Key Points

• Barclays AAdvantage cardholders will automatically receive replacement Citi cards starting April 27, 2026.
• Your credit limit, anniversary date, and earned miles will transfer seamlessly to your new Citi card.
• Converted cardholders will be subject to Citi's 48-month welcome bonus restriction rules going forward.

Introduction

After 13 years of sharing American Airlines' credit card business, Barclays is officially out. On April 24, 2026, Citi will become the exclusive issuer of AAdvantage credit cards, marking the end of an unusual dual-issuer arrangement that began with the 2013 American-US Airways merger. If you're holding a Barclays Aviator card right now, here's exactly what's happening to your account and what you need to do.

What's Happening to Barclays AAdvantage Cards

The transition is straightforward but significant. Starting April 24, 2026, all Barclays AAdvantage Aviator cardholders will be automatically converted to comparable Citi AAdvantage products. Citi will begin mailing replacement cards on April 27, 2026, though you may not receive yours for up to eight weeks after that date.

Your current Barclays card will continue working normally until you activate your new Citi card. This means no interruption to your daily spending or your ability to earn miles during the transition period.

Which Cards Are Affected

Every Barclays-issued AAdvantage card is included in this transition:

• AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard
• AAdvantage Aviator Silver World Elite Mastercard
• AAdvantage Aviator Blue Mastercard
• AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard

New applications for all Barclays Aviator cards were closed in October 2025, so if you already have one of these cards, you're among the final group of Barclays AAdvantage cardholders.

How the Conversion Process Works

The good news? You don't need to do anything. Citi is handling the conversion automatically. But here's what you should know about the mechanics:

What Transfers Automatically

Nearly everything about your account will remain the same:

• Credit limit: Your current limit transfers to your new Citi card (though Citi may adjust it over time based on their policies)
• Card anniversary date: Stays the same for annual fee and benefit calculations
• PIN: Your existing PIN continues working
• Authorized users: Their replacement cards will be mailed to the primary cardholder's address

What Changes

You'll receive a new physical card with a different card number. This means you'll need to update any recurring payments or saved payment methods once you activate your new Citi card.

Timeline Details

Mark these dates on your calendar:

• April 24, 2026: Official transition date when Citi becomes exclusive issuer
• April 27, 2026: Citi begins mailing replacement cards (allow 6-8 weeks for delivery)
• April 27, 2026 onward: You can set up or link your Citi Online account, even before your new card arrives

Which Citi Card You'll Receive

Citi has mapped each Barclays product to a comparable card in their portfolio. Here's the breakdown:

Aviator Blue → Citi AAdvantage Gold World Elite Mastercard

This card is technically no longer available to new applicants, but Aviator Blue holders will be transitioned to it. You'll keep many of the same benefits, though 2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases is marked as a "legacy benefit" that could change in the future.

Aviator Red → Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard

The most common conversion. Current Aviator Red holders will receive the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select, which actually comes with some enhanced earning rates:

• New benefit: 2x miles at restaurants (including delivery and takeout)
• New benefit: 2x miles at gas stations
• Maintains priority boarding and free first checked bag

Legacy benefits like the $25 annual Wi-Fi credit and companion certificate (for converted accounts) may not stick around permanently.

Aviator Silver → Citi AAdvantage Globe Mastercard

This is Citi's newest addition to the portfolio, and Silver cardholders are getting some nice perks:

• Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
• Four Admirals Club Globe passes each calendar year
• Annual companion certificate ($99 plus taxes/fees) for eligible Main Cabin domestic round-trip flights
• $100 in statement credits at select brands including AAdvantage Hotels, 1stDibs, and Live Nation

However, the 2x miles on hotels and car rentals, plus up to 15,000 additional Loyalty Points after qualifying spending, are labeled as legacy benefits.

Aviator Business → Citi AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard

Business cardholders will transition to the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select, maintaining strong earning rates and business-focused benefits.

What Happens to Your AAdvantage Miles

Here's the most important part: your miles are completely safe. All AAdvantage miles live in your AAdvantage account with American Airlines, not with the card issuer. The transition from Barclays to Citi has zero impact on your existing mile balance or any miles you've already earned.

You'll continue earning miles normally during and after the transition. Just keep using your current Barclays card until you activate the new Citi replacement.

The Welcome Bonus Situation

This is where things get complicated. Once your Barclays card converts to a Citi product, you'll be subject to Citi's welcome bonus eligibility rules. Specifically, Citi won't offer welcome bonuses if you've received one on the same card family within the past 48 months.

What this means practically:

• After conversion, you won't be eligible for a welcome bonus on your new Citi card for 48 months
• The clock starts from when you last received a bonus on that specific Citi card
• If you don't currently have the Citi card you'll be receiving, you might consider applying for it before the conversion to grab the welcome bonus

What If You Already Have Both Cards?

If you currently hold both a Barclays Aviator card and the Citi card it would convert to (for example, both the Aviator Red and the Citi Platinum Select), the conversion would leave you with duplicate cards. According to Citi, you'll be transitioned to a comparable product and can contact them to discuss your options.

You might consider product changing one of the cards or closing your Barclays account before April 24 to avoid the duplicate situation.

Should You Close Your Barclays Card Before the Conversion?

