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Barclays offers dozens of co-branded credit cards to those in the United States. Currently, three of these airline credit cards are offering phenomenal welcome bonuses potentially worth thousands in award travel. Here are these Barclays credit cards offering amazing sign-up bonuses and what you need to know about each card.
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Three Barclays Airline Credit Cards with Amazing Welcome Bonuses
These three Barclays co-branded credit cards feature welcome bonuses that stand out compared to other Barclays-issued cards. The following cards currently offer eligible new cardholders excellent sign-up bonuses:
- AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard®
- JetBlue Business Card
- Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard®
Two of the three cards listed above are small business credit cards. Many readers a quick to dismiss their eligibility for business credit cards. However, people often are surprised to find out that they are eligible to receive a small business credit card.
The three cards listed earn either American Airlines AAdvantage miles, JetBlue TrueBlue points, or Miles & More miles. All three are solid frequent flyer programs offering members the ability to redeem their points or miles for travel across the globe on dozens of partner airlines.
Here is a breakdown of the current welcome bonuses and some of the top benefits offered by each credit card.
The Aviator Business with a welcome bonus of up to 75,000 miles
New applicants for the Aviator Business can earn a welcome bonus of up to 75,000 bonus miles. Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. Plus, earn 15,000 bonus miles after spending a total of $15,000 on purchases in the first 12 months.
Recent valuations of AAdvantage miles vary anywhere from 1 cent to 1.77 cents per mile. If you assume a value in the middle of of just 1.4 cents per mile, 75,000 AAdvantage miles would provide more than $1,000 of value.
Related: Complete Guide to American Airlines Elite Status
The Aviator Business also offers cardholders the option to earn a $99 companion ticket after qualifying spend. To earn the $99 companion ticket, cardholders must spend at least $30,000 in a calendar year. Cardholders who reach the minimum spend requirements will receive their companion ticket on the anniversary of their account. Cardholders also earn a 5% mileage bonus on each account anniversary, based on the miles earned with your card during the previous 12 months.
The Aviator Business charges an annual fee of $95. The card also comes with additional benefits and features. Most notably, cardholders and up to four companions can receive their first checked bag at no cost on domestic itineraries operated by American Airlines. Cardholders also receive 25% back on in-flight food and drink purchases, as well as preferred boarding.
Here's how you'll earn AAdvantage miles when you use your Aviator Business Card:
- 2x AAdvantage miles for every dollar spent with American Airlines
- 2x AAdvantage miles for every dollar spent at eligible office supply, telecom, and car rental merchants
- 1x AAdvantage miles for every dollar spent on all other purchases
Remember that each dollar you spend on an AAdvantage credit card earns Loyalty Points toward AAdvantage elite status. Unfortunately, bonus points — both the sign-up bonus and the spending category bonuses — don't augment your Loyalty Points.
Related: Playing the American Airlines Loyalty Points game
The JetBlue Business Card with a welcome bonus of up to 75,000 bonus points
Currently, when you open a new JetBlue Business Card, you will be eligible to earn up to 75,000 bonus points. Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. Plus, earn 15,000 bonus points after spending a total of $15,000 on purchases in your first year as a cardmember.
Related: A Guide to JetBlue's Newly Revamped TrueBlue Loyalty Program
In recent redemptions, AwardWallet users have redeemed JetBlue points at 1.23¢ each. At 1.23¢ per point, the welcome bonus would net you over $900 in value.
The JetBlue Business Card comes with a $99 annual fee and various benefits. Cardholders and up to three companions receive their first checked bag free of charge when traveling with JetBlue. Additionally, cardholders receive 50% back on in-flight purchases made with JetBlue.
Other benefits include the ability to earn tiles toward Mosaic status. Plus, cardholders will get an account anniversary bonus of 5,000 TrueBlue points and receive 10% of their points back when redeeming for travel on JetBlue flights.
Here's how you'll earn JetBlue TrueBlue points with the JetBlue Business Card:
- 6x points per dollar spent on purchases made with JetBlue
- 2x points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants and office supply stores
- 1x points per dollar spent on all other purchases
Miles & More World Elite Mastercard with a 100,000-mile welcome bonus
New Miles & More World Elite Mastercard cardholders can earn 100,000 bonus miles after qualifying spend. Earn 100,000 award miles if you spend $3,000 in purchases and pay the annual fee, both within the first 90 days.
Miles & More is the loyalty program for Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, and LOT Polish Airlines. However, Miles & More miles can be redeemed on dozens of Star Alliance partners as well.
AwardWallet users have redeemed Miles & More miles for an average redemption rate of 3.11¢ per mile. At 3.11¢ per mile, 100,000 miles will deliver more than $3,000 of value! This is no surprise, considering Miles & More miles are one of the easiest ways to score award flights in Lufthansa's phenomenal first-class product. Even if you value Miles & More at a conservative 1.5 cents per mile, 100,000 miles will net ~$1,500 in value.
The Miles & More World Elite Mastercard charges an $89 annual fee. After paying this annual fee, you will also receive benefits like two free Lufthansa Business Lounge vouchers and a complimentary companion ticket each year you renew your card.
Here's how you'll earn Miles & More miles with the Miles & More World Elite Mastercard:
- 2x miles per dollar spent on purchases made with most Miles & More partner airlines
- 1x miles per dollar spent on all other purchases
A Few Ways To Use Your Points or Miles
The sign-up bonuses offered by these three cards give cardholders ample opportunity to redeem their points or miles for travel across the globe. There is almost an endless number of ways to use the AAdvantage miles, TrueBlue points, or Miles & More miles from these bonuses. However, here are just some of the ways you can use those bonus points or miles for award travel.
Top choices for redeeming 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles
Fly from the United States to Australia from 70,000 miles roundtrip:
Travel to Japan from the United States in business class from 60,000 miles one-way:
Experience Qatar Airways QSuite from the United States to Doha from 70,000 miles one-way:
Redeeming 75,000 JetBlue TrueBlue points
Fly from the U.S. to Aruba from 21,200 points round-trip:
Travel in JetBlue Mint across the United States from 38,800 points one-way:
Redeeming 100,000 Miles & More miles
Fly between the United States and Europe in Lufthansa business class from 55,000 miles round-trip using Miles & More Mileage Bargains.
Experience Lufthansa first class between the Middle East and Europe from 65,000 miles:
Bottom Line
Welcome offers present the quickest and easiest way to rack up tons of points or miles. Currently, three co-branded credit cards issued by Barclays offer new cardholders lucrative sign-up bonuses potentially worth thousands in award travel.
For a limited time, new cardholders can earn up to 75,000 bonus points or miles with either American Airlines or JetBlue or 100,000 Miles & More miles. However, as these are limited-time offers, you will want to act fast to take advantage of this lucrative opportunity.
Do any of these co-branded credit cards stand out to you? Which welcome bonus seems to be the most lucrative?
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