May 14, 2014, 1:15 pm
Last edit by: rrgg
This thread is a continuation of the discussion posted here from 12.08.2012 - 5.13.2014: Barclays Arrival/Arrival Cards (1.05%/2.1% travel credits)
Current offer for Arrival Plus is 70K pts w/$5K spend & AF waived 1st year.
Barclays says that you earn “miles” but you’re actually earning cash back with the card since you can’t transfer your Barclays miles to airlines. But you can redeem them for statement credits at 0.5 cents per mile (poor value) or 1.05 cent per mile if you redeem for travel.
You get 5% of your miles back if you redeem for travel, so 40,000 miles gets you $400 towards travel and 2,000 miles back (5% of your miles back). You must have at least 10K 'miles' in your acct if you wish to redeem as a travel credit. 2500 'miles' can be redeemed for a stmt credit though.
If you want, you can redeem miles to cover a portion of a travel charge instead of the full amount. For example, if you have 80k miles and a $740 airline charge, you can choose to redeem just 70k to cover $700 of the charge.
You earn 2X miles on all purchases, so you’re effectively getting 2% cash back for each purchase. But since you get 5% of your miles back when you redeem for travel, this is effectively a 2.1% cash back card when miles are redeemed for travel.
This makes the Barclaycard Arrival PlusTM World Elite MasterCard® (with 2.1% cash back for travel) better than the Capital One Venture card which offers only 2 miles per $1 or 2% cash back, only if you spend $30k+ per year after first year, because Arrival Plus AF is $30 more than Venture.
If you receive a call from 302-255-8000 after applying for this or any other Barclay's card, it is a legit number! You can also call them back directly at 866-951-1437.
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Let's crowd source things that have counted towards travel redemptions that are not so obvious
="3"%Successful
Don't forget travel purchase needs to be > $100 charge for 10K mile redemption
Airlines that post purchases of multiple tickets as one amount or split them:
One Amount
BA (USD based award ticket)
Multiple Transactions
UA (award)
DL (award)
Current offer for Arrival Plus is 70K pts w/$5K spend & AF waived 1st year.
Barclays says that you earn “miles” but you’re actually earning cash back with the card since you can’t transfer your Barclays miles to airlines. But you can redeem them for statement credits at 0.5 cents per mile (poor value) or 1.05 cent per mile if you redeem for travel.
You get 5% of your miles back if you redeem for travel, so 40,000 miles gets you $400 towards travel and 2,000 miles back (5% of your miles back). You must have at least 10K 'miles' in your acct if you wish to redeem as a travel credit. 2500 'miles' can be redeemed for a stmt credit though.
If you want, you can redeem miles to cover a portion of a travel charge instead of the full amount. For example, if you have 80k miles and a $740 airline charge, you can choose to redeem just 70k to cover $700 of the charge.
You earn 2X miles on all purchases, so you’re effectively getting 2% cash back for each purchase. But since you get 5% of your miles back when you redeem for travel, this is effectively a 2.1% cash back card when miles are redeemed for travel.
This makes the Barclaycard Arrival PlusTM World Elite MasterCard® (with 2.1% cash back for travel) better than the Capital One Venture card which offers only 2 miles per $1 or 2% cash back, only if you spend $30k+ per year after first year, because Arrival Plus AF is $30 more than Venture.
If you receive a call from 302-255-8000 after applying for this or any other Barclay's card, it is a legit number! You can also call them back directly at 866-951-1437.
Very Old Wiki Info ---
Regarding official company representatives
Note that there is an official procedure for company representatives to register themselves with the FlyerTalk Community Director and verify their credentials. When that process is completed, the username will turn green in posts, rather than the standard blue.
Anyone who does not appear in green has not followed this procedure. Those posts should be considered the same as any other user's posts. It is important to remember that the moderation team does not generally monitor the veracity of any posts; it is up to you to judge a poster's content and history yourself.
