AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Business Mastercard Review: An Excellent Choice for American Airlines Loyalists

Overview of the AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Business Mastercard

The AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Business Mastercard is a solid option for regular American Airlines flyers. Although it may not offer the highest rewards for everyday purchases, benefits like a free first checked bag, an annual companion certificate, and a 5% annual bonus on earned miles make it an appealing choice. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐

*Card Rating is based on the perspectives of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

American Airlines is among the few major travel companies that have credit cards issued by two different banks: Citi and Barclays. While this might lead to some confusion, the competition generally benefits consumers by encouraging banks to lower fees and increase bonuses to capture a larger market share.

The AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Business Mastercard is one of several co-branded cards offered by Barclays for American Airlines. With an annual fee of $95, it competes well with other entry-level AA co-branded cards from both Barclays and Citi.

Currently, the AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Business Mastercard is not accepting new applications. Barclays has announced a temporary pause on new applications as they consider future enhancements to the card.

Continue reading to discover all the benefits the AAdvantage Aviator Business card provides for current cardholders and for those interested in applying when new applications reopen.

The information for the AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard has been independently gathered by Dinogo. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or supplied by the card issuer.

Pros and Cons of the AAdvantage Aviator Business Card

Welcome Offer for the AAdvantage Aviator Business Card

Currently, the AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Business Mastercard is not open for new applications.

Historically, the card provided new applicants with a bonus of up to 70,000 miles after meeting the spending threshold.

Benefits of the AAdvantage Aviator Business Card

While you shouldn’t anticipate an extensive list of perks from an entry-level credit card with a $95 annual fee, the AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard does offer some appealing benefits worth noting:

• First Checked Bag Free: You and up to four travel companions can check your first bag free on domestic flights operated by American Airlines.
• Preferred Boarding: You and up to four companions on your reservation will enjoy priority boarding on American Airlines flights.
• Annual Companion Certificate: After spending at least $30,000 on eligible purchases each year, you’ll receive a companion certificate valid for one companion on a round-trip domestic economy flight for just $99 plus applicable taxes and fees.

• 5% AAdvantage Mileage Bonus: Upon your account’s renewal each year, you’ll earn a 5% bonus on all miles accrued from qualifying purchases on your card (excluding your welcome bonus).
• 25% Inflight Savings: Enjoy a 25% discount on inflight purchases made with your Aviator card.
• Free Employee Cards
• No Foreign Transaction Fees

While most of these benefits may not be particularly impressive, one feature does stand out: the 5% AAdvantage mileage bonus. This benefit is unique among other co-branded AA cards. If your business incurs significant annual expenses, you can earn a little extra each year thanks to your higher spending. Although 5% might not seem like much, it can help you accumulate more AA miles, especially since no travel credit cards currently partner with American Airlines for transfers.

Earning Miles with the AAdvantage Aviator Business Card

It's best to maintain this card for its perks rather than its bonus categories. Like many airline credit cards, the earning rates are relatively modest. Aviator business cardholders can earn at the following rates:

• 2 miles for every dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
• 2 miles for every dollar spent at eligible office supply stores, telecommunications providers, and car rental companies
• 1 mile for every dollar spent on all other purchases

The great news is that you don't have to use your Aviator card to pay for flights in order to benefit from a free checked bag. You can keep the card active, enjoy this perk, and book your travel with a more rewarding credit card.

Redeeming Miles with the AAdvantage Aviator Business Card

Although AAdvantage presents several low-value redemption options, you'll usually get better value by redeeming your miles for flights. American Airlines employs a quasi-dynamic award pricing model. If you have flexibility, you can discover short-haul domestic flights for as little as 5,000 miles each way in economy class.

Redemptions with Oneworld and AA partners are fixed rates based on the award chart; however, if you're flying American Airlines to Europe, South America, Asia, or Australia, expect to encounter dynamic pricing.

Some of the greatest values with American Airlines lie within its Oneworld partners, including Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, and Japan Airlines. For instance, 70,000 miles can secure a one-way business-class ticket on Cathay Pacific to anywhere in Asia or a first-class flight to Tokyo with JAL, a journey that typically costs over $10,000 one-way.

I frequently use my AA miles for premium cabin redemptions, such as Qatar Airways' Qsuite business class for 70,000 miles to the Middle East or JAL's Sky Suite to Tokyo in business class for 60,000 miles.

Which cards rival the AAdvantage Aviator Business?

Several other AA cobranded cards compete with the AAdvantage Aviator Business, along with various general travel credit cards.

• If you're seeking more elite perks: The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees) offers benefits such as Admirals Club membership, bonus earnings on AA purchases, statement credits, and Loyalty Point bonuses, but carries a significant $595 annual fee. Check out our full review of the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® for more details.
• If you're interested in a general travel card: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is an excellent choice for those who don't want to be tied to a single airline and prefer earning transferable miles. It offers 2 miles per dollar on all purchases and has over 15 transfer partners, with a low annual fee of $95 (see rates and fees). For additional insights, refer to our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
• If you prefer a Citi-issued business card: The Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees) is a straightforward option for earning points for your business and can be a solution if you're not eligible for personal cards. It has a $99 annual fee, waived for the first year. For more information, see our full review of the Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard.

For more choices, check out our comprehensive list of the best airline cards and the top travel rewards cards.

Is the AAdvantage Aviator Business a worthwhile option?

The AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard is an excellent pick for those aiming to enhance their AAdvantage account through business expenditures. If you fly with American Airlines even occasionally, the first checked bag free on eligible flights can help mitigate the card's $95 annual fee. Currently, Barclays has paused new applications, so your options are to wait or consider another AA-branded card, such as the Citi AAdvantage Business.

Conclusion

Whether this is your first AA card or a necessary shift after exploring options with Citi, the AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Business Mastercard presents a compelling value. With a reasonable earning rate and valuable travel perks, it's a strong choice for even infrequent AA travelers.