Several months ago, I wrote that the Barclays Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard was offering an “All-Time Best Welcome Bonus” which included 60k AAdvantage miles and a companion certificate. However, the card’s $99 annual fee was not waived for the first year. Recently, Doctor of Credit reported on an offer that I personally feel is even better!
How is this offer different?
The new offer is an inflight promotion for 60k AAdvantage miles after a single purchase. If you apply using a 6-digit promotional code from a flight attendant, you could earn an additional 500 miles. The new offer has two main differences from the previous offer.
- The $99 annual fee is waived for the first year.
- The offer does NOT include the companion certificate.
Let’s revisit the rewards and benefits of the Barclays Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard. (not an affiliate link)
Rewards
- Earn 60k AAdvantage bonus miles after making your first purchase in the first 90 days
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99
- Get up to $25 back as statement credits on inflight Wi-Fi purchases every anniversary year on American Airlines operated flights
- Each anniversary year earn a Companion Certificate good for 1 guest at $99 (plus taxes and fees) after spending $20,000 on purchases
- Earn 2X miles for every dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- Earn 1X AAdvantage miles for every dollar spent on all other purchases
- 25% inflight savings as statement credits on food and beverages when you use your card on American Airlines operated flights
Benefits
- First checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for the primary cardmember and up to 4 companions traveling on the same reservation
- Preferred boarding for the primary cardmember and up to 4 companions on their reservation for all American Airlines operated flights
- Flight Cents™ which turns your change into AAdvantage miles by rounding up your purchases to the nearest dollar so you can get more AAdvantage miles
- Superior travel coverage- Travel Accident Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Baggage Delay Insurance, 24/7 Travel Assistance Services, Trip Cancellation and Interruption coverage and more (restrictions, limitations and exclusions apply)
- Complementary FICO credit score
- World Elite Travel Benefits
- No foreign transaction fees
- $0 Fraud Liability protection
How do I apply?
While the promotion is marketed as an “exclusive inflight offer,” there are multiple reports of applications being approved using the Promotional Code 999999. If you do input a flight attendant’s 6-digit code it will help them out and you will receive an additional 500 AAdvantage miles. The landing page for the offer is available here.
Is it better to save $99 or get the Companion Certificate?
Personally, I prefer the $99 savings that this promotion provides over the previous offer even though it does not include the companion certificate. We generally fly Southwest or Delta domestically and the restrictions of the Companion certificate make it more trouble than it is worth for me. Some people may prefer the companion certificate to the $99 savings and I’m sure it could offer substantially more value on the right route. At the end of the day both offers are generous especially considering the welcome bonus on both is earned after a single purchase of ANY amount. Both promotions are great ways to quickly top up on AAdvantage miles without an onerous spending requirement. There may be more valuable bonuses available but none are as easily accessible as the ones from this card.
Which offer do you think is better? Let us know in the comments!
This site is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as thepointsguy.com. This may impact how and where links appear on this site. Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers and that compensation may impact on how and where card products appear on the site. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by my advertising partners and I do not include all card companies, or all available card offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers and other offers and benefits listed on this page. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Other links on this page may also pay me a commission - as always, thanks for your support if you use them
User Generated Content Disclosure: Points With a Crew encourages constructive discussions, comments, and questions. Responses are not provided by or commissioned by any bank advertisers. These responses have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the responsibility of the bank advertiser to respond to comments.
Dan Miller travels with his wife and 6 (SIX!) children. He loves to help families travel for free / cheap, especially larger families. If you are looking for help, drop him an email at 
In the fineprint it says you may not be eligible if you had an account in this program before. I had this card in 2017. Do you think I should try again?
Danj, this is one of those YMMV type situations. I have always received the bonus from Barclays when being approved, even for a card I have held previously. The language you pointed out does make it sound ambiguous though.
Just a point to clarify: You indicate, first, that one of the differences is that the in-flight “…offer does NOT include the companion certificate” but then the 4th bullet under “Rewards” states, “Each anniversary year earn a Companion Certificate….” Are you saying that the in-flight offer DOES include the companion certificate each anniversary but not in year 1?
Jim, that is correct as long as you hit the 20k spend which may not be the best use of spend.
Here are the details from the application terms and conditions…At each card anniversary, you will be eligible to earn one (1) domestic economy fare Companion Certificate redeemable for one (1) companion ticket at $99 (plus taxes and fees) provided that $20,000 or more in eligible Net Purchases are made with your Card Account during the cardmembership year (each 12-month period through and including your Card Account anniversary month) and your Card Account remains open for at least 45 days after the anniversary date. Please allow 8-10 weeks for delivery of the Companion Certificate.
I have this card now – Any idea if likely to get it again?
Unfortunately, Barclays will generally not approve you for the same card that you currently hold.