Let's crowd source things that have counted towards travel redemptions that are not so obvious
="3"%Successful
Don't forget travel purchase needs to be > $100 charge for 10K mile redemption
- 9/11 Museum and Memorial - NYC
- Accuracy Limo (via Square, Salt Lake City, UT limo service)
- ACE Adventures (West Virginia White Water Rafting), had to call in to get it processed manually
- agoda.com
- AirAsia Flights (airasia.com)
- airbnb bookings
- airbnb GC purchased on United MPX site
- Alaska Airlines checked baggage fee $25 charge
- Amazing Bike Tours Thailand
- AA Gift Card
- American Airlines telephone booking (including booking fee)
- Amtrak train ticket >$25 (ALB-NYP)
- Amtrak train ticket >$25 (unknown destinations)
- Arrival+ Annual Fee
- Argosy Cruises (SEA, classified as RECREATION)
- Autoeurope.com
- BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) San Francisco
- Balloons over Bagan
- Bieber bus tickets
- Boston MBTA Charlie Card reload & Commuter Rail passes & tickets
- Burj Khalifa observation decks
- Buying Lifemiles from Avianca
- Capitaine Train Tickets (capitaine.com)
- Carmel Limo (NYC car service)
- carrentals.com
- cheaptickets.com hotel
- Chinese Visa Application Fees (had to call in. Credit showed up in account in 2 business days. See Post 912 and 921 for details)
- City Taxi (Tampa)
- CostcoTravel
- Cotai Waterjet (Hong Kong)
- CT Limo
- Daily Getaways purchase of HHonors points
- DB Bahn Trains Germany (bahn.de)
- Disneyland Hong Kong (Manual redemption required)
- DriveNow - all locations in EU/US
- Dublin Bus Tours Hop on, Hop off (Green)
- Eiffel Tower (manual redemption by phone allowed)
- Empire State Building tickets
- Enterprise rent-a-car, paid at the counter when returning the car (used Chase United Visa initially for primary coverage, but asked to pay with a different card when returning the car)
- Eurostar Train Tickets (eurostar.com)
- Europcar.com
- Expedia.com
- Hertz Rent-a-Car (booked on hertz.com)
- Hong Kong Airport Express Pass
- Hotel bookings through Rocketmiles (even refundable bookings or those tied to other promotions)
- Hotels.com
- Hotwire
- ItaliaRail (online booking agency for TrenItalia)
- LA Swamp Tours, Steamboat cruise, Haunted History Tours (New Orleans)
- Lahaina-Maui Ferry Tickets - booked online at www.go-lanai.com
- Las Vegas Show Booked through hotel
Las Vegas show tickets booked online (Mandalay Bay Box office) - Limo Charges - Two limo charges that I made in March PRIOR the the recent changes to what qualifies as "Travel" showed up as eligible travel charges. I guess with the changes to what's covered, and for how long, these got pulled back in.
- Lyft
- M-Life advance reservation deposit
- Montway Auto Transport (deposit)
- New York City MTA Subway Cards
- New York Waterways Ferry (between NJ and NYC)
- Ngong Ping 360 (Hong Kong)
- Norwegian Cruise Line purchase made from telephone order from vacationstogo.com
- Norwegian Cruise Line (deposits and payments)
- NS Hispeed Train Tickets (nshispeed.com)
- NYC Taxi
- Orbitz.com purchase
- ORCA card for Seattle area tolls (considered the very typical GOVERNMENT SERVICES NOT ELSEWHERE CLASSIFIED)
- Paris RATP Metro/VATP (buy 10-ticket pack for >$25 and save cost)
- PeruRail (Machu Picchu train)
- PMRF Beach Cottages (Kauai)
- Priceline
- Primetime Shuttle (Worked from LAX-SNA)
- rail europe on Travelocity
- rail JR Rail in Japan, load as tourist attraction, call in to get it credit (Post#938)
- Safari Helicopter Tour (Kauai)
- Sandals.com resort booking (unique vacations) was not redeemable last year. Is redeemable online now
- SEASTREAK LLC - NYC (Commuter Ferri)
- Singapore Cable Car
- Southwest $100 gift card
- Southwest Early Bird Check-in (billed separately from airfare charges)
- Spirit of NY Dinner Cruises - www.spiritcruises.com, which have cruises in several other cities as well.
