For frequent travelers, the card historically known as the Citi Premier—now refreshed as the Citi Strata Premier—is built to turn everyday spend and trip costs into versatile ThankYou® Points. You’ll earn accelerated rewards on flights, hotels, dining, groceries, and gas/EV charging, plus outsized earn rates when you book certain travel through Citi Travel.

This guide is a practical playbook. You’ll see exactly how to set up the card on day one, which purchases to route to it, when to use the portal, and how to redeem points with confidence—including transfers to airline and hotel partners for potentially higher value trips. We’ll also show you how to use the $100 annual hotel benefit the smart way.

If you’re a road-warrior who wants a no-nonsense system to earn fast and redeem well—without memorizing every award chart—this tutorial is for you. Ready to put your points to work? Jump into the steps below.

Citi Premier Card (Now Citi Strata Premier): A Practical Step-by-Step Guide for Frequent Travelers

Note: In May 2024, Citi rebranded and enhanced the Citi Premier as the Citi Strata Premier (same $95 annual fee, expanded categories and protections). If you still call it “Citi Premier,” you’re talking about this refreshed product.

What Changed: Citi Premier → Citi Strata Premier

• The “Premier” was refreshed and renamed Citi Strata Premier with broader bonus categories and added travel protections—important context if you’re reading older guides.
• Current headline earn structure (high level):
  • 10x on Hotels, Car Rentals & Attractions booked via Citi Travel (cititravel.com)
  • 3x on Air Travel and other hotel purchases (outside the portal)
  • 3x at Restaurants, Supermarkets, and Gas & EV Charging Stations
  • 1x all other purchases
  • $100 off one hotel stay ($500+ pre-tax) per calendar year when booked through Citi Travel or by phone.

Why it matters: Your earning plan hinges on recognizing when to book through the Citi Travel portal (to capture 10x and to deploy the $100 hotel benefit) versus when to book directly (e.g., for elite status recognition or special rates).

Who This Guide Is For (Frequent Flyers Profile)

Choose this card if most of these describe you:

• You fly several times a year and book a mix of cash fares, portal deals, and occasional award flights.
• You spend meaningfully on dining, groceries, and gas/EV charging (consistent 3x earn categories).
• You’re open to transferring points to airlines/hotels for bigger trip value, but want a portal option for simple bookings.
• You appreciate no foreign transaction fees for international spend.

FAQ

How hard is it to get a Citi Premier Card?
Now branded Citi Strata Premier, it’s a mid-tier travel card aimed at applicants with solid profiles. Approval odds improve with good–excellent credit, clean payment history, reasonable utilization, and sufficient income relative to debt.

What are the Citi Premier Card disadvantages?
No premium lounge access, best earn rates (10x) require booking select travel through Citi Travel, hotel elite perks may not apply on third-party bookings, and you’ll get the most value only if you learn transfers and sweet spots.

What credit score do you need for Citi Premier Card?
Citi doesn’t publish a specific score cutoff. Many approvals occur in the good–excellent range, but decisions weigh multiple factors (income, debts, history).

What is the starting limit for Citi Premier Card?
There’s no fixed starter limit; underwriting considers income, existing credit lines, utilization, and recent inquiries. Limits can grow over time with responsible use.

What are the disadvantages of a premier card?
“Premier”-tier travel cards typically carry an annual fee, maximize value only in bonus categories/portals, and may add complexity (learning partners, tracking credits). If you won’t use the benefits, a no-annual-fee card can be better.

What is the highest level Citi card?
Among cards open to new applicants, Citi Strata Elite is the current top-tier premium option; the legacy Citi Prestige exists only for existing holders.

Is Capital One better than Citi Card?
It depends on you. Capital One (e.g., Venture X) emphasizes lounge access and simple earn, while Citi leans into strong transfer partners and category bonuses (Strata Premier) or a premium ecosystem (Strata Elite). Match the card to your travel patterns and redemption style.

Are Premier credit cards worth it?
Yes—if you spend in the bonus categories and redeem for high-value travel (portal deals or partner transfers). If you rarely travel or prefer cash back, a no-fee card may win.

Why is Citi credit limit so low?
Issuers start conservatively based on risk models (income, utilization, new accounts). Limits can rise with time; Citi may auto-increase or you can request one after several months of on-time payments.

What is the easiest Citi card to get?
Entry-level secured products are generally the most accessible—e.g., the Citi® Secured Mastercard® (requires a refundable deposit).

How much is Citi Premier fee?
The refreshed Citi Strata Premier keeps the $95 annual fee (the same fee the Citi Premier had at refresh).

What credit card is best?
There’s no universal “best.” Travelers often prefer Strata Premier/Elite; general spenders might like 2%-style cash-back cards; warehouse shoppers may prefer co-branded cards. Choose based on fees, categories, and redemption plans.

Will Citi automatically raise your limit?
Sometimes. Citi states you can request a credit limit increase, and issuers may also grant automatic increases; many reviewers suggest waiting 6–12 months between requests.

What is the best Citi credit card?
For frequent travelers who value flexible points, Strata Premier is a standout; for premium perks, Strata Elite; for simple cash back, Double Cash or Custom Cash can shine. Pick based on how you earn and redeem.

What is the minimum salary for Citibank credit card?
Citi doesn’t publish a minimum salary; applications consider stated income and overall creditworthiness.

Will paying the minimum on my Premier card hurt my credit score?
Paying at least the minimum preserves on-time payment history, but carrying balances can raise utilization and cost interest—both can weigh on your score and wallet. Paying in full is best whenever possible.

Which is the best Premier credit card?
If you mean Citi’s “Premier,” the refreshed Strata Premier is strong for broad travel/dining/grocery/gas categories and ThankYou® transfers. If you mean “premier” generically, compare mid-tier travel cards across issuers for the mix of partners, credits, and protections you’ll actually use.

What is the highest credit limit for a Premier credit card?
Issuers don’t publish maximums; very high limits are possible for top profiles, but amounts vary widely by income, history, and existing exposure.