Getting to Know the AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard®
The AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard® is a co-branded business rewards credit card geared towards small to medium-sized companies. The card offers a relatively low $95 annual fee and complimentary employee cards – two great features that make the perks even more enticing.
What are the perks, you ask? Cardholders receive one free checked bag on domestic American Airlines-operated flights, as well as preferred boarding and in-flight savings on food and drinks. When meeting an annual spend, account holders also receive a companion certificate, good for one companion fare priced at $95.
The AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard®: earns 2x miles for eligible purchases with American, or at the office supply store, with telecom companies, or on car rentals. All other purchases earn 1 mile for every dollar spent. New account holders earn 75,000 miles when they make just $1,000 in purchases within 90 days of opening an account, plus an additional 10,000 miles when an employee uses their card to make a purchase.
How It Works
Cardholders can expect the following from the AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard®:
How to Earn Rewards:
Fly with American Airlines: AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard® members can earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every eligible dollar they spend with American Airlines.
Office Supply, Telecom, and Car Rental Purchases:.Using the AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard® for purchases at the office supply store, with telecom companies, or when renting a vehicle earns 2 miles for every dollar spent. Cardholders can earn even more bonus miles when they book their vehicle rentals through an AAdvantage® rental car partner. Qualifying rentals with AAdvantage® partners earn up to an additional 500 AAdvantage®. AAdvantage® rental partners include Avis, Budget, Payless, Alamo, Hertz, National, Thrifty, Dollar, Carmel, Europcar, Sixt, ExecuCar, and more.
Everyday Purchases: Cardholders earn 1 AAdvantage® mile for every other dollar spent on eligible purchases.
Airlines Partners: Cardholders and AAdvantage® members can also earn miles when they use their AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard® to book their travel with one of American Airline’s Oneworld partners. AAdvantage® miles can also be earned with bookings through other American Airlines codeshare partners. These partners include Air Tahiti Nui, Alaska Airlines, Cape Air, Etihad, Fiji Airways, Gulf Air, Hawaiian Airlines, Interjet, Seaborne Airlines, Silver Airways, and WestJet.
Hotel Stays: Earn miles when making booking hotels with partners. Partners include Marriott Bonvoy, InterContinental, Hyatt, RocketMiles, Best Western, Choice Hotels, Fiesta Americana Hotels, Langham, Melia Hotels International, Millennium Okura–Nikko, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Wyndham, and Worldhotels.
Vacations and Cruises: Cardmembers can also earn miles when they book vacations or cruises through American Airlines.
Other Ways to Earn: AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard® members also earn AAdvantage® when they take advantage of select offers available through the AAdvantage® plan.
Miles Expiration: AAdvantage® miles expire after 18 months of inactivity on the AAdvantage® account.
How to Redeem Miles:
Travel: AAdvantage® members can use their miles for travel on American Airlines, American Eagle®, Oneworld airlines, and partner airlines on flights to over 1,000 destinations worldwide.
Seat Upgrades: AAdvantage® members can use their bonus miles to purchase.seat upgrades on American Airlines, British Airways, or Iberia flights, or flights with other Oneworld carriers.
Status Upgrades: AAdvantage® members can use their miles for purchasing or renewing Admiral Club status, including lounge access worldwide.
Vacations: Miles can be used to purchase vacations through Oneworld partners.
Car Rentals: Miles are applicable for vehicle rentals at over 500 locations worldwide.
Hotels: Miles can be used towards bookings with over 150,000 properties in over 500 locations worldwide.
Gift Miles: Miles may also be gifted to friends and family members.
Spending with Oneworld Partners: Members can apply miles towards qualifying retail partners for goods and services including magazine subscriptions, newspapers, gift cards, and theft prevention services.
Today’s Bonus Offer
New account holders can earn up to 75,000 AAdvantage® miles when they use their AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard: Earn 65,000 bonus miles when making over $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of opening an account, and an additional 10,000 miles when a purchase is made on an employee card. Employee cards are also complimentary, which is a nice feature of this card.
