Barclays has removed its co-branded American Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines credit cards from its website, preventing new customers from applying for these products online. The move follows separate strategic shifts by both airlines, including American Airlines consolidating its partnership with Citi and Hawaiian Airlines merging its loyalty program with Alaska Airlines.
Key Takeaways
- Barclays no longer accepts online applications for its American Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines credit cards.
- The change for American Airlines cards precedes Citi becoming the airline's exclusive U.S. card issuer by 2026.
- The removal of Hawaiian Airlines cards coincides with the integration of its loyalty program into the new Atmos Rewards program.
- Existing cardholders of both airlines can continue to use their Barclays cards as usual for the time being.
A Change in Barclays' Co-Branded Card Portfolio
Financial services company Barclays has quietly ceased offering several popular airline credit cards to new applicants through its official website. The affected products include the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard, the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®, and the Hawaiian Airlines® Business Mastercard®.
Potential applicants who now try to access the online application pages for these cards are met with error messages or are redirected to other web pages. This development signals a significant change in the co-branded credit card market, driven by evolving partnerships between banks and airlines.
While new online applications are halted, Barclays has indicated that current cardholders are not immediately impacted. They can continue to use their cards and receive the associated benefits as the transition periods unfold.
Background on Co-Branded Credit Cards
Co-branded credit cards are a partnership between a bank (the issuer) and a company, such as an airline or hotel chain. These cards offer rewards and benefits specific to the partner brand, like airline miles or hotel points, encouraging brand loyalty while providing revenue for both the bank and the partner company.
The American Airlines Transition to Citi
The removal of the AAdvantage Aviator Red card from the Barclays website is part of a larger, long-term shift for American Airlines' credit card program. In late 2024, it was announced that Citi would become the exclusive issuer of American Airlines' domestic co-branded credit cards, strengthening a partnership that has lasted for decades.
As a result of this agreement, Barclays will stop issuing new American Airlines credit cards in 2026. The current process involves phasing out new applications and preparing for the migration of existing accounts.
Existing Barclays AAdvantage cardholders will eventually have their accounts transitioned to Citi. According to the timeline, this migration is scheduled to be completed in 2026. Until then, customers can use their cards without interruption. The specifics of what new products these cardholders will receive from Citi have not yet been announced.
A Longstanding Partnership
Citi and American Airlines have maintained a co-branded credit card partnership for over 37 years, making it one of the longest-running relationships in the industry. The new exclusivity agreement solidifies this connection for the foreseeable future.
Hawaiian Airlines Merges Loyalty Program
The disappearance of the Hawaiian Airlines cards from the Barclays website is directly linked to another major industry event. On October 1, 2025, the HawaiianMiles loyalty program was officially integrated into the newly unified Atmos Rewards program, which is part of the Alaska Airlines ecosystem.
This merger means that all HawaiianMiles balances were converted to Atmos Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio. Members of the former program received new loyalty numbers as part of the integration. This consolidation of loyalty programs necessitated a change in the associated credit card offerings.
The new lineup of co-branded credit cards for the Atmos Rewards program is issued by Bank of America. These new products include:
- Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® card
- Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® card
- Atmos™ Rewards Visa® Business Card
This shift to Bank of America as the exclusive issuer for the new combined loyalty program explains why Barclays is no longer accepting applications for its Hawaiian Airlines-branded cards.
Application Options for Affected Cards
While Barclays has closed its online application portal for these cards, some alternative avenues for application remain, particularly for the Hawaiian Airlines card.
Hawaiian Airlines Cards
Though not available on the Barclays website, the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard is still open to new applicants through other channels. Interested consumers can apply for the card in two primary ways:
- Inflight Applications: Applications are often available during Hawaiian Airlines flights.
- Bank of Hawaii: The card can also be applied for through the Bank of Hawaii.
This availability suggests that while Barclays' direct online channel is closed, the product itself has not been completely discontinued during this transition phase.
American Airlines Aviator Card
Barclays has confirmed that it is no longer accepting any new applications for the AAdvantage Aviator Red card. This marks the end of new acquisitions for this specific product ahead of the full transition to Citi.
Unlike the Hawaiian card, there are no alternative channels to apply for the Barclays-issued American Airlines card. Consumers interested in a new American Airlines credit card must now apply for one of the products issued by Citi.
What This Means for Consumers
The removal of these cards from the Barclays website reflects the dynamic and competitive nature of the airline credit card industry. Airline and bank partnerships are constantly re-evaluated, leading to changes that affect consumer choices.
For individuals holding a Barclays-issued AA or Hawaiian card, the key takeaway is that their current benefits remain intact for now. However, they should anticipate communications regarding future changes, particularly American Airlines cardholders who will be migrated to Citi in 2026.
For those in the market for a new airline credit card, the options have shifted. Loyalty to American Airlines now points toward Citi's portfolio, while loyalty to Hawaiian Airlines is now tied to the Alaska Airlines' Atmos Rewards program and its new cards from Bank of America. This consolidation simplifies the landscape but also reduces the number of issuer choices for these specific airlines.
