AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Business Mastercard Review for 2023
Tricia has nearly two decades of experience in commercial and federal government lending. Her expertise is highlighted throughout small business loan content on Fit Small Business.
Nancy Fernandez is a Credit Card and Insurance Expert at Fit Small Business, specializing in business credit cards and business insurance.
This article is part of a larger series on Best Small Business Credit Cards.
AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard® from Barclays is an excellent travel card designed for business owners who fly primarily with American Airlines. It offers rewards that can be used for free flights and travel perks, like a free checked bag, a companion certificate, preferred boarding, and discounted inflight purchases.
If you wish to compare one card over another, select a maximum of three cards on this page and click Add to compare to view the details in a side-by-side comparison.
AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard®
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
Business owners that frequently fly American Airlines
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.74% or 29.74% variable
Annual Fee
$95
Credit Needed
Good - Excellent
- 2x AAdvantage® miles for every dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 2x AAdvantage® miles for every dollar spent at eligible office supply, telecom, and car rental purchases
- 1x AAdvantage® miles for every dollar spent on all other purchases
- Earn 5% AAdvantage® mileage bonus every year after your account anniversary date based on the total number of miles earned
Pros
- Consolidated way of earning Loyalty Points
- Doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees
- With signup bonus
Cons
- Doesn’t offer 0% introductory APR
- Can only obtain rewards by flying with American Airlines and its partner airlines
- With annual fee
- First free checked bag: Get one free checked bag for you and up to four companions.
- Companion certificate: Receive one discounted companion ticket, each card anniversary after meeting spending requirements.
- Preferred boarding: You and up to four companions can board before economy boarding.
- In-flight discounts: You’ll receive a 25% discount on inflight food and beverage purchases.
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.74% or 29.74% variable
Annual Fee
$95
Credit Needed
Good - Excellent
- 2x AAdvantage® miles for every dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 2x AAdvantage® miles for every dollar spent at eligible office supply, telecom, and car rental purchases
- 1x AAdvantage® miles for every dollar spent on all other purchases
- Earn 5% AAdvantage® mileage bonus every year after your account anniversary date based on the total number of miles earned
Pros
- Consolidated way of earning Loyalty Points
- Doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees
- With signup bonus
Cons
- Doesn’t offer 0% introductory APR
- Can only obtain rewards by flying with American Airlines and its partner airlines
- With annual fee
- First free checked bag: Get one free checked bag for you and up to four companions.
- Companion certificate: Receive one discounted companion ticket, each card anniversary after meeting spending requirements.
- Preferred boarding: You and up to four companions can board before economy boarding.
- In-flight discounts: You’ll receive a 25% discount on inflight food and beverage purchases.
When evaluating the best travel rewards credit cards, we give the most weight to introductory rewards, ongoing rewards, and additional features, as these features affect the value you’ll get by using the card the most. We also consider the annual fee and the introductory and ongoing annual percentage rates (APRs).
| Grading Criteria | Card Score | Highest Possible Score |
|---|---|---|
Ongoing Rewards | 20 | 25 |
Introductory Rewards | 20 | 25 |
Additional Features | 20 | 25 |
Annual Fee | 7 | 15 |
Introductory APR | 0 | 5 |
Ongoing APR | 3 | 5 |
| Total Score | 70 | 100 |
Who the AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard® Is Best For
- Those who fly with American Airlines frequently: It offers travel rewards that can be redeemed for free flights, and it lets you save up to 25% on inflight food and beverages.
- Those who travel with a checked-in bag: It offers one free checked bag for the cardholder and up to four eligible companions.
If this doesn’t fit your needs, see our recommended alternatives below.
AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard® Fees
APRs
- Introductory: None
- Ongoing and balance transfers: 20.24% or 29.24% variable, which adjusts with the prime rate
- Cash advance: 29.49% variable, which adjusts with the prime rate
Fees
- Minimum finance charge: $1
- Annual: $95
- Balance transfer: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Cash advance: Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
- Foreign transaction: None
- Late payment:
- $19 for account balances less than $250
- $39 for balances of $250 or higher
- Returned payment: $39
- Over-the-credit line: None
- Electronic payment: $15
- Administrative:
- $3 for statement copy
- $5 for other documents
- $15 for research per hour
Your due date is at least 20 days for purchases from the Closing Date on your periodic statement, provided you pay your previous balance in full by the due date.
AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard® Rewards
- Welcome offer: 60,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 90 days; another 10,000 bonus miles after a purchase is made on an employee card
- 2x AAdvantage® miles for every dollar spent on the following:
- Eligible American Airlines purchases
- Office supply
- Telecom
- Car rental merchants
- 1x AAdvantage® miles for every dollar spent on all other purchases
- 5% AAdvantage® mileage bonus every year after your account anniversary date based on the total number of miles earned using the card
- 10% discount on non-flight components purchased with your card through the unique American Airlines Vacations website (exclusively for Aviator cardmembers)
You can earn and redeem miles from American Airlines’ oneworld® airline partners, which include Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Japan Airlines, Qantas, and Qatar Airways.
Once you meet the welcome bonus requirements, you can obtain 70,000 (60,000 plus 10,000) AAdvantage® miles. 70,000 AAdvantage® miles are worth an average value of $938, given that its miles value is 1.34 cents per mile, meaning, for instance, you can afford to book a one-way Economy ticket from New York to any country in Asia.
AAdvantage® Status
Using your card will help you reach AAdvantage® status faster. There are four tiers—Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Executive Platinum—which are categorized by the number of loyalty points. As you climb levels, you earn additional miles on base flight miles when you travel with American Airlines and its partners. You earn 1 Loyalty Point for every eligible Aadvantage® Mile earned after using an AAdvantage credit card.
AAdvantage® Status | Loyalty Points Required | Additional Miles Earned Per Dollar |
|---|---|---|
AAdvantage Gold® | 40,000 | 7 |
AAdvantage Platinum® | 75,000 | 8 |
AAdvantage Platinum Pro® | 125,000 | 9 |
AAdvantage Executive Platinum® | 200,000 | 11 |
Starting March 2023, AAdvantage® introduced new levels and rewards even before reaching status. These reward levels include bonus miles, systemwide upgrades, and gifting of AAdvantage® statuses. Learn more about these new reward levels and their corresponding benefits and rewards by heading over to the AAdvantage®’s Loyalty Points Rewards webpage.
How To Make Payments on the AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard®
- Barclays App: Similar to its online banking counterpart, cardholders can set up credit card payments through the Barclays App, which is available for iOS and Android devices. You can also set up recurring payments by inputting the payment date, amount, and account for each automatic payment.
- Call: Contact (877) 523-0478 and follow the prompts to get a successful payment.
- Mail: Send your payments through either of the following addresses:
Card Services
PO Box 60517
City of Industry, CA 91716-0517
Card Services
P.O. Box 13337
Philadelphia, PA 19101-3337
- Overnight credit card payments: Use specific labels and envelopes through UPS or mailboxes (FedEx or United States mail), then send them to either of the following addresses:
Remitco
Card Services
Lock Box 60517
2525 Corporate Pl., Ste. 250
Monterey Park, CA 91754
Card Services
400 White Clay Center Dr.
Newark, DE 19711
AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard® Features
Travel Benefits
- First checked bag free: This will be made available for you and up to four companions on eligible bags when traveling on domestic itineraries that are managed by American Airlines.
- Preferred boarding: This applies to you and up to four companions on your reservation when you fly with American Airlines.
- 25% inflight savings: Cardholders will receive this as a statement credit on food and beverages when they use their card on American Airlines-operated flights.
- Domestic Companion Certificate: Earn a Companion Certificate for one guest at $99, including taxes and fees, after spending $30,000 on purchases and maintaining your account for 45 days after your anniversary.
Safety & Security
- Complimentary employee cards: You can get your employees cards, helping you earn miles faster and control business spending.
- $0 fraud liability protection: You’re protected against possible fraudulent transactions and aren’t held responsible for charges you didn’t authorize.
AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard® Alternatives
Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business
Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
Unlimited 2x miles with every swipe
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
25.74% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0 intro for first year; $95 after that
Credit Needed
Excellent, Good
- Introductory reward worth $500 in travel after you spend $4,500 within the first three months
- 2x miles per $1 spent
- $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry application fee credit
Cons
- You’ll pay an annual fee after the first year
- Doesn’t offer interest-free financing
- Airport security screening reimbursement: Either a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or an $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® once every four years.
- Purchase assurance: Most purchases made entirely with your card are covered if damaged or stolen within 90 days from the date of purchase. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per cardholder account per 12-month period.
