Amex Platinum vs. Citi Strata Elite: Which premium travel card offers better value?
Editor's Note
Premium travel cards just got more interesting. With the relaunch of the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see rates and fees) and a major refresh of the American Express Platinum Card®, frequent travelers have more high-end perks to choose from than ever.
The Strata Elite is Citi's new flagship travel card, offering a straightforward rewards structure, flexible travel credits and competitive lounge access for a $595 annual fee.
Meanwhile, the Amex Platinum remains a luxury heavyweight, complete with a suite of statement credits, hotel elite statuses and the industry's most robust lounge network — but now with a staggering $895 annual fee (see rates and fees).
So which card delivers more overall value? Here's how they stack up.
Amex Platinum vs. Strata Elite comparison
| Card | Amex Platinum | Strata Elite |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome offer | Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer. | Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. |
| Annual fee | $895 | $595 |
| Earning rates |
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| Notable benefits |
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| Lounge access |
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*Enrollment is required.
**Eligible Platinum Card members will receive 10 visits per eligible Platinum Card, per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go locations when traveling on a same-day Delta Air Lines-operated flight, unless they spend $75,000 or more on their card to unlock unlimited visits.
Amex Platinum vs. Strata Elite welcome offer
When considering a new premium card with a high annual fee, a large welcome offer can help offset the cost.
The Citi Strata Elite is currently offering a 100,000-point bonus after you spend $6,000 in the first three months from account opening.
Based on TPG's October 2025 valuations, this bonus is worth an estimated $1,900 toward travel — an excellent return for a relatively accessible spending requirement.
To be eligible for this welcome offer, you must not have a current Citi Strata Elite card, and you cannot have received a new-account bonus for a Citi Strata Elite or a similar converted card in the past 48 months.
Meanwhile, new Amex Platinum members may find out their offer and see if they are eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
According to TPG's October 2025 valuations, this welcome offer is worth up to $3,500.
However, Amex has strict eligibility rules, including its "once per lifetime" welcome bonus policy, which may limit who qualifies.
Winner: Tie. Amex offers a higher potential value, but Citi's welcome bonus is easier to qualify for — with broader eligibility, no lifetime restrictions and fewer hoops. For many applicants, the Strata Elite's welcome offer may be more attainable to earn.
Related: The best credit card welcome bonuses available now
Amex Platinum vs. Strata Elite benefits
When it comes to premium cards, the real value often lies beyond just points — benefits like lounge access, travel credits, lifestyle perks and travel insurance can make or break your decision.
Here's how the Amex Platinum and Citi Strata Elite compare when it comes to the perks that matter most to frequent travelers. Enrollment is required for select Amex Platinum benefits.
Travel perks
Both the Amex Platinum and Strata Elite offer premium travel perks, but they focus on slightly different areas.
One of the top travel benefits of the Amex Platinum is its hotel statement credit — up to $600 each calendar year (up to $300 semiannually) when booking with Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection through Amex Travel (a two-night minimum is required for THC bookings).
Lounge access is another major highlight. The card grants eligible cardmembers entry to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, which includes Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (limited to 10 visits unless you spend $75,000 in a calendar year) and more.
Cardmembers also enjoy valuable travel perks beyond hotels and lounges. This includes a Global Entry statement credit of $120 toward Global Entry every four years or up to $85 toward TSA PreCheck every 4 1/2 years, helping you breeze through airport security.
Additional elite benefits include complimentary Gold status with both Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy, as well as Leaders Club Sterling status.
Cardmembers also receive car rental elite status with Avis, Hertz and National, adding extra value and convenience for frequent travelers.
Enrollment required for select benefits.
The Strata Elite, on the other hand, offers a more streamlined set of travel benefits, including Priority Pass lounge access and four Admirals Club passes per calendar year.
It also comes with a user-friendly $300 annual hotel credit, which can be applied to hotel bookings (with a minimum two-night stay) made through Citi Travel.
