The Points Project
The Points Project
The Points Project
Episode 9: The Credit Card Game Is Always Changing
55 minutes Posted Aug 19, 2025 at 5:25 am.
Citi Strata Elite
Pulling 100K Offer—2 options
American Airlines enables up TYP transfers (again)
Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Credit Card [https://frequentmiler.com/alaska-summit-visa-premium-card-heres-the-details/] (FM article)
US Bank Altitude Reserve - Devaluation
US Bank Smartly - Devaluation
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55:43
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Show notes
* Details: 80K TYP | $4K | 90d | $595 AF ($450 AF w/ CitiGold)
* In-branch
* US Credit Card Guide [https://www.uscreditcardguide.com/citi-strata-elite-credit-card/]
* US Card Forum [https://www.uscardforum.com/t/topic/418812] (still alive as of 08/18/2025)
* Citi Nights - 6x on Dining?
* First to market with hourly CC benefits
* Strata Elite Benefits
* Raymond's P2 approval via 100K link [https://www.uscardforum.com/t/topic/418812]
* Did Kristoff apply?
* Multiple Strata Elites?
* Year 2 options and beyond…
*
* Is this a good thing or bad thing?
* Incremental value vs. newcomers to AA
* Is a devaluation now inevitable?
* Rumored SUB Details: 5K upon approval | 100K | $6K | 90d | $395 AF
* 25K Global Companion Award
* 100K Global Companion Award after 60K spend
* No partner award booking fees (save $12.50 p/p on a partner award booking)
* Up to 3.3x on dining spend and foreign transactions
* $50 voucher for 2 hour flight delay or cancellation
* 1 EQM per $2 spend
* 10K EQMs each year on account anniversary
* Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles will become Atmos Rewards on 10/01/2025
* Will it be possible to spend up to top-tier MVP Gold 100K? ($200K spend in year 1?)
* Do we spend for AA status or shift to spending towards AS status?
* 2x spend on AA cobranded cards vs. possibility to spend at 3x on the Summit
* How excited are we about this card?
* US Card Forum leaked document [https://www.uscardforum.com/t/topic/419568]
* Long time coming - no more 4.5% cashback uncapped effective 12/14/2025
* 3x mobile wallet spend now capped at 5K per statement cycle
* Points now worth 1cpp if redeemed for travel or as deposit into eligible US Bank account
* $325 Travel / Dining credit can now only be used for travel purchased through US Bank Travel
* Transfer partners? TBD
* Pour one out for a legend
* Within 6 months of release, 4% cashback is now borderline useless
* Now, 100k in checking/savings with $10K per statement cycle cap on 4% with many MCC exclusions
* Grandfathered Smartly cards
* 100K in investment accounts still grants access to 4% cashback
* $10K per statement cycle
* Hopefully US Bank is done with nerfs
* Seems like the credit card market is shifting toward more premium cards with higher annual fees, with banks aiming to induce breakage
* Positive shifts with Citi and BofA
* Negative shifts with US Bank
We hope you enjoy! -TPP
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Intro/Outro Music Credits:
"Vibing Over Venus"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0