Oct 23, 2018, 1:27 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
AA Barclays Aviator Red will no longer offer the ability to earn EQDs.
AA Barclays Aviator Silver now will only allow earning $3,000 EQD offset by reaching $50,000 spend.
https://onemileatatime.com/american-...fying-dollars/
That article says, in part
Member enpremiere posts
AA Barclays Aviator Silver now will only allow earning $3,000 EQD offset by reaching $50,000 spend.
All AAdvantage Aviator Red and Silver Mastercard holders were sent out this notification on October 22, 2018 and will typically arrive within 7 to 10 business days. - Barclaycard
That article says, in part
For 2019 the benefit is being eliminated entirely except for Aviator Silver cardholders who will 3000 elite qualifying dollars after $50,000 spend (instead of earning 6000).
Anyone who signed up for an Aviator Red Mastercard, or upgraded to an Aviator Silver, between January 1 and October 31, 2018 will keep the pre-existing elite qualifying dollars benefit for 2019, and their benefit will change January 1, 2020.
This policy has been verified elsewhere.
Anyone who signed up for an Aviator Red Mastercard, or upgraded to an Aviator Silver, between January 1 and October 31, 2018 will keep the pre-existing elite qualifying dollars benefit for 2019, and their benefit will change January 1, 2020.
BUT DocD called on 23 Oct to upgrade the Red to Silver and Barclaycard would not do so “because of the upcoming program changes”.
Dear 355F1:
Thank you for contacting us regarding your AAdvantage Aviator Silver World Elite Mastercard. We can certainly address your inquiry regarding the benefit change on your account.
Your AAdvantage Aviator Silver World Elite Mastercard will earn $3,000 EQDs at $50,000 spend on purchases starting January 1, 2019. This benefit will then apply for all years moving forward until any additional changes are made to the benefits structure. If benefits are changed in the future, Cardmembers will be sent out a letter informing them of the change. All AAdvantage Aviator Red and Silver Mastercard holders were sent out this notification on October 22, 2018 and will typically arrive within 7 to 10 business days.
We hope you find this information helpful, and we thank you for your continued business. If you have any other questions or concerns, please reply to this message.
Sincerely,
Customer Care
Thank you for contacting us regarding your AAdvantage Aviator Silver World Elite Mastercard. We can certainly address your inquiry regarding the benefit change on your account.
Your AAdvantage Aviator Silver World Elite Mastercard will earn $3,000 EQDs at $50,000 spend on purchases starting January 1, 2019. This benefit will then apply for all years moving forward until any additional changes are made to the benefits structure. If benefits are changed in the future, Cardmembers will be sent out a letter informing them of the change. All AAdvantage Aviator Red and Silver Mastercard holders were sent out this notification on October 22, 2018 and will typically arrive within 7 to 10 business days.
We hope you find this information helpful, and we thank you for your continued business. If you have any other questions or concerns, please reply to this message.
Sincerely,
Customer Care
Barclaycard Aviator Red no EQD, Silver $3k EQD Only as of 2019
Jan 25, 2019, 6:44 am
#121
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Glendale, CA
Programs: AA, EXP, HH Diamond
Posts: 39
Maybe it is time for someone to reach out to the Office of the President. I have found them to be quite useful (and thorough) when investigating matters and they cover both the Personal and Business divisions.
[email protected]
Jan 27, 2019, 9:10 am
#122
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: ABQ & RNO
Programs: AA EXP 4MM, Piper Dakota, Admirals Club, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Gold, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 1,425
Through a Secure Message received on my Silver Aviator account I was told I could earn 3,000 EQDs on my Business Card and 3,000 EQDs on my Silver/Personal Card in 2019.
I applied for the Business card 5/18, I've had the Silver since shortly after it was first available.
I applied for the Business card 5/18, I've had the Silver since shortly after it was first available.
Jan 27, 2019, 10:16 am
#123
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,313
I've seen a few questions above about the (im)possibility of stacking EQD from the Aviator Silver and the Aviator Business cards - because this would exceed the $6000 EQD maximum earning limit of the former.
However - I haven't seen any conclusive answer to whether it's possible to earn a total of $6000 EQD by spending $25,000 on a (grandfathered) Aviator Red and an equal amount on the Aviator Business card. I missed out on upgrading to the Silver - but have both of these cards. Is there a definitive answer on what to expect?