The Plane Facts
Can you expect a smooth flight from the AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard®, or will there be turbulence?
Annual Fee: The AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard® features a $95 annual fee. This yearly rate is par for the course when compared to other business airline cards, but is a good value given the rewards on offer.
Airline and Airport Perks:
Bonus Qualifying Dollars: AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard® cardholders earn an annual bonus of $3,000 in Elite Qualifying Dollars when they make $25,000 or more in purchases each year. Elite Qualifying Dollars are applicable towards Oneworld and AAdvantage® status upgrades. This provides access to a suite of amazing perks. Perks include lounge access, priority boarding, and more.
First Checked Bag is Free: Cardholders receive a complimentary first checked bag on all domestic flights operated by American Airlines.
In-Flight Savings: Cardholders receive 25% in-flight savings when they use their AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard® for food and beverage purchases on American-operated flights.
Preferred Boarding: Cardholders receive preferred boarding on American-operated flights when they use their AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard® or employee card when booking.
Cardholder Protections:
Fraud Protection: Cardholders have complete protection from all fraudulent or unauthorized transactions made on their Mastercard®, meaning they have 0% liability should something happen.
Chip Card Technology: Chip technology adds a layer of security. It also offers near-global acceptance for the card.
Additional Benefits:
Companion Certificate: Account holders receive a companion certificate good for one companion fare of $99 on their account anniversary. They get this award after they spend more than $30,000 in a calendar year.
Share Miles: Cardmembers can send and receive miles with friends and family.
One-Off Companion Discount: New cardholders receive a one-time 50% companion discount on round trip travel between North America and Hawaii through Hawaiian Airlines.
Complimentary Employee Cards: Companies can earn their rewards even faster, as the AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard® features additional employee cards at no extra cost.
The Perks That Make the AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard® Worthwhile:
What are some of the pros that set this card ahead of the rest?
Rewards Flexibility: AAdvantage® miles are very flexible in redemption,. This allows members to redeem them for travel with any American Airlines partner. The options include flights, hotels, rental cars, or with select partner retailers and restaurants worldwide.
No Foreign Transaction Fees: Cardholders pay no foreign transaction fees, making this card an excellent tool for world travelers.
Complimentary Employee Cards: Free cards for employees makes it even easier for companies to reach their rewards goals.
Potential Turbulence with the AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard®:
What are some cons that take the wind from beneath this card’s wings?
AAdvantage® Program: The card finds its most significant fault in the AAdvantage® plan itself. One issue with the AAdvantage® program is the lack of great options available for booking flights. While there are no blackout dates per se, there are minimal seating options available. Fortunately, booking with Oneworld partners is possible. While it may cost more miles, the availability of seats with partners is far greater.
Thoughts Before Takeoff
The AAdvantage® Aviator® is a reliable card for companies whose business takes them anywhere on the globe. American flies to nearly 100 international destinations and an equally impressive 95 domestic destinations. Businesses have access to well over 1,300 global airports in every corner of the world.
When it comes to earning AAdvantage miles, the card does a solid job. The card earns 2x miles for eligible purchases with American or with telecom, rental car, and office supply retailers. It also earns 1x miles everywhere else. Employee cards are complimentary, making it even easier to earn miles faster. New accounts also earn 65,000 when they spend $1,000 or more in the first 90 days. They’ll also get an additional 10,000 miles when an employee makes a purchase using their card
The card also offers some great perks for members, including a complimentary first checked bag on domestic American flights, in-flight savings, preferred boarding, and a companion fare when purchase requirements are met each anniversary. The fairly low $95 annual fee makes these perks even more impressive.
Overall, the AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard® is a very good business rewards card that any small-to-medium-sized business should consider. Even though the AAdvantage® program has some drawbacks (as previously mentioned), the ability to apply rewards for a variety of different redemption options, as well as the ability to book with Oneworld alliance members, means this card’s decent rewards can go a long way to saving companies money.