My Experience Using the Citi Strata Elite Card’s Admirals Club Passes

I’m always looking for ways to get into airport lounges, whether by holding elite status, flying in business or first class, or using a credit card that gives me a membership or access to specific lounges.

I do have a few credit cards that give me Priority Pass access, but I only have Oneworld Ruby status, which isn’t enough to get me into most Oneworld lounges (though I’m working on this for 2027). This is why I find the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card’s Admirals Club passes valuable.

Here’s why I value these annual passes and how I’ve used them this year.

How My Lounge Strategy Has Changed Over the Years

I often connect through Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) before and after long-haul flights to Europe. For years, I loved going into the Capital One Lounge at DFW, which offers tasty food and comfortable seating. However, after the issuer reduced access for guests and authorized users to Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass lounges on the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, I was left at a loss, since I often travel with my family.

I recently downgraded from the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® to the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card after its most recent annual fee increase and perks overhaul (the benefits weren’t as useful to me since I live abroad), so I no longer have lounge access there.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

75,000 100,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$2,000

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.24% - 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, gas, EV charging, vacation homes, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance and emergency evacuation. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), gas, EV charging, vacation homes (such as Airbnb and Vrbo), and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

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Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
• Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $156.
• Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
• Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck^® or NEXUS application.
• Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Chase Ultimate Rewards

I’d given up my Platinum Card^® from American Express years back for the same reason (living abroad) and now use the American Express Green Card^®*, which doesn’t offer lounge access. And my other low-annual-fee airport and hotel co-branded cards don’t offer me access, either.

I was thrilled last summer when the Citi Strata Elite card launched in mid-2025. Not only did the card offer Priority Pass membership (including 2 guests — I could now bring my family into lounges with me). And another perk was its 4 Admirals Club passes.

*The information regarding the American Express Green Card^® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Citi Strata Elite Card’s Benefits

I was excited about this card mainly because it offered me a path to lounge access for a reasonable $595 annual fee.

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Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Citi Strata Elite card is Citi's most premium card built for frequent travelers and foodies.

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Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

The Citi Strata Elite card is Citi's most premium card built for frequent travelers and foodies.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.

75,000 Points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,200

Annual Fee

$595

APR

20.49% to 28.49% Variable

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Strata Elite card is a great option for frequent travelers, foodies, and those who are fans of the Citi ThankYou Rewards ecosystem thanks to its combination of bonus categories, perks, and annual credits.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 12x points on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked through Citi Travel
• 6x points on airfare through Citi Travel
• 6x points on dining on Citi Nights (Friday and Saturday nights from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.) and 3x points on dining at all other times

Cons

• $595 annual fee
• Boosted dining rewards are limited to 2 nights per week

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Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
• Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com and 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com
• Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time
• Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
• Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Each calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more when booked through cititravel.com.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.49% to 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

In addition to lounge access, the card’s other benefits include:

• Earn 12x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on cititravel.com, 6x points on air travel booked on cititravel.com, 6x points at restaurants, including restaurant delivery services, every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Eastern time, and 3x points at restaurants any other time, plus 1.5x points on all other purchases.
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
• Up to a $300 annual hotel benefit (for 2 night-stays or more booked on cititravel.com)
• Up to a $200 annual Splurge Credit to be used at 1stDibs, American Airlines (exclusions apply), Best Buy, Future Personal Training, and Live Nation (exclusions apply)
• Up to a $200 annual Blacklane credit
• Complimentary Priority Pass membership
• 4 American Airlines Admirals Club passes every calendar year
• Ability to transfer to Citi ThankYou Reward Points to numerous hotel and airline partners, including American Airlines

Why I Value the Citi Strata Elite Card’s Lounge Benefits

Last summer, after learning about the change to Capital One’s Lounge access benefits, I knew I would need a new plan, mainly because I frequently travel with my son and husband. My husband is Spanish, and although he has the Spanish version of the American Express^® Gold Card, this only allows 2 Priority Pass entrances annually.

I needed a card that gave me Priority Pass lounge access for myself and guests, especially after Capital One’s new restrictions went into effect on February 1, 2026.

Right now, the Citi Strate Elite card is the most flexible rewards card with the most affordable annual fee and complimentary Priority Pass lounge access, including 2 guests. Since I frequently fly Oneworld airlines but only have AA Gold status, the Admirals Club passes are an excellent fit for me, especially during long layovers at hub airports such as Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and Chicago O’Hare (ORD).

My Experience Using the Admirals Club Passes

I was super excited about this perk during a recent trip between Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD) and Tucson (TUS), Arizona, when I had a connecting flight in Dallas. Dallas Fort Worth Airport has no shortage of lounges, but I was bummed to have to pay to bring my son into the Capital One Lounge with me. So I decided to attempt to use the passes.

Unfortunately, it was a fail. The Admirals Clubs in Terminal C and D were full, and they weren’t accepting day passes. Ouch. My 4-year-old, having gotten off a 12-hour flight and gone through customs and security again, was nearing a meltdown, and I needed to find snacks, fast. Clearly, having these passes wasn’t a guarantee that I would actually get to enter the lounge.

Luckily, I ended up in a Priority Pass lounge nearby. The AC was broken, but they had food and drinks, and there was space for my son and me to sit comfortably.

On my return trip, I had great success. I was able to enter the Admirals Club in Terminal D by simply opening my AA app and finding the passes in the rewards section under “Coupons, credits, upgrades, and passes.” Thankfully, I had already linked my Citi Strata Elite card to my AAdvantage account.

I clicked on the tab saying “view passes” and showed one to a staff member working the desk at the lounge. My son and I were able to enter the lounge with no issue and enjoy a few hours there before our flight.

What To Know Before Using the Passes

There are a few things worth knowing before relying on the Citi Strata Elite card’s Admirals Club passes:

• There aren’t any guarantees. If the lounge is full, you might not get in. However, you can always ask the desk to call Admirals Clubs in other terminals to ask if they have space.
• Up to 3 children can enter the lounge with the primary cardmember.
• You have to use an additional pass for accompanying adults.
• You must have a same-day boarding pass on a flight with a Oneworld airline.
• These passes don’t roll over at the end of the year if you don’t use them.
• If you cancel your card, any unused passes are forfeited.

Final Thoughts

I’m thrilled that the Citi Strata Elite card offers 4 Admirals Club passes every year — and Priority Pass access for you and 2 guests. It’s a nice pathway to numerous lounges in the U.S. and around the world. While my experience was easy, I won’t count on confirmed availability, because as soon as the Admirals Clubs fill up, they stop letting day-pass guests in first. This is when Priority Pass makes for a good backup.