Dumb question about redeeming for travel statement credits 120 days back:

The sole condition is that the charge must have been made 120 days back and nothing else right? So even though I've yet to meet minimum spend, if I charge airfare and pay the bill after the statement closes, I can redeem points for it in 2 months effectively just giving me cash right?

Just want to be 100% sure

Gosh darn it, you signed up for a 2.222% cash back card, you're going to get 2.222% cash back!

Correct. Even if you pay the bill in full before redeeming points, the redemption will still post as a credit to your account. If you have a $0 balance, you'll simply end up with a negative balance based on how many points you redeemed.

There have been reports of it both ways in this thread. Highly YMMV, so you will just have to call and try

Well this has been a disaster. I have attempted to use my chip and pin Arrival+ many times in London - the card has only worked once according to retailers (hotels and restaurants). In the meantime, $9,000+ of pending transactions have hit my card (the hotel I am staying at tried to use my card a few times, each resulting in a pending authorization that ended up saying "declined" at the hotel), taking up the entire $10,000 credit limit. So now I have no spending power in London on my Arrival. If I didn't bring my NPSL Amex Platinum with me, would have likely been out here on the streets in London. Barclays said they cannot do anything until the pending transactions post. I thought I had set up my card to work in London (called ahead, set up pin, etc), but at least for me, the pin appears to have caused more trouble than it has been worth.

I wonder if ticket master tickets or season tickets for a sporting team would work?

Besides the hotel, how many times did you try to use it?

Barclays Arrival/Arrival+ Cards (1.1%/2.2% travel credits)
 

any idea why Barclay keeps track of how many transactions each statement? my other cards don't show how many transactions

When traveling abroad, it is always wise to carry more than one no foreign transaction fee card, in case one gets stolen, or locked-out due to suspected fraud or the scenario you described.

I always carry 2 CC and 2 bank ATM cards when traveling. Also for real emergencies, I also carry about $1500 in travelers checks- no need to worry if I lose these as they are 100% replaceable. I carry minimal cash (about 3 days worth) as they are not replaceable.

That's what I did. I actually had three - Arrival, Amex and a corporate card. I'm just a bit pissed because I wanted to redeem a lot of points against this travel, and I won't be able to. Plus I was disappointed in the customer service.

The Traveler's Check idea is a good one. I will follow that next time.

They seem to have some "new" call center in Nevada and they are clueless. I email them telling them i will be in Costa Rica for July 4th - i hope they will not decline any of my transactions

So I have enjoyed the arrival +, as I have had the card since January. I got in during the 1K spend bonus and I like the new changes.

Since my anniversary is due Jan '15, do you all think its worth to keep the card?? Thoughts opinions??

Unlike some other cards, the barclaycard arrival + doesn't give you any perk for renewing the card. No pt dividend (CSP), companion pass (delta cards), or free nights etc like hotel cars.

I currently have amex everyday preferred, Marriott premier personal & business, IHG mastercard, and arrival +. Ive had many cards over the past 3-4 yrs but I've only kept a few for the long haul.

If they decline me I plan on calling them collect form my hotel room. All my train tickets are already paid for so I'll have another no Forex fee card with me as well just in case.

OT

While the banks like to tell you to call collect from overseas, in reality, I have tried this with both Citi and Chase when I was pickpocketed at Rome last Spring - guess what? The operators told me the numbers I called barred collect calls... At the end, it was Hilton FCO front desk called for me, using their own direct line.

I say the collect call feature is useless. Use SM works much better as husband was pickpocketed this May, again in Italy but different town, a much smaller one too. Instead of calling Chase and BofA, I just went online to send the banks SMs. The responses came back within hours.

BTW, in both times the thieves did not use any of the credit / debit card - they only aimed for cash which was quite little - last year was $50 US and 30 euro, this year was $20, no euro. The annoying thing is to replace the Driver License which of course costs $25 in our state. (but if you have a police report the fee would be waived...)