Citi Strata Elite (USA, launched 27 July 2025)
Aug 3, 2025 | 11:18 am
#301
Join Date: Sep 2024
Posts: 1,752
with 3 kids, the 2 usbac and vx still works but they have have 2 lounge access each per year, or only for 1 trip, but yeah def harder as the family gets bigger
i dont think my wife got a virtual number. but we got the card pretty fsat? like 2-3 working days. i think many people are reporting the same
1) it's not really a counter DP unless you checked citi and citi is better. nobody is say c1 portal has no downsides, and is not news that hotel prices can be inflated on 3rd party portal, but generally, citi is worse. and again, it's generally speaking, not absolute and ymmv
2) you tend to get better deals with flights, which you can use c1 credits for, but not citi credits. and as you pointed out, c1 credits have the option of converting to airline credits. overall, you have more options and more flexbility with c1 credits
Got my Strata Elite card approved 8/1/2025 after they had to manually review my application due to me needing to unfreeze my credit. For those who got the card, can you use a virtual number with it immediately? I linked the Strata Elite card to my Citi online account but the Elite doesn't show up under the virtual numbers section yet. I'm hoping to get my card soon, since I have a big insurance expense due EOW.
Just to provide a counter DP, I was trying to use my Venture X credit for a Japan trip. All hotels on C1 portal were priced significantly higher than Agoda, and the portal's dynamic loading made it almost impossible to use. I was unable to use any of the credit for a real trip and had to convert it to airline credit. I did not find the Venture X credit easy to use.
2) you tend to get better deals with flights, which you can use c1 credits for, but not citi credits. and as you pointed out, c1 credits have the option of converting to airline credits. overall, you have more options and more flexbility with c1 credits
Aug 3, 2025 | 12:32 pm
#302
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,314
Just to provide a counter DP, I was trying to use my Venture X credit for a Japan trip. All hotels on C1 portal were priced significantly higher than Agoda, and the portal's dynamic loading made it almost impossible to use. I was unable to use any of the credit for a real trip and had to convert it to airline credit. I did not find the Venture X credit easy to use.
Booking flights on OTAs (including credit card issuer affiliated portals) is less of an issue, since the margin on flights is very, very thin on flights. Hotels bookings are a completely different story. Personally, I prefer to use those credits/coupons on flights to minimize the "losses". Unfortunately, the Citi Elite card forces you to use its coupon on hotels, unlike the Cap1 VX card.
Aug 3, 2025 | 1:19 pm
#303
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Virgin Atlantic Silver, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, AA Platinum Pro, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 1,478
Your DP is certainly valid. More often than not, unaffiliated OTAs have better pricing than those affiliated with credit card issuers. That's why few really like being forced to use the affiliated travel portals to redeem the travel "coupons". I was only comparing Cap1 Travel portal with other credit card issuer affiliated portals, and I found Cap1 portal to be more competitive.
Booking flights on OTAs (including credit card issuer affiliated portals) is less of an issue, since the margin on flights is very, very thin on flights. Hotels bookings are a completely different story. Personally, I prefer to use those credits/coupons on flights to minimize the "losses". Unfortunately, the Citi Elite card forces you to use its coupon on hotels, unlike the Cap1 VX card.
Booking flights on OTAs (including credit card issuer affiliated portals) is less of an issue, since the margin on flights is very, very thin on flights. Hotels bookings are a completely different story. Personally, I prefer to use those credits/coupons on flights to minimize the "losses". Unfortunately, the Citi Elite card forces you to use its coupon on hotels, unlike the Cap1 VX card.
Aug 3, 2025 | 1:25 pm
#304
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,314
That's probably because Hopper (which Cap1 portal runs on) doesn't have the airline with the cheapest fare on that particular route, not because it tacks on an extra $50 fee.
Aug 3, 2025 | 1:34 pm
#305
Flyertalk Posting Legend Moderator: Credit Card Programs, American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Diners Club, Eco Travel, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA, IHG & Marriott Platinum; HH Gold
Posts: 51,741
Aug 3, 2025 | 1:45 pm
#306
Join Date: Sep 2024
Posts: 1,752
c1 has a price match guarantee too that may help if prices dont increase after you book
Aug 3, 2025 | 1:54 pm
#307
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Virgin Atlantic Silver, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, AA Platinum Pro, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 1,478
Yes I've used this successfully multiple times now, but it's annoying and not perfect because the very lowest price is from non-U.S./non-English language OTAs. It helps, but I can't match to the very lowest price. To mia and the other person's remarks: the airline and fare bucket are identical to the cheaper sites.
Aug 3, 2025 | 4:13 pm
#310
Join Date: Sep 2024
Posts: 1,752
To access a lounge, present your physical Citi Strata Elite Card along with a boarding pass for same day travel. Primary cardmembers and their authorized users may create a digital account with Priority Pass at www.prioritypass.com/citistrataelite to access a digital membership card, however this step is not required for entry.
Aug 3, 2025 | 4:20 pm
#311
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Charlotte, NC USA
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott Lifetime / Annual Titanium; Massively Missing Starwood
Posts: 5,442
I'm looking for reference points for how the hotel credit gets applied. Here's what I would like to be able to do:
- Book a hotel for work purposes through CitiTravel
- Get the $300 credit
- get a receipt from the hotel showing the credit or being gross of the credit
Does anyone have first hand experience with how this benefit will work?
- Book a hotel for work purposes through CitiTravel
- Get the $300 credit
- get a receipt from the hotel showing the credit or being gross of the credit
Does anyone have first hand experience with how this benefit will work?
Aug 3, 2025 | 4:21 pm
#312
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 303
Aug 3, 2025 | 7:14 pm
#313
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,785
I'm looking for reference points for how the hotel credit gets applied. Here's what I would like to be able to do:
- Book a hotel for work purposes through CitiTravel
- Get the $300 credit
- get a receipt from the hotel showing the credit or being gross of the credit
Does anyone have first hand experience with how this benefit will work?
- Book a hotel for work purposes through CitiTravel
- Get the $300 credit
- get a receipt from the hotel showing the credit or being gross of the credit
Does anyone have first hand experience with how this benefit will work?
Aug 3, 2025 | 9:48 pm
#314
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: TPE, SEA
Posts: 1,149
Yes I've used this successfully multiple times now, but it's annoying and not perfect because the very lowest price is from non-U.S./non-English language OTAs. It helps, but I can't match to the very lowest price. To mia and the other person's remarks: the airline and fare bucket are identical to the cheaper sites.
Might be off topic, but does anyone know how to see the fare class on C1 travel? I don't think it's shown during booking, and not even in the travel confirmation or flight details emails. The only way I find them is by looking us the confirmation on the airline's website.
Aug 4, 2025 | 1:01 am
#315
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA MM, SQ KrisFlyer, SPG/Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,276
Competing with AMEX and Chase means adding value to PP, not doing the same thing that they do...