United Club vs Citi Strata Premier: Which Is Better In 2025?

Citi Strata Premier® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at what makes the Citi Strata Premier® Card a compelling choice.

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• It offers a robust rewards program, earning 3x points on a wide range of everyday purchases like gas, groceries, and dining.
• While it comes with an annual fee, the card includes a suite of travel protections like trip cancellation and lost luggage insurance.
• The annual $100 hotel credit for a single stay of $500 or more booked through the Citi Travel portal can easily offset the card's annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• High earning rates across a variety of popular spending categories, including travel, restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations.
• A valuable annual hotel credit and a solid package of travel insurance protections.
• Flexible points that can be transferred to an extensive list of airline and hotel partners.

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Cons

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• Lacks premium travel perks common with other travel cards, such as airport lounge access or credits for expedited security screening.
• The annual hotel credit comes with significant restrictions, limiting its usability for many travelers.
• Some travel protections, like car rental insurance, are less comprehensive than what's offered by competing cards.

Citi Strata Premier® vs United Club

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Categories

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When deciding which is better, United Club or Citi Strata Premier, it's essential to understand that each card caters to a very different type of traveler.

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• The United Club℠ Card is designed for dedicated United Airlines flyers who prioritize benefits like lounge access and other airline-specific travel perks.
• Citi Strata Premier® Card is best for travelers seeking flexible rewards across a wide range of categories, including air travel, hotels, dining, and supermarkets.

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Redemption

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United Club℠ Card: Rewards are primarily redeemed within the United Airlines ecosystem, making them ideal for booking award flights, securing seat upgrades, or paying for other United-related travel expenses.

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Citi Strata Premier® Card: Points offer greater flexibility, allowing you to transfer them to various airline and hotel partners or redeem them for cash back, gift cards, and travel through the Citi portal.

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Travel Perks

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• United Club℠ Card: The travel ecosystem is built exclusively around United Airlines. Key perks include a full United Club membership for lounge access, priority travel services like check-in and boarding, and free first and second checked bags for you and a companion on the same reservation. The card also has no foreign transaction fees.
• Citi Strata Premier® Card: This card provides a more flexible travel ecosystem that isn't tied to a single airline. While it does not offer complimentary lounge access, it has no foreign transaction fees and includes an annual hotel savings benefit. Its main advantage is the ability to book travel through the Citi portal or transfer points to numerous airline and hotel partners, offering broader options for flights and stays.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make a data-driven decision, a tool like Kudos can help you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards based on your unique spending habits.

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• Test Drive Feature: Before applying, you can simulate potential earnings from any card using your real transaction data to see annual rewards projections and how it stacks up against your current cards.
• Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
• Approval Odds Analysis: Get a detailed analysis of your approval odds for a card based on your credit report.
• New User Incentives: Earn rewards like a $20 bonus after your first eligible purchase of $30 or more when signing up with the code 'GET20'.
• Comprehensive Management: Track spending, monitor your credit score, and manage all your card perks from a single platform.

Who Should Choose the United Club?

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The United Club℠ Card is a premium travel card designed specifically for loyal United Airlines customers who fly several times a year. It's particularly valuable for business travelers and international flyers who can maximize the complimentary United Club membership and priority airport services to make their journey more comfortable. Additionally, those chasing MileagePlus Premier status will find the ability to earn Premier Qualifying Points through spending a significant perk of the United Club℠ Card.

Who Should Choose the Citi Strata Premier®?

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The Citi Strata Premier® Card is tailored for frequent travelers and individuals who want to maximize rewards on both travel and everyday spending categories. It's particularly well-suited for those who spend heavily at supermarkets, restaurants, and gas stations, allowing them to accumulate points quickly through common purchases. Consumers with strong credit profiles who appreciate flexible rewards, valuable travel perks, and the ability to transfer points to airline and hotel partners will find this card to be a compelling option.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our United Club vs. Citi Strata Premier® comparison didn't reveal a clear winner for your wallet, let's explore a few other top-tier travel cards that might be a better fit.

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Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. 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.

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score - Most premium travel cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Review bonus eligibility - Be aware of issuer-specific rules, like the 48-month policy on receiving a new account bonus for some Citi cards.
• Plan your spending - Make sure you can comfortably meet the minimum spend requirement to earn the welcome offer.

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Application Strategy

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• Apply through a trusted source - Use a platform like Kudos to find the best available welcome offers without searching on your own.
• Consider your travel habits - Align your application with cards that match your loyalty, like the United Club℠ Card for frequent United flyers.
• Be patient after applying - Some issuers, like Citi, may take time to review your application before providing a decision.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can I access United Club lounges with the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card?

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No, the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card does not provide United Club lounge access. This benefit is a key feature of the United Club℠ Infinite Card, which includes a full United Club membership for the primary cardholder.

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Which card is better for earning United MileagePlus miles?

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The United Club℠ Infinite Card earns United MileagePlus miles directly on every purchase. In contrast, the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card earns Citi ThankYou® Points, which offer the flexibility to be transferred to United MileagePlus or other airline and hotel partners.

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Are the annual fees for these cards comparable?

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The annual fees for these two cards are in different tiers, reflecting their distinct benefits. The United Club℠ Infinite Card has a premium-level annual fee to account for its lounge access, while the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card's fee is more moderate.

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