topic Re: Citi Strata Premier, the emerging reality in Credit Cards

Citi Strata Premier launches next week?

PullingMeSoftly — Wed, 08 May 2024 04:29:45 GMT

Hearing about the Citi Strata lineup for so long without them coming to market, I eventually dismissed their future existence.

Looks like according to Frequent Miler and this Reddit post, the release of the Strata Premier may be imminent on 5/16, with regular Premier apps being discontinued 5/9.

Will be interesting to see if the benefits will be significantly changed, or maybe a modest bump up with the inclusion of trvel protections. SUB eligibility for existing Premier holders will be another question. Might hold off on PC'ing to another Custom Cash later this year.

Re: Citi Strata Premier, the emerging reality

Aim_High — Wed, 08 May 2024 00:06:39 GMT

Thanks for those links @PullingMeSoftly. Well, this is puzzling. I thought the rumored Strata card was to be a replacement for the retired Prestige high-AF travel card. But the discussion on your links make it appear to be simply a rebranding of the Premier card with few if any changes other the name??? Certainly, CITI wouldn't go to the trouble to introduce a "new" card that is identical (or very close to) that of the existing card?

Re: Citi Strata Premier launches next week?

PullingMeSoftly — Wed, 08 May 2024 04:31:44 GMT

Interesting comment under a Mark Reese YT post:

Re: Citi Strata Premier, the emerging reality

coldfusion — Wed, 08 May 2024 10:22:45 GMT

@Aim_High wrote:
Thanks for those links @PullingMeSoftly. Well, this is puzzling. I thought the rumored Strata card was to be a replacement for the retired Prestige high-AF travel card. But the discussion on your links make it appear to be simply a rebranding of the Premier card with few if any changes other the name??? Certainly, CITI wouldn't go to the trouble to introduce a "new" card that is identical (or very close to) that of the existing card?

Shades of BarclayUS and their Arrival+/Arrival Premier misadventure?

Re: Citi Strata Premier, the emerging reality

odd_dog — Wed, 08 May 2024 11:42:42 GMT

@Aim_High wrote:
Thanks for those links @PullingMeSoftly. Well, this is puzzling. I thought the rumored Strata card was to be a replacement for the retired Prestige high-AF travel card. But the discussion on your links make it appear to be simply a rebranding of the Premier card with few if any changes other the name??? Certainly, CITI wouldn't go to the trouble to introduce a "new" card that is identical (or very close to) that of the existing card?

To your point that would be the Strata ELITE....coming soon to a Citi application near you, with a Amex Platinum type AF....Looks like they are going back to the old days of the Prestige and Premier days but calling them Strata Elite and Strata Premier....Elite is rumored to be a coupon book deal ala Amex Platinum....we will see soon....

Re: Citi Strata Premier, the emerging reality

redpat — Wed, 08 May 2024 14:11:19 GMT

RIP Prestige, free golf, admirals access and unlimited 4th night free, what a card.

Hmm, AA ended Bilt transfers, could this be going to Eilte for transfers?????? Amex/Delta relationship.

Been waiting over 5 yrs for something good to come around.

Re: Citi Strata Premier, the emerging reality

odd_dog — Wed, 08 May 2024 14:23:27 GMT

@redpat wrote:
RIP Prestige, free golf, admirals access and unlimited 4th night free, what a card.

Hmm, AA ended Bilt transfers, could this be going to Eilte for transfers?????? Amex/Delta relationship.

Been waiting over 5 yrs for something good to come around.

Exactly what you just said is what I'm hoping happens because the only way I probably would get this card is if it transferred thank you points to AA Miles

Re: Citi Strata Premier, the emerging reality

redpat — Wed, 08 May 2024 14:35:19 GMT

@odd_dog wrote:
@redpat wrote:
RIP Prestige, free golf, admirals access and unlimited 4th night free, what a card.

Hmm, AA ended Bilt transfers, could this be going to Eilte for transfers?????? Amex/Delta relationship.

Been waiting over 5 yrs for something good to come around.
Exactly what you just said is what I'm hoping happens because the only way I probably would get this card is if it transferred thank you points to AA Miles

It would be a HR for Citi and about time since they have had a long relationship.

Re: Citi Strata Premier, the emerging reality

odd_dog — Wed, 08 May 2024 15:00:41 GMT

@redpat wrote:
@odd_dog wrote:
@redpat wrote:
RIP Prestige, free golf, admirals access and unlimited 4th night free, what a card.

Hmm, AA ended Bilt transfers, could this be going to Eilte for transfers?????? Amex/Delta relationship.

