Aviator Red Cardholders Moving to Citi AAdvantage Platinum

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Published Jan 31, 2026 10:13 a.m. PST Written by Lead Writer & Content Strategist + more + more Edited by Managing Editor + more + more SOME CARD INFO MAY BE OUTDATED

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The AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® is taking its final flight this year. AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® Starting April 24, 2026, holders of the Barclays-issued card will be transitioned to the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, as Citi becomes the exclusive issuer of the entire suite of American Airlines AAdvantage cards. Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® 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. AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® ? Nerdy Tip 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. A bit of history 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. Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Here’s how the two cards compare and what changes cardholders can expect. AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Annual fee $99. $99 $99, waived for the first 12 months. Welcome bonus 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 AAdvantage® bonus miles after making your first purchase and paying the $99 annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days. Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Rewards 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. Benefits 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. » MORE: Best American Airlines credit cards » MORE: 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. AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® 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. AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® 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® Red World Elite Mastercard® AAdvantage® Aviator® Blue World Elite Mastercard® holders will be moved to the Citi® / AAdvantage® Gold World Elite Mastercard®. AAdvantage® Aviator® Blue World Elite Mastercard® Citi® / AAdvantage® Gold World Elite Mastercard® AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Silver Mastercard® holders will be moved to the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®. AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Silver Mastercard® AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Silver Mastercard® Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®. Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard® holders will be moved to the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®. AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard® Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® » MORE: How to choose an airline credit card » MORE: 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. 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® 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® Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Citi® / AAdvantage® Gold World Elite Mastercard® and the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ 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. has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by issuer of these cards. Article sources NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines. About the author Funto Omojola Funto Omojola is a writer at NerdWallet. Funto's work has been featured in MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance and Nasdaq. See full bio. Helpful resources Best Cash Back Credit Cards Best Travel Credit Cards Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards

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