- Starwood Vacation Ownership (SPG Timeshare) Westin Princeville Kauai (coded as Timeshare).
- St Pauls Cathedral (manual redemption by phone allowed)
- Super Shuttle (mixed, worked in SF when (billed SUPERSHUTTLE EXECUCARS), worked in Boston (SUPERSHUTTLE BOSTON), failed in LA (SUPERSHUTTLE), Worked in Cancun.
- Taxi in Zürich
- Top of the Rock tickets - NYC
- Trenitalia Online
- Trimet (Portland OR public transportation)
- Trip Advisor Rental
- TurboJET (Hong Kong)
- Uber
- Uber GC through MPX $100 (re-confirmed 11/1/2018, using Arrival Premier)
- United Baggage Fee
- Universal Studio Orlando tickets (had to call in)
- Viator (sightseeing/tours)
- Victoria Clipper (passenger ferry)
- Wedding at the Stratosphere's Chapel in the Clouds (billed as stratosphere)
- Windsor Castle (manual redemption by phone allowed)
- Wine purchases from different wine tasting rooms
- WMATA (Washington DC Metro) - [[COLOR="Red"]reconfirmed 10/5/15]
- Zipcar
="3"%Unsuccessful (please mention the amount redeemed - important as anything under$25$100 cannot be reimbursed)
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. - www.b-europe.com (SNCB rail)
- Amtrak (possibly due <$25 charge)
- Blue Water Rafting. Merchant category "Recreation Services -- Not elsewhere classified"
- Brazil airline GOL booked online codes as DIRECT MARKETING/DIRECT MARKETERS--NOT ELESWH ..
- Broadmoor Hotel Food and Beverage (Colorado Spring, CO)
- budgetair.co.uk (charged >$200)
- Car2go
- De Palm Tours, Aruba (classified as Recreation. Called Barclay twice.)
- Description: ZERVE *CA WHALES Merchant Category: THEATRICAL PRODUCERS (EXCEPT MOTION PICTURES), TICKET AGENCIES...Tickets to whale watching tour purchased over the phone.
- Evan Evans Sightseeing tours (UK based)- http://www.evanevanstours.co.uk
- Fastrak tag autoload for San Francisco bridge tolls ($25)
- Global Entry
- Gotobus.com Long Distance Buses, ~$100
- Homeaway.com, posts as real estate. Barclays said they'd make a one-time exception but future purchases won't count as travel.
- Hostelbookers.com deposit (maybe the charge which is >$25 will count?)
- Hotels.com Gift Card
- IHG points and cash hotel redemption
- Malaysian Overnight Train KUL-SIN (ktmb.com.my)
- Monterey Aquarium
- Parking at DCA - $136 (7/9/19)
- Parking at HSV ($96 in parking at Huntsville International Airport)
- Parking at IAH (Houston Intercontinental - on airport) -$76 (PARKING LOTS AND GARAGES)
- Parking at LAS
- Parking at LGA $204
- Parking at Port Imperial, Weehawken, NJ
- Parking at SNA (John Wayne Airport)
- San Francisco Clipper Card public transit (autoload from website)
- Skyjump at Stratosphere Hotel LV $150 (01/14) - not charged by hotel.
- Space Needle and Chihuly Garden Tickets
- Starwood points purchase (BUSINESS SERVICES NOT ELSEWHERE CLASSIFIED)
- Taxi Magic /Curb- Taxi service
- Thello train (France-Italy night train, codes as rail-freight)
- Trenitalia (both online and in stations, posts as rail-freight)
- UBER eGift Card (bought through the UBER app) for $100 - Not coded as "travel," so couldn't redeem online and they wouldn't do it over the phone, either.
