Citi Strata Premier replaces Premier Card

The Citi Premier® Card gets a new look and added benefits. Citi announced the Citi Strata Premier Card in early May 2024, updating the popular mid-tier travel card to provide more value for cardholders without increasing the annual fee.

Whether you’ve been thinking about applying for a Premier Card or are already a cardholder, here’s what you need to know about the upgrade.

Strata Premier offers more rewards and protection

Before the announcement, the Citi Premier Card offered 10 points per dollar on hotel, car rental and attraction bookings through the Citi Travel portal through June 30, 2024. With the upgraded Strata Premier card, this rewards rate will become permanent.

The new card also offers 3 points per dollar spent at electric vehicle charging stations.

These bonus categories are offered in addition to the 3 points per dollar cardholders already earn at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels, as well as 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

Plus, the card now offers more travel protection benefits, making it a better choice for covering your travel purchases. New and existing cardholders will receive the following benefits:

• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: Provides reimbursement for certain non-refundable expenses charged by a common carrier if your trip is canceled or interrupted for a covered reason.
• Travel delay insurance: Offers reimbursement for certain expenses, such as meals and hotel accommodations, if your trip is delayed by a common carrier for a certain period of time.
• Insurance for lost or damaged luggage: Provides coverage for personal items lost or damaged by a common carrier.
• MasterRental coverage: Offers collision damage insurance if you get into an accident in your rental car (when you pay with that card and waive the rental company’s insurance at the counter).

The new Strata Premier Card also retains the original card’s credit benefit, which gives cardholders $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through the Citi Travel portal. You can receive benefits once per calendar year.

Apply now and receive an increased welcome offer

To celebrate the card’s relaunch, Citi is offering an increased welcome bonus for a limited time: 75,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.

For context, the card’s standard bonus is 60,000 bonus points if you spend $4,000 in the first three months. In other words, you’ll get $150 more in travel, cash back or gift cards if you apply before the offer ends.

Keep in mind, too, that you can potentially get even more value from your redemptions by transferring your Thank You points to one of Citi’s many loyalty program airline partners and booking award travel.

Should you apply for the new Citi Strata Premier Card?

If you already have a Premier Card, you will automatically receive the new rewards rates and travel protection benefits included with the Citi Strata Premier Card. However, if you want a new card design, you will have to wait until your current card expires. The $95 annual fee will remain the same after this upgrade.

If you’re not already a cardholder, the new welcome bonus will be attractive, although Citi has offered up to 80,000 bonus points in the past.

However, if you’re thinking about applying for the new Citi Strata Premier Card, it’s important to look at the big picture. Review your spending habits and travel plans to evaluate whether the card’s rates and benefits are right for you.

Also, take the time to shop around and compare the card to other popular travel credit cards. Whether you’re looking for a card with no annual fee or a card that offers more premium perks, there may be options available that better suit your habits and needs.

Those who don’t want to pay an annual fee may prefer a card like the Bilt Mastercard®, which rewards spending on food, travel and rent. Meanwhile, those looking for a truly premium experience and willing to pay an annual fee for it may want a card like The Platinum Card® from American Express, with its extensive airport lounge access.

To view rates and fees for the Platinum Card® from American Express, seethis page

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Special Feature

The Bilt Mastercard offers a unique opportunity to earn points for rent.

Conclusion

The biggest beneficiaries of the new Citi Strata Premier Card are existing cardholders, who don’t have to do anything to take advantage of the new rewards rates and travel benefits. However, new applicants will appreciate the limited-time welcome offer that accompanies the card relaunch.

If you’re considering a new Strata Premier card, take a close look at its features and research alternatives to make sure you get the best card for you.

Either way, it’s nice (pardon the pun) to see a card upgrade that adds value without increasing the annual fee, as it bucks the trend we’ve seen in many recent credit card overhauls.

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