Apr 29, 15, 7:33 am
Last edit by: ZenFlyer
AAdvantage Aviator Silver and Red Cards from BarclayCard
There are five AAdvantage-linked Aviator-branded cards by Barclaycard. Two of them can be applied for directly, the other three are upgrades or downgrades after receiving a Red card.The Many Flavors of Barclaycard AAdvantage Aviator
Where can I see information on all available Barclays Barclaycard AAdvantage cards?
Aviator Red (On AA.com)
Aviator Silver (On AA.com)
Aviator Business (On AA.com)
Red cardholders may receive an offer to upgrade to Aviator Silver after a period of time that varies, usually 3-11 months. The offer appears in the online "Offers" section, if it is declined there may be no simple way to receive the upgrade. Be careful with your clicking! Silver benefits begin at the start of the next statement, but the increased annual fee won't hit until the next card-member year starts.
Aviator Silver Vs Red
Annual Fee: Silver $199 Red $99
Miles on AA Purchases: Silver 3x Red 2x
Miles on hotels and car rentals: Silver 2x, Red 1x
Miles on all other purchases: Silver 1x, Red 1x
Bonus Loyalty Points: Silver 5k LP after $20k/$40k/$50k Per Status Year Red None
In-Flight Food & Beverage: Silver $25 back/day Red 25% back
Wifi Credits: Silver $50/anniversary year Red $25/anniversary year
Companion Ticket: Silver 2 Companions Red 1 Companion (Minimum Anniversary-Year Spend Required for both)
PreCheck/Global Entry: Silver $100 credit Red No Credit
Card Benefit Details
FlyerTalk thread Citi & Barclaycard AAdvantage Credit Card Free Domestic Checked Bag / Baggage
Aviator Silver Bonus Loyalty Points: Bonuses are based on spend during status year, not anniversary year. When upgrading to Silver your Red spending will carry over. Five thousand Loyalty Points after spending $20k/$40k/$50k. You cannot stack multiple Silver accounts to earn this multiple times.
Companion Certificate: $20k in anniversary year spend required, issued about 45 days after you annual fee hits. Red gets one companion, Silver can have two. $99+tax for companions, round-trip 48 contiguous US States only unless you live in Alaska or Hawaii, in which case you may fly from your home state to the 48.
Barclaycard AAdvantage Aviator Silver and Red Cards (master thread)
Jan 6, 18, 11:55 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,616
Any recent reports of switching to Silver? I've had the card about two years now and I'm looking to convert -- it seems like a much better deal than the Citi cards at this point. Also, will my current spend toward EQD/EQM this year "switch over" from Red to Silver?
If not, I'm going to try to convert once I hit the EQD spend requirement this year.
If not, I'm going to try to convert once I hit the EQD spend requirement this year.
Jan 6, 18, 1:20 pm
#6
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 19,812
Start off the new year by upgrading to a card that offers unparalleled benefits and luxury the AAdvantage Aviator Silver World Elite Mastercard.1 Enjoy valuable new benefits that extend beyond those included with your current card...
And, keep many of the benefits you already enjoy.Continue to earn miles on all your purchases with no limit to the AAdvantage miles you can earn, preferred boarding, first checked bag free, no foreign transaction fees, 10% of your redeemed miles back and more!
Its easy.Your account number and expiration date will stay the same. Youll simply receive a new card (with more benefits) in the mail. Additionally, your existing account balance, transaction history and miles will be automatically transferred to your new, upgraded card.
And, keep many of the benefits you already enjoy.Continue to earn miles on all your purchases with no limit to the AAdvantage miles you can earn, preferred boarding, first checked bag free, no foreign transaction fees, 10% of your redeemed miles back and more!
Its easy.Your account number and expiration date will stay the same. Youll simply receive a new card (with more benefits) in the mail. Additionally, your existing account balance, transaction history and miles will be automatically transferred to your new, upgraded card.
Jan 6, 18, 3:26 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 6,628
So with apologies, I'm going to ask a question which is a slight riff on the does the "spend tracker" carry over from Red to Silver. I've read the Wiki and most (but certainly not all) posts in this thread.
I completely understand that if one has the Red card and later upgrades to Silver the spending does follow the upgrade and you don't have to "start over." Got it.
In my case, I'm considering putting some rather substantial, time sensitive expenses on these cards (in 2018), but given the rather bizarre vagaries of getting the "invite" for the Silver it's possible I'll need to make the spend before I would be eligible for the Silver invite.
So, I'm curious if anyone has experience putting literally the entire $50K of spend all on the Red card, then down the line being upgraded to the Silver. In that case will you just magically (and automatically) be given the incremental benefits that come from the Silver card (i.e. the additional EQMs, the additional EQDs and the companion certificate)?
