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Citi Status Card overview
The Citi Status® Card remains to be a worthwhile a part of the premium journey bank card market regardless of shedding quite a few perks through the years. Though the cardboard is now not open to new candidates, its worthwhile incomes charges and remaining perks should make it a sexy journey rewards bank card for some present cardholders. Card Ranking*: ⭐⭐⭐
*Card ranking is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
The Citi Status, Citi’s most premium journey bank card, has undergone vital modifications prior to now a number of years. Improved incomes charges in 2019 had been coupled with large devaluations, an annual charge improve to $495, stripped protections and caps on profit utilization.
Then, in mid-2021, Citi stopped accepting new purposes for the Citi Status. Though this card is not open to new candidates, present cardholders can proceed to make use of and profit from the cardboard.
There may be potential for a brand new premium Citi card that might change the Citi Status in 2025. On-line knowledge factors present a filed trademark for a ‘Citi Strata Elite’, so for individuals who missed out on the Status, this may very well be the subsequent premium card to leap on.
Frequent vacationers will be capable to get essentially the most out of the incomes charges and advantages of the Citi Status. With a excessive $495 annual charge, this card is simply price retaining if you recognize you may take full benefit of its advantages earlier than your annual charge comes due once more.
For those who do not journey steadily, you could be higher off with a lower-annual-fee mid-tier journey card such because the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card or Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see charges and costs). And for those who’re on the lookout for completely different top-tier luxurious advantages, think about The Platinum Card® from American Specific or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
The knowledge for the Citi Status has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Citi Status execs and cons
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Citi Status welcome provide
The Citi Status is not at present obtainable to new candidates. So, you’ll be able to’t apply for this card and earn a welcome bonus.
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Nonetheless, you could possibly apply for the Citi Status’s decrease annual charge sibling, the Citi Strata Premier, to earn a welcome bonus after reaching a sure spending threshold.
Different choices embrace prime journey rewards playing cards, equivalent to Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum.
For instance, the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s 60,000-point welcome bonus (after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening) is price $1,230, in response to TPG’s January 2025 valuations.
In the meantime, new Amex Platinum cardmembers can earn an 80,000-point welcome provide (after spending $8,000 on purchases on the cardboard in your first six months of cardmembership) that we worth at $1,600. Chances are you’ll be focused for an excellent larger welcome provide by the CardMatch software; not everybody shall be focused for a similar gives, and gives might change at any time.
Associated: American Specific Platinum vs. Citi Status: Do you have to make the swap?
Citi Status advantages
As talked about, Citi eradicated most of its journey and purchasing protections and devalued sure perks in 2019. However there’s nonetheless a lot to like in regards to the card’s choices.
Fourth evening free perk
The fourth-night-free profit works like this: Citi pays for the fourth evening of your keep at just about any lodge whenever you ebook by the Citi ThankYou journey portal. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to solely use this profit twice every calendar 12 months. The fourth evening free is predicated in your common nightly fee, excluding taxes and costs.
Do not forget that as a result of bookings have to be made by the Citi ThankYou journey portal, you usually will not earn lodge loyalty factors or obtain elite advantages. And be sure you examine costs with a number of different reserving strategies, because the fourth-night free perk will not all the time present the most effective worth.
As much as $250 journey credit score
Citi Status cardholders get a journey credit score of as much as $250 each calendar 12 months for journey purchases. Particularly, you may robotically get a press release credit score for the primary $250 of journey purchases you make every year.
This credit score applies to all kinds of journey purchases, together with purchases from airways, motels and automotive rental businesses. In case your buy codes as journey, it’ll greater than probably qualify for this journey credit score. That makes it one of the vital versatile credit provided by any premium journey card.
For those who maximize this credit score, it successfully lowers the $495 annual charge to $245.
Associated: How bank card issuers classify journey and eating purchases
World Entry assertion credit score
I really like having World Entry — it is saved me from standing in line for numerous hours at TSA safety and in U.S. Customs traces. Citi Status cardmembers obtain a credit score each 4 years that may be utilized towards a World Entry or TSA PreCheck software charge.
A number of different playing cards additionally provide a TSA PreCheck or World Entry assertion credit score. However for those who’ve already enrolled in both of the 2 packages, you should use the credit score for a member of the family or pal’s software.
Precedence Move lounge entry
As a Citi Status cardholder, you may additionally get entry to the Precedence Move lounge community. The Precedence Move community consists of greater than 1,700 airport lounges worldwide.
Citi Status cardholders get a Precedence Move Choose membership that gives complimentary lounge entry for the cardholder, speedy members of the family and as much as two visitors. There are some glorious Precedence Move lounges within the U.S., however a lot of the greatest Precedence Move lounges are outdoors the U.S.
Associated: Is a Precedence Move lounge membership truly price it?
