Maz67

Just landed my second 5k EQM from my silver card. Now working on getting the 10k from my AA exec card. These 20k in EQM will prove to be the difference between gold and Plat for me next year.

466SHH

My "Upgrade Now" button disappeared for a while yesterday and I sent a secure message about it. It reappeared later on its own.

However, today I got the following reply to my message (red emphasis added by me):

"Dear 466SHH :

Thank you for contacting us regarding your AAdvantage Aviator Red World MasterCard. We appreciate your interest in upgrading your account to the next level above your card, which is the Silver World Elite MasterCard.

We would like to inform you that this product has an annual fee of $195. With the AAdvantage Aviator Silver World Elite MasterCard, you will receive exclusive cardmember benefits, such as:

* 3 miles per $1 spent on all eligible partner purchases
* 2 miles per $1 spent on select Car Rental and Hotel purchases
* Earning 1 mile per $1 spent on other purchases

You can also look forward to the following additional benefits:

* 5,000 EQM miles for each $20,000 in annual spend (10,000 maximum EQMs per year)
* A companion certificate good for up to 2 guests at $99 each, issued annually after account anniversary when you spend $30,000 or more in purchases (taxes and fees apply)
* $100 statement credit for the Global Entry application fee if you pay with your card
* You and up to 8 companions can receive a free 1st checked bag on US Airways or American Airlines operated flights
* 10% of your miles back into your account when you redeem your miles for award travel, maximum of 10,000 miles per year
* Enjoy 25% off your in-flight food and beverage purchases when you use your card.
* 15% flight mileage bonus
* Boarding privileges
* Reduced redemptions up to 7500 discount on certain flights
* Dining enrollment/online mall

Should you wish to upgrade your account to this card, we ask that you please do so online by selecting the 'Upgrade your account benefits' box that can be found under the 'Barclaycard extras' heading that is located on the 'Account summary' page. You also have the option to contact our Customer Care Department directly at 1-866-928-3075. Representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will be happy to assist you.

We hope you find this information helpful. If you have any other questions or concerns, please reply to this message.

Sincerely,

Customer Service"

So, does anyone know what the "15% flight mileage bonus" is? The description of the card on the AA website does not include this, nor do the T&C's posted there, which I read pretty carefully.

GNRMatt

Question for everyone...

My billing period always ends on the 17th of the month. I'm going to be very close to making the final $20,000 in spend for my 2nd 5K EQM's at the end of the year.

Do I need to make sure all of my spend towards the $20,000 is done before 12/17 to get credit for in the 2015 year? Or, since it takes a few weeks to post, do I need to make sure all of my spend is done by 11/17 to ensure I get credit for it in the 2015 year?

Biggie Fries

I don't know but I definitely am not going to risk the technicality ...

On the more positive side, my date is something like the 4th ... I hit $20K after the 4th and my 5K EQMs posted on something like the 29th, i.e., before the end of the "current" billing period. I was pleasantly surprised.

But see the first sentence again ... you never know, so I am definitely going to knock out the second $20K before 4 (or whatever) November.

hitherandyon

Why not call and change your bill date to earlier in the month? Easy to do.

Carl

I don't think any of us can answer this question accurately, as we've never been in this scenario before. Last year, my billing cycle closed the last week of December, and the EQMs counted. However, that was the DM program; this year, we're part of AA. Folks who have had the Citi card in years past may be able to offer their insight, but it still may not directly apply as that's a different organization.

I agree with the advice to change your billing cycle.

swag

Any new info on the 10K anniversary bonus?

I had that benefit on my old US Dividend card, and got the email last October assuring me that this benefit would continue.
Today I got a snail mail Annual Fee Notice outlining benefits of my Aviator Red card, and the 10K was not mentioned.

Is it just that they send the same Notice to everyone whether they had the 10K benefit or not? Or are they backtracking on the promise of the benefit continuing?

heyeaglefn

Check your Rewards and How Rewards work to see if it is listed on the website.

Carl

Received snail mail notice advising that my $195 Silver annual fee would be billed on the 30th, and I would need to call to close the account before that date if I did not want to pay.

Is this something the CARD Act changed for the worse? I can't seem to find any mention of it impacting annual fees, but perhaps it's buried somewhere. In the past, a consumer had the right to cancel a card after the fee was billed but either before the statement was due or within 30 days (of course in the old days, credit cards were all 30 day cycles, so I can't recall the specifics).

I'm not interested in canceling, but I have considered downgrading. I'm surprised no mention of that option was given.

WiscAZ

I was charged the $195 annual fee on the 31st but usually I'm charged in December. Any ideas why I was charged now? Is this normal?

Aristophanes80

Barclays has been sending these annual fee notices out for all their cards, stating that you had to cancel by the renewal date in order to avoid the fee. In practice, you can cancel or downgrade for at least a month after the fee is billed and it is still refunded. This is how it has worked for me on other Barclay cards at least (Arrival+ and Aviator Red).

Quarantine

Under Rewards -> How my rewards work for my Barclays Red card, I'm seeing this:

"Earn 10,000 AAdvantage® anniversary miles in your first cardmembership year after payment of the annual fee."

Just to confirm, judging by the language of the sentence, these anniversary miles will only be given to me for just one year, and not every year?

hi-guy

Correct.

nall

Apparently the Citi Platinum is losing forex fees and the $100 bonus after $30k spend in November. Unsure if the latter might have any impact on the equivalent benefit for the Aviator Red.

glitelover

So, I saw the same on my rewards page: Congratulations...then a 19-digit code and a 4-digit pin number. I used the code for $100 discount on two RT domestic tickets all on AA metal and paid the balance with the Red Aviator card, per the instructions. Reservation was still in "ticket pending" status. I've called and was told "everything is fine." Waited a few days and called again, and before being disconnected (my fault, not theirs) the rep said the "gift card" I used had a "balance of zero." So for me at least, it's not been simple. I've been in touch with Barclays and they have escalated it...in meantime I'm still in "ticket pending" limbo and am worried about my reservation being cancelled. I may end up paying the extra $100, which would be a bummer since we don't have any more trip planned before the $100 code would expire (it says expiration 08/31/16). Never got an e-mail and no snail mail regarding the $100 discount code. Rep said I probably tried to use it "too soon?" The 45-day requirement was met before the code appeared on the rewards page.