Mar 8, 2014, 8:10 pm
Last edit by: mia
Thread closed. Click HERE to read the new thread.
Let's crowd source things that have counted towards travel redemptions that are not so obvious
Successful
Successful - Plus Only
Unsuccessful (please mention the amount redeemed - important as anything under $25 cannot be reimbursed)
Don't forget travel purchase needs to be > $25 charge for 2,500 mile redemption
Partial redemptions are possible - however you cannot redeem against that charge again. So if you have a $500 charge and you spend 40K points against it, you cannot redeem 10K points for the remaining $100 of that charge.
Let's crowd source things that have counted towards travel redemptions that are not so obvious
Successful
- NS Hispeed Train Tickets (nshispeed.com)
- Capitaine Train Tickets (capitaine.com)
- Eurostar Train Tickets (eurostar.com)
- DB Bahn Trains Germany (bahn.de)
- Super Shuttle (mixed, worked in SF when (billed SUPERSHUTTLE EXECUCARS), worked in Boston (SUPERSHUTTLE BOSTON), failed in LA (SUPERSHUTTLE)
- rail europe on travelocity
- New York City MTA Subway Cards
- Boston MBTA Charlie Card reload & Commuter Rail passes & tickets
- San Francisco Clipper Card public transit (autoload from website)
- Norwegian Cruise Line purchase made from telephone order from vacationstogo.com
- rail JR Rail in Japan, load as tourist attraction, call in to get it credit (Post#938)
- Alaska Airlines checked baggage fee $25 charge
- Southwest Early Bird Check-in (billed separately from airfare charges)
- cheaptickets.com hotel
- Amtrak train ticket >$25 (ALB-NYP)
- Amtrak train ticket >$25 (unknown destinations)
- Buying Lifemiles from Avianca
- Primetime Shuttle (Worked from LAX-SNA)
- Orbitz.com purchase
- Priceline
- Las Vegas Show Booked through hotel
- Hotels.com
- WMATA (Washington DC Metro) Weekly pass
Successful - Plus Only
- Uber
- NYC Taxi
- Empire State Building tickets
- SF Taxi (coded as "YELLOW CARD SERVICES I")
Unsuccessful (please mention the amount redeemed - important as anything under $25 cannot be reimbursed)
- Amtrak (possibly due <$25 charge)
- IHG points and cash hotel redemption
- www.b-europe.com (SNCB rail)
- Description: ZERVE *CA WHALES Merchant Category: THEATRICAL PRODUCERS (EXCEPT MOTION PICTURES), TICKET AGENCIES...Tickets to whale watching tour purchased over the phone.
- Car2go
- Hostelbookers.com deposit (maybe the charge which is >$25 will count?)
- Thello train (France-Italy night train, codes as rail-freight)
- Trenitalia (both online and in stations, posts as rail-freight)
- Brazil airline GOL booked online codes as DIRECT MARKETING/DIRECT MARKETERS--NOT ELESWH ..
- Blue Water Rafting. Merchant category "Recreation Services -- Not elsewhere classified"
- Parking at IAH (Houston Intercontinental - on airport) -$76 (PARKING LOTS AND GARAGES)
- Parking at SNA (John Wayne Airport)
- Skyjump at Stratosphere Hotel LV $150 (01/14) - not charged by hotel.
- Gotobus.com Long Distance Buses, ~$100
- Global Entry
Don't forget travel purchase needs to be > $25 charge for 2,500 mile redemption
Partial redemptions are possible - however you cannot redeem against that charge again. So if you have a $500 charge and you spend 40K points against it, you cannot redeem 10K points for the remaining $100 of that charge.
Barclays Arrival/Arrival Cards (1.1%/2.2% travel credits)
Jun 20, 2013, 11:10 am
#166
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 94
I want to go for this card but am contemplating my strategy. I'm wondering if anyone has any advice or a similar situation to this:
14 open accounts. The past year's credit app history:
4/13 upgrade to Hilton Surpass (does this count or will they not see it since it is an upgrade? They switched out my Delta Gold Card for this.)
2/13 Ink Bold (does this count since it's a business card?)
2/13 2nd US Airways card
2/13 Citi AA card
11/12 Hilton Honors card
8/12 SPG card
I have an excellent credit score but not so excellent income.
I'm thinking I should I cancel one of my US Air cards before applying for the Arrival. I just paid the annual fee on it for the 10,000 bonus miles. If I cancel it, will they claw back my miles or refund part of my fee? How long should I wait after I cancel the US Air card? Or should I just go for it and use the older US Air card as a bargaining chip in case they won't extend more credit?
14 open accounts. The past year's credit app history:
4/13 upgrade to Hilton Surpass (does this count or will they not see it since it is an upgrade? They switched out my Delta Gold Card for this.)
2/13 Ink Bold (does this count since it's a business card?)
2/13 2nd US Airways card
2/13 Citi AA card
11/12 Hilton Honors card
8/12 SPG card
I have an excellent credit score but not so excellent income.
I'm thinking I should I cancel one of my US Air cards before applying for the Arrival. I just paid the annual fee on it for the 10,000 bonus miles. If I cancel it, will they claw back my miles or refund part of my fee? How long should I wait after I cancel the US Air card? Or should I just go for it and use the older US Air card as a bargaining chip in case they won't extend more credit?
Jun 22, 2013, 12:36 am
#167
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 265
I've actually toned down my application activity over the past 6 months, no more than 3 cards. But yeah, I still have roughly 15 accounts open. I do have the US Air card, opened last September. Meh. I'm still debating if my wife should call. She has fewer accounts than I (including US Air card), a lesser credit score, but more recent account openings. Seems like a lot of work for $440 at this point, but that figure (X2 if wife got it) would have been useful to cover some miscellaneous travel charges over the next 6 months.
