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 17, 2015, 12:23 pm
#2806
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,375
I submitted the request online through their website. It was a camping reservation fee I paid at a state park. It coded as "government services" or something like that. They didn't question me at all and sent me a message saying the miles would be redeemed.
My friend had issues calling in and talking to several different CSRs. It may be the type of transaction that is causing you to have trouble. His was related to Universal Studios tickets he had bought online through a website which he thought was a travel agent. Turns out the transaction was placed not through the travel agent's website but was routed through another website that coded as something other than what Barclays determines as "travel". So he had to eat the cost of the tickets and didn't end up using his miles.
My friend had issues calling in and talking to several different CSRs. It may be the type of transaction that is causing you to have trouble. His was related to Universal Studios tickets he had bought online through a website which he thought was a travel agent. Turns out the transaction was placed not through the travel agent's website but was routed through another website that coded as something other than what Barclays determines as "travel". So he had to eat the cost of the tickets and didn't end up using his miles.
I am surprised that so many people have problems with calling in. I have done it several times and am 100% successful. The agent always says that they need to open a case. Then it takes a week before I see the miles disappear from my account.
Aug 17, 2015, 5:17 pm
#2807
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 197
When closing an account (BC Arrival+) does Barclays give you the option of moving your credit line to one of your other BC products ?
Aug 17, 2015, 8:11 pm
#2808
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Programs: Delta + United Airmiles
Posts: 703
Aug 18, 2015, 4:23 pm
#2809
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Programs: Delta + United Airmiles
Posts: 703
If you think the change from $25 min to $100 min redemption is severe, here's what I found for the Arizona State Choice Rewards pin priority MC rewards program:
"cash back rewards. Each Cash Back Rewards point redeemed equals one cent ($0.01) towards the cash back amount. You may redeem your points for cash back in the form of a deposit to your AZSTCU Savings or Checking Account, payment towards your AZSTCU Choice Rewards Credit Card account or as a donation to one of our designated charities. Cash Back redeemed in the form of a deposit to your AZSTCU Savings or Checking Account is limited to $50 increments. Cash Back redeemed towards payment of your Choice Rewards Credit Card is limited to increments of $50. Cash Back redeemed as a donation to one of our designated charities is limited to $50 increments.
You must attain a minimum of 20,000 points before you are allowed to redeem any Cash Back points. A minimum redemption of 5,000 points is required. Cash Back redeemed in the form of donations will be directed to the charity selected. Cardholder will receive an acknowledgement letter within 60 days of donation. Please allow 1 – 2 weeks processing time."
Looks like they cloned the language from AZSTCU? <g>
$20,000 min spend is just too much to require just to redeem the 1st $50!
OMG if this is right!
"cash back rewards. Each Cash Back Rewards point redeemed equals one cent ($0.01) towards the cash back amount. You may redeem your points for cash back in the form of a deposit to your AZSTCU Savings or Checking Account, payment towards your AZSTCU Choice Rewards Credit Card account or as a donation to one of our designated charities. Cash Back redeemed in the form of a deposit to your AZSTCU Savings or Checking Account is limited to $50 increments. Cash Back redeemed towards payment of your Choice Rewards Credit Card is limited to increments of $50. Cash Back redeemed as a donation to one of our designated charities is limited to $50 increments.
You must attain a minimum of 20,000 points before you are allowed to redeem any Cash Back points. A minimum redemption of 5,000 points is required. Cash Back redeemed in the form of donations will be directed to the charity selected. Cardholder will receive an acknowledgement letter within 60 days of donation. Please allow 1 – 2 weeks processing time."
Looks like they cloned the language from AZSTCU? <g>
$20,000 min spend is just too much to require just to redeem the 1st $50!
OMG if this is right!
Last edited by uds0; Aug 18, 2015 at 4:44 pm Reason: Arizona (NOT First Tech) CU terms
Aug 18, 2015, 5:03 pm
#2810
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
Oh well at least no AF, FTF and true chip and PIN on First Tech.
I have other cards for earning rewards so I'll use most of those for spending.
I have other cards for earning rewards so I'll use most of those for spending.
Aug 18, 2015, 5:10 pm
#2811
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,508
Also, a statement credit isn't that bad of a way to redeem if you use the card for normal spend (and likely has the 5,000 point minimum as opposed to 20,000, if I'm reading that correctly). If nothing else, you can just buy a gift card for somewhere you frequently shop at (e.g. Amazon) or for an airline or hotel that you plan on visiting/using soon.
Aug 18, 2015, 5:41 pm
#2812
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 131
Just want to make sure, but spending by a secondary (non-primary, additional) user added to the card counts toward minimum spend and can be redeemed for charges, correct?
Is there any card where that isn't the case?
Is there any card where that isn't the case?
Aug 19, 2015, 8:34 am
#2813
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 74
I was able to redeem miles towards disney tickets. I purchased them through undercovertourist.com It showed as a redeemable expense. You could buy universal and sea world tickets through their website as well.
Aug 19, 2015, 8:42 am
#2814
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,904
I saw a few questions about redeeming a travel credit for HomeAway.com. HomeAway shows up as real estate and not as a travel purchase. Hopefully Barclays will change the category of my purchase for me. I requested this by phone and will find out in a week.
Aug 19, 2015, 8:51 am
#2815
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 814
FWIW, I received an email offering me 20x points (yes, 20x!) for purchases at Williams-Sonoma from August 8 to September 7 on stuff purchased with my Barclay's card.
WS also gave me an additional 10% off as a one-time deal for a new customer. Also free shipping was offered.
I used it to pick up a few things for the kitchen that I have wanted for some time, like replacing my old knuckle scrapping cheese grater.
WS also gave me an additional 10% off as a one-time deal for a new customer. Also free shipping was offered.
I used it to pick up a few things for the kitchen that I have wanted for some time, like replacing my old knuckle scrapping cheese grater.
Aug 19, 2015, 4:06 pm
#2816
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 197
Closed mine out today due to the new negative changes. No fuss, no offer not even interested in why was closing. Seemingly Barclays are not interested in customer retention or in keeping customers in this product regardless of spend/relationship.
Aug 19, 2015, 8:46 pm
#2817
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 814
Amazing isn't it? Yet how many miles will they offer to a newbie to get his or her business? Probably 20K to 40K. I don't understand it.
Aug 19, 2015, 9:17 pm
#2818
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Programs: Delta + United Airmiles
Posts: 703
Many posts about folks getting the 20/40k again by closing the account and applying even as little as a month or two later, and avoiding the AF by closing and have a year before it comes around on the replacement! Go figure!
Aug 19, 2015, 11:12 pm
#2819
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,431
I help manage my dad's Arrival Plus card and created a login for him for the first time today. They had 65,076 "miles" available and so I applied 65K miles to a travel charge, leaving 76. There was a 10% rebate of 6500, so the total immediately went up to 6576. I then used 5000 for another charge, dropping the total to 1576 before a 500 mile rebate brought it up to 2076. Before I logged off, I saw 2076. When I logged back in, I now see 1792 miles. No transactions have occurred for several days, no returns. When I log in to see activity, there's no accounting for the missing 284 miles. I know 284 isn't a big deal, but my dad's AF is coming up and I want to get up to 2500 before he cancels the card. The missing 284 means he has to spend an additional $142 to reach that mark.
Aug 20, 2015, 8:23 am
#2820
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: ROC
Posts: 139
I was able to use this to top off ~65 miles I needed. You might be able to squeeze 284 out of there.
