American Express® Gold Card vs. AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®
Side-by-side comparison · Updated 2026 · Independently reviewed
American Express® Gold Card
American Express
4.7
4x at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets. $120 dining credit.
Full review →
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®
Barclays
4.0
60,000-mile bonus after first purchase. Free checked bag on AA flights.
Full review →WealthSpott Verdict
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® wins on more measurable categories — particularly annual cost. American Express® Gold Card may still win for your wallet depending on your spending patterns.
Feature
American Express® Gold
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red
Annual Fee
$250/yr
$99/yr Best
Sign-up Bonus
60,000 points
60,000 miles
Rewards Rate
1x-4x
1x-2x
Rewards Type
Points
Miles
0% Intro APR
N/A
N/A
Regular APR
See terms
21.49%-29.49% Variable Best
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
None
Recommended Credit Score
670-850
670-850
American Express® Gold Card
Pros
- 4x at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets
- $120 dining credit + $120 Uber credit annually
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- $250 annual fee
- Credits require specific merchants to maximise
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®
Pros
- 60,000-mile bonus after just one purchase
- Free first checked bag on AA flights
- Preferred boarding on American Airlines
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- $99 annual fee
- Low everyday earning rate (1x on most)
- Miles tied to American Airlines only
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