- Extended warranty coverage: Doubles the original warranty time period and duplicates the coverage of the original manufacturer’s warranty up to a maximum of 12 months on most items you purchase.
- Travel medical emergency assistance: Provide referrals to medical services if you have a medical emergency while traveling. You’re covered if you’re 100 or more miles away from home and from the day you leave until midnight of the 60th day of your trip, or the day you return to your city of residence, whichever is sooner.
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
25.74% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0 intro for first year; $95 after that
Credit Needed
Excellent, Good
- Introductory reward worth $500 in travel after you spend $4,500 within the first three months
- 2x miles per $1 spent
- $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry application fee credit
Cons
- You’ll pay an annual fee after the first year
- Doesn’t offer interest-free financing
- Airport security screening reimbursement: Either a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or an $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® once every four years.
- Purchase assurance: Most purchases made entirely with your card are covered if damaged or stolen within 90 days from the date of purchase. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per cardholder account per 12-month period.
- Extended warranty coverage: Doubles the original warranty time period and duplicates the coverage of the original manufacturer’s warranty up to a maximum of 12 months on most items you purchase.
- Travel medical emergency assistance: Provide referrals to medical services if you have a medical emergency while traveling. You’re covered if you’re 100 or more miles away from home and from the day you leave until midnight of the 60th day of your trip, or the day you return to your city of residence, whichever is sooner.
- Is a viable option if you want a straightforward rewards program with a waived annual fee for the first year
- Lets you earn 5x on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and unlimited 1.5x miles on all other purchases
- Charges $95 annually (waived for the first year)
- Doesn’t offer a 0% introductory APR
- Is our top-recommended business credit card for miles and one of our best business credit cards for travel
American Express Business Platinum Card®
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
Gaining access to unrivaled travel rewards and luxury travel perks like airport lounge access
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
19.24% - 27.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$695
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
- Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
- Unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for checked baggage fees, lounge day passes, and more at one selected airline.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your Card and get up to $189 back per year on your CLEAR® Plus membership. CLEAR® lanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more lounge location options than any other credit card on the market as of 9/2021.
- $695 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
Pros
- Premium travel rewards
- Free access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Balance is due in full monthly
- High annual fee
- American Express lounges: Free access to American Express’ network of Centurion lounges located in slightly less than a dozen United States airports.
- Other airport lounges: Priority Pass Select membership, which gets you free access to more than 1,300 lounges worldwide for you and two guests.
- Airport screening: Either a $100 statement credit for Global Entry every four years or an $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® once every 4 1/2 years.
- Travel credit: Up to $200 annual statement credit toward air travel expenses like baggage fees and inflight food and drink.
- Rental status: Elite status at a number of car rental agencies.
- Free Wi-Fi: 10 annual free Gogo inflight Wi-Fi passes.
- Rebate for redeemed points: 35% points rebate if you book a business or first-class flight, up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year.
- Dell statement credit: Up to $400 in statement credits annually for Dell purchases.
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
19.24% - 27.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$695
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
- Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
- Unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for checked baggage fees, lounge day passes, and more at one selected airline.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your Card and get up to $189 back per year on your CLEAR® Plus membership. CLEAR® lanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more lounge location options than any other credit card on the market as of 9/2021.
- $695 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
Pros
- Premium travel rewards
- Free access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Balance is due in full monthly
- High annual fee
- American Express lounges: Free access to American Express’ network of Centurion lounges located in slightly less than a dozen United States airports.
- Other airport lounges: Priority Pass Select membership, which gets you free access to more than 1,300 lounges worldwide for you and two guests.
- Airport screening: Either a $100 statement credit for Global Entry every four years or an $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® once every 4 1/2 years.
- Travel credit: Up to $200 annual statement credit toward air travel expenses like baggage fees and inflight food and drink.
- Rental status: Elite status at a number of car rental agencies.
- Free Wi-Fi: 10 annual free Gogo inflight Wi-Fi passes.
- Rebate for redeemed points: 35% points rebate if you book a business or first-class flight, up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year.
- Dell statement credit: Up to $400 in statement credits annually for Dell purchases.
