One of my favorite cards, the Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Mastercard, currently has a higher welcome bonus. The current bonus is up to 75,000 American Airlines miles for very little effort!
75k Bonus
- Get 60,000 bonus AA miles after making your first purchase and paying the $99 annual fee within the first 9o days.
- Get an additional 15,000 bonus AA miles after adding an authorized user who makes a purchase within the first 90 days.
There is no big spending limit to hit with this offer–you can even charge a pack of gum or something small from a convenience store.
The link to this offer is not in our affiliate network. I couldn’t get the link to open in Safari, but it opens in Chrome for me just fine.
The terms and conditions state: “You may not be eligible for this offer if you currently have or previously had an account with us in this Program.” However, anecdotally, hobbyists have successfully been approved for this card even if they’ve had it in the past. Barclays has a 6/24 rule and may not approve you for this card if you’ve opened 6 or more cards from any bank in the past 24 months. See bank application rules here.
Card Perks
- Free checked bag for you and up to 4 traveling companions
- Priority boarding
- $25 in statement credits for on-board WIFI
- 25% savings on inflight food and beverages
- 0% APR for 15 months on balance transfers
- Earn 2X miles on AA, 1X miles on all other purchases
Final Thoughts
My husband and I each applied for and were approved for this card earlier this year when the bonus was slightly lower. It’s an easy way to get American Airlines miles quickly. Keep in mind that when you add an authorized user, it affects that person’s 5/24 status.
Author: Nancy
Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.
Did you or your husband have the Aviator Red cc prior to this year’s approval?
@JJQQ Yes, we both have had the card in the past (but it’s been a few years).