In December 2024 it was announced that Citi would become the sole issuer of American Airlines cards in 2026. Barclays stopped issuing new American Airline cards on 9/30/25.
There were two card issuers because Barclays used to issue the US Airways card and American Airlines acquired US Airways in 2013. The cobranded cards were renewed in 2016 and this allowed Barclays to advertise inflight/in airports and Citi had the rest of the acquisition channels.
We knew that Citi had purchased the backbook from Barclays but it wasn’t clear when the transfer of existing Barclays cards to Citi would occur. Citi now has a website that is live and changes are being communicated to cardholders as well. Main things to note:
- Change will happen on April 24, 2026. Barclays card automatically converted to Citi
- Can continue to use Barclays card as long as account remains open
- Card conversions as follows:
- Aviator Red > Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select
- Aviator Silver > Citi AAdvantage Globe
- Aviator Blue > Citi AAdvantage Gold
- Aviator World Elite > American Airlines AAdavtange MileUp
- Aviator World Elite Business > AAdvantage Business
- No access to online or mobile banking on Citi/Barclays from April 24 – 26, 2026
Contents
F.A.Q’s
Will this affect my bonus eligibility?
Terms on the Citi cards state:
American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles are not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® account in the past 48 months or if you converted another Citi credit card account on which you earned a new account bonus in the last 48 months into a Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® account.
So it really depends if they update those terms to include the Barclays cards in the 48 month timer. I suspect it won’t affect bonus eligibility but that is a guess at best.
Can I product change this converted product to something else?
Citi only recently started allowing product changes between Citi American Airlines & Citi ThankYou cards and product changes via chat. There is nothing to suggest product changes won’t be allowed on these newly converted cards but again YMMV. Citi does limit your options when product changing (e.g possibly only to Strata Elite, then you need to wait and product change that card again).
As far as I know Citi doesn’t allow product changes from the Citi American Airlines business card.
Will this card conversion affect my 5/24 status?
A new card number is being issued. In the past Chase has sometimes counted this towards 5/24, but more often it has not. Additionally when it has counted towards 5/24 it has been possible to call reconsideration line to overturn the decision but YMMV.
Will this count as a new card for credit scoring purposes?
Similar to the above 5/24 status question, but normally when cards are converted they keep account history and a new account isn’t opened on your credit report.
