Great news for those who have the version of the US Airways credit card that automatically awards 10,000 bonus miles each year. Barclaycard has announced that this benefit will continue once the US Airways and American Airlines loyalty programs combine.
This means that, regardless of other benefits of the card, paying the $89 annual fee is like buying American Airlines miles for less than a penny each (.89 cents each).
It’s very important to note, though, that you will only get this benefit if you signed up for this card with the 10K per year offer in-place. The current best offer I know of for this card (found here) does not include the 10K per year benefit.
I currently have two of these cards (which award 10K per year) in my name and my wife has one as well. So, without any effort at all, we’ll be able to buy 30,000 AA miles every year for only $267. I’ll take it.
Oh, and we’ll get a 25% in-flight discount too (I wonder what would happen if we bought AA gift cards from flight attendants on-board? Is it possible?).
For details about the benefits we lose, see: US Airways MasterCard Changes for 2015.