- Is a good alternative if you want access to several airport lounges for you and up to two guests
- Lets you and up to two guests enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion Lounge—1,300 airport lounges in 140 countries around the world
- Offers 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, 1.5x points on eligible purchases in key business categories and on every purchase of $5,000 or more everywhere else, and 1x points on all other purchases
- Charges $695 in annual fees
- Is our leading business credit card with airport lounges and one of our best business credit cards for travel
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
0% APR for 15 billing cycles
Intro APR
Regular APR
18.99% - 27.99% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Excellent/Good
- Earn $500 in cash back. Just spend $4500 on the Account Owner's card in the first 150 days of opening your account.
- Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants.
- 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases.
- Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center.
- No limit on total cash back earned.
- Rewards never expire.
- Earn an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or quickbooks
- 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 18.99% - 27.99%.
- No annual fee.
- Great Offer from U.S. Bank, a 2022 World's Most Ethical Company® - Ethisphere Institute, February 2022
- Terms and conditions apply
- Pay over time by splitting eligible purchases of $100+ into equal monthly payments with U.S. Bank ExtendPay™ Plan.
Pros
- 0% APR applies to both purchases and balance transfers
- Unlimited cash back rewards
- No annual fee
Cons
- Balance transfer fee is charged even during the introductory period
- Intro APR doesn’t apply to cash advances
- MasterRental car rental collision damage waiver: When you rent a car using your U.S. Bank credit card, you’re covered in case of accident or theft on all rentals made worldwide. Coverage is primary, which means you won’t need to use your personal auto insurance or accept the insurance offered by the rental agency. Coverage is capped at $50,000.
- Purchase assurance: U.S. Bank may repair or reimburse for items purchased with your U.S. Bank business credit card that are damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase. Coverage is limited to $1,000 per loss, up to $25,000 per year, per account. Lost items and items left out of reach that others can see are not covered.
- Extended warranty protection: U.S. Bank will double the manufacturer’s warranty up to an additional one year from the expiration of warranties of five years or less. An item with a six-month warranty would be backed for an additional six months, for example. The issuer will replace the item or reimburse you up to the amount charged on your U.S. Bank card up to $10,000.
Intro APR
Regular APR
18.99% - 27.99% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Excellent/Good
- Earn $500 in cash back. Just spend $4500 on the Account Owner's card in the first 150 days of opening your account.
- Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants.
- 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases.
- Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center.
- No limit on total cash back earned.
- Rewards never expire.
- Earn an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or quickbooks
- 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 18.99% - 27.99%.
- No annual fee.
- Great Offer from U.S. Bank, a 2022 World's Most Ethical Company® - Ethisphere Institute, February 2022
- Terms and conditions apply
- Pay over time by splitting eligible purchases of $100+ into equal monthly payments with U.S. Bank ExtendPay™ Plan.
Pros
- 0% APR applies to both purchases and balance transfers
- Unlimited cash back rewards
- No annual fee
Cons
- Balance transfer fee is charged even during the introductory period
- Intro APR doesn’t apply to cash advances
- MasterRental car rental collision damage waiver: When you rent a car using your U.S. Bank credit card, you’re covered in case of accident or theft on all rentals made worldwide. Coverage is primary, which means you won’t need to use your personal auto insurance or accept the insurance offered by the rental agency. Coverage is capped at $50,000.
- Purchase assurance: U.S. Bank may repair or reimburse for items purchased with your U.S. Bank business credit card that are damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase. Coverage is limited to $1,000 per loss, up to $25,000 per year, per account. Lost items and items left out of reach that others can see are not covered.
- Extended warranty protection: U.S. Bank will double the manufacturer’s warranty up to an additional one year from the expiration of warranties of five years or less. An item with a six-month warranty would be backed for an additional six months, for example. The issuer will replace the item or reimburse you up to the amount charged on your U.S. Bank card up to $10,000.
- Is an excellent choice for those wanting a long interest-free financing option
- Has a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles
- Lets you earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals directly booked in the Travel Rewards Center; 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, office supply stores, cell phone service providers, and restaurants, and; 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
- Doesn’t charge annual fees
- Is one of our top-recommended 0% APR business credit cards
Do you need additional options? See our guides on the best Barclays business credit cards and the leading small business credit cards.
Bottom Line
AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard®, a foreign transaction fee-free card, is best for business owners who fly with American Airlines and its partner airlines regularly. It allows you to earn rewards that can be used for free flights, and with AAdvantage® Status, using the card can help you increase the miles earned for more rewards.
