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
Aug 5, 2015, 1:52 am
#2776
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, IHG Spire, Marriott Silver, Hyatt Platinum, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 308
So I had an arrival +, downgraded to regular about a year ago.
WITHOUT cancelling that card, would I be eligible for the arrival plus bonus again?
WITHOUT cancelling that card, would I be eligible for the arrival plus bonus again?
Aug 5, 2015, 8:51 am
#2777
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Programs: Delta + United Airmiles
Posts: 703
Some needs to cancel and reapply within a few weeks to test what actually happens.
I cancelled last Feb when AF posted, got A- a few weeks later AND 20k signup bonus, reapplied and got A+ card AND 40k signup bonus in March (required to cancel A-) and effectively deferred AF another year. I didn't try to churn or avoid terms changed, but turned out that way by chance.
If cancel/reapply/2nd bonus cycle works, Barclay should expect a flood of folks cancelling just before looming terms effective date. If the bonus wasn't available, extending current terms (and/or saving/deferring AF coming up) another year might be be worth the effort to some.
I cancelled last Feb when AF posted, got A- a few weeks later AND 20k signup bonus, reapplied and got A+ card AND 40k signup bonus in March (required to cancel A-) and effectively deferred AF another year. I didn't try to churn or avoid terms changed, but turned out that way by chance.
If cancel/reapply/2nd bonus cycle works, Barclay should expect a flood of folks cancelling just before looming terms effective date. If the bonus wasn't available, extending current terms (and/or saving/deferring AF coming up) another year might be be worth the effort to some.
Aug 6, 2015, 6:27 pm
#2778
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 244
Guys need some clarification regarding the change in redemption coming up. Looking to sign up for the card and redeem the sign up bonus points for an upcoming trip to carribean first week of November. The charge is going to well over the 40,000 points would cover, it is unclear to me whether I can use all of it or just some of it for redemption?
Also, on a related note - would you receive the card # immediately on approval like Amex cards to immediately make a purchase? Or would I need to wait until I receive the physical card in the mail?
Thanks a bunch!
Also, on a related note - would you receive the card # immediately on approval like Amex cards to immediately make a purchase? Or would I need to wait until I receive the physical card in the mail?
Thanks a bunch!
Aug 6, 2015, 10:34 pm
#2779
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,112
Guys need some clarification regarding the change in redemption coming up. Looking to sign up for the card and redeem the sign up bonus points for an upcoming trip to carribean first week of November. The charge is going to well over the 40,000 points would cover, it is unclear to me whether I can use all of it or just some of it for redemption?
Also, on a related note - would you receive the card # immediately on approval like Amex cards to immediately make a purchase? Or would I need to wait until I receive the physical card in the mail?
Thanks a bunch!
Also, on a related note - would you receive the card # immediately on approval like Amex cards to immediately make a purchase? Or would I need to wait until I receive the physical card in the mail?
Thanks a bunch!
Aug 6, 2015, 11:25 pm
#2780
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BAY AREA
Posts: 1,125
Barclays Arrival/Arrival+ Cards (1.1%/2.2% travel credits)
you can pay an extra fee to get it overnight. I think it's $15.
Aug 6, 2015, 11:27 pm
#2781
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,166
And also, Barclays is notoriously slow at getting cards out to you. It has sometimes takes almost 2 full weeks from getting approval and getting the card in hand.
Aug 7, 2015, 1:26 pm
#2782
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 244
Thanks for your responses! Would appreciate if anyone could chime in on the redemption question...
Aug 7, 2015, 7:54 pm
#2783
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Programs: Delta + United Airmiles
Posts: 703
Guys need some clarification regarding the change in redemption coming up. Looking to sign up for the card and redeem the sign up bonus points for an upcoming trip to carribean first week of November. The charge is going to well over the 40,000 points would cover, it is unclear to me whether I can use all of it or just some of it for redemption?
Also, on a related note - would you receive the card # immediately on approval like Amex cards to immediately make a purchase? Or would I need to wait until I receive the physical card in the mail?
Thanks a bunch!
