Barclaycard American Airlines AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Business MasterCard Review
Updated June 10, 2023.
The Facts
The Math
With the 5% annual bonus, AA Aviator Business Card returns 2.1x miles on AA, office supply, telecom, car rental and 1.05x miles everywhere else. With the reduced rewards on old Amex Business SPG after August 2018, AA cobranded credit cards have become the best way of earning AA miles via credit card general spending.
AAdvantage Aviator Business MasterCard vs. AAdvantage Aviator Red MasterCard: They share most features. The differences are: (1) the business card is $4 cheaper per year ($95 vs. $99); (2) the business card adds office supply, telecom, and car rental as the 2x category; (3) the business card has 5% annual miles bonus based on the miles you earn; (4) the business card offers 3K Elite Qualifying Dollars after $25K spending pear year; (5) for the annual $99 companion certificate, the spending requirement on the business card is $30,000 instead of $20,000 on the personal card. Obviously, for now, if you have small business, it is better to choose the business card over the personal card.
AAdvantage Aviator Business MasterCard vs. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Business MasterCard: They share most features and their differences are: (1) Citi's version wavies the annual fees for the first year, but Barclays' annual fee is $4 less ($95 vs. $99); (2) Barclays' version has office supplies as one of the 2x categories, while Citi's has gas stations as one of the 2x categories; (3) Barclays' version offers a 5% annual miles bonus based on the miles you earn; (4) Barclaycard's version offers 3K Elite Qualifying Dollars after you spend $25K per year.
The Conclusion
Barclays AA Aviator Business MasterCard is a fine card for small business owners. For now, small business owners will find AA Aviator Business MC a better card to have than the personal AA Aviator MC.
The Facts
- Annual Fee: $95
- Signup Bonus: 75,000 miles (50,000 miles after spending $4,000 within 3 months of new account opening, and additional 25,000 miles after spending a total of $10,000 within the first 12 months). Historical best bonus: 80,000 miles + $95 in 2022; 80,000 miles in 2021 & 2022; 75,000 miles in 2019 & 2020 & 2021; 70,000 miles in 2022; 60,000 miles in 2018.
- Application Landing Page
- Rewards: 2x miles on American Airlines & office supply & telecom & car rentals, and 1x everywhere else. In addition, you earn a 5% annual bonus based on the total miles you earned using your card. Starting in 2022, you also earn one Loyalty Point per dollar spent on the card, which means you could achieve AAdvantage Gold status solely with the card by spending $30K, Platinum status by spending $75K, Platinum Pro status by spending $125K, or Executive Platinum status by spending $200K, in a calendar year.
- Best Use of AAdvantage miles: AAdvantage is the frequent flyer program of American Airlines, a member of oneworld. AAdvantage miles are generally valuable when redeemed on American or partner flights.
- Travel Benefits: (1) An annual $99 companion certificate for a U.S. domestic round-trip economy class ticket within the 48 contiguous United States (for residents in Hawaii and Alaska, travel can originate from either states and continue to the 48 contiguous states), after you spend $30,000 each membership year. The certificate is valid one year from the issue date. You have to book through the designated call center and pay for your own ticket and $99 plus taxes and fees for your companion. (2) Earn $3,000 Elite Qualifying Dollars after spending $25,000 each calendar year. (3) Reduced Mileage Awards (saving up to 7,500 miles on select routes). (4) First checked bag free for you plus four passengers on your reservation. (5) Priority boarding (Group 5, after first or business class passengers and elite members) on American flights for you plus four passengers on your reservation. (6) 25% discount for onboard food and beverage purchases. (7) Waived foreign transaction fees with an embedded EMV chip.
- World Elite MasterCard Benefits: MasterCard Luxury Hotels & Resorts (a collection of 2,000+ luxury hotels worldwide that offer complimentary breakfasts for two, room upgrades upon availability, early check-in, late check-out, and a special amenity such as a certain amount of hotel credit up to $100 per stay, free internet, or welcome gift, etc.), MasterCard Travel & Lifestyle Services (offers for hotels, airfare, private jets, airport concierge, car rentals, chauffeured cars, cruise lines, tours, vacation packages, golf, sports and entertainment event tickets, etc.), complimentary ShopRunner membership (free two-day shipping and returns at participating stores), complimentary DoorDash benefits (3 months of complimentary DashPass membership & $5 off first two orders per month through 9/30/2022), monthly $5 Lyft credit after 3 rides each month, 5% discount for every HelloFresh order, $5 rewards for every $20+ Fandango purchase, the Dining Program (special amenities at participating restaurants), the Nightlife Program (exclusive access to and recognition at participating night clubs), Priceless Cities, Priceless Surprises, Priceless Causes, Priceless Golf, 24/7 World Elite concierge service, MasterCard Cellular Wireless Telephone Protection (up to $800 for a stolen or damaged phone as long as you charge your monthly cellphone bills to the card), MasterCard ID Theft Protection, etc.
- Other Facts: This product was introduced in November 2017. It is similar to the personal AA Red MasterCard.
The Math
With the 5% annual bonus, AA Aviator Business Card returns 2.1x miles on AA, office supply, telecom, car rental and 1.05x miles everywhere else. With the reduced rewards on old Amex Business SPG after August 2018, AA cobranded credit cards have become the best way of earning AA miles via credit card general spending.
AAdvantage Aviator Business MasterCard vs. AAdvantage Aviator Red MasterCard: They share most features. The differences are: (1) the business card is $4 cheaper per year ($95 vs. $99); (2) the business card adds office supply, telecom, and car rental as the 2x category; (3) the business card has 5% annual miles bonus based on the miles you earn; (4) the business card offers 3K Elite Qualifying Dollars after $25K spending pear year; (5) for the annual $99 companion certificate, the spending requirement on the business card is $30,000 instead of $20,000 on the personal card. Obviously, for now, if you have small business, it is better to choose the business card over the personal card.
AAdvantage Aviator Business MasterCard vs. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Business MasterCard: They share most features and their differences are: (1) Citi's version wavies the annual fees for the first year, but Barclays' annual fee is $4 less ($95 vs. $99); (2) Barclays' version has office supplies as one of the 2x categories, while Citi's has gas stations as one of the 2x categories; (3) Barclays' version offers a 5% annual miles bonus based on the miles you earn; (4) Barclaycard's version offers 3K Elite Qualifying Dollars after you spend $25K per year.
The Conclusion
Barclays AA Aviator Business MasterCard is a fine card for small business owners. For now, small business owners will find AA Aviator Business MC a better card to have than the personal AA Aviator MC.