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Way back in 2024, Citi announced a piece of news that seemed kind of inevitable: it had acquired the Barclays American Airlines co-branded card portfolio and would become the sole issuer of AAdvantage credit cards. This also marked the beginning of the end for the Aviator cards, as the bank shared plans to transition cardholders to Citi-issued products sometime in 2026.
Now that 2026 is here, we finally have a clearer picture of what that process will look like, including a defined timeline and more detailed information about what should (hopefully) be a smooth conversion. And it’s about to officially kick off.
If you’re a Barclays Aviator AAdvantage cardholder, read on for everything you need to know about how your account will soon transfer over to Citi.
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Citi Is Becoming the Sole Issuer of American Airlines AAdvantage Cards
It’s official. On April 24, 2026, eligible AAdvantage Aviator credit card accounts will begin transferring to Citibank. Around this date, Citi will start mailing replacement cards to Barclays Aviator cardholders whose accounts are moving over. There’s no need to opt in, apply for a new card, or take any action.
Instead, you’ll simply wait for your new Citi card to arrive, which should happen within 6 to 8 weeks of late April. In the meantime, you can continue using your Barclays card until you activate your new Citi card.
So, if you’ve got one (or more) Aviator cards in your wallet, which Citi card will you end up with? We’re glad you asked. Here’s a simple breakdown of how the Aviator lineup maps to Citi’s products.
| This Barclays-issued card... | Converts to this Citi-issued card. |
|---|---|
| AAdvantage® Aviator® Mastercard® | American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card |
| AAdvantage® Aviator® Blue Mastercard® | Citi® / AAdvantage® Gold World Elite™ MasterCard® |
| AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® | Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® |
| AAdvantage® Aviator® Silver Mastercard® | Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® |
| AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard® | Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® |
Outside of the new physical card you’ll be receiving, your card number, and a few benefits here and there, almost everything about your new account will remain the same as your old Aviator account. This includes your cardmember anniversary date, your credit limit, and any existing PINs you may have.
Now, let’s get into the logistical details of the conversion process.
Logistics of the Citi AAdvantage Card Conversion Process
If we’re being honest, the logistics of the Barclays-to-Citi AAdvantage card conversion are fairly straightforward. But that said, there are a couple of elements worth drawing your attention to so you know what to expect.
Card shipping
According to Citi, new cards will start shipping on April 27, 2026, and should arrive within 6 to 8 weeks. Your replacement card will be mailed to the address currently on file with Barclays, so it’s worth double-checking that your info is up to date before Barclays officially passes the torch over to Citi on April 24.
If your new Citi card still hasn’t shown up by the end of that window (around June 26), give the number on the back of your Barclays card a call. Just keep in mind that your Barclays card will keep working right up until you activate your new Citi card.
Accessing your new Citi online account
If you don’t already have a Citi online account, you’ll be able to set one up starting April 27, 2026. And you won’t even need to wait for your new card to arrive. Citi will let you register for online access using your existing Barclays card number.
If you already have a Citi account, you’ll be able to link your Barclays Aviator card to it after logging in, also starting April 27.
Things work a little differently if you have the AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard®. Citi requires business cards to be managed under a separate login from personal cards. But starting April 27, you’ll still be able to link your Barclays business account or set up online access for the first time.
Authorized users
Citi will automatically mail authorized user cards to the primary account holder’s address on file. There’s no need to take any action to re-add authorized users on your new Citi account.
Carried over benefits
If you’ve earned benefits on your Barclays-issued AAdvantage card, they’ll still appear in your AAdvantage account (with the same expiration dates, if applicable) and won’t disappear. And if you’ve already made progress toward a benefit or credit, like a statement credit on inflight purchases, that progress will carry over to Citi as well.
Balances and preferences
Any existing balances, including Easy Pay balances, on your Barclays-issued card will automatically transfer to your new Citi account. Once the switch happens, you’ll make payments through Citi going forward.
One important thing to know is that if you have autopay set up with Barclays, any payments scheduled on or after April 24, 2026, will be canceled. Citi will begin accepting payments starting April 27, so you’ll want to set up online access or link your transferred card to your existing Citi account as soon as you’re able.
Also, Barclays Easy Pay will show up under a different name at Citi. Citi calls these Citi Flex Plans. The balance will transfer over automatically, but the new label can be a little confusing if you’re not expecting it.
Account settings and preferences
One thing that won’t transfer from Barclays to Citi is your account settings and preferences. That includes autopay, transaction alerts, electronic statement delivery, and more. So, once your new Citi card arrives, you’ll want to log in and set those preferences up again the way you like.
Already closed Barclays accounts
If you’ve already closed your Barclays account, or close it between now and April 24, 2026, it’s still possible that your account will transfer over to Citi, though you won’t receive a new card. However, any existing balance will move to Citi, and you’ll be able to make payments online, over the phone, or by mail.
Should You Keep Your Barclays Card Through the Transition?
Unlike some recent card transitions, this Barclays-to-Citi conversion doesn’t require any action on your part. If you have a Barclays Aviator card, Citi will automatically send you a comparable AAdvantage card.
That does raise an important question though. Should you just let the conversion happen, or should you close your Barclays account before April 24, 2026? The answer mostly comes down to two things.
First, do you already have the Citi card you’ll be receiving? For example, if you currently have both the Aviator Red and the AA Platinum Select, the conversion would leave you with two AA Platinum Select cards. If you don’t need duplicates, you might consider product changing one after the transition, or closing your Barclays account ahead of time.
Second, could this conversion affect your ability to earn a welcome bonus on a Citi card you want to apply for later? It’s still a bit unclear how Citi will treat these converted accounts, so it’s worth checking the application rules on any card you’re considering to make sure the transition won’t get in the way of a future bonus.
Ultimately, if you’re thinking about closing your Barclays card, just be sure to make that decision before April 24, 2026.
Final Thoughts
Citi is officially about to take over as the sole issuer of AAdvantage credit cards for U.S. applicants, which also means the end of the Barclays Aviator cards.
Starting April 27, 2026, Citi will begin shipping replacement AAdvantage cards, and you can keep using your Barclays card right up until you activate the new one.
But before your new card shows up, it’s worth taking a moment on or after April 27 to set up online account access with Citi, or link your transferred card to an existing Citi login. Citi will let you do this even before the new card arrives, and staying on top of things will help make sure you don’t miss a payment during the transition.
