Barclays American Airlines Aviator Red WEMC has increased the signup bonus from 50K miles to 60K miles (the best ever offer), still just after your make the first purchase (which is very rare these days). Our review has been updated too to reflect the post- Amex SPG discussions (see below).
The Facts
The Math
In the past we used to not recommend this card for general spending, as the old Amex SPG (before August 2018) returned 25% more AA miles than any AA cobranded cards. Effective 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 three premium features: (1) a 3-2-1 earning structure vs. 2-1 on Red (one additional mile on American, hotels, and car rentals), (2) EQM earning potential with $25K-50K spending, and (3) annual $99 companion certificate with $30K spending. Even if you don't use the last two, you just need to spend $6,250 a year on American airlines, hotels and car rentals to come ahead of the $100 difference in annual fees if you happen to value an AA mile at 1.6 cents a piece like we do, as $6,250 x 1 mile/$ x 1.6 cent/mile = $100. Of course, if your value is different, you can do your own math. 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 many features. Their differences are: (1) Citi's version has a $99 annual fee ($4 more than Barclays') but waives it for the first year; (2) Citi's version offers 2x dining and gas; (3) Citi's version offers Reduced Mileage Awards (saving 7,500 miles on select routes); (4) Citi's version offers $100 flight discount after $20K annual spending; (5) Barclays's version offers 3K Elite Qualifying Dollars after $25K annual spending.
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: $95
- Signup Bonus: 60,000 miles after your first purchase within 3 months of new account opening. Historical best bonus of this card: 60,000 miles for limited time in 2017 and 2018.
- Application Landing Page
- Rewards: 2x American Airlines, 1x everywhere else.
- 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) Receive 10% of your redeemed miles back, up to 10,000 miles per year. (2) Earn $3,000 Elite Qualifying Dollars after spending $25,000 each calendar year. (3) First checked bag free for you plus four passengers on your reservation. (4) Priority boarding (Group 1, after first or business class passengers and elite members) on American flights. (5) 25% discount for onboard purchases. (6) Waived foreign transaction fees with an embedded EMV chip.
- Standard World Elite MasterCard Benefits: including World Elite Luxury Hotels & Resorts (free breakfasts, upgrades, early check-in, late check-out, and hotel specific amenities), World Elite Air Program (upgrades, savings, or companion tickets, mostly on full fare tickets), World Elite Cruise Program (up to $500 savings), World Elite Tours and Vacations (up to $250 or 5% savings), World Elite Car Rental (savings and elite status with Avis, National, and Sixt), World Elite Chauffeured Car Service (savings and benefits), World Elite Private Jet Program (savings and benefits), MasterCard Airport Concierge (15% savings), and so on.
- 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.
The Math
In the past we used to not recommend this card for general spending, as the old Amex SPG (before August 2018) returned 25% more AA miles than any AA cobranded cards. Effective 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 three premium features: (1) a 3-2-1 earning structure vs. 2-1 on Red (one additional mile on American, hotels, and car rentals), (2) EQM earning potential with $25K-50K spending, and (3) annual $99 companion certificate with $30K spending. Even if you don't use the last two, you just need to spend $6,250 a year on American airlines, hotels and car rentals to come ahead of the $100 difference in annual fees if you happen to value an AA mile at 1.6 cents a piece like we do, as $6,250 x 1 mile/$ x 1.6 cent/mile = $100. Of course, if your value is different, you can do your own math. 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 many features. Their differences are: (1) Citi's version has a $99 annual fee ($4 more than Barclays') but waives it for the first year; (2) Citi's version offers 2x dining and gas; (3) Citi's version offers Reduced Mileage Awards (saving 7,500 miles on select routes); (4) Citi's version offers $100 flight discount after $20K annual spending; (5) Barclays's version offers 3K Elite Qualifying Dollars after $25K annual spending.
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.
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