Obviously, it would be great if I could earn EQD from both of them - though if that's not the case, I'll most certainly cancel one of them. [Since the Business version anyway seems to have best chance of earning EQD into the future, I imagine that's the one I'll keep].
However - I haven't seen any conclusive answer to whether it's possible to earn a total of $6000 EQD by spending $25,000 on a (grandfathered) Aviator Red and an equal amount on the Aviator Business card. I missed out on upgrading to the Silver - but have both of these cards. Is there a definitive answer on what to expect?
Obviously, it would be great if I could earn EQD from both of them - though if that's not the case, I'll most certainly cancel one of them. [Since the Business version anyway seems to have best chance of earning EQD into the future, I imagine that's the one I'll keep].
Last edited by beachfan; Jan 27, 2019 at 10:24 am
Jan 27, 2019, 3:09 pm
#124
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New York City + Vail, CO
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 3,226
$75,000 is a lot of money to spend for $6,000 EQDs and ~75,000 RDMs. If you put 75k on a 2% cash back card you’d have $1,500 you could use to rack up some EQDs on a TPAC special or partner fare.
Jan 27, 2019, 5:00 pm
#125
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Jan 27, 2019, 5:21 pm
#126
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,625
Jan 27, 2019, 5:31 pm
#127
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,698
Sure, but you can get this with a no-fee card from Barclays like the JetBlue or Ring cards. I am probably about to cancel my Aviator Silver card, but will keep my Arrival+ card since it has pretty good cashback-equivalent for spending categories that don't earn bonuses as well as the proper Chip+PIN implementation. Arrival+ has a $95 annual fee, though.
Jan 27, 2019, 10:31 pm
#128
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New York City + Vail, CO
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 3,226
Rather than using my Aviator Silver and applying for Business Silver, guven I’ve not had the Barclaycard for very long and they haven’t given me a high credit limit (compared to other cards I’ve held far longer and have high limits in) I’m just going to cancel mine. My Citi cards give me similar benefits, and I’ll not need the credit card EQD or EQM any longer. Adios, cruel squirrel cage.
Jan 28, 2019, 9:17 am
#129
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,313
If J was priced at something I could swallow, I'd pay the difference between J and Y out of pocket, but with the flights I take (LAX-MIA) usually pricing out close or above $2k (often for 321 2 class), it seems like poor value.
Last edited by beachfan; Jan 28, 2019 at 10:12 am
Jan 28, 2019, 11:52 am
#130
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,039
Regards
Jan 28, 2019, 1:10 pm
#131
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,313
but the idea that mileage runs make more sense than spending on credit cards seems misplaced for me.
Jan 28, 2019, 5:44 pm
#132
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,039
your point is completely different, it seems it’s to become a free agent, which I will likely be doing just because of the rapidly declining value of ExPlat and AAs densification plans.
but the idea that mileage runs make more sense than spending on credit cards seems misplaced for me.
but the idea that mileage runs make more sense than spending on credit cards seems misplaced for me.
Regards
Jan 29, 2019, 3:41 am
#133
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Somewhere...
Programs: AA PLT/3MM, UA GM/1MM, DL DM/1MM, FB Plat, AS MVP Gold, WN AList+
Posts: 1,588
Dropped my Barclay’s AA in December...good riddance...
Feb 9, 2019, 4:24 pm
#134
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: SFO/DFW
Programs: AA-EP, A3*G, UA*S
Posts: 290
I got the Aviator Red in mid-2018, so I should still be eligible for the 3k EQD for 25k spend. However, the usual progress tracker under rewards & benefits is not showing up -- just the $100 flight discount one. Is anyone else seeing this as well?
Feb 9, 2019, 5:23 pm
#135
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,313
My point really is the generally observation that people continue to do silly things, which are not necessarily in their economic best interest, due to the weird, emotional obsession with retaining FFP status even though the playing field has drastically changed. And in this particular case, I really wasn't even talking about "free agency" (though I'm a believer in that now too), but rather that $75,000 of credit card spend on AA cards, which grant AAdvantage miles as their reward currency, is absolutely horrible return for said spend. There are far, far better travel rewards for that spend than AA miles.
Regards
Regards
What would you get from $75k credit card spend that I find compelling? I'm the last one to advocate AAdvantage as a good program, but it works for me, albeit less and less each year.
Last edited by beachfan; Feb 9, 2019 at 6:44 pm