United Gateway vs Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red: Which Is Better In 2025?

AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® stands out to us.

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• You can earn the welcome offer after making just a single purchase and paying the annual fee, making it one of the simplest bonuses to achieve.
• Cardholders receive valuable travel perks like a free first checked bag and preferred boarding on American Airlines flights, which enhance the travel experience.
• Checking a bag on just three domestic American Airlines flights a year can offset the card's $99 annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• An easily attainable welcome offer without a high spending requirement.
• A strong set of travel benefits for American Airlines flyers, including a companion certificate, preferred boarding, and a free checked bag.
• No foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.

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Cons

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• Carries an annual fee that may not be justifiable for those who don't fly American Airlines regularly.
• Limited rewards on everyday spending, as the higher earning rate only applies to American Airlines purchases.
• Lacks an introductory APR offer for new cardholders on purchases or balance transfers.

AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® vs United Gateway

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, United Gateway or Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red, comes down to your travel habits and what you value in a card. Each card caters to a different type of airline loyalist, offering distinct benefits for their respective carriers.

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• United Gateway℠ Card: This card is best for occasional United flyers, credit card beginners, or budget-conscious travelers who want to earn miles without committing to a premium card.
• AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®: This card is designed for frequent American Airlines flyers who want to earn miles quickly and take advantage of exclusive travel perks like preferred boarding.

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Redemption

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United Gateway℠ Card: Points earned with this card can be redeemed for flights on United and its partner airlines, as well as for hotel stays, car rentals, and other travel-related experiences through the United MileagePlus program.

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AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®: Miles earned are redeemable for flights on American Airlines and its oneworld® partners, along with upgrades, car rentals, hotel stays, and other travel rewards.

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Travel Perks

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• Free Checked Bag: A key difference is the baggage allowance. The AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® provides the first checked bag free for the cardholder and up to four companions on domestic American Airlines flights, a perk not offered by the United Gateway℠ Card.
• Priority Boarding: When it's time to board, AAdvantage® Aviator® Red cardholders get a head start with preferred boarding for themselves and up to four travel partners on the same reservation. The United Gateway℠ Card does not offer this benefit.
• In-Flight Benefits: Both cards offer savings on board. The United Gateway℠ Card provides 25% back as a statement credit on in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi. The AAdvantage® Aviator® Red card offers 25% savings on in-flight food and drinks, plus an annual statement credit for in-flight Wi-Fi purchases on eligible flights.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: For international travelers, the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red card is the more suitable option, as it comes with no foreign transaction fees. The United Gateway℠ Card, however, does include a foreign transaction fee.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make the decision-making process easier, a tool like Kudos can help you compare top-rated cards based on your own spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards: You can test drive a card using your real spending data to see personalized reward projections before you apply, without impacting your credit score.
• Detailed approval odds: Get a comprehensive analysis of your card approval odds based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer within three months of being approved for a card through Kudos, the platform will match it.
• Extra rewards and tracking: Earn Kudos Boost rewards on top of your regular card points and monitor your transactions, spending, and credit score.
• $100 Kudos Kickstart+ reward: By adding certain approved cards to your Kudos Wallet, you can unlock a $100 reward.

Who Should Choose the United Gateway?

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The United Gateway℠ Card is a strong contender for occasional United Airlines flyers and those new to travel rewards who want to avoid an annual fee. Its benefits, such as no foreign transaction fees and an introductory 0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months, appeal to budget-conscious travelers and existing Chase customers. As this card review explains, it's a straightforward way to earn MileagePlus miles on everyday spending without the commitment of a premium card.

Who Should Choose the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®?

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This card is an excellent choice for frequent American Airlines flyers looking to rapidly accumulate AAdvantage miles. It also appeals to travelers who prioritize perks like a free first checked bag and preferred boarding on domestic flights. Those with good to excellent credit who can take advantage of the annual companion certificate will find the most value in this travel rewards card.

Alternatives to Consider

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If a head-to-head of the United Gateway℠ Card and Barclays' AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® leaves you unconvinced, don't worry. There are plenty of other travel cards that might be a better fit for your spending and travel habits.

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_{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.}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score: Most travel rewards cards require good to excellent credit, a common requirement for cards like the AAdvantage Aviator Red card.
• Understand issuer rules: Be aware of application restrictions, such as Chase's 5/24 rule, which could impact your approval.
• Plan your spending: Make sure you can naturally meet any minimum spending requirement for a welcome offer without overspending.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application: Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement.
• Look for easy-to-earn bonuses: Some cards, like the Aviator Red card, offer a bonus after just one purchase.
• Consider the offer structure: Some issuers let you see your offer before committing to a hard credit inquiry.

Our Methodology

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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.

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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

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Which card is better for infrequent flyers?

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For infrequent flyers, the choice depends on which airline's routes best suit your occasional travel needs. The United Gateway Card has no annual fee, making it a cost-effective way to earn miles, while the AAdvantage Aviator Red Card offers a free checked bag, which can provide immediate value even on a single trip.

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Can I transfer other credit card points to United or American Airlines?

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United is a transfer partner of major programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards, allowing you to combine points from other cards. American Airlines has fewer transfer partners, making a co-branded card like the AAdvantage Aviator Red one of the most direct ways to accumulate AAdvantage miles.

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Are the miles earned from these cards different from miles earned by flying?

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No, the miles you earn from card spending are the same type of miles you earn from flying and are deposited into your airline loyalty account. They can be combined and redeemed for flights, upgrades, and other rewards through the airline's program.

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