Citi Strata Premier vs. Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Choose: Which Citi card is healthier on your pockets?

Editor’s notice: It is a recurring publish, usually up to date with new info and provides. You may earn 75,000 bonus factors by making use of instantly via Citi.com relatively than the 70,000 factors accessible via TPG’s affiliate hyperlink. We’re dedicated to our readers getting the best bonus accessible.

Citi is a TPG promoting companion. 

American Airways AAdvantage miles are certainly one of my favourite currencies for reserving flights, so I’m at all times searching for methods to spice up my balances.

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Choose® World Elite Mastercard® is normally the primary selection of many vacationers. In the meantime, there are advantages to incomes transferable forex factors; the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see charges and costs) is an effective way to earn bonus factors on on a regular basis purchases. Though Citi ThankYou factors don’t switch to American Airways, they switch to a number of Oneworld airways, which could be an effective way to redeem factors.

Should you’re torn between incomes extra AAdvantage miles or factors that may be transferred to Oneworld companions, right here’s how to decide on between the Citi Strata Premier and the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Choose.

The data for the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Choose card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Citi Strata Premier vs. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Choose comparability

Citi Strata Premier vs. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Choose welcome supply

New Citi Strata Premier cardholders earn 70,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.

Primarily based on TPG’s July 2024 valuations, this welcome supply is value $1,260. Previously, Citi has provided as much as 80,000 bonus factors for the cardboard. Nonetheless, the present supply is healthier than their regular supply and is value contemplating. We wish to notice that new cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus factors by making use of instantly via Citi.com relatively than the 70,000 factors accessible via TPG’s affiliate hyperlink.

New Citi AAdvantage Platinum Choose cardholders earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 within the first three months of account opening. In keeping with TPG’s valuations, AAdvantage miles are value 1.55 cents a chunk, making this supply value $775. The welcome supply on this card varies. Once I opened this card a number of years in the past, I obtained 75,000 bonus miles, a way more profitable supply that comes round every so often.

Winner: Citi Strata Premier. The bigger welcome bonus supply offers new cardholders extra worth for redemptions.

Associated: Listed below are the very best bank card welcome provides

Citi Strata Premier vs. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Choose advantages

For a low annual price journey card, the Citi Strata Premier provides easy advantages for cardholders.

The simplest and most direct dollar-amount profit you possibly can make the most of is the $100 annual lodge financial savings perk. Once you ebook a lodge reservation of $500 or extra (excluding taxes and costs) via CitiTravel.com, you’ll obtain a $100 low cost in your keep. This profit is accessible as soon as per calendar yr and can assist to offset the cardboard’s $95 annual price. Observe that almost all inns don’t present elite standing advantages, factors or keep credit when reserving via a third-party web site.

Moreover, the cardboard provides journey protections to make sure your journeys are as stress-free as attainable if one thing goes incorrect. These protections embrace journey delay, cancellation and interruption (Widespread Service) safety, misplaced or broken baggage insurance coverage and secondary automobile rental protection. As a journey card, you possibly can count on no overseas transaction charges.

The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Choose card is a cobranded bank card whose advantages are tied to flying American Airways. You and as much as 4 companions on the identical reservation obtain a free checked bag. You’ll additionally obtain Group 5 precedence boarding on flights marketed and operated by American Airways and a 25% low cost (as an announcement credit score) on inflight purchases of meals and drinks on home AA flights. The cardboard fees no overseas transaction charges.

It’s also possible to obtain a $125 flight low cost certificates after spending $20,000 or extra in purchases throughout your card membership yr and renewing your card. You additionally earn Loyalty Factors whereas spending on the cardboard.

Winner: Citi Strata Premier. The cardboard’s journey protections give it the sting over the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Choose, whose advantages are tied to AA and supply no such protections.

Incomes rewards with the Citi Strata Premier vs. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Choose

The Citi Strata Premier is a superb card for on a regular basis purchases due to its wide selection of bonus-earning classes.

