Scotiabank AAdvantage Mastercard

The Verdict: Worth It for High Spenders

This card delivers real value if you spend BBD $30,000+ annually on credit and travel to the US mainland. With all-local spending, you can save BBD $600-700+ per off-peak trip. Foreign currency purchases incur a 2% FX fee.

How You Earn Miles

• BBD $2 (or USD $1) = 1 mile
• 7,000 welcome miles (3,000 after first purchase + 4,000 after spending BBD $1,900 in first 3 billing cycles)
• Miles never expire while card is open
• After cancellation: Miles follow AA's standard policy (expire after 24 months of no activity, but any AA flight or partner activity resets the clock)
• Miles post in 8-10 weeks

The Real Numbers

Off-peak Miami trip example (15,000 miles = BBD $30,000 spending):

*Miles cost:*

• Taxes & fees (paid in cash): BBD $257
• Annual fee: BBD $180
• Total: BBD $437

*Cash fare:*

• USD $570 ticket = BBD $1,140
• FX fee: BBD $23
• Total: BBD $1,163

Savings: BBD $726

This assumes all-local spending. See below for how foreign purchases affect the calculation.

Foreign Spending & FX Fees

Foreign currency purchases incur a 2% FX fee on this card. If you're routing foreign spending through the card to earn miles, the fee reduces your net savings.

Examples:

• BBD $5,000 foreign spending = BBD $100 in FX fees → Net savings: BBD $626
• BBD $10,000 foreign spending = BBD $200 in FX fees → Net savings: BBD $526
• BBD $15,000 foreign spending = BBD $300 in FX fees → Net savings: BBD $426

Note: If you were already making these foreign purchases (Netflix, Amazon, etc.) on another credit card with a 2% FX fee, this cost isn't unique to the AAdvantage card. The key consideration is whether routing local spending through the card delivers value—which it does for high spenders.

Award Pricing by Season

American Airlines uses dynamic pricing. Direct BGI-MIA flights cost:

• 15,000 miles (Jan-Feb, early Sept)
• 18,000-25,000 miles (March-May, Oct-Nov)
• 40,000+ miles (June-Aug, Dec holidays)

Peak travel strategy (40,000 miles = BBD $80,000 spending):

• Achievable for high-income households or by adding authorized users to pool spending
• Cash fares run USD $700+ (BBD $1,428)
• Net savings: BBD $900+ even with moderate foreign spending
• Best approach: Primary cardholder + authorized user(s) routing all household expenses through one account

Check current pricing at aa.com before committing.

Who Should Get This Card

Yes, if you:

• Spend BBD $30,000+ annually on credit cards naturally
• Travel US mainland at least once per year
• Can use the card primarily for local purchases
• Don't mind 8-10 week mile posting delays

No, if you:

• Spend less than BBD $30,000 annually on cards
• Travel infrequently (once every 2-3 years)
• Make heavy foreign currency purchases
• Prefer multi-airline flexibility

Foreign Exchange Allocation

In Barbados, there's a BBD $20,000 annual limit on foreign currency purchases. If you reach this limit, you can apply for a replenishment or increase at forex.centralbank.org.bb.

Recommendation: Keep most card spending local to preserve your FX allocation for travel expenses and other essential foreign purchases.

Other Benefits

• Purchase protection: USD $100 per occurrence
• Worldwide acceptance: Mastercard network
• No blackout dates: Subject to award availability

Maximize Your Value

1. Route local spending through the card (groceries, utilities, insurance, bills)

2. Consider authorized users to pool household spending for peak travel

3. Travel off-peak when possible (15,000 miles vs 40,000+)

4. Allow 8-10 weeks for miles to post before booking travel

5. Check award availability early for best seat selection