic programs.

FAQ

Citi Strata Premier questions.

What is the annual fee for the Citi Strata Premier?

The Citi Strata Premier carries a $95 annual fee with no foreign transaction fees. It positions directly against the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture at the same price point, with a broader 3x earning tier covering dining, grocery, gas, and travel simultaneously.

How many transfer partners does the Citi Strata Premier have?

The Strata Premier transfers to 21+ airline and hotel partners through Citi's ThankYou program. Most airline partners transfer at 1:1. Emirates Skywards is the notable exception at 1:0.8. Airline highlights include Flying Blue (Air France/KLM), Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, Avianca LifeMiles, Virgin Atlantic, and Qatar Airways Privilege Club. Hotel partners include Wyndham Rewards, Choice Privileges, Accor Live Limitless, and Preferred Hotels & Resorts.

How does the $100 hotel credit work?

Once per calendar year, the Strata Premier offers $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through cititravel.com. The discount applies automatically. If you use this credit, the effective annual fee drops to approximately $0. Compare cititravel.com pricing with direct booking rates and review cancellation policies before using the credit.

Can I use Citi Double Cash to earn ThankYou Points?

Yes, if you hold both the Citi Strata Premier (or another qualifying transferable ThankYou card) and the Citi Double Cash, you can convert the Double Cash's cash-back rewards into ThankYou Points. This turns the Double Cash into a 2x ThankYou earning card on all purchases, which can then be transferred to airline and hotel partners through the Strata Premier.

Does the Strata Premier have trip cancellation coverage?

Yes. The Strata Premier includes trip cancellation and interruption protection, trip delay reimbursement, and lost or damaged baggage coverage when the trip is purchased with the card. Coverage limits, covered reasons, and claim procedures are defined in Citi's benefit guide. Verify current terms with Citi before relying on coverage for a specific trip.

Related guides

Continue researching Citi and competitors.

Citi card index Citi Double Cash guide Chase Sapphire Preferred Capital One Venture guide

Sources

Primary pages to verify.