It is clear that Citi will be THE issuer of American AAdvantage credit card products in the USA when the AAdvantage and Dividend Miles programs merge. However, it’s just as clear that Barclaycard intends to offer its existing Dividend Miles card members compelling reasons to stay when the combined program emerges sometime next year because they will be able to maintain their existing card accounts. There will be a Barclaycard AAdvantage card going forward.
Barclaycard is now offering two card products for existing US Airways card members. First up is the AAdvantage Aviator Silver World Elite MasterCard. It offers compelling benefits for its $195 annual fee which include:
- 3 X miles on US and AA flights.
- 2 X miles on hotels and rental cars.
- 1 X miles on other purchases.
- 5,000 elite qualifying miles on $20K in purchases, and 5,000 more when you reach $40K in purchases. (10K max per year)
- Free checked bag for yourself and up to 8 other travelers.
- 10 percent redemption rebate up to 10K miles per year.
There’s also the AAdvantage Aviator Red card, which at an annual fee of $89, will be the most recognizable/familiar to existing Dividend Card members. It will offer:
- 2 X miles on US and AA flights.
- 1 X miles on all other purchases.
- Free checked bag for yourself and up to 4 other travelers.
- 10 percent redemption rebate up to 10K miles per year.
The list of benefits for both cards is not meant to be all inclusive, and there are other benefits including companion travel, EMV chip, and companion travel benefits that vary by card.
MJ’s Take
I’m impressed that Barclay card is offering some compelling benefits to its existing Dividend Miles cardmembers. The Aviator Silver card is difficult to ignore. with its 3 X miles on AA and US purchases, elite qualifying miles, etc. It depends on your needs and habits, but I think the more expensive of these two cards would be my pick. The 3 X miles and 2 X on hotels and rental cars is attractive to me. I don’t currently have a Barclaycard US Airways product, but this may be enough to move me towards applying while I still can.
-MJ, October 27, 2014
[…] members can continue to keep their cards and accrue miles, and their cards will be converted to the AAdvantage Aviator cards. While Barclays won’t be able to offer new accounts to AAdvantage members, it can […]
I’d also like to point out that the Silver card includes two domestic companion passes if you spend $30,000 annually.
@Brant – the discount is credited to you almost immediately, and you don’t have to charge it to your Citi card. I don’t know who ultimate pays for it, but it’s clearly AA’s IT that processes the rebate.
Thank you for the additional info, Miles.
I had heard that about 2 Citi cards. I assume it is the bank, i.e. Citi or Barclay’s that actually “pays” the rebate, so it definitely makes sense that Citi would only give it out once even if you have two cards. Hopefully in the future it will be Citi giving out the rebate and Barclay’s giving out the rebate also, with little actual involvement from AA as they are not the ones “paying” for this. Thanks for the info and we will hope for the best.
[…] The Barclaycard AAdvantage Card Options – MJ on Travel   For the record, Barclays Bank will try desperately to hold on to some customers by introducing a new set of cards to eventually replace the US Airways credit card. This post just lays out the facts of the cards. Wake me up when the cards offer a signing bonus please. Until then zzzzzz. […]
@Brant Currently if you have two Citi cards, you’re still limited to the same rebate as if you have one. I doubt having a Citi and Barclays card would be any different.
Thanks for the info @Miles.
If you have both the Barclays card and the Citi card that offers the 10% rebate on redemptions how do you suppose that will work? Do you think you will receive the rebates simultaneously or will AA keep track of it somehow and only award the rebate for one card or another?
Brant,
It’s difficult for me to say right now. I don’t “know” what the total answer is. I think we may know more soon.
ETA: that seems like something they’ll be able to keep up with, but we’ll see.