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Side-by-side

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier vs Citi Strata Premier Card

Both are travel travel cards. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier comes from Chase at $149/yr; the Citi Strata Premier Card from Citi at $95/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

For most people the Citi Strata Premier Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($1,020 more in estimated value) than the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier's. Get the Citi Strata Premier Card first; revisit the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureSouthwest Rapid Rewards PremierCiti Strata Premier Card
Annual fee$149$95
Sign-up bonus55,000 bonus points60,000 bonus points
Bonus value (est.)-$1,020
Min spend to unlock bonus$1,500 in 3 mo$4,000 in 3 mo
IssuerChaseCiti
Card categorytraveltravel
Best earning category (Travel)3x3x
Transfer partnersNoneciti-ty
Headline benefits
  • 3x on Southwest
  • 6k anniversary points
  • Free first checked bag
  • 15% anniversary promo code
  • 10x CitiTravel.com hotels/cars/attractions
  • 3x on restaurants, groceries, flights, hotels, gas, EV
  • $100 hotel savings benefit
  • No foreign transaction fees
Read the full review
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier
$149/yr · 55,000 bonus points
Read the full review
Citi Strata Premier Card
$95/yr · 60,000 bonus points

Editorial take: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier

The middle tier of the Southwest portfolio after the 2025 refresh. Doubles the anniversary points and bumps the promo code from 10% to 15% vs Plus. Sweet spot for occasional Southwest flyers who don't need the Priority card's $75 travel credit or upgraded boardings.

Editorial take: Citi Strata Premier Card

A strong mid-tier card with the late-2024 refresh adding 10x on CitiTravel.com and EV charging to the 3x grid. The $100 hotel benefit and 16 transfer partners (Avianca, Flying Blue, Turkish, Virgin Atlantic, Wyndham) make it competitive with Sapphire Preferred at the same $95 fee.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier or Citi Strata Premier Card?
The Citi Strata Premier Card has a public bonus (60,000 bonus points, worth roughly $1,020), while the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier doesn't advertise one right now.
Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier's $149 annual fee worth it compared to the Citi Strata Premier Card?
At $149/yr, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Citi Strata Premier Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
Can I have both the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier and Citi Strata Premier Card?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (Chase and Citi) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
Should I get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier or the Citi Strata Premier Card first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier: $1,500 spend in 3 months. Citi Strata Premier Card: $4,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.

Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.