Strata Elite vs Sapphire Reserve

By Quy Dinh · Updated Oct 24, 2026

The short answer

The Strata Elite costs $200 less and adds Admirals Club passes, a good fit for American Airlines flyers who book through Citi Travel. The Sapphire Reserve earns more where most people spend (3x on dining every day and 4x on flights and hotels booked direct, versus 1.5x on the Strata Elite outside Citi Travel), with bigger credits, Sapphire Lounges and Chase’s partners like United and Hyatt.

Both give authorized users Priority Pass; the Strata Elite charges $75 each, the Reserve $195.

Pick the Strata Elite if

You fly American Airlines
You’d book hotels and car rentals through Citi Travel
You want authorized users in lounges for less

Pick the Sapphire Reserve if

You dine out often and book travel directly
You’d use the $300 travel credit and the newer credits
You want Sapphire Lounges and Chase’s partners

Side by side

Feature	Strata Elite Citi	Sapphire Reserve Chase
In one line	Best for American Airlines flyers who’ll use the Admirals Club passes and book through Citi Travel; for most others the Venture X or Sapphire Reserve fits better.	Strong if you travel often and use Chase Travel, but at $795 it only pays off if you use the $300 travel credit, the lounges and most of the newer credits.
Annual fee	$595	$795
Statement credits	Up to $875 a year in 5 credits	Up to $2,340 a year in 13 credits
How it earns	12x Hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through Citi Travel 6x Flights booked through Citi Travel 6x Restaurants on Citi Nights 3x Restaurants at other times 1.5x Everything else	8x Everything booked through Chase Travel, including The Edit hotels 4x Flights booked directly with airlines and hotels booked directly with hotels 3x Dining at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and eligible delivery 5x Lyft rides in the Lyft app 10x Peloton equipment over $150 1x Everything else
Lounge access	Priority Pass Select membership Admirals Club Citi Strata Elite Passes	Priority Pass Select Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges and Cafés
Welcome offer	75,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 in the first 3 months.	100,000 points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
Counts toward Chase 5/24	Yes	Yes

Credits are counted at their full cash value; see each card’s page for how each one works and which need activation. Offers change; the bank’s page has the current one.

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