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Citi Strata Elite Card: Limited-Time 100,000-Point Welcome Bonus Available Online

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Juan Ruiz
Edited by: Ryan Smith
& Jestan Mendame
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If you’ve been watching the premium travel card space, the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card has become impossible to ignore. Currently, the card is offering a limited-time 100,000-point welcome bonus after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months — the most generous public offer we’ve seen since the card’s launch a few months back.

Even better, the 100,000-point offer previously required going to a Citi brand to apply, but now you can get it from the comfort of your home.

Here’s everything you need to know about this elevated Citi Strata Elite card welcome offer.

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Citi Strata Elite Card Welcome Offer and How It Compares to Launch

When the Citi Strata Elite card first came out, the standard online welcome offer was 80,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. Some savvy cardholders (including myself) were able to access a 100,000-point welcome bonus offer — but only by visiting a branch, which made it much harder to claim.

Now, the 100,000-point bonus is available as a public offer, and the best part about it is you don’t need to set foot in a branch.

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Image Credit: Juan Ruiz

The catch: The minimum spend requirement to unlock the full 100,000-point welcome bonus has gone up to $6,000 in the first 3 months. That’s $2,000 more than the original online offer, but for anyone serious about points, it’s still an incredibly generous opportunity.

At UpgradedPoints, we value Citi ThankYou Points at 1.6 cents each. That means this new bonus is worth approximately $1,600 in travel value if redeemed strategically.

Hot Tip:

If you missed the Citi Strata Elite card when it first launched, now’s your chance to score the 100,000-point welcome offer. Best of all, there’s no branch visit required to claim the card’s highest-ever bonus.

Citi Strata Elite Card: Key Benefits at a Glance

The Citi Strata Elite card is Citi’s answer to the premium travel card market, competing directly with heavyweights like the Platinum Card® from American Express and Chase Sapphire Reserve®. With a $595 annual fee, it’s on the higher end, but the card offers a robust lineup of perks and benefits designed for travelers and points collectors.

Here’s a snapshot of some of the key benefits you’ll enjoy as a cardmember:

  • Priority Pass lounge access: Complimentary access to Priority Pass lounges for you and up to 2 guests.
  • 4 American Airlines Admirals Club passes annually: Allows you to access nearly 50 American Airlines Admirals Club lounges up to 4 times each year.
  • Up to $300 annual hotel benefit: Receive up to $300 off a hotel stay of 2 nights or more booked through Citi Travel.
  • Up to $200 annual splurge credit: Earn up to $200 in statement credits on your choice of up to 2 of the following brands: 1stDibs, American Airlines, Best Buy, Future Personal Training, and Live Nation.
  • Up to $200 annual Blacklane credit: Up to $200 in annual statement credits when booking with Blacklane (a global chauffeur service), with up to $100 from January through June, and up to $100 from July through December.
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit: Up to $120 statement credit every four years for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee.
  • Access to The Reserve by Citi Travel: When you book at participating hotels on the Citi Travel platform, you’ll receive on-property benefits, including daily complimentary breakfast for 2, free Wi-Fi, a $100 experience credit (varies by property), early check-in, late checkout, and room upgrades (subject to availability).

And that’s just scratching the surface. There are many more benefits that make this card incredibly valuable even beyond the welcome bonus.

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Final Thoughts

The Citi Strata Elite card’s 100,000-point welcome offer is Citi’s most generous yet. With a bonus valued at roughly $1,600 and a suite of premium perks — from lounges to travel credits — it’s a strong contender in the premium card space. If you missed it when it first launched in July, now’s your chance to grab the highest bonus without the need to visit a branch.

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About Juan Ruiz

Juan is a leading expert in credit cards, loyalty programs, and airlines and hotels, with over a decade of experience helping readers and clients maximize points, miles, and travel value. His insights have appeared in prestigious outlets including USA Today, Travel & Leisure, CNN Underscored, Forbes, and The Points Guy, where he’s known for making complex travel strategies accessible and actionable. As the founder of JetBetter, Juan turns the complex world of points and miles into effortless, high-value travel, guiding clients through award redemptions, uncovering maximum value, and delivering stress-free, expertly planned trips that both travelers and industry insiders rely on.

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