Frequent Miler's latest team challenge, Million Mile Madness, is almost done! The last two weeks Greg, Nick, and Stephen competed to earn 1 Million SAS miles by flying 15 airlines. But who completed the challenge with the most Speed, Affordability, and Style?
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
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| Card Offer and Details |
|---|
70K Miles ⓘ Non-Affiliate 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 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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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?
I don’t know, but I’ve had my referral link on our best offers page since I posted this on April 1st and I haven’t yet received any referral points, so my guess is that it’s pretty slow in posting.
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:
[…] 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 […]
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?
Is it worth it to upgrade to the Silver card? I have the offer to upgrade but no referral links.
Is there a place for us to post our referrals for this offer? Thanks! 🙂
Thanks for the information. Why is it worth to hold the Silver version of the card?
Thanks, Nick! What credit agency(s) does Barclay’s pull?
Take care.
Where do I check for my refferal link?
Good question! I should have mentioned that. When you log in to your account, there is a menu bar near the top (underneath the area where it shows your balance and any payment due) and the last item in that menu bar to the right is sometimes “offers” (I say “sometimes”, because “Offers” only shows up in that menu if you actually have offers). If you have that and click “Offers”, you’ll sometimes have offers like 0% APR for X number of months and stuff like that. If you have the ability to refer, one of your offers will be to refer friends. To my knowledge, that’s the only way to know / only place to find your link.
You are able to refer with the silver card also to the red?
Yup! Both my wife and I upgraded to Silver and both have the ability to refer to Red.
Interesting! Wish I saw that under my offers!
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.
Barclays has been inconsistent about it. That’s long enough that I think you could probably get it again, but I don’t know for sure. I also don’t know for sure if you can get the Red if you currently hold the Silver.
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?