Information To The Citi Status Card: Why It is Nonetheless In My Pockets

On this publish, I’d like to speak a bit in regards to the Citi Status Card, which is now not open to new candidates. Regardless of that, it’s a product that continues to be in my pockets, and I determine it’s at the very least price offering some context on why.

There’s no technique to get the Citi Status Card anymore

Let me begin with the unhealthy information. Since 2021, the Citi Status Card is now not open to new candidates. Not solely can’t you apply for the cardboard instantly, however you can also’t product change one other card to this. So for those who don’t have the cardboard now, you’ll be able to’t get it (if you have already got the cardboard, this is likely to be a purpose to assume twice about canceling it).

What’s fascinating is that we just lately noticed the launch of the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (evaluation), which is Citi’s new premium bank card, with a doubtlessly good worth proposition. Even with the launch of that, those that have the Citi Status Card proceed to have the ability to maintain the cardboard with that worth proposition, moderately than being product modified to this new card. I’m unsure if that may proceed to be the case in the long term, however that’s the place issues presently stand.

Fundamentals of the Citi Status Card

Now let me cowl a number of the particulars of the Citi Status Card, together with the annual price, rewards construction, advantages, and extra. This card undoubtedly isn’t as profitable because it was, however there’s nonetheless worth to it, for my part.

Citi Status Card $495 annual price

The Citi Status Card has a $495 annual price, and there’s a price of $75 so as to add every licensed consumer. There’s worth to including licensed customers, so I’ll discuss a bit extra about that under. However at this level, the price is on the decrease finish amongst ultra-premium playing cards.

Remember that for those who’re a Citigold buyer, you’ll be able to obtain a $145 annual rebate in your annual price, which is a pleasant perk.

Citi Status Card rewards construction

The Citi Status Card earns Citi ThankYou factors, which is likely one of the main transferable factors currencies. ThankYou factors earned on the cardboard might be transferred to airline and resort companions, which I contemplate to be the most effective use of those rewards, given the potential for outsized worth.

The cardboard has the next rewards construction, all with no international transaction charges

• Earn 5x factors on restaurant purchases, together with takeout and supply
• Earn 5x factors on airfare and journey company purchases
• Earn 3x factors on resort purchases
• Earn 3x factors on cruise purchases
• Earn 1x factors on all different purchases

Citi Status Card $250 annual journey credit score

To assist offset the $495 annual price, the Citi Status gives a $250 journey credit score each calendar yr. That is tremendous simple, as there’s no registration required, and it may be utilized towards any buy coded as journey.

To me that is good as money, and the best way I view it, this actually lowers the cardboard’s out of pocket price yearly to ~$245, since nearly anybody getting this card must be utilizing the $250 assertion credit score. And naturally when you’ve got a Citigold account, you’d get one other $145 off that.

Citi Status Card Precedence Cross™ Choose membership

The Citi Status Card gives a Precedence Cross™ Choose membership for the first cardmember, in addition to licensed customers. With this, you’ll be able to take as much as two friends with you at no additional price.

Whereas many premium playing cards supply a Precedence Cross™ Choose membership, what’s noteworthy is that this membership does supply credit at Precedence Cross eating places, not like premium playing cards issued by American Categorical, Capital One, and Chase. That’s a serious benefit of this card, and a purpose to carry onto it, for my part.

Citi Status Card World Entry Or TSA PreCheck Credit score

The Citi Status gives a World Entry or TSA PreCheck credit score as soon as each 5 years. Simply cost the appliance price to your card, and it’ll robotically be reimbursed. It is a fairly commonplace profit on premium playing cards these days.

Citi Status Card fourth night time free profit

The Citi Status Card gives a fourth night time free resort profit. Twice a yr, you’ll be able to e book a resort by way of the Citi Journey portal, and get the fourth night time reimbursed. This has the potential to characterize an excellent worth, however isn’t a slam dunk, prefer it was.

Up till 2019, the Citi Status Card fourth night time free profit was the only greatest profit provided by any card. You might use the fourth night time free profit an infinite variety of occasions, and it may even be used for reservations instantly with resort teams (so you may earn factors and elite nights). I can’t even say what number of 1000’s of {dollars} this profit saved me through the years, although it’s a shell of its former self at this level.

Citi Status Card mobile phone safety

The Citi Status gives mobile phone safety at no further price:

• This is applicable in case your cellphone is stolen or suffers sure injury
• You might be reimbursed for the price of the restore or substitute
• You possibly can rise up to $800 per declare, and there’s a $50 deductible per declare
• Protection consists of as much as $1,500 in complete yearly advantages for as much as 5 telephones in your month-to-month invoice

Whereas that’s a pleasant perk, the draw back is that the cardboard gives solely 1x factors in your mobile phone invoice, so that you’re forgoing fairly a couple of factors by selecting to cost your mobile phone invoice to the cardboard.

Why I nonetheless have the Citi Status Card

Again in 2015-2019, nearly everybody within the miles & factors house had the Citi Status Card, because the fourth night time free resort profit was merely unimaginable. How do I justify nonetheless holding onto the Citi Status Card? Right here’s how I method it:

• The cardboard prices me round $100 to carry onto, after you’re taking the annual price and subtract the $250 annual journey credit score and the $145 Citigold credit score that I get
• That is my go-to card for eating, because the 5x factors this card gives in that class is the most effective return on eating of any main card, for my part
• Now that American Categorical, Capital One, and Chase playing cards have eradicated credit at eating places from the Precedence Cross perks, this card’s Precedence Cross™ Choose membership is much more useful
• Having this card permits me to maximise worth with the Citi Double Money® Card (evaluation), which gives 2x factors on on a regular basis spending

This card isn’t some slam dunk for everybody, however between the 5x factors on eating and the credit at Precedence Cross eating places, it’s a card that I’m holding onto in the meanwhile.

The Strata Elite Card is Citi’s new premium focus

As I discussed above, whereas current cardmembers on the Citi Status Card proceed to have the ability to maintain onto the cardboard, it’s the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (evaluation) that’s open to new candidates. The cardboard has an enormous welcome bonus — many individuals must be eligible for the product, and it’s a card that I just lately utilized for.

To cowl the fundamentals of that, the cardboard has a $595 annual price, and gives quite a lot of perks that may assist justify that, with an particularly good first yr worth. These advantages embrace a $300 annual resort credit score, a $200 annual “Splurge Credit score,” a $200 annual Blacklane credit score, 4 annual Admirals Membership passes, a Precedence Cross membership, and extra.

These on the lookout for a decrease price possibility could also be within the $95 annual price Citi Strata Premier® Card (evaluation). The cardboard has well-rounded bonus classes, because it gives 3x factors on eating & eating places, gasoline stations & EV charging, supermarkets, airfare, and resorts, and it additionally gives a $100 annual resort credit score, whereby you will get $100 off a $500+ resort keep booked by way of the Citi Journey portal.

Backside line

For a number of years now, the Citi Status Card hasn’t been open to new candidates. That being mentioned, it’s a card that many current cardmembers have held onto, given the worth proposition. The cardboard has a $495 annual price, however gives a $250 annual journey credit score, 5x factors on eating, a Precedence Cross™ Choose membership with restaurant credit, and extra.

I’ve held onto this card for years, and plan to proceed to take action. That being mentioned, for those who don’t but have the cardboard and desire a premium product from Citi, it’s the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (evaluation) you have to be contemplating.

Do another OMAAT readers nonetheless have the Citi Status Card? Or at the very least have fond recollections of the uncapped fourth night time free profit? 😉