Been waiting over 5 yrs for something good to come around.
Exactly what you just said is what I'm hoping happens because the only way I probably would get this card is if it transferred thank you points to AA Miles
It would be a HR for Citi and about time since they have had a long relationship.

The only issue I see is that it would compete with the AA executive card, if it involves giving things like miles and access to admirals club à la AMEX Delta. American is so freaking controlling - pulling the tight reigns on what they control, they want to own everything when it comes to AAdvantage, including not giving loyalty points, and miles if you book through the wrong, i.e. "not favorable to American Airlines" travel agencies, so there's a question in my mind about how cozy Citi and American are. Unless Citi is "preferred"?

Re: Citi Strata Premier, the emerging reality

redpat — Wed, 08 May 2024 15:27:32 GMT

@odd_dog wrote:
@redpat wrote:
@odd_dog wrote:
@redpat wrote:
RIP Prestige, free golf, admirals access and unlimited 4th night free, what a card.

Hmm, AA ended Bilt transfers, could this be going to Eilte for transfers?????? Amex/Delta relationship.

Been waiting over 5 yrs for something good to come around.
Exactly what you just said is what I'm hoping happens because the only way I probably would get this card is if it transferred thank you points to AA Miles
It would be a HR for Citi and about time since they have had a long relationship.

The only issue I see is that it would compete with the AA executive card, if it involves giving things like miles and access to admirals club à la AMEX Delta. American is so freaking controlling - pulling the tight reigns on what they control, they want to own everything when it comes to AAdvantage, including not giving loyalty points, and miles if you book through the wrong, i.e. "not favorable to American Airlines" travel agencies, so there's a question in my mind about how cozy Citi and American are. Unless Citi is "preferred"?

Lol! AA about alienated everyone with their miles and LP program regarding OTAs, so they need to be friendly to someone and it looks like there would only be citi left.....

Re: Citi Strata Premier, the emerging reality

odd_dog — Wed, 08 May 2024 15:34:10 GMT

@redpat wrote:
@odd_dog wrote:
@redpat wrote:
@odd_dog wrote:
@redpat wrote:
RIP Prestige, free golf, admirals access and unlimited 4th night free, what a card.

Hmm, AA ended Bilt transfers, could this be going to Eilte for transfers?????? Amex/Delta relationship.

Been waiting over 5 yrs for something good to come around.
Exactly what you just said is what I'm hoping happens because the only way I probably would get this card is if it transferred thank you points to AA Miles
It would be a HR for Citi and about time since they have had a long relationship.

The only issue I see is that it would compete with the AA executive card, if it involves giving things like miles and access to admirals club à la AMEX Delta. American is so freaking controlling - pulling the tight reigns on what they control, they want to own everything when it comes to AAdvantage, including not giving loyalty points, and miles if you book through the wrong, i.e. "not favorable to American Airlines" travel agencies, so there's a question in my mind about how cozy Citi and American are. Unless Citi is "preferred"?
Lol! AA about alienated everyone with their miles and LP program regarding OTAs, so they need to be friendly to someone and it looks like there would only be citi left.....

I hope you're right!!!! As a frequent flyer of American, I'm a little pessimistic about the outcome of this! Lol.

Re: Citi Strata Premier launches next week?

shadanat — Wed, 08 May 2024 19:39:25 GMT

Via Doctor of Credit this morning

When searching “Citi Strata Premier” on duckduckgo it’s currently possible it see the full details of the new Citi Strata Premier card (not accepting applications yet). Card details as follows:

75,000 points after $4,000 in spend within the first three months
- Bonus ThankYou® Points are not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi Premier ® or a Citi Strata Premier ℠ account in the past 48 months.
$95 annual fee (not waived first year)
Card earns at the following rates:
- 10x points on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
- 3x Restaurants (including takeout)
- 3x Supermarkets
- 3x Gas Stations and ev charging
- 3x Air Travel
- 3x Hotels
- 1x on all other purchases
$100 off on a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) once per calendar year through Thankyou.com

Basically exact same benefits and structure as the current Citi Premier card, only difference is permanent addition of the 10x category and also 3x on ev charging. Hopefully the Citi Strata Prestige is a bit more exciting.

Re: Citi Strata Premier launches next week?

DoppelgangerD — Thu, 09 May 2024 17:38:08 GMT

^ ^ ^

Ridiculously underwhelming IMHO.

I wouldn't want that card with no AF, let alone $95.

I was going to say maybe worth getting for the SUB and then a PC, but then realized you can't even redeem for cash back, only for travel or gift cards.

I can kind of understand the attraction of a catch-all card for people who don't care about maximizing rewards potential, but for me it's not difficult to use multiple cards, and with current interest rates, 80-90% of all my rewards are going into HYSAs, and that to me is truly maximizing rewards potential.

