If you’ve been eyeing Citi’s new premium cards because of the buzz around American Airlines transfers, don’t be fooled into thinking you need to shell out $595 for elite benefits. Citi quietly gave its Strata Premier card — just $95/year — access to 1:1 AA point transfers, making it one of the best value travel cards of 2025. In this post, I break down why Strata Premier outshines Citi’s own Elite card, how it stacks up against Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum, and why smart travelers should focus on value, not hype.

Discover how I turned 200,000 Amex Membership Rewards points into a completely free Caribbean vacation—flights, hotel, and even meals included. No cash, no compromises. In this post, I break down the exact strategy I used to book a $2,000 trip using points alone—and how you can do it too.