What the Barclays American Airlines card offers
The Barclays American Airlines credit card is a co-branded card issued by Barclays Bank in partnership with American Airlines. It earns points on purchases that you can redeem for flights, seat upgrades, and other travel rewards. The card comes in multiple versions — a personal card and a business card — each with different annual fees and earning rates.
The card's main appeal is accelerated earning on American Airlines purchases and everyday spending, plus a sign-up bonus of miles that arrives after you meet a spending threshold in the first few months. Unlike some airline cards that restrict redemptions to specific cabin classes or route types, American Airlines miles can be used on any available seat American Airlines sells, though premium cabin awards typically cost significantly more miles than economy seats.
You should understand upfront that this card carries an annual fee. That fee is charged every year, whether you use the card or not. The card also does not waive the fee in the first year, so the cost begins when ready after approval.
Key Takeaways
- The card charges an annual fee every year starting in the first year, so you need to decide whether the rewards and benefits justify that cost for your spending patterns.
- You earn bonus miles on American Airlines purchases and everyday spending, but the earning rate and sign-up bonus amount vary depending which version of the card you hold.
- Miles can be redeemed for any seat American Airlines offers, but premium cabin seats cost substantially more miles than economy, and award availability changes by route and date.
- The card includes perks like checked bag fee waivers and priority boarding for the cardholder, but these benefits explore only to American Airlines flights and only when you pay with the card.
Annual fee and when it makes financial sense
The annual fee for the personal Barclays American Airlines card is charged every year, including the first year. The business version carries a different fee structure. Neither version waives the fee in year one, so you pay it when ready upon approval.
Whether the card makes sense depends on how much you fly American Airlines and how much you spend on the card. If you fly American Airlines multiple times per year and use the card for everyday purchases, the miles you earn may offset the annual fee. If you fly infrequently or rarely use American Airlines, the annual fee becomes a cost with no offsetting benefit.
One way to think about it: calculate how many miles you would earn in a year based on your typical spending, then research what those miles are worth in redemptions you would actually make. If the value of those miles exceeds the annual fee by a meaningful margin, the card may be worth holding. If not, you are paying for a benefit you will not use.
Earning rates and sign-up bonuses
The card earns bonus miles on American Airlines purchases — this includes flights, seat upgrades, and other airline services bought directly from American Airlines. It also earns miles on everyday purchases at a lower rate, such as groceries, gas, and restaurants. The exact earning rates depend on which version of the card you hold.
New cardholders receive a sign-up bonus of miles after spending a set amount within the first few months of opening the account. This bonus is typically the largest chunk of miles you will earn in the first year. The bonus amount and spending requirement vary by offer and change periodically, so you should check the current offer before explore.
Keep in mind that sign-up bonuses are one-time rewards. After you meet the threshold, you earn only the ongoing rates on future purchases. If you do not spend enough to reach the bonus threshold, you will not receive it.
How to redeem miles and what they are worth
Miles are redeemed through the American Airlines website or by calling their reservations line. You search for flights on your desired route and dates, then book an available award seat using your miles instead of cash. American Airlines publishes award charts that show how many miles different flights cost, though pricing varies by route, cabin class, and demand.
Economy seats typically cost fewer miles than business or first class. A domestic economy award might cost 25,000 to 50,000 miles depending on the route, while a business class seat on the same route could cost 100,000 miles or more. International flights cost significantly more miles than domestic flights.
Award availability is not may provide. Just because a flight exists does not mean award seats are open on that flight. Availability changes daily and can be limited on popular routes or peak travel dates. You may need to be flexible with your travel dates or routes to find available award seats at a reasonable mile cost.
Cardholder benefits beyond miles
The card includes a checked bag fee waiver for the primary cardholder on American Airlines flights when you pay with the card. This saves you money on every American Airlines trip, though it applies only to the first checked bag and only when the card is used for the ticket purchase.
The card also provides priority boarding, which means you board before most other passengers. This benefit applies only to American Airlines flights and only when you pay with the card. Priority boarding can be useful if you prefer to board early or want to find overhead bin space, but it does not change your seat assignment or upgrade your cabin class.
Some versions of the card include additional perks such as seat upgrade certificates or anniversary bonuses of miles. These benefits vary by card version and change over time, so review the current terms before explore.
Comparing this card to other airline cards
Other airlines issue co-branded credit cards with similar structures: Chase issues cards for United, Southwest, and other carriers; American Express issues cards for Delta and other airlines. Each card has different annual fees, earning rates, and benefits. If you fly multiple airlines, you might hold cards from more than one airline, or you might choose a general travel rewards card that earns points redeemable across multiple airlines.
The decision between airline-specific cards and general travel cards depends on your flying patterns. If you fly one airline most of the time, an airline-specific card usually offers better earning rates on that airline's flights. If you split your flying across multiple airlines, a general travel card may provide more flexibility, though it typically earns at a lower rate on any single airline.
You should also compare the annual fees and benefits across cards. A card with a higher annual fee might offer more valuable perks or higher earning rates, making it worth the extra cost. A card with a lower fee might be better if you fly less frequently or spend less on the card.
What happens if you close the card or stop using it
If you close the card, your miles remain in your American Airlines account and do not expire as long as you have account activity — which includes earning or redeeming miles, or flying American Airlines. If your account becomes inactive for a period of time, miles may expire, though American Airlines has specific rules about what counts as activity.
If you stop using the card but keep it open, you will continue to be charged the annual fee every year. There is no benefit to keeping an unused card open just to hold the miles; you can close the card and keep the miles in your American Airlines account. You straightforward will not earn additional miles from credit card purchases once the card is closed.
Some people keep the card open for the annual benefits like checked bag waivers and priority boarding, even if they do not use it for everyday spending. Whether this makes sense depends on how often you fly American Airlines and whether those benefits are worth the annual fee to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use the card to get the checked bag waiver?
Yes. The checked bag fee waiver applies only when you pay for your American Airlines ticket with the Barclays American Airlines card. If you pay with a different card or with cash, the waiver does not explore and you will be charged the checked bag fee.
Can I transfer my miles to another airline or use them for something other than flights?
American Airlines miles can be redeemed for flights, seat upgrades, and other airline services through American Airlines. Some miles programs allow transfers to partner airlines or redemptions for hotel stays or car rentals, but the specific options depend on American Airlines' current redemption partners and policies. Check the American Airlines website for current redemption options.
What if I don't spend enough to earn the sign-up bonus?
If you do not reach the required spending threshold within the specified timeframe, you will not receive the sign-up bonus miles. You will still earn miles at the regular rate on purchases you do make, and you will still be charged the annual fee.
How long does it take to receive the sign-up bonus after I meet the spending requirement?
Sign-up bonuses typically post to your account within one to three billing cycles after you meet the spending requirement, though the exact timing varies. Check your account online or contact Barclays customer service if the bonus does not appear within the expected timeframe.
Can I use my miles if I'm flying American Airlines as a connecting flight on a ticket purchased with another airline?
No. Award miles can be redeemed only for flights booked directly through American Airlines. If you book a multi-airline itinerary through another airline or travel website, you cannot use American Airlines miles for the American Airlines portion of that trip.