Updated: October 21, 2024
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The AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Silver Mastercard® and the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® are both excellent choices for American Airlines loyalists. The Aviator Red World Elite is slightly better due to its lower annual fee and generous sign-up bonus.
However, the Aviator World Elite Silver provides 3X miles on airline purchases and other benefits like Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, making it worth considering for those seeking premium travel experiences.
The Aviator World Elite Silver is likely to be better for frequent American Airlines travelers who value premium travel benefits, with 3X miles on American Airlines purchases and two companion certificates after meeting spending requirements. However, the higher annual fee and lack of a sign-up bonus may not suit those who travel less frequently or are budget-conscious.
The Aviator Red World Elite is a good choice for budget-conscious travelers who frequently fly with American Airlines and want a lower annual fee and a generous sign-up bonus. This card also offers priority boarding, a free checked bag and travel insurance. However, it may not be the best fit for those who want to earn more miles on non-airline purchases or need more than one companion certificate annually.
Understanding the differences in key aspects like APRs, fees and rewards between the Aviator Red World Elite and Aviator World Elite Silver can help you choose the best card for your travel and spending habits. For instance, if you're focused on earning miles, the Aviator Silver card offers 3X miles on American Airlines purchases, compared to 2X with the Aviator Red card.
Regular APR: Tie
Aviator Red World Elite and Aviator World Elite Silver offer the same regular APR range of 21.24%–29.99% variable.
Annual Fee: Aviator Red World Elite
The Aviator Red World Elite has a lower annual fee of $99 compared to the Aviator World Elite Silver's $199.
Introductory 0% APRs: Tie
Neither the Aviator Red World Elite nor the Aviator World Elite Silver offers an introductory 0% APR on purchases or balance transfers.
Rewards: Aviator World Elite Silver
The Aviator World Elite Silver has better rewards, offering 3X miles on American Airlines purchases and 2X on hotels and car rentals. In contrast, the Aviator Red World Elite provides 2X miles only on American Airlines purchases.
Welcome Offers: Aviator Red World Elite
The Aviator Red World Elite card offers a better welcome offer of 60,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after your first purchase and payment of the $99 annual fee within 90 days. The Aviator World Elite Silver card does not have a welcome bonus.
Recommended Credit Score: Tie
The Aviator Red and Aviator Silver require a credit score of 670–850.
Penalties and Fees: Aviator Red World Elite
Both cards have similar late fees up to $40, no penalty APR and cash advance fees of either $10 or 5%, but the Aviator Red World Elite also has no foreign transaction fees.
Issuer Satisfaction: Tie
Both the Silver and Red cards are issued by Barclays and share the same issuer satisfaction score.
Card Benefits: Aviator Red World Elite
The Aviator Red World Elite has better card benefits, offering valuable perks like travel insurance and in-flight savings. It also provides a companion certificate for one guest and up to $25 back on in-flight Wi-Fi.
Both cards earn AAdvantage miles, valued at approximately 1.6 cents, making them valuable for frequent flyers. However, the Aviator World Elite Silver card offers a better overall value due to its higher earning rates on American Airlines purchases, hotels and car rentals.
The following table will break down the bonus categories for each card, allowing you to compare their rewards structures at a glance.
Category | Aviator World Elite Silver | Aviator Red World Elite |
|---|---|---|
American Airlines Purchases | 3X miles | 2X miles |
Hotels | 2X miles | 1X miles |
Car Rentals | 2X miles | 1X miles |
All Other Purchases | 1X miles | 1X miles |
The Aviator Red card allows you to redeem miles with over 20 partner airlines. Non-travel redemption options are limited, and miles expire after 18 months of inactivity. In contrast, the Aviator Silver card has more flexible redemption options, including flights, car rentals and Ticketmaster tickets, with miles remaining valid as long as the account is open.
The Aviator Red offers valuable perks like a free checked bag and priority boarding, making it suitable for budget-conscious travelers. However, the Aviator Silver stands out to frequent travelers seeking convenience and savings with its Global Entry credit and two companion certificates.
The Aviator World Elite Silver card offers a range of perks for frequent travelers and those seeking to maximize their travel experience with American Airlines.
Travel Perks
Status
Credits & Discounts
All Other Perks
The Aviator Red World Elite card has different perks catering to frequent travelers and those seeking travel-related benefits.
Travel Perks
Status
Insurance & Protections
Credits & Discounts
All Other Perks
The Aviator Red World Elite has an annual fee of $99, while the Aviator World Elite Silver has a fee of $199.
The Aviator World Elite Silver offers 3X miles on American Airlines purchases, compared to 2X miles with the Aviator Red World Elite.
Yes, the Aviator Red World Elite offers a sign-up bonus of 60,000 miles after the first purchase and paying the annual fee.
Neither card charges foreign transaction fees, making them suitable for international travel.
The Aviator World Elite Silver offers a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit every five years.
MoneyGeek's scoring process evaluates each card based on multiple use cases, ensuring the scores reflect the cards' strengths. In this comparison, the scores shown represent the best performance of each card in the 'Airline' category. Several factors determine this score:
For more details on our scoring process, review our ranking methodology.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