Also, on a related note - would you receive the card # immediately on approval like Amex cards to immediately make a purchase? Or would I need to wait until I receive the physical card in the mail?
Thanks a bunch!
Since you are signing up after 10/1/14, the 2,500 minimum redemption will apply through 8/15/2016. Shortly after you spend the qualifying sign up amount to get the 40k bonus, that 40k, plus the 2 points per $ you spent so far, will be available - usually within a few days thereafter.
If you have less points than the travel expense you are redeeming, then you will only be able to choose the 3 nearest $25 incremental amounts below the expense amount. If the expense is less than the points available, then 100% of the expense can be reimbursed via that exact amount of points.
In any event, the points balance is reduced by what you actually redeemed.
Aug 8, 2015, 6:27 am
#2784
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 244
Remember, the expenses that generated the points are not related to which expenses are eligible (travel related only) for reimbursement via the points.
Since you are signing up after 10/1/14, the 2,500 minimum redemption will apply through 8/15/2016. Shortly after you spend the qualifying sign up amount to get the 40k bonus, that 40k, plus the 2 points per $ you spent so far, will be available - usually within a few days thereafter.
If you have less points than the travel expense you are redeeming, then you will only be able to choose the 3 nearest $25 incremental amounts below the expense amount. If the expense is less than the points available, then 100% of the expense can be reimbursed via that exact amount of points.
In any event, the points balance is reduced by what you actually redeemed.
Since you are signing up after 10/1/14, the 2,500 minimum redemption will apply through 8/15/2016. Shortly after you spend the qualifying sign up amount to get the 40k bonus, that 40k, plus the 2 points per $ you spent so far, will be available - usually within a few days thereafter.
If you have less points than the travel expense you are redeeming, then you will only be able to choose the 3 nearest $25 incremental amounts below the expense amount. If the expense is less than the points available, then 100% of the expense can be reimbursed via that exact amount of points.
In any event, the points balance is reduced by what you actually redeemed.
Aug 8, 2015, 10:03 am
#2785
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Programs: Delta + United Airmiles
Posts: 703
Thanks! I am not sure I fully understand the incremental amounts choice you talked about - so if I get the card and have 46,000 points (40,000 sign up + 3000*2 minimum spend) and have a $1,000 hotel charge to redeem against.. I should be able to redeem $450 and will have 1000 points + the redemption bonus of 5% remain in my account for a future redemption.. does that sound right?
Although the web site states that the deal is now $100 min redemption and 5% redemption bonus, the reps have consistently stated that folks who got (OR get) the card after 10/1/2014 keep the prior rules ($25+10%) until 8/15/2016. I have to say that I'm leaning toward believing the web site now. In that case, you may only be able to redeem to the nearest $100 (not $25) and get the 5% redemption bonus.
I will ask one more time, after reminding the rep of what the web site says for new accounts.
Aug 8, 2015, 4:40 pm
#2786
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Programs: Delta + United Airmiles
Posts: 703
Sign up bonus seems to only be available when "signing up" - not when upgrading or downgrading. Barclay has sometimes tossed in a bone of a few k points for downgrading/upgrading, which further indicates that no sign up bonus if current card simply changed to other card.
Aug 8, 2015, 4:48 pm
#2787
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Programs: Delta + United Airmiles
Posts: 703
... and I got the card but not my pin via snail mail before leaving, so I never used the card whenever a pin was required. Of course, since the card is signature priority, a pin will ONLY be asked for (if no CVM not allowed) at unattended kiosks (like Amsterdam Centraal Train Station). I forgot that the pin could be changed online without having the original pin (a great and necessary feature - especially while traveling because mail forwarding is very problematic), so I ended up using other cards I had a pin for already when needed.
Aug 8, 2015, 6:05 pm
#2788
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Programs: Delta + United Airmiles
Posts: 703
Ok, after a few more conversations with Barclay Arrival+ reps, I must conclude that they generally have not been trained thoroughly on the finer details of the change from 2.5k to 10k minimum points required for redemptions against travel related expenses. At this point, the most likely reality is:
1. Whatever the terms and conditions specifically state when you apply is what you get. That said, those T&Cs MAY be for the 2.5k (if you're very lucky) or the 10k min. I just hit the "apply now" button and here is the T&C language I got:
"Travel statement credit redemptions start at 10,000 miles for $100 toward any qualifying travel purchase of $100 or more made within the last 120 days"
so it appears that the $25 min is gone for new apps. This is a deal killer for me next August when my T&Cs are reportedly changing to the 10k min.
