We’ve known since late last year that Citi was set to become the sole issuer of American Airlines credit cards. As such, we have long expected that the Barclays Aviator Red card would eventually no longer be available for new applicants, though neither Barclays nor Citi have released detailed timelines for the changes. Doctor of Credit recently reported on a rumor that applications for the Aviator Red card would no longer be available after 9/30/25. DoC has now published some updated reasoning that indicates that the 9/30 end date is likely to be true.
Get your collectible while you can
| Card Offer and Details |
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 ⓘ $601 1st Yr Value EstimateClick to learn about first year value estimates 50K Miles Non-AffiliateThis is NOT an affiliate offer. We always present the best offer even when it means less revenue for Frequent Miler 50K miles after 1st purchase and paying the annual fee within 90 days.$99 Annual Fee Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. Recent better offer: Up to 75K: 60K miles after first purchase and 15K after adding an authorized user and making one purchase on that card [Expired 2/24/24] Earning rate: 2X AA ✦ 1X everywhere else Card Info: Mastercard World Elite issued by Barclays. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Big spend bonus: Earn $99 + tax domestic companion certificate with $20K membership year spend. Noteworthy perks: First checked bag free ✦ Preferred boarding for the primary cardmember and up to 4 companions traveling on the same reservation ✦ 25% off in-flight purchases ✦ $25 wifi credit per membership year ✦ Flight cents: round up purchases to earn more miles |
Greg and I recorded a podcast episode last year where we discussed credit card “collectibles” — cards to get while still possible with the expectation that they would eventually disappear for new applicants.
A variation of the Barclays Aviator card was discussed on that show (the Aviator Silver card, which has only been available via upgrade from the Aviator Red (and probably won’t be available as an upgrade for much longer if it even still is).
The writing has long been on the wall for the Aviator Red card, which is still open for new applicants at the time of writing. With Citi set to become the sole issuer of American Airlines credit cards and with Citi set to pick up the back book from Barclays, those who have Barclays Aviator cards are expected to be converted to Citi American Airlines cards at some point in the not-so-distant future (likely early 2026).
In the meantime, we didn’t know exactly when the Aviator Red card would stop taking applications, but we now have some rumors that seem relatively likely.
At first, Doctor of Credit reported on a reddit post that claimed to have information from internal communications sent to American Airlines flight attendants which indicated that the current 50K offer would be the final new card bonus offered and that the card would no longer be offered to new applicants as of 9/30/25.
For a while, it was possible to apply over the phone and get an elevated 70K new cardmember offer. However, Doctor of Credit is now reporting that it is no longer possible to get that elevated 70K offer over the phone.
It therefore seems pretty likely that the Barclays Aviator Red card will indeed stop taking new account applications on 9/30/25.
The current welcome offer is 50K miles after first purchase within the first 90 days (you can find a link to apply on our card page). The annual fee is waived for the first year (then $99). That isn’t the best offer we’ve ever seen on this card, but if rumors are true, it will be the final offer for this card.
If you’re flying American Airlines any time soon, you may be able to do a smidge better with an in-flight offer that includes an additional 500 miles when you use an employee’s code to apply.
Is it worth applying for this card with a welcome bonus of only 50,000 miles?
At first glance, the bonus here isn’t huge. And one could open a Citi Premier or Citi Strata Elite card and transfer the welcome bonus points to American Airlines to end up with more than 50,000 miles.
On the other hand, given that the welcome bonus here is after the first purchase and with no annual fee in the first year, it is an incredibly simple offer to earn. Buying a pack of gum could give you a nice influx of miles.
Further, it could be interesting if you are excited about the prospect of ending up with what will at some point become a Citi American Airlines card. It has been speculated that this could perhaps be a way back in for folks who were previously shut down by Citi, but time will tell on that front (and whether that proves true probably depends somewhat on the reason for shut down).
Still, in the short term, I could see this card holding some appeal for those chasing American Airlines miles. Personally, I’m going to hang on to my Barclays Aviator card to see what happens next.
