Up to 70K miles with Aviator Red referral offer

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The Barclays Aviator Red card is once again offering an increased welcome bonus via referral offer. While not quite as good as the 75K offer we saw previously, this offer adds a total of 20K miles over the immediately previous offer (plus 10K miles for the person who refers you). Only some cardholders are targeted to refer to this new offer.

The Offer & Key Card Details

Click the card name below to go to our dedicated Frequent Miler card page for more information and a link to apply.

Card Offer and Details
70K miles after 1st purchase and paying the annual fee within 90 days
$99 Annual Fee
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
Base: 1X (1.3%)
Brand: 2X (2.6%)
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

Quick Thoughts

We previously saw a similar offer a few months ago. At that time, my wife and I were both newly-minted cardholders ourselves and neither of us had the ability to generate a referral link to the increased offer.

This time around, both of us were targeted with referral links for the increased offer. We opened our Aviator Red cards a few days short of six months ago and both upgraded to Aviator Silver cards within the past month or so.

As noted at the top, the offer that expired in early February was good for an additional 5K miles offer this new offer. That said, if you have a nearish term need for American Airlines miles, this offer can be a good way to juice your balance. If you add an authorized user and make a single purchase on that authorized user card, it should trigger both bonuses — giving you 70,000 total miles with a single purchase and payment of the annual fee. That’s a great bonus.

H/T: Doctor of Credit

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17 Comments
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Matt

Any data points on the turnaround time for the referral bonus to post i.e. time between referral getting approved and then the 10k miles in the referee’s AAdvantage account?

Matt

Thanks Nick. I asked the original question because my Aadvantage Aviator (AA) Red annual renewal fee is coming very soon and I’m more likely to cancel it since it didn’t get an offer to upgrade to the Silver. Also, I was on the fence about using my AA Red referral for my player 2. I got a companion cert thru the AA Red spend last year and that’s why I had to keep it for another year. Here’s to hoping that I get a retention offer before cancelling my AA Red.

Three follow up questions:

  1. Have you had FM readers or personal contacts confirm that they applied with your referral link so that you would be waiting for the referral miles to post?
  2. The expiration for my referral link is July 1, how about yours?
  3. What things do you believe Citi uses to determine who they’ll target or grant an upgrade for the AA Silver i.e. what (crazy thing) criteria does Citi have?

[…] friends over at Frequent Miler tipped us off posted this offer, which is better than the current offer on Barclays website. As long as this link […]

Tim

Looks like the FM Best Offers page is using a friend referral link. Is there a dedicated thread we could post our links if we are targeted with this referral bonus?

Carmelita Harley

Is it worth it to upgrade to the Silver card? I have the offer to upgrade but no referral links.

Eric

Is there a place for us to post our referrals for this offer? Thanks! 🙂

Qi Wan

Thanks for the information. Why is it worth to hold the Silver version of the card?

Matt

Thanks, Nick! What credit agency(s) does Barclay’s pull?
Take care.

Dav

Where do I check for my refferal link?

Lynn

You are able to refer with the silver card also to the red?

Lynn

Interesting! Wish I saw that under my offers!

Ed. C

Does Barclays have a time limit restriction for receiving the bonus if you currently have the Aviator card? I have an Aviator Silver card but it’s been 5 or 6 years since I got it.

Nash D

Same question, but for the other case. Have had an Aviator Red card for several years at this point. Would I get a bonus for a new Red card? Or can I get a bonus for the silver card? Or would I not get approved for Silver as I have a Red?