I know this has been sort of asked, but I haven't seen anyone speak to this specific scenario. Personally, I care little about AA RDMs, only the EQD/EQMs, so I'm hesitant to divert this amount of spend to this card without clarity of those items being granted. Particularly interested in first hand experiences, if there are any, as opposed to theoretical deductions or pointers to the T&Cs (I'm familiar with them)
Regards
I completely understand that if one has the Red card and later upgrades to Silver the spending does follow the upgrade and you don't have to "start over." Got it.
In my case, I'm considering putting some rather substantial, time sensitive expenses on these cards (in 2018), but given the rather bizarre vagaries of getting the "invite" for the Silver it's possible I'll need to make the spend before I would be eligible for the Silver invite.
So, I'm curious if anyone has experience putting literally the entire $50K of spend all on the Red card, then down the line being upgraded to the Silver. In that case will you just magically (and automatically) be given the incremental benefits that come from the Silver card (i.e. the additional EQMs, the additional EQDs and the companion certificate)?
I know this has been sort of asked, but I haven't seen anyone speak to this specific scenario. Personally, I care little about AA RDMs, only the EQD/EQMs, so I'm hesitant to divert this amount of spend to this card without clarity of those items being granted. Particularly interested in first hand experiences, if there are any, as opposed to theoretical deductions or pointers to the T&Cs (I'm familiar with them)
Regards
Regards
Jan 6, 18, 10:33 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2005
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Amb Elite & LT Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,222
I'd recommend making a few calls since you have a unique situation. I talked to Barclay last year to confirm the terms and timing and they were pretty aware of the details.
Separately, I've had this card (red) since June, hit the 25k in Dec and received the UG offer the first week of January.
Jan 7, 18, 12:36 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,347
I'd be careful with Barclay. They now have a policy that you can only be approved for the same card once every 24 months from the last time you closed your account. They won't approve you for a new card of the same product even if you are ok not receiving the welcome bonus; they just won't approve your application.
Jan 8, 18, 6:22 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: stuck with AA in PHL
Posts: 112
Aviator Platinum (Plutonium?)
just got off the phone with a sort of loony barclays agent who, when i voiced my displeasure with the Aviator Silver as compared with the Citi Exec (in at attempt to get a retention offer) mentioned that there is a new HIGHER annual fee barclays product, but would give me no further details as my account was not eligible to change to it. does anyone have a clue what she was talking about???
Jan 8, 18, 6:46 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 6,628
I just received my upgrade letter, which says 'You'll simply receive a new card with these enhanced benefits in the mail. additionally, your existing account balance, transaction history and miles will be automatically transferred to the new card'.
I'd recommend making a few calls since you have a unique situation. I talked to Barclay last year to confirm the terms and timing and they were pretty aware of the details.
Separately, I've had this card (red) since June, hit the 25k in Dec and received the UG offer the first week of January.
I'd recommend making a few calls since you have a unique situation. I talked to Barclay last year to confirm the terms and timing and they were pretty aware of the details.
Separately, I've had this card (red) since June, hit the 25k in Dec and received the UG offer the first week of January.
Regards
Jan 9, 18, 1:26 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,771
Just following up. I waited until 12/30 to go over $50,000 -- I held back a few dollars and then bought an amazon gift card on 12/30. The transaction posted on 1/3/18 with a transaction date of 12/30. When I go into my benefits page, it shows me having earned the second $3,000 EQDs, but they have not yet posted to my aa account (either for 2017 or for 2018). I am fully expecting when they post (if they post automatically) they will post for 2017, but we'll see (and obviously I'll update here).
Last edited by lkar; Jan 9, 18 at 10:22 pm
Jan 10, 18, 5:55 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: RIC
Programs: AA Exec Plat, Delta Plat, Bonvoy Platinum, Honors Diamond, WOH Globalist
Posts: 126
Just following up. I waited until 12/30 to go over $50,000 -- I held back a few dollars and then bought an amazon gift card on 12/30. The transaction posted on 1/3/18 with a transaction date of 12/30. When I go into my benefits page, it shows me having earned the second $3,000 EQDs, but they have not yet posted to my aa account (either for 2017 or for 2018). I am fully expecting when they post (if they post automatically) they will post for 2017, but we'll see (and obviously I'll update here).
Jan 11, 18, 6:47 am
#15
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1P, DL PM
Posts: 34
I received a reply from AAdvantage confirming that the bonus EQD for mileage earned in late 2017 be posted towards 2017 qualification; however, they appear to have been posted dating to my statement closing date, counting for the 2018 qualification year. I have asked if this could be revised.
