Barclaycard American Airlines AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite MasterCard Review
Updated June 10, 2023.
The Facts
The Math
With the reduced rewards on old Amex SPG after August 2018, AA cobranded credit cards have become the best way of earning AA miles via credit card general spending.
AAdvantage Aviator Red vs. AAdvantage Aviator Silver: Aviator Silver is $100/year more expensive than Aviator Red, and it comes with four premium features: (1) a 3-2-1 earning structure vs. 2-1 on Red (one additional AA mile on American, hotels, and car rentals), (2) EQM and EQD earning potential with $20K-50K spending, (3) daily $25 in-flight F&B credit (instead of 25% discount on Red), and (4) annual $99 companion certificate for two guests (vs. one guest on Red) with $20K spending. Even if you don't use the last three benefits, you just need to spend $6,250 a year on American airlines, hotels and car rentals to come out ahead of the $100 difference in annual fees if you happen to value an AAdvantage mile at 1.6 cents a piece like we do, as $6,250 x 1 mile/$ x 1.6 cent/mile = $100. Do your math if your miles valuation is different. The bottom line is that if you are a frequent American flyer, you will most likely find upgrading to Silver Aviator a great deal.
AAdvantage Aviator Red vs. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select: These two cards are direct competitors - they share most features including the annual fees. Their differences are: (1) Citi's version waives the annual fee for the first year; (2) Citi's version offers 2x dining and gas; (3) With $20K annual spending, Citi's version offers $100 flight discount while Barclays' version offers one $99 companion certificate; (4) Barclays' version offers annual $25 Wi-Fi credit and the "Flight Cents" feature.
The Conclusion
Barclays designs the replacement of US Airways MasterCard to align with Citi's counterpart. However, if you frequent American or just have big hotels/rental cars spending, you will find upgrading from Aviator Red to Aviator Silver very rewarding.
The Facts
- Annual Fee: $99
- Signup Bonus: 70,000 miles after your first purchase within 3 months of new account opening. The signup bonus is not available to current cardmembers, or previous cardmembers that closed the accounts within the last 24 months. Historical best bonus of this card: (1) 70,000 miles in 2023; 60,000 miles many times in the past years.
- Application Landing Page
- Rewards: 2x miles on American Airlines, and 1x everywhere else. 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) Earn one annual $99 companion certificate upon anniversary after you spend at least $20,000 per year. The companion certificate is 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) and 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) Reduced Mileage Awards (saving up to 7,500 miles on select routes). (3) First checked bag free for you plus four passengers on your reservation. (4) Priority boarding (Group 5, after first or business class passengers and elite members) on American flights for you plus four passengers on your reservation. (5) 25% discount for in-flight food & beverage purchases. (6) Annual $25 statement credits for in-flight Wi-Fi purchase each membership year. (7) The "Flight Cents" feature that allows you to round up your purchase to the nearest dollar and earn half a mile per cent - this essentially enables you to buy AA miles at 2 cents a piece based the number of cents you can round up. (8) 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 early 2015 as a replacement for US Airways MasterCard, with the merger of American Airlines AAdvantage and US Airways Dividend Miles. After the merger until 2017, Citi was the sole issuer of the post-merger American Airlines' credit card products, and Barclays could only convert existing US Airways MasterCard to the new Aviator Cards. However, starting 2017, Barclays began to issue new Aviator Red cards to new applicants and increased the annual fees from $89 to $95 while upgrading it from World MasterCard to World Elite MasterCard and adding the EQD earning feature. In May 2019, the annual fee was further increased to $99; the 10% redeemed miles rebate (up to 10,000 miles per year), the annual $100 flight discount with $30K spending, and the ability to earn 3K EQMs with $25K spending were all discontinued and replaced by the annual companion certificate with $20K spending and the $25 annual Wi-Fi credits.
The Math
With the reduced rewards on old Amex SPG after August 2018, AA cobranded credit cards have become the best way of earning AA miles via credit card general spending.
AAdvantage Aviator Red vs. AAdvantage Aviator Silver: Aviator Silver is $100/year more expensive than Aviator Red, and it comes with four premium features: (1) a 3-2-1 earning structure vs. 2-1 on Red (one additional AA mile on American, hotels, and car rentals), (2) EQM and EQD earning potential with $20K-50K spending, (3) daily $25 in-flight F&B credit (instead of 25% discount on Red), and (4) annual $99 companion certificate for two guests (vs. one guest on Red) with $20K spending. Even if you don't use the last three benefits, you just need to spend $6,250 a year on American airlines, hotels and car rentals to come out ahead of the $100 difference in annual fees if you happen to value an AAdvantage mile at 1.6 cents a piece like we do, as $6,250 x 1 mile/$ x 1.6 cent/mile = $100. Do your math if your miles valuation is different. The bottom line is that if you are a frequent American flyer, you will most likely find upgrading to Silver Aviator a great deal.
AAdvantage Aviator Red vs. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select: These two cards are direct competitors - they share most features including the annual fees. Their differences are: (1) Citi's version waives the annual fee for the first year; (2) Citi's version offers 2x dining and gas; (3) With $20K annual spending, Citi's version offers $100 flight discount while Barclays' version offers one $99 companion certificate; (4) Barclays' version offers annual $25 Wi-Fi credit and the "Flight Cents" feature.
The Conclusion
Barclays designs the replacement of US Airways MasterCard to align with Citi's counterpart. However, if you frequent American or just have big hotels/rental cars spending, you will find upgrading from Aviator Red to Aviator Silver very rewarding.