70,000 Bonus Miles Are Back on the AAdvantage Aviator Red Card – Here’s the Deal

If you’ve been waiting for a solid offer on the Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard, now’s your chance. This limited-time bonus is back, offering 70,000 American Airlines miles after you meet some straightforward requirements. And there’s even an extra 10,000 miles if you add an authorized user. Let’s break down what you need to know.

How the Bonus Works

To get the 70,000 miles, you just need to make any purchase and pay the $99 annual fee in full within the first 90 days. That’s it – no minimum spend requirement. Then, if you add an authorized user and they make a purchase within the same 90-day window, you’ll earn an extra 10,000 miles. So total potential is 80,000 miles.

That’s a pretty low bar compared to many travel cards. The annual fee isn’t waived, but you’ll get it back in value if you fly American even once or twice.

What Are Those Miles Really Worth?

AAdvantage miles typically get you about 1.4 cents each in value when redeemed for flights. So 70,000 miles are worth roughly $980, and with the authorized user bonus, you’re looking at around $1,120. Not bad for a single purchase and a small fee.

You can use miles for American Airlines flights, Oneworld partners like British Airways or Cathay Pacific, upgrades, hotels, car rentals, and more. But the best value comes from booking award flights – especially MileSAAver awards on domestic routes. For example, short hops can cost as little as 2,000 miles each way, and longer ones around 7,500. Just remember that availability is limited and changes monthly.

Perks That Make a Difference

Beyond the bonus, this card comes with some solid travel benefits. You get a free checked bag for yourself and up to four companions on domestic American flights. Preferred boarding is also included for your whole group. Plus, you’ll earn 2x miles on American purchases and 1x on everything else.

Other nice touches: no foreign transaction fees, travel insurance (trip cancellation, baggage delay, rental car collision), and a 10% rebate on redeemed miles (up to 10,000 per year). There’s also a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months, but only if you transfer within 45 days of opening.

Things to Watch Out For

The $99 annual fee isn’t waived, so factor that into your decision. Also, the authorized user bonus requires them to make a purchase – not just be added. And while the intro APR on balance transfers is nice, it’s only for transfers made within the first 45 days.

One more thing: MileSAAver award seats are limited and change monthly, so you’ll want to plan ahead if you’re aiming for those low-mileage redemptions.

Bottom Line

• 70,000 miles after first purchase + paying $99 annual fee within 90 days
• Extra 10,000 miles with an authorized user purchase within 90 days
• No minimum spend – just one purchase and the fee
• Miles worth about 1.4 cents each, best used for award flights
• Free checked bag and preferred boarding for you and up to 4 companions

Common Questions