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With a generous, easy-to-earn welcome bonus and elite-like travel perks, the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard® is well worth it for frequent or occasional American Airlines flyers. The annual fee of AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard® is manageable, and other benefits like travel insurance and discounts can save you money.
Review: Is the AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard the best credit card for you?
The AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard® is best for frequent American Airlines flyers or anyone looking to give their AAdvantage balance a boost. Perks include free checked bags, a 25% discount on inflight food and beverage purchases, up to $25 in annual credit towards inflight Wi-Fi, a $99 annual Companion Certificate when you meet a spending threshold, and priority boarding.
The card comes with a generous welcome bonus offer of AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard®. This is by far the lowest minimum spending requirement of any airline credit card.
While the card’s category bonuses aren’t the most competitive, every dollar you spend will count towards AA elite status. Combined with a reasonable annual fee and an easy sign-up bonus, this card is an excellent option for a wide range of travelers.
Keep in mind American Airlines has four personal co-branded credit cards, ranging from the premium Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® to the no-annual-fee American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card. Depending on how often you fly American Airlines and your spending habits, one of these cards could be a better fit.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
How to earn miles with the AAdvantage Aviator Red card
The AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard® earns 2 miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 point per dollar on everything else. AA purchases that qualify include eligible tickets, goods, and services purchased directly from American Airlines (purchases made through online third-party travel agencies don’t count).
The card also offers one of the most attainable welcome bonuses out there: AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard®.
While the welcome bonus is quite generous, the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard® isn’t the best AAdvantage card for everyday spending. The category bonuses are limited, especially compared to the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, which earns 2x miles on American Airlines purchases, restaurants, and gas stations, and 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
How to use American Airlines miles
As one of the few airlines still publishing an award chart, American Airlines makes it easy to determine how far your miles will go. With the welcome bonus offer from the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard®, you can book up to four round-trip tickets in economy class.
This bonus is enough for a one-way flight if you have your eye on more aspirational award tickets. It all depends on where you’re headed, but here are a few ways you can use AAdvantage miles for airfare:
7,500+ miles each way for short-haul economy class awards12,500 miles each way for an economy award to the Caribbean17,500 miles each way for an economy award to South America22,500 miles each way for an off-peak economy award to Europe27,500 miles each way for a business class ticket to Mexico or Central America 30,000 miles each way for a first-class ticket to South America57,500 miles each way for a business-class ticket to Europe
These awards sometimes go on sale as part of American Airlines’ Web Specials. You can book award tickets as cheap as 5,000 miles each way during these sales.
Alternately, you can redeem AAdvantage miles for American Airlines vacations or Admiral’s Club membership at 1 cent per mile. This isn’t a good redemption since American Airlines miles are worth an average of 1.4 cents each (based on Insider’s valuations), and you can get a lot more value by using them for airfare.
AAdvantage Aviator Red benefits and features
The AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard® is packed with benefits that can help you save money on travel. The savings can really add up at every step of your journey, from check-in to boarding to the flight itself.
In fact, if you take just one trip per year with a companion, you might offset the annual fee through the free bag benefit alone.
Up to $25 back per year as statement credits on inflight Wi-Fi purchases
If you like to get work done on flights or simply watch the latest Tik Tok videos, you can do so with free Wi-Fi. The AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard® offers up to $25 in statement credits each anniversary year for inflight Wi-Fi purchases on American Airlines-operated flights.
Anniversary Companion Certificate
The Anniversary Companion Certificate is arguably the most valuable benefit this card offers. Cardholders who make at least $20,000 in purchases on this card in an anniversary year receive a round-trip qualifying domestic economy companion certificate valid for one guest. All you have to pay is AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard®, plus taxes and fees.
In addition to meeting the $20,000 spending requirement, you have to keep your account open for 45 days after your anniversary date. Since the category bonuses on this card aren’t the most lucrative, the Anniversary Companion Certificate offers a rewarding incentive to keep spending on this card. Those who earn and redeem this benefit annually will easily offset the card’s AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard® annual fee.
25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases
Food and drink expenses can really add up when you’re traveling. With the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard®, you can offset some of this spending. Cardholders receive 25% back as a statement credit on food and beverage purchases made with their card on American Airlines flights.
This benefit could be worthwhile if you fly American Airlines often, especially on long segments when you’re more likely to pay for food and drinks.
First checked bag free
The free checked bag benefit is the most practical and lucrative benefit offered by the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard®. American Airlines charges $30 for the first checked bag per person on domestic flights. That adds up to $60 round-trip for one person.
With the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard®, you and four travel companions on the same reservation get your first checked bag free on American Airlines domestic itineraries. That’s a savings of up to $150 each way.
Preferred boarding
If you prefer not to check your luggage, you can still benefit from the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard®. Cardmembers and up to four companions traveling on the same reservation will receive preferred boarding on American Airlines flights.
