The transition was long expected, after Citi’s 2024 announcement that it would acquire Barclays’ AAdvantage cards and move existing cardholders to Citi products. In late 2025, the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® — along with the rest of Barclays’ portfolio of Advantage cards — stopped accepting new applications.
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A bit of history — American Airlines previously offered co-branded AAdvantage credit cards from both Citi and Barclays, an unconventional structure that resulted from the American Airlines and US Airways merger in 2013. At that time, Citi issued American cards and Barclays issued US Airways cards. Once the airlines combined, both issuers retained parts of the portfolio.
Citi says Aviator Red cardholders can continue using their cards until they receive and activate their new Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, which will be mailed within six to eight weeks from April 27, 2026. Current cardholders will not need to apply for the new card.
Here’s how the two cards compare and what changes cardholders can expect.
$99, waived for the first 12 months.
Earn 50,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles after making your first purchase and paying the $99 annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days. (This card stood out for its generous and easy-to-earn welcome bonus. With most other credit cards, you must first meet a specific spending threshold to earn a welcome bonus.)
Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
2 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.
1 AAdvantage mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
2 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.
2 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent at restaurants and gas stations.
1 AAdvantage mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Annual companion certificate ($99 plus taxes and fees) after spending $20,000.
First checked bag free for cardholder and up to 4 traveling companions on the same reservation.
Preferred boarding on all American Airlines-operated flights for cardholders and up to four traveling companions on the same reservation.
Receive 25% savings on in-flight food and beverage purchases when you use your card on American Airlines flights.
Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
$125 American Airlines flight discount after $20,000 in purchases within a year and after the card is renewed.
First checked bag free for cardholder and up to 4 traveling companions on the same reservation.
Preferred boarding on all American Airlines-operated flights for cardholders and up to four traveling companions on the same reservation.
Receive 25% savings on in-flight food and beverage purchases when you use your card on American Airlines flights.
Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
Citi says after transitioning to the new card, previous AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® holders will also continue to have access to the following legacy card benefits for a limited time until advance notice from the issuer: up to $25 back on in-flight Wi-Fi purchases each anniversary year, and the card’s annual companion certificate when you hit the annual spending threshold.
Plus, AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points previously earned from transactions made on your AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® and deposited to your AAdvantage account will not be affected by the transition. You will continue to earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points when you spend with your new Citi card.
Along with the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®, the other cards in Barclays’ AAdvantage portfolio will also be moving to Citi-issued American Airlines cards:
AAdvantage® Aviator® Blue World Elite Mastercard® holders will be moved to the Citi® / AAdvantage® Gold World Elite Mastercard®.
AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard® holders will be moved to the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®.
This page includes information about the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, currently unavailable on NerdWallet. Information about the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Gold World Elite Mastercard® and the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by issuer of these cards.
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