Questions and Answers

Hi Lucky,

Recently introduced to your website by way of your father who recently met my mother ha! Avid traveler myself which is why she forwarded along your information.

Wondering if you have any current feedback on the best deals for American Airlines cards? Looking at the Barclay’s Red Aviator card. Positives/Negatives?

Regards,
Brandon

Welcome [USER=4391]@Brandon Livrago[/USER] –

The AAviator card gives you 50K miles after your first purchase, 2x miles on AA purchases and 1x everywhere else. There’s a $95 annual fee that I don’t believe is waived the first year.

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is a comparable product. It offers 60K points after spending $3000 in the first 3 months after approval. It also offers 2x miles on AA purchases but also on spending at restaurants and gas stations. Annual fee is $99 waived after the first year.

Both cards offer a free checked bag for you and others on the same reservation (4 people for the AAviator card, 8 people for the Citi card). Both offer 10% back on redeemed miles up to 10K back per year, preferred boarding and a 25% discount on in-flight food and beverage purchases on AA flights. Neither has foreign transaction fees.

Citi also offers the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® which may be helpful if you are trying to gain elite status and want an Admiral’s Club membership. It carries a $450 annual fee that is not waived the first year. The current offer is 50K miles after spending $5000 in the first three months after approval.

So it may depend on what your travel plans and spending habits are to recommend which card works best for you.

Hi [USER=4391]@Brandon Livrago[/USER], and welcome! Lea’s advice is perfect, but I think I would back up a bit and ask why it is you think you want an American Airlines-specific card, versus some of the other options?