Targeted Barclays Aviator offer: 30K bonus for $2.5K spend for 6 consecutive months.
Nov 21, 2015, 4:02 pm
#16
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP , Delta Gold Medallion, "Credit Card" status for various hotels
Posts: 672
I'm not sure spending on the card helps to receive the offer. I got it, and my card has been sitting in the sock drawer for four months.
I'm going to pass on this offer and hope something that isn't so high maintenance comes along later.
I'm going to pass on this offer and hope something that isn't so high maintenance comes along later.
Nov 22, 2015, 12:01 am
#17
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: CAN, LAX, TPE
Programs: AA, AS, CI, DL, UA
Posts: 2,898
We can't answer that for you. Some destinations in some cabins of travel went up, some went down, some stayed the same. Without knowing where you want to travel with those miles, and in which cabin, it's impossible to say.
Plus another way of looking at it is:
If the miles you needed went up, be happy that you can get more miles.
If you're not going to go for this offer, how else will you afford to take those trips? Just because miles needed went up does mean that miles are no longer a good value compared to cash. It still, as always, depends on the specifics.
However, this bonus is essentially just 3x miles on all purchases, but only if you make the required number of purchases (otherwise it's only the normal 1x). There are certainly better offers out there if you're looking around all of FlyerTalk. And this part is valid whether AA devalued or not! Ie, is this really the best way to earn AA miles, if you do choose to earn AA miles? If guess it depends on whether you're riding the World -> World Elite train every time it departs over at Citi or not.
Plus another way of looking at it is:
If the miles you needed went up, be happy that you can get more miles.
If you're not going to go for this offer, how else will you afford to take those trips? Just because miles needed went up does mean that miles are no longer a good value compared to cash. It still, as always, depends on the specifics.
However, this bonus is essentially just 3x miles on all purchases, but only if you make the required number of purchases (otherwise it's only the normal 1x). There are certainly better offers out there if you're looking around all of FlyerTalk. And this part is valid whether AA devalued or not! Ie, is this really the best way to earn AA miles, if you do choose to earn AA miles? If guess it depends on whether you're riding the World -> World Elite train every time it departs over at Citi or not.
The other option is the BA Chase 100k.
Nov 22, 2015, 5:13 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
Seriously, if you're concerned about that, at the very least buy some random small grocery item (a different one each time with a different price) on top of that. You'll still have $5xx.xx charges, but the xx.xx will keep varying.
I would think the bank would also be less likely to notice if those aren't your only purchases by any means. Ie, there's a difference between seeing nothing but 500.95 on your statements and seeing lots of purchases and the scattered 500.95 (or especially scattered 5xx.xx) on there.
Nov 22, 2015, 1:56 pm
#19
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,528
In my experience, Citi/Barclays are more likely to send these offers when you haven't used the card in a while.
Nov 22, 2015, 5:29 pm
#20
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Boulder
Programs: AA Plat, CX Silver
Posts: 2,361
Nov 22, 2015, 11:10 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,789
They'll think you're wasting a dollar. The Visa GC at my Kroger only have a $5.95 activation fee.
Seriously, if you're concerned about that, at the very least buy some random small grocery item (a different one each time with a different price) on top of that. You'll still have $5xx.xx charges, but the xx.xx will keep varying
Seriously, if you're concerned about that, at the very least buy some random small grocery item (a different one each time with a different price) on top of that. You'll still have $5xx.xx charges, but the xx.xx will keep varying
Nov 23, 2015, 4:42 pm
#23
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,314
Nov 24, 2015, 10:10 am
#24
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: UA
Posts: 312
I received this yesterday via snail mail. Haven't used this card for about a year, which is when I met the minimum spend for a sign up bonus. It's only 5 $500 GC a month. The way I see it, I'm buying 45,000 miles for $180. Less than 1/2 cpm. Not bad for me.
Dec 5, 2015, 4:56 pm
#25
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
If you fail to meet the spend during any of the six months, you receive no bonus miles. So, it's quite different from six independent monthly challenges. I'd be happy with that, but I'm not going to try for this offer because I could easily miss out on the entire 30k bonus by making a mistake or not having enough spend in one month.
Jan 10, 2016, 9:25 pm
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,789
So now with the Serve shutdown, my plan to do this is up in the air. I did the December spend but that was with 5 gift cards. Now without Serve, liquidating these cards would be a much bigger pain. Not sure it's worth it for 30k bonus AA miles. On the other hand, not sure what MS I would do between now and May because I don't have any planned CC apps.
Anybody else in similar positions?
Anybody else in similar positions?
Jan 11, 2016, 6:52 am
#27
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: UA
Posts: 312
So now with the Serve shutdown, my plan to do this is up in the air. I did the December spend but that was with 5 gift cards. Now without Serve, liquidating these cards would be a much bigger pain. Not sure it's worth it for 30k bonus AA miles. On the other hand, not sure what MS I would do between now and May because I don't have any planned CC apps.
Anybody else in similar positions?
Anybody else in similar positions?
Feb 17, 2016, 7:08 pm
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,789
Well I made it 2/6 months. But I think I'm going to throw in the towel. 
I've been running into too many CSRs that ask to see the card and I'm not in a position to switch them. Plus I don't want to get to month 5/6 and get screwed out of how to unload them without a legitimate spend use.
Hopefully I get some kind of bonus mile offer when my AF hits on my 2nd Aviator next month.
I've been running into too many CSRs that ask to see the card and I'm not in a position to switch them. Plus I don't want to get to month 5/6 and get screwed out of how to unload them without a legitimate spend use. Hopefully I get some kind of bonus mile offer when my AF hits on my 2nd Aviator next month.