Citi to grow to be unique AA card issuer, Barclays playing cards to be discontinued

Citi is a TPG promoting companion.

American Airways and Citi have introduced the extension of their longstanding cobranded partnership for the subsequent decade. The partnership, which has lasted over 37 years, will see Citi grow to be the unique issuer of the AAdvantage cobranded card portfolio beginning 2026.

In saying the 10-year extension, American Airways CEO Robert Isom mentioned, “American is proud to have launched the primary airline loyalty program, and with Citi, the journey trade’s first cobranded bank card.”

The American Airways-Citi relationship has spanned nearly 40 years, however there was a bizarre quirk within the airline’s cobranded card portfolio for the previous decade.

Whereas American’s rivals have unique relationships with card issuers — Delta with American Categorical, and United and Southwest with Chase — American has partnered with two issuers. That is as a result of American took on Barclays as its second card issuer because of the airline’s merger with US Airways in 2013.

Since then, the association has been that Citi can market its American Airways co-branded playing cards on-line, at airport lounges and thru junk mail, whereas Barclays can market its American Airways co-branded playing cards inflight and in airport terminals. From 2026, nevertheless, Citi will take over the Barclays AAdvantage card portfolio, transitioning present cardholders into its ecosystem.

Barclays used to problem one enterprise and 4 private playing cards below its AAdvantage Aviator portfolio. Nevertheless, just one is presently out there to new candidates: the AAdvantage Aviator Pink World Elite Mastercard.

The data for the Pink World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

Savvy points-and-miles collectors would possibly contemplate making use of for this card sooner slightly than later, given that it’s going to near new candidates, doubtlessly earlier than the tip of 2025. They will earn 60,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after making only a single buy inside 90 days and paying its $99 annual price.

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Nevertheless, you probably have an upcoming flight on American Airways, you would possibly need to seize an software from a cabin crew member. TPG bank cards editor Emily Thompson obtained an additional 10,000 miles by making use of by means of the QR code on an inflight software. I’ve a flight with American subsequent week, so I may also be searching for an software.

I’ve had the Aviator Pink card earlier than, however Barclays has fairly lenient software restrictions. Whereas not concrete or confirmed, the advice is that you just shut a card after which wait not less than six months earlier than making use of for it once more to be eligible for the welcome bonus.

With Citi holding unique rights over the AAdvantage cobranded portfolio, we might even see additionally AAdvantage added as a switch companion of the Citi ThankYou Factors program. This might be welcome information as we worth Citi factors decrease than most of its main rivals, together with Amex, Chase, and Capital One.

Citi supplied a limited-time switch alternative of changing Citi factors to AAdvantage miles within the second half of 2021. It is going to be attention-grabbing to see if that’s introduced again on an ongoing foundation. The addition of American could be a welcome enhancement to this system and doubtlessly improve the worth of Citi factors.

We reached out to Citi and a spokesperson mentioned:

The enlargement and extension of our relationship with American Airways will positively impression our present and new buyer base as we introduce new merchandise and advantages sooner or later and produce expanded loyalty and rewards choices for AAdvantage® members and Citi-branded cardmembers. We aren’t sharing specifics at the moment. Keep tuned.

That signifies that the switch alternative is unsure, regardless that we hope it eventuates. We’ll preserve you posted on any future bulletins from Citi and AA.