Airlines that post purchases of multiple tickets as one amount or split them:
One Amount
BA (USD based award ticket)
Multiple Transactions
UA (award)
DL (award)
Barclays Arrival Plus, now 70K w/$5k spend
May 16, 2014, 9:14 am
#151
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: HH Gold (again), US/UA/DL non-elite, ZE Presidents Circle, WN reluctant no fee convert.
Posts: 1,449
What, exactly, is the urgent need for the World Elite version of the card? In every prior discussion on World vs. World Elite, the consensus seemed to be that the additional "benefits" are rarely valuable and the only real winner is the issuing bank, who can charge higher merchant fees.
And yet the past 30+ posts have been mostly a surprisingly animated discussion about this issue.
What am I missing?
And yet the past 30+ posts have been mostly a surprisingly animated discussion about this issue.
What am I missing?
May 16, 2014, 9:17 am
#152
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,375
What, exactly, is the urgent need for the World Elite version of the card? In every prior discussion on World vs. World Elite, the consensus seemed to be that the additional "benefits" are rarely valuable and the only real winner is the issuing bank, who can charge higher merchant fees.
And yet the past 30+ posts have been mostly a surprisingly animated discussion about this issue.
What am I missing?
And yet the past 30+ posts have been mostly a surprisingly animated discussion about this issue.
What am I missing?
May 16, 2014, 11:24 am
#153
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,166
Does the World Elite provide primary rental insurance? If not what makes it so great?
May 16, 2014, 1:24 pm
#154
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 197
I think another point that has not been stated yet is that there is NO risk to Barclaycard to complete the upgrade including the World Elite piece for existing annual fee paying Arrival customers.
We have all been credit checked/scored and approved for the card we currently hold, plus on top of this have periodic soft pulls for CL increase/decrease. In other words, sound customers.
So, if you take that into account this does then all appear to be PR/marketing related, something to say as a new customer here is what you get above existing customers.
Again just another thought on it.
We have all been credit checked/scored and approved for the card we currently hold, plus on top of this have periodic soft pulls for CL increase/decrease. In other words, sound customers.
So, if you take that into account this does then all appear to be PR/marketing related, something to say as a new customer here is what you get above existing customers.
Again just another thought on it.
May 16, 2014, 1:31 pm
#155
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 432
I just spoke with the credit dept and they told me Arrival Plus only comes as World Elite and they start at $250 lines. If this is true, then I 250% agree we should ALL be upgraded to World Elite. There is no need for a distinction to be made between existing and new accounts. This shouldn't even be an issue, every Arrival Plus should become World Elite.
And how convenient of Barclaycard to shut down the official community where things are getting very heated right now about this stuff. For the first time since launch it shows down for maintenance -.-
And how convenient of Barclaycard to shut down the official community where things are getting very heated right now about this stuff. For the first time since launch it shows down for maintenance -.-
May 16, 2014, 1:34 pm
#156
Join Date: May 2014
Location: PDX
Posts: 13
I just spoke with the credit dept and they told me Arrival Plus only comes as World Elite and they start at $250 lines. If this is true, then I 250% agree we should ALL be upgraded to World Elite. There is no need for a distinction to be made between existing and new accounts. This shouldn't even be an issue, every Arrival Plus should become World Elite.
And how convenient of Barclaycard to shut down the official community where things are getting very heated right now about this stuff. For the first time since launch it shows down for maintenance -.-
And how convenient of Barclaycard to shut down the official community where things are getting very heated right now about this stuff. For the first time since launch it shows down for maintenance -.-
May 16, 2014, 1:35 pm
#157
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 197
That is new info Nick and very interesting. Agreed if that is the case another reason all should be upgraded.
