What the American Airlines Aviator Card offers

The American Airlines Aviator Card is a co-branded rewards card issued by Barclays that earns miles on American Airlines purchases and everyday spending. You earn 2 miles per dollar on American Airlines tickets and American Airlines purchases, 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases, and a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles after you spend $2,500 in the first three months. The card has an annual fee of $99.

The card comes with a checked bag waiver for you and one companion on the same reservation, priority boarding, and a $100 statement credit toward American Airlines purchases every year after your first year. These benefits are designed to offset some of the annual fee if you fly American Airlines regularly.

Key Takeaways

  • You earn 2 miles per dollar on American Airlines tickets and 1 mile per dollar on everything else, with a 50,000-mile sign-up bonus after spending $2,500 in three months.
  • The $99 annual fee is charged each year, but you receive a $100 statement credit toward American Airlines purchases starting in year two.
  • The card waives your first checked bag and one companion's first checked bag on American Airlines flights, which saves money if you check luggage regularly.
  • You get priority boarding on American Airlines flights, which lets you board before most other passengers and choose overhead bin space earlier.
  • Miles earned on this card can be used for American Airlines flights, upgrades, or transferred to American Airlines partner airlines through their frequent flyer program.

How to open an Aviator Card account

Start by visiting Barclays' website or American Airlines' website and finding the Aviator Card process. You will need your Social Security number, current income, and employment status. The process takes about 10 minutes to complete online.

Barclays will pull your credit report and make a decision within minutes in most cases. You will see the result on screen or receive an email within 24 hours. If you are approved, your card will arrive in 7 to 10 business days. If you are denied, the email will explain why and tell you how to contact Barclays if you want to dispute the decision.

Once your card arrives, you must set up it before using it. Call the number on the back of the card or log into your Barclays online account and follow the set up steps. set up is when ready and takes less than a minute.

Earning and redeeming miles

Every purchase you make on the Aviator Card earns miles at the rates listed above. Miles post to your account within one to three business days. You can check your balance by logging into your Barclays account online or by calling the customer service number on the back of your card.

To redeem miles, log into your American Airlines frequent flyer account (AAdvantage) and search for award flights. You can book any American Airlines flight or flights on partner airlines using miles. You can also use miles to upgrade a paid ticket to first or business class. Some redemptions require fewer miles than others — a short domestic flight might cost 7,500 miles, while a long international flight could cost 50,000 or more.

Miles do not expire as long as your AAdvantage account remains active, which means you have account activity at least once every 24 months. Using your Aviator Card counts as account activity, so regular cardholders rarely lose miles to inactivity.

Annual fee and statement credits

The Aviator Card charges a $99 annual fee on the anniversary of your account opening. This fee is charged automatically to your card each year you keep the account open.

Starting in your second year, you receive a $100 statement credit toward American Airlines purchases. This credit posts automatically each year on or around your account anniversary. The credit covers American Airlines tickets, seat upgrades, baggage fees, and other purchases made directly with American Airlines — it does not cover purchases made through third-party travel sites.

The $100 credit effectively reduces your net annual cost to negative $1 if you use it, meaning the card pays you to keep it open. However, you must use the credit within 12 months or it expires. If you do not fly American Airlines or purchase from them regularly, the annual fee may not be worth the cost.

Checked baggage waiver and priority boarding

The Aviator Card waives the first checked bag fee for you and one companion traveling on the same reservation on American Airlines flights. A checked bag normally costs $35 to $40 on domestic flights, so this benefit alone saves $70 to $80 per round trip if you travel with a companion who also checks a bag.

The waiver applies only to the first checked bag per person. Additional bags still cost the standard fee. The waiver does not explore to flights operated by American Airlines partners or to tickets purchased through third-party sites — you must book directly with American Airlines or through an American Airlines ticket counter.

You also receive priority boarding, which means you board before most other passengers. This lets you choose your seat and overhead bin space before the cabin fills up. Priority boarding applies to all American Airlines flights you take, whether you paid with the Aviator Card or not — it is tied to your frequent flyer status as a cardholder.

Comparing the Aviator Card to other airline cards

The Aviator Card earns at a standard rate of 1 to 2 miles per dollar, which is typical for airline cards. Some competitors offer higher earning rates on specific categories or higher sign-up bonuses, while others charge no annual fee. The choice depends on how often you fly American Airlines and whether the $100 annual credit and baggage waiver offset the $99 fee for your travel patterns.

If you fly American Airlines at least twice a year and check a bag, the baggage waiver alone saves $70 to $80 per year, which covers most or all of the annual fee. If you fly other airlines more often, a general rewards card or a card from a different airline may earn more value. Compare the sign-up bonus, annual fee, and earning rates against your actual spending and travel plans before opening any airline card.

Managing your account and paying your bill

Log into your Barclays online account to view your balance, make payments, and manage your card settings. You can set up automatic payments to pay your full balance each month, a fixed amount, or the minimum payment. Paying your full balance each month avoids interest charges and helps build your credit score.

Your statement closes on a date set by Barclays (usually between the 1st and 31st of each month) and your payment is due about 21 days later. You can pay online, by phone, or by mail. Online and phone payments post within one business day. Mail payments take 5 to 7 business days to arrive and post.

If you miss a payment, Barclays will charge a late fee and report the missed payment to credit bureaus, which will lower your credit score. If you are unable to pay, contact Barclays customer service when ready — they may be able to work out a payment plan or temporarily lower your interest rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my Aviator Card miles on airlines other than American Airlines?

Yes. American Airlines is part of the oneworld alliance, which includes airlines like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and others. You can transfer your miles to partner airlines or book partner airline flights through your AAdvantage account. Partner redemptions sometimes cost more miles than American Airlines flights for the same route.

What happens to my miles if I close my card?

Your miles stay in your AAdvantage account as long as the account remains active. Closing the card does not close your frequent flyer account. However, if your AAdvantage account has no activity for 24 months, American Airlines may close it and your miles will be lost. Using the card counts as activity, so closing it means you need to earn miles another way to keep the account active.

Is there a way to avoid paying the annual fee?

No. The $99 annual fee is charged every year you keep the account open. You cannot downgrade to a no-fee version of this card. If the fee is not worth the benefits for your travel patterns, you can close the account, but closing it will affect your credit score slightly and you will lose access to the card's benefits.

How long does it take to earn enough miles for a free flight?

It depends on how much you spend and how you redemble. The 50,000-mile sign-up bonus can cover a domestic round trip on American Airlines (which typically costs 25,000 to 50,000 miles each way). If you spend $2,500 per month on the card, you earn about 2,500 to 5,000 miles per month depending on the category, which takes 5 to 20 months to earn another free flight.

Can I use my Aviator Card outside the United States?

Yes. The card works at any merchant that accepts Visa, including international merchants. Barclays charges a 3% foreign transaction fee on purchases made outside the United States. If you travel internationally often, a card with no foreign transaction fee may save money.