AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®

Quick Snapshot

• Annual Fee: $99
• APR: 20.24%–29.99% variable
• Rewards: 2x miles on American Airlines, 1x everywhere else
• Bonus: 50,000 AAdvantage bonus miles (no minimum spend)
• Best For: American Airlines frequent flyers
• Credit Needed: Good to Excellent (690+)
• Status: No longer accepting new applications (as of October 2025)

Overview

The AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard was designed for American Airlines flyers who want to earn miles quickly with minimal effort. The card stands out with its unique no-minimum-spend welcome bonus and valuable travel perks including free checked bags for you and up to 4 companions, preferred boarding, and inflight savings on American Airlines flights.

Important Note: As of October 2025, this card stopped accepting new customers as Citi is taking over Barclays' AAdvantage portfolio and plans to move existing cardholders to Citi products in 2026.

APR Breakdown

• Purchase APR: 20.24%–29.99% variable
• Balance Transfer APR: 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening, then 20.24%–29.99% variable
• Cash Advance APR: Not specified
• Penalty APR: None specified
• Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater

Note: Standard APR for an airline rewards card. Take advantage of the 0% intro period on balance transfers if needed.

Benefits Overview

Travel Benefits

• Free first checked bag for you and up to 4 companions on the same reservation (saves $30+ per bag, per flight)
• Preferred boarding as Group 5 for you and up to 4 companions on American Airlines flights
• Trip delay insurance (coverage for reasonable expenses if trip delayed 12+ hours or requires overnight stay)
• Baggage delay insurance (reimbursement if baggage delayed 6+ hours)
• Auto rental collision damage waiver (secondary coverage)
• Travel accident insurance
• No foreign transaction fees

Everyday Benefits

• Miles never expire (earn or redeem at least once every 24 months)
• Redeem for American Airlines and oneworld alliance partner flights
• Zero fraud liability protection
• 24/7 customer service

Lifestyle Benefits

• 25% discount on inflight food and beverage purchases (statement credit)
• Up to $25 annual statement credit for inflight Wi-Fi purchases on American Airlines

Rewards & Earning Structure

• 2x AAdvantage miles per dollar on American Airlines purchases
• 1x AAdvantage mile per dollar on all other purchases
• No caps or limits on miles earned
• Miles never expire as long as you earn or redeem at least once every 24 months
• Redemption options: American Airlines award flights, oneworld alliance partners, upgrades, seat selections, and more

Simple earning structure focused on American Airlines loyalty.

Welcome Bonus

Earn 50,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after making your first purchase and paying the $99 annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days of account opening.

This is one of the easiest airline card bonuses to earn since there's no minimum spending requirement beyond a single purchase. 50,000 miles are typically enough for a domestic round-trip flight or a one-way international flight on American Airlines.

Fees Summary

• Annual Fee: $99 (not waived first year)
• Foreign Transaction Fee: $0
• Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount transferred, whichever is greater
• Cash Advance Fee: Not specified
• Late Payment Fee: Standard fees apply
• Returned Payment Fee: Standard fees apply

Who This Card Is Best For

Ideal For

• Frequent American Airlines flyers who can maximize the checked bag benefit
• Families traveling together (free bags for up to 4 companions)
• Bonus hunters looking for an easy-to-earn airline bonus
• American Airlines loyalists building AAdvantage miles
• Those who value boarding priority and inflight perks

Not Good For

• Anyone seeking a new card (no longer accepting applications)
• Infrequent travelers who won't use the airline-specific perks
• Those wanting flexible travel rewards (miles locked to American Airlines)
• Balance carriers (high APR makes carrying balances expensive)
• Premium rewards seekers (basic 1x earning rate on non-airline purchases)

Key Pros & Cons

Pros

• No minimum spend requirement for 50,000-mile welcome bonus
• Free first checked bag for you and up to 4 companions (saves $120+ per round trip for families)
• Preferred boarding as Group 5 with up to 4 companions
• 25% discount on inflight food and beverage purchases
• $25 annual Wi-Fi credit on American Airlines flights
• 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers
• No foreign transaction fees
• Travel protections including trip delay and baggage delay insurance

Cons

• Card no longer accepting new applications (discontinued October 2025)
• Citi taking over AAdvantage portfolio in 2026
• Relatively low earning rate (2x on American Airlines, 1x everywhere else)
• $99 annual fee not waived first year
• Limited value if you don't fly American Airlines regularly
• High variable APR (20.24%–29.99%) if carrying a balance
• Welcome bonus lower than some competing airline cards

Alternatives to Consider

Card	Best For	Annual Fee	Rewards	Status
Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select	American Airlines flyers (new option)	$99 (waived first year)	2x on American Airlines, 2x on dining	Available now
Chase Sapphire Preferred	Flexible travel rewards	$95	2x–5x on travel/dining	Available
Capital One Venture	Simple travel rewards	$95	2x on everything	Available
United Quest Card	United Airlines flyers	$250	3x on United, 2x on travel/dining	Available

How the Rewards Add Up

Example Annual Value

Assuming you're a moderate American Airlines flyer spending $12,000 per year:

Category	Annual Spend	Reward Rate	Earned Value
American Airlines flights	$2,000	2x miles	4,000 miles ($48)
All other purchases	$10,000	1x miles	10,000 miles ($120)
Welcome bonus (first year)	—	—	50,000 miles ($600)
Free checked bags (4 round trips)	—	—	$240
25% inflight savings	$100 food	25% discount	$25
Wi-Fi credit	—	—	$25

First Year Value: $1,058
Ongoing Annual Value: $458

Minus $99 annual fee = $359 net annual value (after first year)

The free checked bags alone can offset the annual fee for families or frequent travelers.

Should You Get This Card?

You Should Get It If... (Historical Reference)

• You fly American Airlines regularly (at least 2–4 times per year)
• You travel with family/companions and value free checked bags
• You want an easy-to-earn 50,000-mile bonus with no spending requirement
• You appreciate preferred boarding and inflight perks
• You're building American Airlines miles for a specific redemption goal

You Should Skip It If... (Historical Reference)

• You rarely fly American Airlines specifically
• You prefer flexible travel rewards that transfer to multiple airlines
• You want higher everyday earning rates (1x is minimal)
• You're looking for a card without an annual fee
• You carry balances month-to-month (high APR is expensive)

Current Status: This card is no longer available for new applications. Existing cardholders can continue using their cards, but should watch for communication from Citi regarding the portfolio transition in 2026.

Apply Now

Note: This card is no longer accepting new applications as of October 2025. Citi is taking over Barclays' AAdvantage portfolio.

For current American Airlines credit card options, visit the American Airlines credit cards page.

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Information accurate as of December 2025. Card no longer accepting new applications. Terms and conditions applied when card was available.