The advantage of this perk is that you’ll get to board earlier, giving you more opportunities to store your belongings. This decreases your chances of having to gate-check your bag due to a lack of overhead space.
Earn AAdvantage elite status from everyday purchases
American Airlines revamped its elite status requirements this year, introducing a new loyalty metric. AAdvantage members no longer have to rely on flying to earn elite status. With the new Loyalty Point system, all credit card spending counts towards elite status. Every dollar spent on the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard® earns 1 Loyalty Point, regardless of the category bonus.
It’s important to note that Loyalty Points are different from redeemable miles. While the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard® offers several category bonuses, you’ll only earn 1 Loyalty Point on every dollar spent.
Travel insurance
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard® cardholders are eligible for travel accident insurance, trip cancellation and interruption coverage, baggage delay insurance, and car rental insurance.
AAdvantage Dining program
Your AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard® is automatically enrolled in the American Airlines AAdvantage dining program, which allows you to earn bonus miles when you dine at participating restaurants.
Fees and costs
The AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard® has an annual fee of AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard®, which is on par with most other mid-tier airline credit cards.
The card has no foreign transaction fees, which can be around 3% or more on other cards. This means you can use it to earn miles abroad without incurring a penalty.
Lastly, the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard® offers a AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard®. After that, there’s a AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard® APR. A balance transfer fee of 5% or $5, whichever is greater, applies.
Comparison: Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red vs other American Airlines credit cards
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard®
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Annual fee
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard®
$99, waived for first 12 months
$450
Rewards rate
2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases
2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
2x miles at eligible restaurants and gas stations
1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases
2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases
Welcome bonus
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard®
50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Travel benefits
Free first checked bag on American Airlines domestic itineraries
Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights
25% back on American Airlines inflight purchases
Companion certificate each anniversary year when you $20,000 on purchases and your account remains open for 45 days after your anniversary date
Free first checked bag on American Airlines domestic itineraries
Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights
25% back on American Airlines inflight purchases
$125 American Airlines flight discount when you spend $20,000 or more in an account anniversary year and renew your card
Free first checked bag on domestic American Airlines itineraries
Priority screening, check-in, and boarding on American Airlines
Admirals Club membership
25% back on inflight purchases as a statement credit
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Review
Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card review
Citi AAdvantage Executive credit card review
Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red vs other airline credit cards
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard®
United℠ Explorer Card
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Annual fee
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard®
$95, waived first year
$99, waived for the first year
Rewards rate
2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases
2x miles on eligible United purchases
2x miles on dining/ delivery service purchases, and hotel stays booked directly with the hotel
1 mile per dollar on everything else
2x miles on eligible Delta purchases
2x miles at US supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide
1 mile per dollar on everything else
Welcome bonus
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard®
60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open (plus, an additional 10k bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in the first 6 months)
35,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
Travel benefits
Free first checked bag on American Airlines domestic itineraries
Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights
25% back on American Airlines inflight purchases
Companion certificate each anniversary year when you $20,000 on purchases and your account remains open for 45 days after your anniversary date
Two United Club one-time passes per anniversary year
Free first checked bag on United flights*
Priority boarding on United flights
25% back on United inflight purchases
NEXUS, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Complimentary Premier upgrades
500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $12,000 you spend on purchases****
Expanded access to United award flights
Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights
$100 flight credit when you spend $10,000 or more in a calendar year
20% off inflight purchases as a statement credit
Review
United Explorer credit card review
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express credit card review
AAdvantage Aviator Red card frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is the AAdvantage Aviator Red card worth it?
If you fly American Airlines a couple of times a year and check bags, the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard® is worth opening. The free checked bag perk alone can offset the card’s annual fee, and if you can make use of other benefits, you’ll receive even more value.
This is also a great choice for big spenders who can qualify for the card’s annual companion certificate by spending $20,000 or more each year. Depending on how you use the certificate, it can translate into savings of hundreds of dollars.
Can I get both the Barclays Aviator Red and Citi AAdvantage cards?
Yes, you can have both cards. The AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard® and Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® are issued by different banks and are considered totally separate products. However, since many of their benefits overlap, it may not be worth paying the annual fee on both cards for the long term.
What credit score do I need to be approved for the Aviator Red card?
Most people who open the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard® have a good or excellent credit score. That translates to a FICO score of 670 or more.
How do I get a free checked bag with the Aviator Red card?
Unlike some other airline credit cards, you’re not required to pay for your ticket with the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard® to receive a first free checked bag on American Airlines domestic itineraries. As long as your card was opened and your reservation included your AAdvantage frequent flyer number at least seven days prior to your flight, you can receive the benefit.
Note that the perk doesn’t apply to overweight or oversized bags, and if you cancel your card, you’ll no longer be eligible.