Danny the Deal Guru reports on a rumored Citi Strata Premier refresh, based on survey questions that recently went out to existing cardholders. Keep in mind that surveys are not always reliable indicators of changes to come, but the changes being floated here would represent a significant downgrade in the simplicity of the Strata Premier.
Current Citi Strata Premier details
Currently, the Citi Strata Premier is a solid all-around card, and a particularly good choice in some households as a “Player 2” card, since it bonuses many of the most common spending categories, like gas, dining, and grocery.
Here are the current key card details:
| Card Name w Details & Review (no offer) |
|---|
FM Mini Review: Very strong earnings for spend. Excellent bonus categories. Points transferable to select airlines. Recommend pairing this card with Citi Double Cash Click here for our complete card review $95 Annual Fee Earning rate: 10X hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through Citi Travel℠ ✦ 3X grocery ✦ 3X dining ✦ 3X gas stations & EV charging ✦ 3X flights, hotels, travel agencies ✦ 1x everywhere else Base: 1X (1.5%) Flights: 3X (4.5%) Hotels: 3X (4.5%) Portal Hotels: 10X (15%) Grocery: 3X (4.5%) Dine: 3X (4.5%) Gas: 3X (4.5%) Card Info: Mastercard World Elite issued by Citi. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Noteworthy perks: Transfer points to airline and hotel partners ✦ $100 Annual Hotel Savings Benefit ($100 off a $500+ hotel stay, excluding taxes and fees, when booked through Citi Travel) ✦ Travel protections See also: Citi ThankYou Rewards Complete Guide |
Changes being considered
According to Danny the Deal Guru, the annual fee would increase to $195, and we would see new coupon credits added. Bonus categories would become significantly more complicated. Here are the rumored card details:
- $195 annual fee
- $120 statement credit for TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry (every four years)
- Up to $100 Splurge Credit ($50 semi-annually for purchases with American Airlines, Best Buy or Live Nation)
- 2 Priority Pass lounge visits per year
- 10X on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through Citi Travel
- 4X on flights booked through Citi Travel
- 4X on Restaurants during “Citi Nights” (Friday & Saturday, 6 PM – 6 AM ET), on up to $25,000 in spending annually
- 3X on flights & hotels booked directly with the airline or hotel
- 3X on “select transit” (including car rentals, ferries, commuter railways, subways, taxis/limousines/car services, passenger railways, bridge and road tolls, parking lots/garages, and bus lines)
- 2X restaurants (outside of Citi Nights)
- 2X supermarkets
- 2X gas & EV charging stations
- 1X everywhere else
- Annual hotel credit: Either $150 credit for hotel bookings on Citi Travel (2 nights minimum / $75 semi-annually) OR $200 credit for hotels on The Reserve Collection bookings on Citi Travel (2 nights minimum / $100 semi-annually)
- Annual Dining Credit: Receive a $100 credit, applied at checkout, at select restaurants ($50 semi-annually)
Quick Thoughts
First, I want to reiterate that surveys aren’t always reliable indicators of changes to come. Card issuers often send out surveys to gauge reaction. If we see any changes, it is more likely that we’d see some of the surveyed changes, but likely not all of them (or not exactly as surveyed). No changes have been announced, and if any changes were to come to pass, they would likely be announced well ahead of being implemented for existing cardholders. I certainly wouldn’t make any long-term card decisions yet based on the surveyed possibilities.
That said, I think the changes being floated here would risk complicating the Strata Premier out of relevance.
It would be really disappointing to see Citi continue the stupidity of the “Citi Nights” idea that assumes that everyone who gets a travel rewards credit card dines on weekend East Coast hours. A 2X “bonus” category just isn’t exciting at all on a card with a $195 annual fee, so those 2X bonus categories aren’t very appealing on their own, and seem even less generous when compared to the chance to earn 3X in many of those categories on the Strata Premier as it stands currently.
While all issuers seem to be making a play to try to convince consumers to book travel through the credit card portal, the multiple different travel rates here combined with reduced earning in popular categories like dining and grocery seem like they would significantly narrow the appeal of this card to just those who are primarily interested in booking travel through Citi. If that’s your jam, you’d probably be better off with the Strata Elite.
Today, the Strata Premier is a pretty compelling “Player 2” card for many folks. For instance, my wife primarily spends money on gas, grocery, and dining, so this is a card I can easily put in her wallet for those categories, and I can pair it with a Double Cash, and she’s got a solid all-around setup. I wouldn’t see doing that if these changes come to pass.
All that said, those who can eke value out of the coupons may find it to be a slightly better deal if these changes come to pass. I just can’t see the juice being worth the squeeze.
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The Strata Premier plus the Double Cash have been an easy recommendation for folks just starting in points and miles. And the Strata Premier has been a great card for overseas. These changes would certainly fix that. I might hold onto my Strata Premier for better transfer rates, but it would go in the sock drawer.
Man, those AA miles at a 1:1 ratio must be killing Citi as they’ve devalued the Choice and I Prefer transfer ratios, and now they may be nuking the earning power of the Premier. Those 2x categories are tough to swallow when you can replicate them with a no annual fee DoubleCash, and best them with a couple Custom Cash cards. This is a very disappointing development (if it occurs). I was considering canceling my Amex Gold Card (dining and restaurants) and my Amex Business Gold (gas), and going all in on Thank You points, this would throttle those plans.
Citi Nights has to be the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard. Who is going to change behavior or even remember to use this card on weekend dines?
Losing 3x on grocery would be rough too.
Ugh, I just set up my in-laws with the premier/double cash setup, which is already a lot for them to handle with the $100 hotel credit. These changes would immediately torpedo that.
I tried to convince them to just do a fee-free 2% cash back card. At the very least they can drop the premier and just stick with the double cash.
Sucks to be your in-laws… jkjk, you tried, nothing official here yet.