Citi has filed a trademark for ‘STRATA LOUNGE‘. For those unfamiliar Citi launched the Citi Strata Premier and has filed trademarks for Citi Strata Elite & Citi Strata Select. This new trademark filing could indicate that Citi plans to launch it’s own branded Strata lounges (presumably for Strata Elite cardholders if/when that card ever launches). More card issuers have been getting into this field with the success of the American Express Centurion lounges (including both Chase with Sapphire lounges & Capital One).
Hat tip to Matt Clausen on YT
I think the airport lounge market is getting too crowded (puns intended) and that would actually hurt brands trying to compete with AMEX. More demand for lounge space drives up cost of lease and makes it harder for everyone to grow. This means a very fragmented footprint – 10 Chase lounge, 6 Cap1 lounge, 2 Citi lounge, none of which shares any benefit with each other. This is NOT how to win the war against AMEX dominance. Just my 2c.
if Citi builds more lounges they could pair up with cap1 and maybe it’ll become a three way battle
I would surely love to see the banks team up. But as of now none of them are teaming up. You’ll need 2 (soon to be 3) premium cards to access 2 lounge networks, vs 1 (Amex) that gets you into way more lounges.
Priority pass is the closest thing that exists but it has its own problems.
i love my prestige and never plan on cancelling it. they include priority pass restaurants unlike chase and amex
until they nerf it like chase….
Imo there isn’t enough users for them to bother nerfing it since its discontinued. Not to mention they removed pretty much all the travel insurance from the card as it is so without the restaurants it’ll be even more useless.
Wish the competition can make the lounge quality better. AMEX is not as nice as they used to be.
Ultimately, more options are better for everyone. You can simply choose from the options/issuers at your home airport.
The url shortcut for the Citi Prestige card benefits is: citi.com/citiprestige.
Interestingly, if you put in: citi.com/citistrataelite, it brings up a page that says “Project Onyx Test Page”
WE ARE THE FIRST TO KNOW ABOUT THE CONSPIRACY!
One blogger spoke with a Citi branch manager about upcoming new products. While seemingly glacial, the Strata Elite is moving towards release. It will be the louge card to replace the Prestige. These lounges will initially open in select entertainment venues as a test bed prior to airport locations. (Like Centurion Lounges at entertainment venues.)
Airports will essentially just be lounge malls soon.
If it’s “everyone gets a lounge for their CC” or “some people get CC lounges, there’s a terrible priority pass one, then three inexplicable luxury stores”, I’m okay with the former
Nearly all of the Amex, Delta, Chase, and United lounges I’ve been to lately are already always packed, lines literally billowing in and out. This isn’t the freaking Metaverse, so like, where is Citi even getting the square footage at any of these airports?!
when and where and how often are you all traveling that all these lounges are all so uncomfortably packed lmao? I have had to wait perhaps but I have only had an annoying experience at the LAX Centurion lounge for obvious reasons. Will vouch that the United Clubs I’ve been in have been universally mid tho
Here’s two to start, and I can go on:
JFK, Terminal 4, all of it. My goodness.
DEN, Centurion and United Clubs, big lines and/or packed to the brim.
Here’s two more:
SFO Delta, tiny; SFO, United, international terminal, opens late, 7:30AM, which is awful for an 8AM transcontinental flight.
A few more:
MIA Admirals Clubs, Centurion; FLL United Club, SkyClub (before they expanded it); ATL, Delta, my goodness, all of it, sheesh, and seriously, like why has Delta not renovated, expanded those yet. They do Delta One for LAX and JFK, but not their flagship, headquarters, etc. Wild.
Closing the useless overpriced airport shops perhaps.
I don’t know how most shops other than the convenience stores stay in business. One shop for last second souvenirs, one for snacks, and the rest could be repurposed to lounges or dining options. Hell more chairs to sit in would be nice at some airports.
Seriously. It’s as if these ‘shops’ are a front for some other nefarious purposes. And if you really need a cheap ‘I (heart) NY’ shirt, made in China, of course, then you are already lost. More seats, charging stations would be welcome.