Cellphone safety
If you pay your month-to-month cellphone invoice together with your Citi Status Card, you may get safety in opposition to theft and harm for as much as 5 cellphone traces. Whereas there’s a $50 deductible per declare, you’ll be able to rise up to $800 of protection per declare.
The Citi Status would not provide bonus factors on cellphone providers, however you could need to pay your month-to-month cellphone invoice together with your Citi Status to make the most of this safety.
Associated: Bank cards that cowl cellphone loss and harm
Incomes factors on the Citi Status
A vital a part of evaluating a card is assessing how simply you’ll be able to earn factors by spending. Fortunately, incomes is one space the place the Citi Status would not slack for a premium journey card.
The next normal incomes charges embrace:
- 5 ThankYou factors per greenback spent at eating places (together with takeout and supply), airfare and journey businesses (9% return primarily based on TPG’s January 2025 valuations)
- 3 factors per greenback spent at motels and cruise traces (5.4% return)
- 1 level per greenback spent on different purchases (1.8% return)
Nonetheless, keep in mind that Citi eliminated journey protections from its playing cards in 2019. So, regardless of the efficient 9% return on airfare, I often use a bank card that gives journey insurance coverage when reserving flights.
I additionally usually use a lodge bank card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve when paying for lodge stays. As such, I often solely use my Citi Status at eating places, cafes and bars.
Redeeming factors on the Citi Status
Citi ThankYou factors might be redeemed in varied methods, however essentially the most worthwhile possibility is to switch them to an airline or lodge companion.
Moreover, you’ll be able to redeem factors for reward playing cards, use them to pay at choose on-line retailers, get money again or make charitable contributions.
Associated: The entire information to Citi ThankYou Rewards: Methods to earn, redeem and switch factors
Transferring factors on the Citi Status
Transferring your factors to Citi’s 21 airline and lodge companions will probably provide the most worth.
For those who’re not sure which switch companions are greatest, TPG bank cards author Danyal Ahmed has transferred ThankYou factors to Air France-KLM Flying Blue for business-class flights from the U.S. to Europe for as little as 50,000 factors one-way. This can be a good way to make use of your ThankYou factors.
Associated: Greatest methods to redeem your Citi ThankYou factors
Which playing cards compete with the Citi Status?
Probably the most direct rivals to the Citi Status are two different premium journey playing cards.
- If you wish to maximize journey factors incomes: The Chase Sapphire Reserve fees a $550 annual charge however gives beneficiant incomes charges on choose classes, plus advantages like a $300 annual journey credit score, a World Entry/TSA PreCheck software charge credit score each 4 years and a Precedence Move Choose membership. To study extra, learn our full evaluation of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
- If you need a great deal of additional perks: The Amex Platinum fees a $695 annual charge (see charges and costs) however gives a set of luxurious advantages like unparalleled lounge entry, an airline charge assertion credit score of as much as $200 per calendar 12 months, as much as $15 every month (as much as $35 in December) in Uber Money (as much as $200 every calendar 12 months)*, biannual Saks assertion credit of as much as $100 per calendar 12 months, elite standing with Marriott and Hilton and extra. Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply. To study extra, learn our full evaluation of the Amex Platinum.
- If you need a premium journey card with a decrease annual charge: The Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card has a average $395 annual charge (see charges and costs) and earns 10 miles per greenback on motels and automotive leases booked by way of Capital One Journey, 5 miles per greenback on flights and trip leases booked by way of Capital One Journey and a pair of miles per greenback on every little thing else. As well as, cardholders obtain $300 again in credit yearly for bookings made by Capital One Journey and entry to the Companion Lounge Community and Capital One lounges. To study extra, learn our full evaluation of the Capital One Enterprise X.
For added choices, try our full listing of the most effective journey playing cards.
*Uber Money will solely be deposited into one Uber account whenever you add the Amex Platinum as a cost methodology and redeem with any eligible Amex card.
Learn extra: The perfect premium bank cards: A side-by-side comparability
Is the Citi Status price it?
The cardboard might be price the price for individuals who use a lot of the Citi Status’s advantages. When used strategically, the fourth-night-free profit can nonetheless present a whole bunch of {dollars} in worth. The $250 annual journey credit score is straightforward to make use of, plus the cardboard’s earnings on eating and flights can present vital worth.
Backside line
The Citi Status is not a clear-cut selection for everybody. Whereas it gives some worthwhile advantages, a lot of them overlap with different premium bank cards. As such, it is price fastidiously contemplating how a lot worth you get from the Citi Status Card when your annual charge posts.
For those who missed out on the Citi Status, preserve a watch out for Citi’s potential upcoming premium card. We do not have concrete affirmation but that it is coming any time quickly, however an announcement may come at any time.
Associated: Methods to resolve if a bank card’s annual charge is price paying
For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.
