Jul 20, 2015, 8:00 am
Last edit by: SanDiego1K
See also, this thread in the US Airways forum:
New AAdvantage Aviator Silver and Red Cards from BarclayCard (US targeted)
Differences between Red and Silver card
Any Aviator cardholders always had the option to upgrade to Silver. You just had to call Barclaycard and pay the $195 annual fee. Beyond that, there's nothing "exclusive" about it.
In short, it depends on if the extra $100/year annual fee the silver card has over the red is justified by the following benefits the silver card has over the red:
5000 EQM after $20k annual spend
Companion certificate after $30k annual spend
Another 5000 EQM after $40k annual spend
3 miles per dollar charged on AA purchases
Global entry reimbursement
Above copied from patmcpsu's post.
New AAdvantage Aviator Silver and Red Cards from BarclayCard (US targeted)
Differences between Red and Silver card
Any Aviator cardholders always had the option to upgrade to Silver. You just had to call Barclaycard and pay the $195 annual fee. Beyond that, there's nothing "exclusive" about it.
In short, it depends on if the extra $100/year annual fee the silver card has over the red is justified by the following benefits the silver card has over the red:
5000 EQM after $20k annual spend
Companion certificate after $30k annual spend
Another 5000 EQM after $40k annual spend
3 miles per dollar charged on AA purchases
Global entry reimbursement
Above copied from patmcpsu's post.
Any success upgrading Barclays AA Aviator Red MC to AA Aviator Silver World Elite MC?
Jul 19, 2015, 3:17 pm
#166
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 126
I did primarily for that reason. I figured when the anniversary comes up I'll either cancel our downgrade.
Jul 20, 2015, 9:13 am
#167
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,089
Posts comparing benefits between the Red & Silver cards belong is this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/us-ai...rgeted-15.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/us-ai...rgeted-15.html
Jul 20, 2015, 12:01 pm
#168
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: PHX, ORD, MDW
Programs: WN A-List, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, National Executive Elite
Posts: 292
I'm also contemplating the upgrade primarily for the Global Entry benefit. When I click the upgrade link, I'm told that the annual fee would post next March, which is my account anniversary. Would I be able to upgrade now, take advantage of the GE benefit, and then downgrade in March to avoid the higher AF?
Jul 20, 2015, 12:41 pm
#169
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,531
I'm also contemplating the upgrade primarily for the Global Entry benefit. When I click the upgrade link, I'm told that the annual fee would post next March, which is my account anniversary. Would I be able to upgrade now, take advantage of the GE benefit, and then downgrade in March to avoid the higher AF?
Jul 20, 2015, 4:42 pm
#171
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Florida USA
Programs: Lufthansa
Posts: 73
....had a webmail a few days ago saying that they were sorry and would have a supervisor/manager contact me in 24-48 hours.
A manger called me over the weekend from their Nevada, US call center.
There was a long conversation over service issues and people writing and communicating something on Barclay's part......and then saying something else, voiding out what the original person stated.......general confusion and mismanagement of this "upgrade". The guy was very polite and seemed to be a long time employee.
He stated that this upgrade turned out to be a mess because American Airlines tried to change the parameters of the offer, after Barclay's went ahead and made the offer. He continued that negotiations were ongoing and in the process of being straightened out.
I told him that I did not understand what he was referring to. He said it all had to do with the "EQM offer" and problems concerning this with American Airlines.
He said it would indeed take up to 2 months to get everything squared away with American.
.....call was terminated.
A manger called me over the weekend from their Nevada, US call center.
There was a long conversation over service issues and people writing and communicating something on Barclay's part......and then saying something else, voiding out what the original person stated.......general confusion and mismanagement of this "upgrade". The guy was very polite and seemed to be a long time employee.
He stated that this upgrade turned out to be a mess because American Airlines tried to change the parameters of the offer, after Barclay's went ahead and made the offer. He continued that negotiations were ongoing and in the process of being straightened out.
I told him that I did not understand what he was referring to. He said it all had to do with the "EQM offer" and problems concerning this with American Airlines.
He said it would indeed take up to 2 months to get everything squared away with American.
.....call was terminated.
Jul 21, 2015, 9:25 am
#172
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: Aadvantage
Posts: 74
Jul 21, 2015, 12:23 pm
#173
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,531
(But I'm not sure I believe that. I suspect they're happy if you want to happy $645 in annual fees and spend $80,000 on their cards every year.)
Jul 21, 2015, 12:37 pm
#174
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: Aadvantage
Posts: 74
Jul 21, 2015, 12:54 pm
#175
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 315
Datapoint:
US Air card was opened in December 2014. Total spending was less than $100.
Called Barclay yesterday to request an upgrade to Silver. Rep said my acct. was eligible, so I accepted the new terms she read to me and let her go head to process the upgrade.
She told me new card would arrive in two weeks. All spending before the next billing cycle would not count towards the spending threshold on the new card.
I'm going for the potential EQM earning from Silver (5k EQM after 20k spending, up to 10k EQM). This is in addition to another 10k EQM from Citi AA Exec.
US Air card was opened in December 2014. Total spending was less than $100.
Called Barclay yesterday to request an upgrade to Silver. Rep said my acct. was eligible, so I accepted the new terms she read to me and let her go head to process the upgrade.
She told me new card would arrive in two weeks. All spending before the next billing cycle would not count towards the spending threshold on the new card.
I'm going for the potential EQM earning from Silver (5k EQM after 20k spending, up to 10k EQM). This is in addition to another 10k EQM from Citi AA Exec.
Jul 30, 2015, 9:18 am
#178
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,319
My situation is similar... 10k bonus, Red cards received (twice - April then June), card opened 7/2013. No upgrade offer. Very frustrating. If it weren't for the potential to get another 10k EQM (on top of what I get from my Citi Exec) for less than $200/yr I'd be long gone.
Anyone who had the 10k bonus get an opportunity to upgrade in 2015 (I know some did last year).
Jul 30, 2015, 1:55 pm
#179
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: UA MileagePlus cattle, DL SkyPesos peon, HHonors Blue
Posts: 431
IIRC from previous threads/posts, those with the 10k card can upgrade to a Silver and continue to get the 10K. The issue SEEMS to be changing your card AWAY from an Aviator, which would in effect "break" the benefits. Apologies if that's mistaken obviously.