Cardmembers also receive a $120 statement credit every four years toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, making it easier — and more affordable — to expedite airport security.
While it doesn't match the Amex Platinum in terms of lounge network breadth or premium perks, the Strata Elite delivers solid value with fewer restrictions and no high spending requirements.
Winner: The Amex Platinum. While the Strata Elite may be more straightforward for some travelers, the Amex Platinum wins out for its broader and more valuable set of benefits overall.
Lifestyle and entertainment perks
For many cardholders, premium cards aren't just about travel — lifestyle and shopping credits can add significant value if you're able to use them regularly.
With the card's latest refresh, Amex Platinum cardmembers enjoy a wide array of statement credits (enrollment required), including:
- Dining: Up to $400 in Resy statement credit per calendar year for U.S. restaurants (up to $100 per quarter).
- Digital entertainment: Up to $300 per calendar year (up to $25 in monthly statement credits) when you pay for eligible purchases with your card at one or more of the following providers: Disney+, The Disney+ Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium and YouTube TV.
- Lululemon: Up to $300 every calendar year (up to $75 in quarterly statement credits) at Lululemon in-store (U.S. only) and online (excluding outlets).
- Oura Ring: Up to $200 in statement credit per calendar year for an Oura Ring (hardware only).
- Uber: Up to $200 in Uber Cash for U.S. services per calendar year; disbursed as up to $15 monthly, with an up-to-$20 bonus in December. Cardmembers also receive up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year that fully covers an automatically renewing $96 annual or $9.99 monthly membership.
The Strata Elite is more understated in lifestyle perks but still offers select credits, including a flexible $200 annual "Splurge" credit and up to $200 in annual Blacklane chauffeur credits. While these benefits may appeal to some, their niche nature makes them less universally useful compared to the Amex Platinum's broader range of lifestyle credits.
Winner: Amex Platinum. While the Strata Elite offers simpler redemptions, the Amex Platinum delivers substantially more value across a wider range of categories — making it the more compelling choice for most cardholders.
Travel protections and insurance
Premium travel cards aren't just about earning points — they also offer important protections that can save you thousands if something goes wrong on a trip or with a purchase.
The Amex Platinum offers a range of travel and purchase protections, including:
- Trip delay insurance**
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance**
- Extended warranty protection***
- Purchase protection***
- Secondary rental car insurance****
**Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
***Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
****Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
The Strata Elite similarly offers comprehensive travel insurance, including:
- Trip delay and damaged bag insurance
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
- Car insurance (MasterRental): Secondary within the renter's country of residence, but primary outside of the U.S.
- Travel medical/emergency insurance
- Extended warranty and purchase assurance
Winner: The Amex Platinum. Both cards offer strong travel protections, but the Amex Platinum ultimately comes out ahead for its broader and more comprehensive coverage.
Related: Forgettable statement credits checklist: Perks and benefits not to be overlooked
Earning points with the Amex Platinum vs. Strata Elite
While a welcome bonus can give your points balance a solid boost, it's important to choose a card that helps you consistently earn valuable, transferable points over time.
The Amex Platinum earns:
- 5 points per dollar spent on airfare purchased directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 of airfare purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent)
- 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
In contrast, the Strata Elite's earning structure is better suited for everyday spending and more varied travel. The earning rates include:
- 12 points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on cititravel.com
- 6 points per dollar spent on airfare booked on cititravel.com
- 6 points per dollar spent at restaurants on CitiNights purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Eastern time (3 points per dollar spent on restaurant purchases outside of these days and hours)
- 1.5 points per dollar spent on all other purchases
Winner: The Strata Elite. Its wider earning categories make it easier to accumulate points across different types of purchases.
Redeeming points with the Amex Platinum vs. Strata Elite
Both the Amex Platinum and Strata Elite allow you to redeem points through their travel portals. Citi ThankYou points can be redeemed at a flat rate of 1 cent apiece through Citi Travel, while Amex Membership Rewards points can be redeemed at a rate of 1 cent apiece for flights booked through Amex Travel (and typically less for hotels and other travel).
