If you have an American Airlines card issued by Barclays, it won’t be a Barclays card for much longer, as AA cards will transition to Citi instead. So what does that mean for you? We’ll answer some common questions about this transition in today’s podcast episode.
Barclays AA cards: planning the transition to Citi
Watch here:
Or listen here (or click “Follow” on the player below to select your preferred podcast app instead):
Read more about the Barclays to Citi transition here.
(00:51) – April 24, 2026, the bank that issues your AAdvantage® credit card is changing from Barclays Bank Delaware to Citibank, N.A. (Citi)
(02:03) – $99 cards
(02:33) – Silver to Globe
See our episode about the Globe card here.
(03:12) – Barclays vs Citi Companion Certs
(11:33) – Should we cancel our Barclays cards before the changeover?
(16:26) – Disadvantages to cancelling BEFORE
(22:55) – Should we apply for Citi AA cards before the changeover?
(24:13) – What are Nick and Greg going to do?
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Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn Heads
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I want to maybe follow the rec of Frequent Miler and let my AA Aviator Red go to Citi Platinum Select and then product change it. To be clear, is it allowed to change fairly soon? Like, within the month as I don’t want to pay the AF? Also, I know Citi is 2/65 but what are chances of getting the Citi AA Platinum select 90 days after last Citi card…Biz card in Nov, Dec was Citi Strata Elite. I want to make sure I get that SUB I think before the switch, my credit extended with Citi will be at the edge after that….Maybe I just cancel the transferred Platinum eventually to get the credit back…Send help.
I got an email saying my Aviator Silver is becoming a Barclays Arrival .. i know i am not the only one
Why apply for new citi cards now vs after the change? Is there concern the welcome offers will decrease because there is less competition?
As a follow up, I think I may be able to PC from my current Platinum Select to a Mile Up card, then reapply for the Platinum Select to get the 80K SUB. Does this sound correct?
I have had a Citi AA Platinum Select for well over 4 years, I also have a Barclay Aviator Red less than 4 years. Don’t really need both, but would keep the converted Barclay if there was a good SUB offered. Don’t know if this will happen.
Me, listening to Fridays podcast: yes, cancel cards!
Me, both a Barclays and Citi AA card holder: cancels my Barclays card earlier this week at the anniversary, huzzah!
Me, listens to this Coffee Talk: well, dammit, should I have left it open (or still yet, reopen in the grace window) to PC in April
I have an Aviator Silver. I’m military, so I got a no fee, 0% APR card years ago. I rarely, if ever, carry a balance, but when big expenses come up, it was convenient to have that 0% card.
Pretty sure I’m losing that perk.
My biggest question… I have the Aadvantage Aviator Business card. One of the reasons I have this card over the Citi card is that my business is small – just me! The Citi card requires you to join AAdvantage Business which then requires you to have 5 employees before you can redeem your miles. Will we be forced into that situation? If so, that would render this card useless for me…
I wish I could product change now from Red to Silver before it goes to Citi.
Thanks for the podcast. It was well needed. One query, though. You seem to talk about making product changes (e.g., to Custom Cash and Double Cash) as a foregone conclusion (option)–if not right away, maybe in a year. Based on some of the reading I have been doing on the issue (including on one of your sites), I have some real concern that the CC and DC may not be made available for PC at all. One conversation seemed to suggest that only Strata Elite and the AT&T card may be the only non-AA cards available. What are your thoughts on this point? My view (err, hope) is that Citi may be flooded with a ton of Barclays Red card holders who get the Platinum card as an unwanted second card and there may be a bit of pressure on Citi to loosen up on available PC cards. Am I hoping too much?
I’ve experienced exactly what you’ve described. It might be that Citi has an agreement with AA not to “sell away” the AAdvantage cards. Except for the Elite or ATT. Just guessing.
Way too many “we don’t know yet”. Maybe you should have waited until you had more specific information.
can we just be able to read this info, the videos are…..to put it nicely, not so great to watch, I just cannot do it, sorry………..longtime reader here (since the ONE CARD TO RULE THEM ALL ERA) but other than Tim’s post, losing interest in FM lately, Nick’s post are like reading War and Peace (classic example of, more is less)….just my 2 cents
I like the videos, but maybe it would be good to be able to just read it sometimes?
Don’t want to watch it (or use the non-video, podcast version), won’t read it if there’s too many words… Seems like you may be one of those “will never be happy with anything” types.
Listen to the audio-only recording instead and set it to 1.5x speed. Or, since it’s Coffee Break, 2x speed