Sometimes there are promos for extra redemption bonuses, so that's why I keep some rewards on each card, but the majority goes to high interest savings.

Re: Citi Strata Premier launches next week?

odd_dog — Thu, 09 May 2024 18:09:14 GMT

@DoppelgangerD wrote:
^ ^ ^
Ridiculously underwhelming IMHO.
I wouldn't want that card with no AF, let alone $95.
I was going to say maybe worth getting for the SUB and then a PC, but then realized you can't even redeem for cash back, only for travel or gift cards.

Incorrect statement not sure where you're getting your info from but thank you points are a penny a point so you can cash out and they give you a direct deposit or check.

Re: Citi Strata Premier launches next week?

DoppelgangerD — Thu, 09 May 2024 18:29:12 GMT

@odd_dog wrote:
@DoppelgangerD wrote:
^ ^ ^
Ridiculously underwhelming IMHO.
I wouldn't want that card with no AF, let alone $95.
I was going to say maybe worth getting for the SUB and then a PC, but then realized you can't even redeem for cash back, only for travel or gift cards.

Incorrect statement not sure where you're getting your info from but thank you points are a penny a point so you can cash out and they give you a direct deposit or check.

I was getting it from the post directly above mine (hence the up-arrows to avoid the ginormous quote) where it stated the sign up bonus points can be redeemed for travel or gift cards.

It does not mention cash back at all.

Maybe it's an omission on their part, but why would they not put that part in there since it would add to the benefits of the card (?).

Anyway, maybe you should wait and see what the facts are before calling my comments incorrect, since the card isn't even open for applications yet.

I hope you're right though. 😉

Re: Citi Strata Premier launches next week?

xenon3030 — Fri, 10 May 2024 00:23:26 GMT

@DoppelgangerD wrote:
^ ^ ^
Ridiculously underwhelming IMHO.

Premier was an excellent card for extended warranty (2 years), while not sure whether there is any card in the market that can beat it (several cards cover only 1 year). Besides the other perks and benefits, it is good a good card to buy appliances . I hope that Strata Premier would cover this perk as well.

Anyway, I do not like the new 10x category, since it needs to get reserved via a specific portal.

Re: Citi Strata Premier launches next week?

GhostCredit — Sat, 11 May 2024 00:13:55 GMT

I think with this strata premier coming up, it's just to start a new line up like US bank with the altitude line. So, if it's the same or very close, I think the Strata prestige will be the same as the prestige that's not available. But also if the prestige does open up, I think people will keep it cause citi closed the app to prestige. It's like having a 2nd chance at a closed app card. It's a turn off since it carries no travel benefits.

Re: Citi Strata Premier launches next week?

TrapLine — Sat, 11 May 2024 00:39:56 GMT

While were all keeping our eyes on the ball ... lets us not forget the Citi Strata Elite Card that may knock our sox off?

Re: Citi Strata Premier launches next week?

RedKhaos — Sat, 11 May 2024 21:57:52 GMT

@DoppelgangerD wrote:
@odd_dog wrote:
@DoppelgangerD wrote:
^ ^ ^
Ridiculously underwhelming IMHO.
I wouldn't want that card with no AF, let alone $95.
I was going to say maybe worth getting for the SUB and then a PC, but then realized you can't even redeem for cash back, only for travel or gift cards.

Incorrect statement not sure where you're getting your info from but thank you points are a penny a point so you can cash out and they give you a direct deposit or check.
I was getting it from the post directly above mine (hence the up-arrows to avoid the ginormous quote) where it stated the sign up bonus points can be redeemed for travel or gift cards.
It does not mention cash back at all.
Maybe it's an omission on their part, but why would they not put that part in there since it would add to the benefits of the card (?).
Anyway, maybe you should wait and see what the facts are before calling my comments incorrect, since the card isn't even open for applications yet.
I hope you're right though. 😉

I think you are both right. The strata premier does not list cashback option which suggests it's not available directly, but the rewards do get cashed into the Thankyou Rewards ecosystem. This (should) mean we can merge those reward points with another card with the option to cashout with statement or deposit like Custom Cash or Double Cash.

Current similar example is the Rewards+. By itself, you can not cash out as a deposit, and each point is worth only 0.5 cent per point. Once you merge the rewards with CC or DC, however, you get the full 1 cent/point along with additional redemption options plus the 10% bonus for all redemptions.

Re: Citi Strata Premier launches next week?

northway — Sun, 12 May 2024 11:18:54 GMT

Applications are now live on citi.com

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card - Travel Rewards Credit Card | Citi.com