Saying Farewell To This Airline Credit Card Perk

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Back in May 2019, Barclays made changes to the American Airlines co-brand credit cards they offered. These coincided with changes made by Citi to their cards, bringing the benefits of the American Airlines cards from both banks in alignment with each other.

When I looked at the changes, I decided that we’d keep our Barclays Aviator Red card, for the time being. It was our only American Airlines card so if we wanted preferred boarding and a free checked bag, we’d need at least one co-brand card.

The new $25 wi-fi credit was something we’d use if we flew American Airlines at all in the year, which we already had plans to do.

There was one more reason I kept the card, and I just received that benefit for the final time.

When I picked up the card it still was the US Airways Mastercard. I used a link to sign up that included a 10,000-mile bonus every year on the account anniversary after paying the $89 annual fee. I was paying less than a penny a point for American AAdvantage miles even if I didn’t use any of the other benefits of the card. I don’t like buying points with no purpose in mind but I’m a buyer at that price point. For comparison, the current sale on American Airlines miles for 1.6 cents each is one of the best prices in recent memory and that requires you to purchase 150,000 miles.

What made this benefit extra special was that for several years after the US Airways and American Airlines merger, Barclays didn’t want to lose any cardholders. For two years straight they waived my annual fee providing me 10,000 free miles.

Alas, those days are gone. We just received our final 10,000-mile bonus. I’ll pay the $99 annual fee and maybe I’ll be able to fly on American Airlines sometime this year and get to take advantage of the other benefits I get from the card. It was a good run while it lasted.

#stayhealthy #stayathome #washyourhands

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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary

Cover Photo from American Airlines Newsroom