Barclays American Airlines Aviator Cards Losing Ability To Earn Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQD’s)

Small correction: Silver cardholders can still earn 3,000 EQD after $50,000 in spend.

One of the benefits of the Barclays American Airlines cards is the ability to earn Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQD’s). Cardholders that spend $25,000 in a calendar year receive 3,000 EQDs and Aviator silver cards can spend a further $25,000 and receive another 3,000 EQD (e.g $50,000 spend for a total of 6,000 EQD). Barclays is removing this benefit, when it’s removed will depend on when you signed up for the card.

  • If you signed up before 1/1/2018 then starting 1/1/2019 it will no longer be possible to earn EQD
  • If you signed up after 1/1/2018 but before 10/31/2018 then starting 1/1/2020 it will no longer be possible to earn EQD

Keep in mind it has already been announced that Barclays will be improving benefits on this card in 2019, we need to see what those improvements are before understanding this EQD change fully. Personally I’d never spend $25,000 on any of these cards anyway and I also don’t care about elite status – but I know some people did utilize this card benefit so it will be interesting to see what it is replaced with. Also worth remembering you can currently get a 60,500 mile bonus on the personal card and 60,000 mile bonus on the business card.

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22 Comments
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rouven69
rouven69 (@guest_665422)
October 30, 2018 22:01

My letter for AA silver says $3,000EQD for $50,000 spend.

NinjaX
NinjaX (@guest_665532)
October 31, 2018 05:14

yes. now only silver has the EQD option and it takes 50k for a measly 3k. better than nothing i guess. its clear AA is copying DL. not surprising given AA copied DL in lounge access earlier.

rouven69
rouven69 (@guest_665684)
October 31, 2018 11:46

yep not spending $50K for only $3K EQDs. Rather fly business class and get rid of the card (maybe).

iahphx
iahphx (@guest_665226)
October 30, 2018 16:24

I wonder how many people actually put this enormous spend on these cards for this benefit. If the spending requirements would have been more modest, I probably would have done it. Having even silver elite status on AA is quite helpful if you frequently fly AA, especially since they allocate so few “decent” seats to non-elites for free. But there’s no way that fairly modest perk is worth 25K in spend.

qmc
qmc (@guest_665167)
October 30, 2018 15:06

just applied for the biz card last night… rejected (maybe due to the jetblue biz card 2 weeks ago? we’ll see when the letter comes)

barney
barney (@guest_665123)
October 30, 2018 13:34

is there a way to spend enough money on the credit card to earn top tier statues? if you have all the personal/ business aviator and silver cards?

Brian C
Brian C (@guest_665059)
October 30, 2018 12:06

Just picked up the aviator business for this exact benefit…hopefully the change only affects the personal cards. But that’s just wishful thinking…

Kuso29
Kuso29 (@guest_665082)
October 30, 2018 12:36

It has been discussed the business version will not lose this benefit on one of the threads.

Brian C
Brian C (@guest_665111)
October 30, 2018 13:21

sweet, thanks!

Dave
Dave (@guest_668655)
November 6, 2018 17:33

The Aviator site still shows 3,000 EQDs after $25k in spend per year listed as a benefit for the business card, but all references of EQDs were removed from the personal card list. Anybody know if business benefit is going away too?

Chucks
Chucks (@guest_665058)
October 30, 2018 12:06

Airlines are making it increasingly clear they just want people who pony up tons of cash for premium fares to be high level elites.

I can’t blame them but at the same time I’ve entirely given up any favoritism towards a carrier when picking flights.

Debit
Debit (@guest_665055)
October 30, 2018 11:52

Good excuse to get better retention offer?

Matt Katakis
Matt Katakis (@guest_665119)
October 30, 2018 13:32

That’s what I was thinking. I’d settle for them waiving the AF.

Miles
Miles (@guest_665032)
October 30, 2018 11:32

I believe the Aviator Silver can still earn $3k EQD instead of $6k EQD.

NinjaX
NinjaX (@guest_665531)
October 31, 2018 05:12

correct. takes 50k tho. doc was probably just too busy.

P
P (@guest_665010)
October 30, 2018 11:16

Can’t get approved anymore for a Barc so meh.

Phill
Phill (@guest_665015)
October 30, 2018 11:22
  P

+1 Let us back in! lol

el_pistolero
el_pistolero (@guest_665020)
October 30, 2018 11:28
  P

lol same here

Kuso29
Kuso29 (@guest_665081)
October 30, 2018 12:35
  P

How did you guys get blacklisted by BC?

P
P (@guest_665106)
October 30, 2018 13:11

Not sure really it was fine until the second half of this year.

Chucks
Chucks (@guest_665224)
October 30, 2018 16:21

They’re extremely sensitive to recent inquiries as well as total cards with Barclaycard.