Following American Airlines’s July deal with Citi and Barclays, expectations were that applications for Barclays AAviator cards would be open in January 2017. It looks like Barclays is getting a 2 week head start because the following offer is now public. What is interesting is that Barclaycard are supposed to be advertising this at airports and during flights. I guess they are allowed online application links as well.
The Offer
- Sign up for the AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite MasterCard and receive a sign up bonus of 40,000 AAdvantage miles after you make your first purchase in the first 90 days and pay the $95 annual fee (40,000 points will post on the next statement after you pay the annual fee).
- If you apply using the application received in flight you get an additional 500 miles.
Card Details
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee of $95 is not waived the first year
- First checked bag free, for the primary cardmember and up to 4 companions on eligible bags when traveling on domestic itineraries operated by American Airlines
- Group 1 boarding, for the primary cardmember on domestic itineraries operated by American Airlines
- 10% of your redeemed miles back, up to 10,000 per calendar year
- 25% inflight savings on food, beverages, and headsets on American Airlines-operated flights1
- Earn 2x miles on all eligible American Airlines purchases
- Earn 1x points on all other purchases
Our Verdict
AAdvantage miles are pretty valuable, and you can’t beat 40,000 points with no spending requirement (Citi requires you to spend $3,000 for 50,000 to 60,000 miles on their equivalent card, the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select). Because you need to pay the $95 annual fee, you are essentially buying miles at 0.23¢ a piece.
According to View from the Wing (via GWBlueBlueBlue), you can upgrade from the AAviator Red to the AAviator Silver (which normally has a $195 annual fee) after 90 days and not have to pay the difference in the annual fee for the first year. This is probably the best offer on a card with no minimum spend (or that might go to the Avianca card with a 60,000 point bonus). Read through these things you should know about Barclaycard credit cards before asking any basic questions in the comments.
Hat tip to jpear18 on /r/churning
Barclaycard seems very stingy. This is the first time ever I applied for a barclaycard and was rejected.
Going to call them tomorrow and update.
The offer has been upped to 50,000 miles now.
Link:
https://home.barclaycardus.com/cards/aadvantage-aviator-red-world-elite-mastercard.html
I’ll be applying tomorrow with a score of 683 (TU), 5 recent accounts opened in March, and 2 Charge-offs that are both 2.5 years old. If anyone has any comments on my chances of approval, I welcome you to share them with me. Else, I’ll just report back on whether I am approved or not tomorrow.
I applied for the card back in January and I was approved. Called tonight to convert the Red to the Silver card since it has been 4 months and they said the offer doesn’t exist. Has anybody else been able to convert their card at least 90 days after opening?
I applied for this card in flight because the pilot said if you’re already an AAadvantage rewards member then whether you’re approved or not you’ll get the $40,000 bonus miles. Is this not true?
Has anyone confirmed getting the bonus after being product changed to the card in the past from the US airways card?
WHAT THE POSTER ABOVE SAID^^^^
Somebody has to know by now, comeback and share your datapoints.
Be the DP you want to see, I don’t really understand the question.
Will – since it says it is for someone who has never had the card before I am wondering if anyone who was product changed to it from a US Airways card and then closed it later has gotten this card and received the bonus even though they “technically” have had the card before.
The ‘never had this card before’ terms with Barclaycard aren’t enforced, so should be fine.
I always come back and contribute my DP’s on new checking acct’s and when I have to be a guinea pig for CC denials/approvals. I was converted from US airways, figured since people already took the plunge it can save myself and subsequently others a HP for nothing if no bonus was issued since a lot of people are in the same boat as far the the US airways auto-conversion to Red aviator.
I answered the question above, basically that rule isn’t enforced so you should be OK. I just didn’t understand the question before and I know you do contribute datapoints often :), very much appreciated.
Happy to do,your blog has made it possible to fly abroad using miles,earn pocket cash from checking acct bonuses, and reside using airbnb redemptions instead of having to teach english.
I have an unrelated DP that may be useful to some, for those that travel often for extended periods of time abroad, sign-up for checking accounts or credit card applications using a VPN service and have the server set to a US location to avoid possible IP detection problems from the US Banks. I signed up for 3 checking accounts in the past 3 weeks from Asia and no problems so far that way, unlike in the past.
I didn’t get my 40k too and my my statement closed a couple of days ago. I still have the old aviator card open. I hope that doesn’t have anything to do with not getting the 40k. I didn’t pay the annual fee off yet.
You have to pay the annual fee and then the next one you usually get the miles. Let us know if you end up getting them!
Anyone got their bonus? My statement closed weeks ago, and the statement did not have the bonus nor were they transferred to AA account. Only the miles from spending transferred.
Did you pay your AF before your statement closed? If not, you’ll need to wait until the next statement.
That’s exactly what I did. I thought that by paying the annual fee early I would get the miles early but not the case.
Oh dear. In that case, I don’t know 🙁
I messaged them and they confirmed I have met all the requirements and will credit on the next billing!
P did you ever had an aviator card before?
I messaged them and they confirmed I have met all the requirements and will credit on the next billing!
No I have never had one.
Just applied and didn’t get auto approval. Instead have under review and will need up to 10 business days. Any advice with Barclays to call recon or ride it out? already have 2 cards, a converted USair card and arrival with only one pull on TU report for the arrival card in 2015.
Thanks
Update: Recon called me to verify income and employment then asked if I was willing to move credit from my Arrival or “other” Aviator card to get the new one open. Said sure and already shows on my profile. Will have to wait to see if I get the bonus when I get the welcome package in 7-10 days.
Hey, any update on the bonus?
Anyone see the bonus on their first statement?
My statement was supposed to close yesterday but I don’t see the statement in my account yet. So I called customer service and the rep told me that she can see the 40K bonus miles transfer to my AA account is in progress already. I made a small transaction and sent payment for it and annual fee before the statement cutoff date.
Generous credit limit. My first Barclays CC & they doubled what Citi AA gave me on a slightly increased income level.