【Updated 2021.5】This consolation prize still works, as long as you use an in-flight offer. Leaked offers that can be applied for online also count, such as this one.
The screenshot below is from WeChat reader ting, showing the welcome bonus received.
【Below is the original 101 Express post from 2019/11/1】
Barclays' AAdvantage Aviator Red credit card has long offered its full welcome bonus after just one purchase, but it has become increasingly difficult to get approved this year, and there was even some speculation that it had a 6/24 rule. In early September, an employee leaked Code 999999. If you applied with that code, the welcome bonus at the time was 60,500 AA miles, and it was valid through 2019.10.31. This code was originally intended for you to ask a flight attendant for while on a flight. Of course, if you used it, Barclays had no way of knowing whether you had actually flown. Because this was an all-time high offer, many people tried applying for the card during September and October, but most were denied, including the author.
Recently, many people noticed that anyone who applied using this code, whether approved or not, received 500 AA miles, posted as 500 Inflight miles. Congratulations to readers whose applications were denied: you still got a small consolation prize.
