Barclay US Airways Card Becoming AAdvantage Mastercard
Apr 7, 2014, 5:50 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 580
Barclay US Airways Card Becoming AAdvantage Mastercard
I just received an e-mail from Barclay stating that the Barclay US Airways Mastercard will become an AAdvantage Mastercard, issued by Barclaycard, after the merger is completed for the frequent flyer programs.
Is Citibank going to continue to issue AAdvantage credit cards? Will this mean that there will soon be two AAdvantage credit cards competing (which is probably good for the consumer)?
I find this very interesting, but it should end the speculation that Barclay will switch people to the Arrival Mastercard.
Is Citibank going to continue to issue AAdvantage credit cards? Will this mean that there will soon be two AAdvantage credit cards competing (which is probably good for the consumer)?
I find this very interesting, but it should end the speculation that Barclay will switch people to the Arrival Mastercard.
Apr 7, 2014, 6:12 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 183
Interesting, since aa didn't even merge ff program with us yet
Apr 7, 2014, 7:27 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Arizona
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Southwest CP, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 93
Got that too. Also says you get a free bag for up to 4 people. Nice benefit but I'll be canceling before they switch my card over.
Apr 7, 2014, 7:50 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 125
Interesting... Would you mind sharing the E-mail?
I was just hit with my annual fee and it was only $22 (rather than $89). I'm wondering if this has anything to do with timing of the changeover...
I'm also wondering if I should try to make the $25K spending goal in order to get 10K EQMs. If they change the rules once I get to $24,999 that would really stink.
I was just hit with my annual fee and it was only $22 (rather than $89). I'm wondering if this has anything to do with timing of the changeover...
I'm also wondering if I should try to make the $25K spending goal in order to get 10K EQMs. If they change the rules once I get to $24,999 that would really stink.
Apr 7, 2014, 9:02 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: CAE,AGS
Programs: AAExP, Hyatt Globalist, HHonors Gold, IHG Spire, Marriott Plat
Posts: 3,124
I received the same email... and upon doing a little bit of research, discovered (and wrote about it):
I am keeping my card... and maybe applying for another 
Barclaycard’s contract with US Airways had been negotiated through 2017 but a date for the branding change had not been set. With the new contracts, Citi remains the combined airline's exclusive issuer of loyalty cards, and Barclaycard has been allowed to maintain its existing accounts using American's AAdvantage program branding. However, it will not be until after the full integration of the Frequent Flyer programs at some point in 2015 that Citi will become the sole issuer.
Apr 7, 2014, 11:45 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2012
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP, AS MVP Gold 75K, SPG Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 158
I wonder if the 10,000 dividend miles I get each year for having the card will carry over.
Apr 8, 2014, 8:31 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: RDU
Posts: 812
Unless I'm missing something, this isn't news...
Apr 8, 2014, 11:10 am
#8
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AA Gold, FB Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 3,294
Interesting... Would you mind sharing the E-mail?
I was just hit with my annual fee and it was only $22 (rather than $89). I'm wondering if this has anything to do with timing of the changeover...
I'm also wondering if I should try to make the $25K spending goal in order to get 10K EQMs. If they change the rules once I get to $24,999 that would really stink.
I was just hit with my annual fee and it was only $22 (rather than $89). I'm wondering if this has anything to do with timing of the changeover...
I'm also wondering if I should try to make the $25K spending goal in order to get 10K EQMs. If they change the rules once I get to $24,999 that would really stink.
Oh, wait a minute ...
Seriously, I have been funneling money through that card like a crazy person precisely because I have long suspected that US/AA planned to bring the hammer down once the merger was in effect and there was nowhere left for us rats to flee to .... Some days I thought I was being paranoid. Today I don't think I have been doing this fast enough.
Apr 8, 2014, 8:57 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 125
Well the good news is that the first checked bag is now free with the card.
But I suspect you're right: some other benefit has got to go in exchange. Maybe it'll be the EQMs. Maybe something else...
But I suspect you're right: some other benefit has got to go in exchange. Maybe it'll be the EQMs. Maybe something else...
Apr 8, 2014, 9:50 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: Hyatt Passport Platinum, IHG Platinum and Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 57
My 10,000 annual dividend miles posted on 04/06/14. I received the e-mail regarding the free checked bag benefit today on 04/09. I am hoping that the 10,000 annual miles benefit remains when the card is re-branded into a Aadvantage card.
Apr 9, 2014, 5:52 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: BNE/OOL temporarily-permanently at CAK/PIT
Programs: UA*1K & UA Club, National Ex. Elite, Hertz Pres. Circ., Amex Plat., CLEAR
Posts: 1,703
In essence, there are going to be two AAdvantage credit cards for a while.
My advice would be to keep your Barclays MC, apply for the new AAdvantage one, and apply for the Citi one too. It remains to be seen if you can double up on signup bonuses for both Barclay and Citi.
My advice would be to keep your Barclays MC, apply for the new AAdvantage one, and apply for the Citi one too. It remains to be seen if you can double up on signup bonuses for both Barclay and Citi.
Apr 9, 2014, 7:50 am
#12
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
I don't believe Barclay's will be able to issue new AAdvantage cards, only to convert existing US cards to AA branding. My belief is based on this statement by Citibank:
http://www.citigroup.com/citi/invest...a/p140212a.pdf
Citi has exclusive rights to acquire new customers upon integration of American and USAirways loyalty programs expected in 2015
Apr 9, 2014, 12:46 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: PIT
Programs: AA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 35
Citi is still the exclusive "issuier". Barclays isn't technically "issuing" any new customers with cards, they're just rebranding the existing DM cards with AA ones. Although I'm curious about a couple things.
a) when is this actually taking place?
b) Will the Barclays benefits for DM will now apply to AA (once they are rebranded)? For example the 10K PQM after spending $25K, or the $99 companion certs, or the day pass for the club.
a) when is this actually taking place?
b) Will the Barclays benefits for DM will now apply to AA (once they are rebranded)? For example the 10K PQM after spending $25K, or the $99 companion certs, or the day pass for the club.
Apr 10, 2014, 6:49 pm
#14
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 125
Given all the speculation on this site in general, I'm surprised there aren't any "theories" or rumors floating out there.
Here's my speculation: The new perk of first bag free has to come at a cost of some other benefit(s). The $99 companion cert is going away...
What say you internet?
Here's my speculation: The new perk of first bag free has to come at a cost of some other benefit(s). The $99 companion cert is going away...
What say you internet?
Apr 10, 2014, 7:05 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,584
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
What benefits are being offered on the card's current application page?
Originally Posted by phisher4
Given all the speculation on this site in general, I'm surprised there aren't any "theories" or rumors floating out there.
Here's my speculation: The new perk of first bag free has to come at a cost of some other benefit(s). The $99 companion cert is going away...
What say you internet?
Here's my speculation: The new perk of first bag free has to come at a cost of some other benefit(s). The $99 companion cert is going away...
What say you internet?