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Citi, a Forbes Advisor partner, is kicking off the fall travel season with a limited-time welcome offer on the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card.
New cardholders can earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, a limited-time offer. This is a notable rise from the card’s previous offer of 80,000 points for the same amount of spending.
As one of Citi’s most competitive welcome bonuses, it comes at the right time for travelers booking year-end trips and 2026 getaways. Here is some inspiration for just how far this bonus can take you when redeemed for maximum value through airline and hotel transfer partners.
European Escape: Fly From New York or Boston to Paris
With the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card, you unlock the ability to transfer your ThankYou® Points to Citi’s airline and hotel partners.
Transfer ratios vary by partner, but you can transfer Citi ThankYou® Points 1:1 to Air France-KLM Flying Blue, which often prices one-way economy flights to Paris at about 25,000 miles from New York or Boston. That means a round trip could cost roughly 50,000 miles before taxes and fees, leaving half your bonus for hotels, trains or even a luxury dinner out.
If you want the trip home to feel like part of the vacation, business-class seats usually start around 60,000 to 100,000 miles one way. It’s a popular move to use points on the return leg. After days of walking cobblestone streets and sightseeing, stretching out in a lie-flat seat makes the long flight back more enjoyable.
A Round-Trip Flight to Shanghai Using Partner Airlines
If Asia is on your travel wish list, 100,000 points can get you a flight all the way to Shanghai, a city where ancient temples meet futuristic skylines.
Citi doesn’t transfer directly to Chinese carriers like China Eastern or Air China. But you can still reach Shanghai easily through Citi’s airline partners, thanks to alliance networks and codeshare routes.
One of the most valuable options is Avianca LifeMiles, which partners with Star Alliance carriers such as United, ANA and Singapore Airlines. From the U.S., you can often book a one-way economy flight to Shanghai for around 45,000 to 55,000 miles.
Other Citi transfer partners that open the door to China routes include:
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: This program partners with China Airlines and China Eastern through the SkyTeam Alliance. Economy awards from the U.S. typically start around 37,500 miles one way.
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue: Dynamic pricing can occasionally offer flights from the U.S. to Shanghai for 80,000 to 100,000 miles round trip in economy, depending on the season.
With a little flexibility on dates and carriers, your 100,000 points could easily cover round-trip flights, or even an upgraded cabin one way, to one of China’s largest cities.
Alternatives to the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card
Island or Tropics Vacay: The Caribbean or Hawaii
If your dream vacation involves sun and the beach, 100,000 points can go a long way.
For the Caribbean or Hawaii, check out partner programs like Avianca LifeMiles or Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer. One-way economy awards between the mainland U.S. and Hawaii can go for 12,000 to 20,000 miles; Caribbean routes might fall into the 15,000 to 25,000-miles range one way, depending on the airline and routing.
That means round-trip flights might cost 30,000 to 50,000 miles, leaving a comfortable cushion for lodging.
You can use leftover points to book hotel nights via Citi Travel or by transferring to partner hotel programs. For example, Choice Privileges, a Citi transfer partner, offers award nights in many resort locations from 6,000 to 35,000 points per night.
If you find an all-inclusive resort or boutique island hotel with a points option, you may be able to cover several nights after paying for your airfare.
Other Perks That Boost the Value
Outside of its welcome bonus, it’s worth noting that the Strata Elite charges a premium annual fee of $595. While the value of its welcome bonus does much to offset this cost, its rewards and additional travel perks can provide ongoing value for the frequent traveler.
The card earns 12 points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on cititravel.com, 6 points per dollar spent on air travel booked on cititravel.com, 6 points per dollar spent at restaurants, including restaurant delivery services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET (3 points per dollar spent any other time) and 1.5 points per dollar spent on other purchases.
It also offers a $300 annual hotel credit for stays of two nights or more booked through Citi Travel. Additionally, you’ll receive a Priority Pass Select membership, providing access to over 1,500 airport lounges worldwide, and a $120 statement credit every four years to cover the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
You won’t be responsible for foreign transaction fees when using the card overseas, making it an easy choice for use on international trips.
The card also includes a range of built-in travel protections, including trip cancellation and interruption protection, car rental insurance and lost luggage reimbursement, adding extra peace of mind whenever you’re on the move.
Bottom Line
With strategic transfers and smart redemptions, the Strata Elite’s elevated welcome offer can power a full-scale overseas trip, a luxe stopover or a string of U.S. getaways.
Just remember that award availability can change quickly. Once you’ve secured the bonus, check partner airlines and hotels for valuable redemptions and lock them in before pricing changes.