Small correction: Silver cardholders can still earn 3,000 EQD after $50,000 in spend.
One of the benefits of the Barclays American Airlines cards is the ability to earn Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQD’s). Cardholders that spend $25,000 in a calendar year receive 3,000 EQDs and Aviator silver cards can spend a further $25,000 and receive another 3,000 EQD (e.g $50,000 spend for a total of 6,000 EQD). Barclays is removing this benefit, when it’s removed will depend on when you signed up for the card.
- If you signed up before 1/1/2018 then starting 1/1/2019 it will no longer be possible to earn EQD
- If you signed up after 1/1/2018 but before 10/31/2018 then starting 1/1/2020 it will no longer be possible to earn EQD
Keep in mind it has already been announced that Barclays will be improving benefits on this card in 2019, we need to see what those improvements are before understanding this EQD change fully. Personally I’d never spend $25,000 on any of these cards anyway and I also don’t care about elite status – but I know some people did utilize this card benefit so it will be interesting to see what it is replaced with. Also worth remembering you can currently get a 60,500 mile bonus on the personal card and 60,000 mile bonus on the business card.
My letter for AA silver says $3,000EQD for $50,000 spend.
yes. now only silver has the EQD option and it takes 50k for a measly 3k. better than nothing i guess. its clear AA is copying DL. not surprising given AA copied DL in lounge access earlier.
yep not spending $50K for only $3K EQDs. Rather fly business class and get rid of the card (maybe).
I wonder how many people actually put this enormous spend on these cards for this benefit. If the spending requirements would have been more modest, I probably would have done it. Having even silver elite status on AA is quite helpful if you frequently fly AA, especially since they allocate so few “decent” seats to non-elites for free. But there’s no way that fairly modest perk is worth 25K in spend.
just applied for the biz card last night… rejected (maybe due to the jetblue biz card 2 weeks ago? we’ll see when the letter comes)
is there a way to spend enough money on the credit card to earn top tier statues? if you have all the personal/ business aviator and silver cards?
Just picked up the aviator business for this exact benefit…hopefully the change only affects the personal cards. But that’s just wishful thinking…
It has been discussed the business version will not lose this benefit on one of the threads.
sweet, thanks!
You sure? I thought the same letter was sent out to business cardholders
The Aviator site still shows 3,000 EQDs after $25k in spend per year listed as a benefit for the business card, but all references of EQDs were removed from the personal card list. Anybody know if business benefit is going away too?
Airlines are making it increasingly clear they just want people who pony up tons of cash for premium fares to be high level elites.
I can’t blame them but at the same time I’ve entirely given up any favoritism towards a carrier when picking flights.
Good excuse to get better retention offer?
That’s what I was thinking. I’d settle for them waiving the AF.
I believe the Aviator Silver can still earn $3k EQD instead of $6k EQD.
correct. takes 50k tho. doc was probably just too busy.
Can’t get approved anymore for a Barc so meh.
+1 Let us back in! lol
lol same here
How did you guys get blacklisted by BC?
Not sure really it was fine until the second half of this year.
They’re extremely sensitive to recent inquiries as well as total cards with Barclaycard.