Citi Strata Premier vs. Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select: Which Citi card is better for your wallet?
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. You can earn 75,000 bonus points by applying directly through Citi.com rather than the 70,000 points available through TPG’s affiliate link. We are committed to our readers getting the highest bonus available.
Citi is a TPG advertising partner.
American Airlines AAdvantage miles are one of my favorite currencies for booking flights, so I’m always looking for ways to boost my balances.
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is usually the first choice of many travelers. Meanwhile, there are benefits to earning transferable currency points; the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees) is a great way to earn bonus points on everyday purchases. Although Citi ThankYou points do not transfer to American Airlines, they transfer to several Oneworld airlines, which can be a great way to redeem points.
If you’re torn between earning more AAdvantage miles or points that can be transferred to Oneworld partners, here’s how to choose between the Citi Strata Premier and the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select.
The information for the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Citi Strata Premier vs. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select comparison
| Citi Strata Premier | Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select | |
| Welcome offer | Earn 70,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
Note that new cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus points by applying directly through Citi.com rather than the 70,000 points available through TPG’s affiliate link. |
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 in the first three months of account opening. |
| Annual fee | $95 | $99, waived the first year |
| Earning rates | 10 points per dollar on purchases made on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com
3 points per dollar at restaurants, gas stations, electric vehicle charging stations, supermarkets, air travel and other hotels 1 point per dollar on all other purchases |
2 miles per dollar on dining, gas and eligible American Airlines purchases
1 mile per dollar on all other purchases |
| Benefits |
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Citi Strata Premier vs. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select welcome offer
New Citi Strata Premier cardholders earn 70,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
Based on TPG’s July 2024 valuations, this welcome offer is worth $1,260. In the past, Citi has offered up to 80,000 bonus points for the card. However, the current offer is better than their usual offer and is worth considering. We want to note that new cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus points by applying directly through Citi.com rather than the 70,000 points available through TPG’s affiliate link.
New Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select cardholders earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 in the first three months of account opening. According to TPG’s valuations, AAdvantage miles are worth 1.55 cents a piece, making this offer worth $775. The welcome offer on this card varies. When I opened this card several years ago, I received 75,000 bonus miles, a much more lucrative offer that comes around from time to time.
Winner: Citi Strata Premier. The larger welcome bonus offer gives new cardholders more value for redemptions.
Related: Here are the best credit card welcome offers
Citi Strata Premier vs. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select benefits
For a low annual fee travel card, the Citi Strata Premier offers simple benefits for cardholders.
The easiest and most direct dollar-amount benefit you can utilize is the $100 annual hotel savings perk. When you book a hotel reservation of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) through CitiTravel.com, you’ll receive a $100 discount on your stay. This benefit is available once per calendar year and can help to offset the card’s $95 annual fee. Note that most hotels do not provide elite status benefits, points or stay credits when booking through a third-party site.
Additionally, the card offers travel protections to ensure your trips are as stress-free as possible if something goes wrong. These protections include trip delay, cancellation and interruption (Common Carrier) protection, lost or damaged luggage insurance and secondary car rental coverage. As a travel card, you can expect no foreign transaction fees.
The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card is a cobranded credit card whose benefits are tied to flying American Airlines. You and up to four companions on the same reservation receive a free checked bag. You’ll also receive Group 5 priority boarding on flights marketed and operated by American Airlines and a 25% discount (as a statement credit) on inflight purchases of food and beverages on domestic AA flights. The card charges no foreign transaction fees.
You can also receive a $125 flight discount certificate after spending $20,000 or more in purchases during your card membership year and renewing your card. You also earn Loyalty Points while spending on the card.
Winner: Citi Strata Premier. The card’s travel protections give it the edge over the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select, whose benefits are tied to AA and offer no such protections.
Earning rewards with the Citi Strata Premier vs. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select
The Citi Strata Premier is an excellent card for everyday purchases because of its wide range of bonus-earning categories.
Like other travel cards, the card earns bonus points when booking through its own travel portal. Cardholders earn 10 points per dollar on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com. Cardholders also earn 3 points per dollar on restaurants, gas stations, EV charging stations, supermarkets, air travel and other hotels. Finally, the card earns 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
In comparison, the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select has limited earning potential. Cardholders earn 2 miles per dollar on dining, gas and eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases. In addition, cardholders earn one Loyalty Point for every AA mile earned by spending on the card, which can help them gain elite status with American Airlines.
Winner: Citi Strata Premier. The card has a wide range of bonus-earning categories that will pay off when redeeming points in the future.
Related: Why the Citi Strata Premier is 1 of my favorite cards in my wallet
Redeeming rewards with the Citi Strata Premier vs. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select
You can redeem Citi ThankYou points in various ways. Points can be redeemed for statement credits, cash rewards, third-party gift cards or transferred to Citi’s 19 travel partners. When redeeming through the Citi ThankYou portal, points are worth 1 cent each; however, consider transferring your points to an airline or hotel partner for better value.
AAdvantage miles earned by the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select can only be redeemed for flights with American Airlines, Oneworld member airlines or partner airlines of the AAdvantage program. As a cardholder, I exclusively use my AA miles for redemptions on Oneworld airlines, such as Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways.
Because the AAdvantage program dynamically prices AA-metal tickets, in addition to subpar business-class hard and soft products, you’re better off redeeming your miles with other Oneworld partners who offer a dramatically better experience in premium cabins. To maximize your miles and redemption options, be familiar with the AAdvantage award chart and program rules.
Winner: Citi Strata Premier. This card has the upper hand because it allows users to redeem points through various methods, including transferring them to travel partners.
Related: 7 reasons to get the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Card
Transferring rewards with the Citi Strata Premier vs. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select
As a cobranded card, the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select cannot transfer miles. The Citi Strata Premier, however, has 19 transfer partners, some of which are useful for those looking to redeem their rewards for greater value.
Notable transfer partners include Avianca LifeMiles and Air France-KLM Flying Blue. Several other airlines are also accessible, including Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Qantas Frequent Flyer, JetBlue TrueBlue and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. Whichever program you choose, know that transfer times can vary, and it’s always good to plan ahead and confirm availability before transferring your points to the frequent flyer programs.
Winner: Citi Strata Premier. The card has transfer partners that allow redemptions on Oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance airlines.
Related: Citi Prestige vs. Citi Premier
Should I get the Citi Strata Premier or Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select?
If you value more earning power across several categories and the ability to transfer points to redeem with airline or hotel partners, then the Citi Strata Premier is your card. However, if you fly American Airlines often, are aiming for elite status with the airline (and its Oneworld equivalent) and are looking to save money on domestic flights with free checked bags, then the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select is the right choice.
Bottom line
The Citi Strata Premier offers a high sign-up bonus and earns up to 3 points per dollar that you spend in several key categories. It’s a fantastic mid-tier card for many travelers. American Airlines fans, even those who don’t fly exclusively with American, can benefit from what the AAdvantage Platinum Select offers. Carefully consider each card’s features before deciding which to apply for.
To learn more, check out our full reviews of the Citi Strata Premier and AAdvantage Platinum Select.
Apply here: Citi Strata Premier
Learn more: Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select
Related: What credit score do you need to get the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard?