Jun 22, 2013, 10:08 am
#168
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: LAX
Programs: Hyatt Platinum, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 290
I want to go for this card but am contemplating my strategy. I'm wondering if anyone has any advice or a similar situation to this:
14 open accounts. The past year's credit app history:
4/13 upgrade to Hilton Surpass (does this count or will they not see it since it is an upgrade? They switched out my Delta Gold Card for this.)
2/13 Ink Bold (does this count since it's a business card?)
2/13 2nd US Airways card
2/13 Citi AA card
11/12 Hilton Honors card
8/12 SPG card
I have an excellent credit score but not so excellent income.
I'm thinking I should I cancel one of my US Air cards before applying for the Arrival. I just paid the annual fee on it for the 10,000 bonus miles. If I cancel it, will they claw back my miles or refund part of my fee? How long should I wait after I cancel the US Air card? Or should I just go for it and use the older US Air card as a bargaining chip in case they won't extend more credit?
14 open accounts. The past year's credit app history:
4/13 upgrade to Hilton Surpass (does this count or will they not see it since it is an upgrade? They switched out my Delta Gold Card for this.)
2/13 Ink Bold (does this count since it's a business card?)
2/13 2nd US Airways card
2/13 Citi AA card
11/12 Hilton Honors card
8/12 SPG card
I have an excellent credit score but not so excellent income.
I'm thinking I should I cancel one of my US Air cards before applying for the Arrival. I just paid the annual fee on it for the 10,000 bonus miles. If I cancel it, will they claw back my miles or refund part of my fee? How long should I wait after I cancel the US Air card? Or should I just go for it and use the older US Air card as a bargaining chip in case they won't extend more credit?
Good luck! I'm planning on using my arrival for air tahiti flights in the future!
Jun 23, 2013, 11:41 pm
#169
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 94
Thanks for your suggestions romsdeals3! I'm always nervous beofre applying, tho I've never been denied. Wasn't sure about the upgrade counting, so that's great to hear.
Jun 24, 2013, 10:52 pm
#170
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ATL
Programs: All of Them
Posts: 511
If my wife and I both get this card, can we combine our points in one of our accounts?
Jun 25, 2013, 4:23 am
#171
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,528
If I were to apply for the annual fee version, can I downgrade to the no annual fee version later? What's the process for that?
Jun 25, 2013, 7:30 am
#172
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 79
I had 2 friends call who received denial letters. They both had the US Air card, and both were able to get the Arrival card, even though one was denied for too many recent inquires. They had no clue it even could be reversed because I usually send them the links. I'd have your wife call.
Jun 25, 2013, 7:37 pm
#173
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: Bunch of mid-tiers
Posts: 1,034
Have people done a slow spending ramp-up on this card, or just charged ahead? I guess the former given how cranky Barclays seems to be. Any recent data points?
Jun 27, 2013, 12:22 pm
#174
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: TPA
Programs: spg gold
Posts: 406
I was approved for this card, however it cost me 3 pulls yes they pull from all 3.
They will not give my wife a card. She was told that they gave her a US airways card and she didn't use it, so why would they give her another.
They will not give my wife a card. She was told that they gave her a US airways card and she didn't use it, so why would they give her another.
Jun 27, 2013, 2:58 pm
#175
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 1,389
Jun 27, 2013, 6:52 pm
#176
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,528
Is it true you can't partially offset an expense?
Jun 27, 2013, 9:39 pm
#177
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 79
Jun 27, 2013, 9:52 pm
#178
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Santa Monica, CA
Posts: 100
You can partially offset travel expenses with their points. In other words, you can use points to offset part, but not all, of a posted travel expense.
Jun 27, 2013, 10:23 pm
#179
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: Northwest, United
Posts: 3,256
Anyone know how long it takes them to make a decision on this card if you get the "we need more time" response? Me and the Mrs applied for this today, got the "we need time" screen and email follow-up.
I've got an app-o-rama queued up, and since I know Barclays is easily spooked, the last thing I want to do is apply for 6 other cards before they come to a decision one way or the other. If they approve me, great, I'm off to open a bunch of other cards. If not...well, I'll still be off the apply for a bunch of other cards.
Just trying to figure the timing of it.
I've got an app-o-rama queued up, and since I know Barclays is easily spooked, the last thing I want to do is apply for 6 other cards before they come to a decision one way or the other. If they approve me, great, I'm off to open a bunch of other cards. If not...well, I'll still be off the apply for a bunch of other cards.
Just trying to figure the timing of it.
Jun 28, 2013, 10:58 am
#180
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: whatever comes with CCs
Posts: 1,082
Anyone know how long it takes them to make a decision on this card if you get the "we need more time" response? Me and the Mrs applied for this today, got the "we need time" screen and email follow-up.
I've got an app-o-rama queued up, and since I know Barclays is easily spooked, the last thing I want to do is apply for 6 other cards before they come to a decision one way or the other. If they approve me, great, I'm off to open a bunch of other cards. If not...well, I'll still be off the apply for a bunch of other cards. Just trying to figure the timing of it.
I've got an app-o-rama queued up, and since I know Barclays is easily spooked, the last thing I want to do is apply for 6 other cards before they come to a decision one way or the other. If they approve me, great, I'm off to open a bunch of other cards. If not...well, I'll still be off the apply for a bunch of other cards.
Just trying to figure the timing of it.