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Why I'm considering a Citi credit card as an Alaska Airlines fan

Oct. 10, 2025
7 min read
CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
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Editor's Note

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Living in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska Airlines is one of my preferred airlines. That's because it's easy for me to find flight availability with them to almost anywhere along the West Coast or to Hawaii, especially now that they've merged with Hawaiian Airlines.

If you were to ask me what credit card I'm considering next, you might assume I'd say one of Alaska's cobranded cards, like the new Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card. That would've been true a few months ago, but not anymore.

While the Atmos Summit still has a place on my list, I'm actually looking to venture into Citi's roster of credit cards first — here's why.

What's drawing me to Citi over Atmos Rewards

Citi doesn't offer Atmos Rewards as a transfer partner, so why consider them? Easy: Citi ThankYou points can now be transferred to American Airlines AAdvantage. Because American and Alaska are partners, I can book award flights on either.

For example, I could book a one-way flight on Alaska from my home airport, Portland International Airport (PDX), to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) for just 12,500 AAdvantage miles (plus $5.60 in taxes).

A screenshot of a bookable flight from PDX to JFK.
AMERICAN AIRLINES

Plus, since I'd earn transferable rewards on a Citi card instead of just Atmos Rewards points on a cobranded Atmos card, I wouldn't be limited to award flights on Alaska, Hawaiian and their partners. Rather, Citi has 21 other transfer partners, offering me the flexibility I want from my points and miles strategy.

A screenshot of a bookable flight from PDX to JFK.
SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY

Even if you don't care about flying with any airline outside of the Atmos Rewards program, the right Citi card can cover bonus categories that an Atmos Rewards credit card cannot. Plus, opening yourself up to more cards means more welcome bonuses to spend on award flights.

I'm currently considering two of Citi's ThankYou Points-earning cards: the Citi Strata℠ Card (see rates and fees) and the Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees).

The argument for the Citi Strata

The Citi Strata Card is the no-annual-fee option in Citi's lineup of Strata cards. Given that I already pay over $1,300 in annual fees across five cards, the Strata's lack of an annual fee definitely gives it some brownie points.

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I also appreciate the Strata's flexible bonus category since it would change quarterly to match my spending habits. With this card, I could earn 3 points per dollar spent on one of the following options:

  • Barber shops, cosmetic stores and hair salons
  • Fitness clubs
  • Live entertainment
  • Pet supply stores
  • Select streaming services

With my current wallet, I only earn bonus rewards on streaming services thanks to my Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees). That makes the Strata an appealing option, since I also spend in the other categories.

Woman shopping online and relaxing on the sofa at home
LEOPATRIZI/GETTY IMAGES

Of course, this card's welcome bonus also helps its case. Currently, new cardholders can earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first three months of account opening.

Unfortunately, the card's perks are weighed down by a significant downside. Thank You points earned on the Strata card transfer to partners at a poorer ratio than other cards in the Strata lineup. Most transfer at a 1:0.7 ratio (instead of the full 1:1), meaning I'd only get 0.7 AAdvantage miles for every ThankYou point.

Having access to transfer partners with a no-annual-fee card is rare, though, so I can't complain too much. Still, it has me eyeing the Strata Premier as an alternative.

Related: Citi Strata Card review: Phenomenal earning rates for a no-annual-fee card

Why I may open the Citi Strata Premier instead

Although the Citi Strata Premier carries a $95 annual price tag, its bonus categories and superior transfer ratio could help justify a place in my wallet.

Dining and supermarkets are the main categories that interest me on this card, earning 3 points per dollar spent. While the Strata earns the same at supermarkets, it earns only 2 points per dollar spent on dining. Food is one of my biggest monthly expenses, so I could use the Strata Premier to earn more points.

woman shopping groceries in supermarket
CHABYBUCKO/GETTY IMAGES

Then, when it's time to transfer my points to AAdvantage, they'll transfer at the full 1:1 ratio, instead of the Strata's 1:0.7 transfer ratio.

The Strata Premier's welcome bonus is more valuable than the Strata's, too, although it requires more spending. New cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.

Related: Citi Strata Premier Card review: Valuable earning rates on top spending categories

Why Alaska flyers should consider a Citi ThankYou card

As an Alaska fan who also flies with other airlines, it makes sense for me to prioritize a card that earns transferable rewards rather than points with a single airline program. That might not be the right strategy for everyone, but I'd encourage any Alaska fan to consider a ThankYou-earning card.

Even if you already have or are considering applying for an Atmos Rewards card, a Citi ThankYou card can act as a great complement. I intend to have both a Strata or Strata Premier and an Atmos Rewards card in the future, which will give me the greatest flexibility when planning travel on Alaska.

There may be times, especially when traveling internationally, when it makes sense to go with an airline other than Alaska. Alaska doesn't have a foothold in every country, so one of Citi's transfer partners might be able to get you where you want to go.

Young Asian woman with passport carrying suitcase walking in the airport concourse
D3SIGN/GETTY IMAGES

Alternatively, there may be times when another program offers an award flight between the same airports for much cheaper than Atmos Rewards. If that program happens to be a Citi transfer partner, you'll be able to save yourself a lot of points.

By pairing a Citi ThankYou card and an Atmos Rewards card, you'll have a broader range of options for your travels. You'll also be able to cover more bonus categories across two cards, earning you more rewards than you would with just one.

Bottom line

Before Citi added AAdvantage as a partner earlier this year, I didn't give them much attention.

That's not the case anymore. Given that I can book Alaska flights through AAdvantage, Citi has tangible appeal to this Pacific Northwesterner.

If you're an international traveler like me and love flying Alaska, consider a Citi card. One of their transferable rewards cards can give you access to more options for award flights and additional ways to earn bonus rewards.

To help you choose, check out our comparison of the Strata cards.


Apply here: Citi Strata Card
Apply here: Citi Strata Premier


Featured image by CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.