I too find it very interesting forums just went offline, just as community manager posted an update about campaigns around this World Elite offering !
I too find it very interesting forums just went offline, just as community manager posted an update about campaigns around this World Elite offering !
I just spoke with the credit dept and they told me Arrival Plus only comes as World Elite and they start at $250 lines. If this is true, then I 250% agree we should ALL be upgraded to World Elite. There is no need for a distinction to be made between existing and new accounts. This shouldn't even be an issue, every Arrival Plus should become World Elite.
And how convenient of Barclaycard to shut down the official community where things are getting very heated right now about this stuff. For the first time since launch it shows down for maintenance -.-
And how convenient of Barclaycard to shut down the official community where things are getting very heated right now about this stuff. For the first time since launch it shows down for maintenance -.-
May 16, 2014, 1:39 pm
#158
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 432
The site is back up and the community manager answers are basically not answering anything. I think this is a very bad business decision that they need to remedy asap. And this is what credit told me, the guy was very detailed and explained only Arrival Plus and Hawaiian Airlines are World Elite only cards that start at $250 and $500 respectively.
May 16, 2014, 1:49 pm
#159
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 197
I had seen a comment about a $1k line with World Elite so although not as low as you mentioned Nick (and not saying that isn't true) it certainly appears that even those with lower CL's are getting the World Elite on new applications. Not a customer satisfier for existing customers to say the least
The site is back up and the community manager answers are basically not answering anything. I think this is a very bad business decision that they need to remedy asap. And this is what credit told me, the guy was very detailed and explained only Arrival Plus and Hawaiian Airlines are World Elite only cards that start at $250 and $500 respectively.
May 16, 2014, 1:58 pm
#160
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 432
I had seen a comment about a $1k line with World Elite so although not as low as you mentioned Nick (and not saying that isn't true) it certainly appears that even those with lower CL's are getting the World Elite on new applications. Not a customer satisfier for existing customers to say the least
May 16, 2014, 2:01 pm
#161
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 14
I had seen a comment about a $1k line with World Elite so although not as low as you mentioned Nick (and not saying that isn't true) it certainly appears that even those with lower CL's are getting the World Elite on new applications. Not a customer satisfier for existing customers to say the least
May 16, 2014, 2:05 pm
#162
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 197
Barclay
Thanks for confirming that the new Arrival Plus World Elite is World Elite only, no sliding scale. I think/hope you would agree that with that knowledge it does appear even more of a slap in the face to existing customers of the annual fee Arrival that 'some' 'may' be upgraded especially per my comment above that there is no risk to Barclays/Barclaycard to do so and new (no history customers) are receiving it.
Thanks again for the great info !
Thanks for confirming that the new Arrival Plus World Elite is World Elite only, no sliding scale. I think/hope you would agree that with that knowledge it does appear even more of a slap in the face to existing customers of the annual fee Arrival that 'some' 'may' be upgraded especially per my comment above that there is no risk to Barclays/Barclaycard to do so and new (no history customers) are receiving it.
Thanks again for the great info !
May 16, 2014, 3:29 pm
#163
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 197
Nick
Interesting how the thread over on Barclaycard is being 'condensed' looks like a number of pages and comments have suddenly been shrunk
Interesting how the thread over on Barclaycard is being 'condensed' looks like a number of pages and comments have suddenly been shrunk
The site is back up and the community manager answers are basically not answering anything. I think this is a very bad business decision that they need to remedy asap. And this is what credit told me, the guy was very detailed and explained only Arrival Plus and Hawaiian Airlines are World Elite only cards that start at $250 and $500 respectively.
May 16, 2014, 4:35 pm
#164
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LAX/SNA
Programs: AA, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,887
I still don't get the fascination with MC World Elite. The benefits aren't on par with Visa Signature (that is lowsy), so I don't get the fascination and obsession.
May 16, 2014, 4:50 pm
#165
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580