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Will it make sense to apply for both Barclays and Citi AA cards simultaneously so that you get signup bonus for both? Otherwise if one changes to other, we may lose a signup bonus
What’s the earliest we expect the changeover to be? Want to get in my spend for the LPs on the silver card
Any idea if Barclays may relax their approval process for a last hurrah?
I’m at 8/24, and Barclays hasn’t approved me for any cards ever since I closed my JetBlue business card a few years back…
My previous application date was on 10/12/23. Will I be eligible for this offer ? based on the T&Cs in the offer – “This offer is valid for approved applicants. Any bonus associated with this offer may only be earned once. You may not be eligible for this offer if you currently have or previously had an account with us in this program. “
Previous card holders are not eligible ?
Thinking about applying for this and a business card by Barclays. Anyone know if it would count as a single inquiry? I’ve seen mixed DPs
Is the business AA card still available? I thought that was already closed for new applicants.
Sorry no. I was referring to the JB business card.
If we open one of the Citi cards now and transfer the our points to the new AA Citi card, will there be fees for the transfer?
Not likely to be point transfer fees even if there were going to be a ‘new’ Citi AA card, but all the chatter and speculation is that the Aviator Red will just transfer to a Citi Platinum Select.
This might be a dumb question, but would it be possible to product change into this card from the Barclays-issued Hawaiian card?
Barclays doesn’t do product changes
As Tim said, I don’t think Barclays typically allows for product changes — and even if they did, most issuers don’t allow a product change from one co-branded card to a different co-branded card (the only issuer I’m aware of that has allowed that is Citi). So the short answer is no.
Got it. I appreciate the explanation.
Hey Nick/Tim,
I’m a little confused by your responses here. The Frequent Miler team have very openly discussed product changing from Aviator Red to Aviator Silver.
I also have a conflicting data point. I product changed my Aviator Red to an Aviator White (No AF) three months ago. Having said that, I don’t see a world in which they allow a PC from AA to Hawaiian.
both P2 and I were able to product change our Barclay Aviator Red to the no fee AAdvantage Aviator (No color) World Elite Mastercard. I assume this card will convert to the Citi AA AAdvantage Mile Up Card (green color, no fee)?
am now at 4/24, worth using up my last slot for this card?
I drop to 4/24 in like 5 days. I think the move is to pick this up along with something else on the same day. So, burn your 5/24 slot, then apply for this. Barclays I think has a 6/24 soft rule, so that will work out.
I wonder if it would be a good idea to cancel the Barclays Aviator Red now if you already have it so that you can get an equivalent Citi offer when they switch over.
that’s my thought!
Aviator Silver upgrade offer was in P2’s account this morning. I’m curious what the Silver card will upgrade to at Citi with no real equivalent on citi’s side
Any idea what Barclays will do for its existing Aviator Red customers?
I’m not sure what you mean? They’re selling the accounts to Citi. Your card is going to become a Citi card. I’m not sure there is anything Barclays is doing for you…?
What Citi AA card would you be transitioned over to? Would it be different for Red / Silver?
Nobody knows for sure, but I expect that the Aviator Red will convert to something like the ~$95 Citi AA card. Citi doesn’t have a $200 per year card, so the Aviator Silver will likely be a card that doesn’t yet exist at Citi. That’s been part of the appeal of getting the Aviator Silver — out of curiosity for what happens to it under Citi. I certainly don’t expect it to become a Citi Executive card or anything, it is just the novelty of having a Citi AA card that doesn’t otherwise exist for new applicants.
P2 opened the Red just to upgrade to the Silver (and for the 70k points), guess that won’t happen now. Silver lining (ha) might be that this is a back door into Citi where we can product change over time as don’t think they would take us at 5/24 otherwise?
It reasonable to think that Barclays would want to keep their credit customers by offering them another credit card in the Barclays portfolio.
I see what you mean, but they sold the backbook to Citi, so that’s not happening here. Citi is getting the Aviator accounts.
The question is if once it coverts to a citi AA if that will affect getting the bonus via citi since they have the 48 month rule ?
Wonder that very question myself.
I had the same question on this.
Probably, I’d just cancel it before it becomes a citi card.
Hard to know, but that may be a reason to proactively cancel.