This means 50,000 points can get you $500 toward flights — with Citi offering that value across all travel bookings.
Alternatively, both cards also allow point transfers to airline and hotel partners (discussed below), which can unlock significantly more value when used strategically. You can also redeem your points for statement credits and gift cards, but this won't give you the best value for your points.
Winner: Tie. Both cards share the same redemption options.
Related: How (and why) to calculate award redemption values
Transferring points with the Amex Platinum vs. Strata Elite
Premium travel cards shine when it comes to turning points into high-value travel rewards, especially through partnerships with airline and hotel programs.
American Express Membership Rewards points are highly versatile, with a large network of 20 airline and hotel partners. Transfer options include:
- Airlines: Delta SkyMiles, ANA Mileage Club, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways Club, Emirates Skywards, Singapore KrisFlyer and more.
- Hotels: Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy and Choice Privileges.
Transfers typically happen at a 1:1 ratio for airlines, though hotel ratios vary. Amex also frequently runs transfer bonuses, allowing savvy users the opportunity to stretch their points even further.
For example, TPG Contributing Credit Cards Editor Matt Moffitt regularly uses these bonuses to book Iberia business-class flights from the East Coast to Madrid, noting: "With a 30% transfer bonus, I need just 32,000 Amex points to book this redemption."
Additionally, Amex's partners span all three major global airline alliances (Star Alliance, SkyTeam and Oneworld), making it ideal for travelers who want maximum flexibility and value when booking award flights.
Citi Strata Elite cardholders can transfer ThankYou points to 22 airline and hotel partners, now including the American Airlines AAdvantage program at a 1:1 ratio — a major and unique benefit, as AAdvantage is currently not a transfer partner with any other major U.S. credit card program.
- Airlines: American Airlines AAdvantage, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, Qatar Airways Privilege Club (Avios), Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Singapore KrisFlyer and more.
- Hotels: Accor Live Limitless, Choice Privileges, Leaders Club, Preferred Hotels & Resorts and Wyndham Rewards.
Citi's airline partner list is especially strong for international redemptions and Star Alliance awards, and it offers slightly more hotel transfer options compared to Amex (five versus Amex's three). However, transfer bonuses are less frequent compared to those offered by Amex.
Moffitt recently redeemed 70,000 miles plus $174 in taxes and fees for a one-way business-class flight in Qatar Airways' highly rated Qsuite from Doha to Houston. "Given this flight retails for $3,910 one-way," he notes, "I got a very high 5.6 cents-per-mile value from this redemption — more than triple TPG's October 2025 valuation of AAdvantage miles."
Winner: Tie, with a slight edge to Amex for more frequent transfer bonuses and stronger hotel options. However, Citi stands out for its partnership with American Airlines and other valuable international partners.
Related: Why Citi's newest transfer partner has changed my credit card and points and miles strategies
Should I get the Amex Platinum or Citi Strata Elite?
If you frequently travel, value lounge access and plan to use multiple statement credits, I would argue the Amex Platinum is the better choice. However, the Citi Strata Elite is ideal if you prefer a lower fee, straightforward earning and robust travel protections without juggling numerous perks.
Related: How to pick the right travel credit card for you
Bottom line
Both cards offer serious value, but they cater to different kinds of travelers.
The Amex Platinum justifies its higher annual fee with superior lounge access, elite status and a mountain of credits — provided you can make use of them.
The Strata Elite simplifies things with straightforward benefits and competitive earning rates, making it the more practical choice for many travelers.
In the end, the right card comes down to how you travel. Choose the Amex Platinum if you crave luxury and can leverage multiple perks. Choose the Citi Strata Elite if you prefer an easy-to-manage premium card that still delivers solid value at a lower cost.
To learn more, read our full reviews of the Strata Elite and Amex Platinum.
Apply here: Amex Platinum
Apply here: Strata Elite Card
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.