Anyone who got this card since mid July please report in on which redemption minimum you were allowed to use.
2. Which ever T&Cs you get, that is the minimum increment for redemption, so if it's the 10k minimum, then only travel related expenses at or above $100 qualify for ANY redemption. Also, if the miles balance is less than the expense (say 12k miles toward a $150 expense), the miles options presented to redeem are in that same 10k increment (so only 10k of that 12k can be used against that specific expense and the remaining points balance ends up as 2k)!!!
Sorry I don't have better news or higher confidence due to the conflicting stories from the reps. Hopefully Barclay will allow new applicants to enjoy the 2.5k minimum rules for at least until November even though the T&Cs now show 10k min.
1. Whatever the terms and conditions specifically state when you apply is what you get. That said, those T&Cs MAY be for the 2.5k (if you're very lucky) or the 10k min. I just hit the "apply now" button and here is the T&C language I got:
"Travel statement credit redemptions start at 10,000 miles for $100 toward any qualifying travel purchase of $100 or more made within the last 120 days"
so it appears that the $25 min is gone for new apps. This is a deal killer for me next August when my T&Cs are reportedly changing to the 10k min.
Anyone who got this card since mid July please report in on which redemption minimum you were allowed to use.
2. Which ever T&Cs you get, that is the minimum increment for redemption, so if it's the 10k minimum, then only travel related expenses at or above $100 qualify for ANY redemption. Also, if the miles balance is less than the expense (say 12k miles toward a $150 expense), the miles options presented to redeem are in that same 10k increment (so only 10k of that 12k can be used against that specific expense and the remaining points balance ends up as 2k)!!!
Sorry I don't have better news or higher confidence due to the conflicting stories from the reps. Hopefully Barclay will allow new applicants to enjoy the 2.5k minimum rules for at least until November even though the T&Cs now show 10k min.
Aug 9, 2015, 12:12 pm
#2789
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 244
Yep, $450 is an even $25 amount (and $425, and $400) that is below the $460 (46,000) you have available that approaches the $1,000 expense amount, and the remainder of 1000 will remain banked.
Although the web site states that the deal is now $100 min redemption and 5% redemption bonus, the reps have consistently stated that folks who got (OR get) the card after 10/1/2014 keep the prior rules ($25+10%) until 8/15/2016. I have to say that I'm leaning toward believing the web site now. In that case, you may only be able to redeem to the nearest $100 (not $25) and get the 5% redemption bonus.
I will ask one more time, after reminding the rep of what the web site says for new accounts.
Although the web site states that the deal is now $100 min redemption and 5% redemption bonus, the reps have consistently stated that folks who got (OR get) the card after 10/1/2014 keep the prior rules ($25+10%) until 8/15/2016. I have to say that I'm leaning toward believing the web site now. In that case, you may only be able to redeem to the nearest $100 (not $25) and get the 5% redemption bonus.
I will ask one more time, after reminding the rep of what the web site says for new accounts.
Aug 9, 2015, 8:52 pm
#2790
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: ATL
Posts: 4
First time poster here:
Got this card in a bit after Christmas 2014. Cancelled last week - gave the change in benefits as my reason.
Will try to re-apply for the signup bonus in late September/early October, which is about 10 months from opening last time. That's not too early, is it? I think this is a relatively new card, so there isn't as much information out there in how long to wait (although, I remember reading 9 months for someone).
Got this card in a bit after Christmas 2014. Cancelled last week - gave the change in benefits as my reason.
Will try to re-apply for the signup bonus in late September/early October, which is about 10 months from opening last time. That's not too early, is it? I think this is a relatively new card, so there isn't as much information out there in how long to wait (although, I remember reading 9 months for someone).