This depends on your specific situation. Here are the key considerations:

Reasons to Let the Conversion Happen

• Zero effort required on your part
• Credit limit transfers automatically
• Maintains your account history and average age of accounts
• You might get enhanced benefits with the Citi card

Reasons to Close Before April 24

• You already have the Citi card you'd be receiving
• You want to apply for that Citi card to grab the welcome bonus
• You're planning to get a different Citi AAdvantage card and want to preserve bonus eligibility
• You don't value American Airlines enough to justify keeping the card

If you do decide to close your Barclays card, make sure to redeem any pending miles or statement credits first, and time the closure before April 24, 2026.

Setting Up Your New Citi Account

Starting April 27, 2026, you can register for Citi Online even before your new card arrives. This is actually a smart move to ensure you don't miss any payments during the transition.

If you already have other Citi cards, you can simply link your new AAdvantage card to your existing Citi Online profile. If you're new to Citi, you'll create a fresh account using your transferred card information.

What About Enhanced Benefits?

Citi has mentioned that converted cardholders will receive "limited-time legacy benefits," but the details are somewhat murky. These legacy benefits seem to include perks from your old Barclays card that aren't standard on the Citi replacement.

The key word here is "limited-time." Don't count on these legacy benefits sticking around permanently. Citi can change them at any time, so if you're relying on a specific perk, have a backup plan.

Why This Change is Happening

American Airlines and Citi actually have a decades-long relationship dating back to the launch of the first airline co-branded credit card in 1987. The dual-issuer setup with Barclays only happened because of the 2013 merger between American Airlines and US Airways, when both banks retained their respective portfolios.

Going exclusive with Citi makes financial sense for American. The airline is expected to earn significantly more revenue from a single, streamlined partnership. For cardholders, the consolidation means fewer options for earning welcome bonuses through multiple issuers, but potentially more cohesive benefits and program integration.

One notable positive from this exclusive deal: Citi added American Airlines as a transfer partner for their ThankYou points program in July 2025. This means Citi ThankYou points can now transfer to AAdvantage, opening new opportunities for earning American miles beyond co-branded cards.

Current Best AAdvantage Card Offers

Since Barclays cards are no longer available, your options are now exclusively through Citi. Here are the current standout offers:

The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select frequently offers welcome bonuses around 50,000-75,000 miles after meeting minimum spending requirements. This has become the go-to card for casual American Airlines flyers who want a free checked bag and priority boarding without a hefty annual fee.

For those who fly American frequently, the Citi AAdvantage Executive offers Admirals Club access and is currently offering substantial welcome bonuses, though the $450 annual fee means you need to value lounge access to make it worthwhile.

You can see our full breakdown in our guide to the best credit cards for American Airlines flights.

What to Do Right Now

If you're a current Barclays Aviator cardholder, here's your action plan:

1. Verify your address: Make sure Barclays has your current mailing address on file so your new Citi card reaches you
2. Review your benefits: Understand which perks are "legacy" benefits that might disappear
3. Consider welcome bonuses: If you want the bonus on a specific Citi card, apply before your conversion happens
4. Update payment methods: Plan to update any recurring charges once you receive and activate your new Citi card
5. Watch your email: Barclays and Citi will send detailed information as the transition approaches
6. Set up Citi Online: Register for online access starting April 27 to avoid missing payments

The Bigger Picture for AAdvantage Strategy

This transition represents more than just a card issuer change. It's a fundamental shift in how you can earn and maximize AAdvantage miles.

The loss of Barclays means you can no longer double-dip on welcome bonuses from two issuers. The Aviator cards were particularly attractive because they offered substantial bonuses with minimal spending requirements. Those easy wins are gone.

However, the addition of Citi ThankYou points as a transfer option actually expands your earning potential. If you hold premium Citi cards like the Strata Premier, you can now earn flexible points through categories like gas, groceries, and dining, then transfer them to AAdvantage at a 1:1 ratio.

This makes Citi's rewards ecosystem significantly more valuable for American Airlines loyalists who want flexibility in how they earn miles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my AAdvantage miles during the transition?

No. Your miles are stored in your AAdvantage account with American Airlines, not with the card issuer. The Barclays-to-Citi conversion has zero impact on your existing miles or miles you continue to earn.

What happens if I'm already over Citi's credit limit policies?

Your current credit limit will transfer to the new Citi card initially. However, Citi may adjust limits over time based on their internal policies and your credit profile.

Can I keep my Barclays card and refuse the Citi conversion?

No. Once April 24, 2026 arrives, your Barclays AAdvantage card will be converted automatically. Your only option to avoid conversion is to close the account before that date.

Will this affect my credit score?

The conversion shouldn't directly impact your credit score since your account history and credit limit are transferring. However, the new card will eventually show as a new account, though with your original opening date preserved.

What if I have a large purchase coming up and want to time it for the conversion?

Your card continues working normally until you activate the new Citi card. Any purchases on your Barclays card before activation will still count toward your Barclays benefits and earning rates.

Conclusion

The transition from Barclays to Citi marks the end of an era for AAdvantage credit cards, but it doesn't have to be complicated. If you're currently holding a Barclays Aviator card, your account will automatically convert to a comparable Citi product on April 24, 2026, with your credit limit, anniversary date, and all earned miles transferring seamlessly.

The main action items are simple: verify your mailing address, plan to update recurring payments when your new card arrives, and consider whether you want to apply for any Citi AAdvantage cards before the conversion to grab welcome bonuses. Otherwise, you can sit back and let the automatic transition happen.

For more strategies on maximizing American Airlines miles, check out our complete guide to the best American Airlines credit cards, and stay updated on the latest offers through our guide to current credit card bonuses.

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