Like different journey playing cards, the cardboard earns bonus factors when reserving via its personal journey portal. Cardholders earn 10 factors per greenback on inns, automobile leases and points of interest booked on CitiTravel.com. Cardholders additionally earn 3 factors per greenback on eating places, fuel stations, EV charging stations, supermarkets, air journey and different inns. Lastly, the cardboard earns 1 level per greenback on all different purchases.

As compared, the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Choose has restricted incomes potential. Cardholders earn 2 miles per greenback on eating, fuel and eligible American Airways purchases and 1 mile per greenback on all different purchases. As well as, cardholders earn one Loyalty Level for each AA mile earned by spending on the cardboard, which can assist them acquire elite standing with American Airways.

Winner: Citi Strata Premier. The cardboard has a variety of bonus-earning classes that can repay when redeeming factors sooner or later.

Associated: Why the Citi Strata Premier is 1 of my favourite playing cards in my pockets

Redeeming rewards with the Citi Strata Premier vs. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Choose

You may redeem Citi ThankYou factors in varied methods. Factors could be redeemed for assertion credit, money rewards, third-party reward playing cards or transferred to Citi’s 19 journey companions. When redeeming via the Citi ThankYou portal, factors are value 1 cent every; nevertheless, think about transferring your factors to an airline or lodge companion for higher worth.

AAdvantage miles earned by the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Choose can solely be redeemed for flights with American Airways, Oneworld member airways or companion airways of the AAdvantage program. As a cardholder, I completely use my AA miles for redemptions on Oneworld airways, resembling Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways.

As a result of the AAdvantage program dynamically costs AA-metal tickets, along with subpar business-class exhausting and delicate merchandise, you’re higher off redeeming your miles with different Oneworld companions who supply a dramatically higher expertise in premium cabins. To maximise your miles and redemption choices, be aware of the AAdvantage award chart and program guidelines.

Winner: Citi Strata Premier. This card has the higher hand as a result of it permits customers to redeem factors via varied strategies, together with transferring them to journey companions.

Associated: 7 causes to get the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Choose Card

Transferring rewards with the Citi Strata Premier vs. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Choose

As a cobranded card, the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Choose can not switch miles. The Citi Strata Premier, nevertheless, has 19 switch companions, a few of that are helpful for these trying to redeem their rewards for higher worth.

Notable switch companions embrace Avianca LifeMiles and Air France-KLM Flying Blue. A number of different airways are additionally accessible, together with Qatar Airways Privilege Membership, Qantas Frequent Flyer, JetBlue TrueBlue and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. Whichever program you select, know that switch instances can differ, and it’s at all times good to plan forward and ensure availability earlier than transferring your factors to the frequent flyer packages.

Winner: Citi Strata Premier. The cardboard has switch companions that enable redemptions on Oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance airways.

Associated: Citi Status vs. Citi Premier

Ought to I get the Citi Strata Premier or Citi AAdvantage Platinum Choose?

Should you worth extra incomes energy throughout a number of classes and the flexibility to switch factors to redeem with airline or lodge companions, then the Citi Strata Premier is your card. Nonetheless, for those who fly American Airways usually, are aiming for elite standing with the airline (and its Oneworld equal) and need to lower your expenses on home flights with free checked luggage, then the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Choose is the proper selection.

Backside line

The Citi Strata Premier provides a excessive sign-up bonus and earns as much as 3 factors per greenback that you just spend in a number of key classes. It’s a unbelievable mid-tier card for a lot of vacationers. American Airways followers, even those that don’t fly completely with American, can profit from what the AAdvantage Platinum Choose provides. Fastidiously think about every card’s options earlier than deciding which to use for.

To be taught extra, try our full critiques of the Citi Strata Premier and AAdvantage Platinum Choose.

Apply right here: Citi Strata Premier

Be taught extra: Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Choose

Associated: What credit score rating do it’s essential to get the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Choose World Elite Mastercard?