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Amex Gold vs Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- The American Express® Gold Card is ideal for foodies and travelers, offering high rewards on dining worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. Terms Apply. (See Rates & Fees)
- The AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® is a great choice for frequent American Airlines flyers looking to earn miles and enjoy travel perks like a free checked bag.
American Express® Gold Card Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at why we’re fans of the American Express® Gold Card (See Rates & Fees).
- The card offers an excellent rewards rate on everyday purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.
- Valuable monthly credits for dining and Uber help make the annual fee more manageable.
- New cardmembers can get a head start on earning with a generous Welcome Offer.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Pros
- High rewards rate on spending at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Annual credits for dining and Uber can help offset the card's annual fee.
- Flexible points that can be transferred to a variety of airline and hotel partners.
Cons
- Carries a notable annual fee.
- Statement credits are split into monthly increments, which can make them difficult to use fully, and some benefits require enrollment.
- Not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard, particularly at smaller merchants or internationally.
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a breakdown of the key features that make the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® a valuable tool for frequent American Airlines flyers.
- It offers a valuable welcome bonus that is exceptionally easy to earn after making a single purchase and paying the annual fee.
- You'll enjoy key travel benefits like a free first checked bag and preferred boarding on domestic American Airlines itineraries.
- The card includes an annual companion certificate, allowing a guest to fly with you on a qualifying domestic trip for a reduced price.
Pros
- Generous welcome offer: The card’s welcome offer is exceptionally easy to earn compared to competitors.
- Valuable travel perks: Enjoy benefits like a free checked bag, preferred boarding, and inflight savings on American Airlines flights.
- Annual companion certificate: Receive a companion certificate each year on your account anniversary, which allows a guest to travel with you for a reduced fare on a qualifying domestic flight.
Cons
- Annual Fee: The card comes with an annual fee, and its main benefits are tied exclusively to American Airlines, making it less suitable for travelers who are not loyal to the airline.
- Limited Rewards: Its rewards earning potential is low on everyday, non-American Airlines purchases, and the AAdvantage program lacks the flexibility of transferable points offered by other travel cards.
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® vs American Express® Gold Card
Categories
Deciding which is better Amex Gold or Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red depends on your spending habits and travel style. Each card is built for a different type of consumer, excelling in its own niche.
- American Express® Gold Card is best for frequent travelers and foodies who want to earn flexible rewards on dining and travel. It's a premium card that offers strong earning rates across broad spending categories.
- AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® is ideal for travelers loyal to American Airlines who value exclusive airline-specific benefits. The card's perks are designed to directly enhance the flying experience with the carrier.
Redemption
American Express® Gold Card: Points earned with this card are highly flexible, offering redemption options through the American Express travel portal or by transferring to a wide array of airline and hotel partners. This versatility allows cardholders to book travel and other rewards across different loyalty programs.
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®: Rewards are earned as AAdvantage® miles, which are best redeemed for flights with American Airlines and its Oneworld® alliance partners. Cardholders can use miles for award tickets, seat upgrades, and other airline-specific perks.
Travel Perks
- American Express® Gold Card: Cardholders can book travel through the American Express travel portal. The card has no foreign transaction fee and provides annual statement credits for dining and Uber Cash, which can be used while traveling. Terms apply. It does not offer complimentary airport lounge access.
- AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®: This card does not have a proprietary travel portal; miles are redeemed with American Airlines and its partners. It has no foreign transaction fee. Key perks are tied directly to flying with American Airlines, including a first checked bag free on domestic itineraries for the cardmember and up to four companions, preferred boarding, and an annual companion certificate after meeting spending and renewal requirements.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To take the guesswork out of choosing your next card, a tool like Kudos can provide personalized comparisons based on your actual spending.
- Use the “Test Drive” feature to simulate your potential earnings with any card by analyzing your real transaction history, all without a hard credit pull.
- Get a detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards based on your credit report.
- Receive a welcome offer guarantee, where Kudos will match any better public offer you find within three months of approval.
- Unlock rewards like the $100 Kudos Kickstart+ for adding select eligible cards to your Kudos Wallet.
Who Should Choose the American Express® Gold Card?
The American Express® Gold Card is tailor-made for foodies and frequent travelers who can maximize its rewards on everyday spending. Cardholders earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year (then 1X), making it a powerhouse for both dining out and cooking at home. Additionally, those who can leverage the up to $120 in annual dining credits and up to $120 in Uber Cash will find significant value that can offset the card's annual fee. Terms Apply.
Who Should Choose the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®?
The AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® is tailor-made for frequent flyers loyal to American Airlines who want to earn AAdvantage miles on their everyday spending. This cardholder values practical travel perks, such as a free first checked bag and preferred boarding, which enhance their travel experience on domestic American Airlines flights. Typically possessing a good to excellent credit score, the ideal user can also maximize the card's value by utilizing the annual companion certificate for discounted travel.
Alternatives to Consider
If neither the American Express® Gold Card nor the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® feels like the right fit after our Amex Gold vs Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red comparison, don't worry. There are several other excellent rewards cards to consider that might be a better match for your wallet.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score - Good to excellent credit is typically required for approval.
- Plan your spending - Ensure you can comfortably meet the spending requirement for the welcome offer.
- Research your rewards - Have a plan for how you will use the points or miles you earn.
Application Strategy
- Know the issuer's rules, as many have restrictions on earning a welcome offer if you're a current or recent cardholder.
- Consider the card's ecosystem, whether it offers flexible points or is co-branded with a specific airline or hotel.
- Look beyond the welcome offer to ensure the card's ongoing benefits will provide value for you year after year.
Our Methodology
We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.
Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer points from the American Express® Gold Card to American Airlines?
American Express Membership Rewards points do not transfer directly to the American Airlines AAdvantage program. However, you can book American Airlines flights by transferring points to other partner airlines, such as British Airways or Iberia.
Does the American Express® Gold Card have an annual fee?
Yes, the American Express® Gold Card has an annual fee. Cardholders often find that the value from the card's various credits and rewards can help offset this cost.
What are the best ways to earn miles with the AAdvantage Aviator Red Card?
The AAdvantage Aviator Red Card primarily rewards spending on eligible American Airlines purchases with an accelerated earning rate. All other purchases typically earn one mile for every dollar you spend.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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