Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Credit, Debit and Prepaid Card Programs > Credit Card Programs
Reload this Page >

Barclays Arrival Plus, now 70K w/$5k spend

Community
Wiki Posts
Search
Old May 14, 2014, 1:15 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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 MasterCardŽ (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)

Print Wikipost

Barclays Arrival Plus, now 70K w/$5k spend

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 28, 2014, 2:29 pm
  #841  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 131
Best way to redeem 3000 Arrival miles?

Since you can't transfer miles, what's the best way to use your Barclays miles before cancelling?
wonderboy is offline  
Old Jul 28, 2014, 9:51 pm
  #842  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 13
Originally Posted by wonderboy
Since you can't transfer miles, what's the best way to use your Barclays miles before cancelling?

wondering the same thing
shawnshx is offline  
Old Jul 28, 2014, 11:10 pm
  #843  
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: OC/LAX
Posts: 376
This was mentioned once before but haven't gotten confirmation for sure. If I were to buy Universal Orlando tickets through AAA online, would I be able to redeem points for that?
aceofcards is offline  
Old Jul 29, 2014, 11:13 am
  #844  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 12
For anyone that needs to get rid of some excess miles and effectively redeem for cash at full 2%, I found this trick accidentally when I had to cancel a hotels.com reservation:

1. Book a refundable reservation on hotels.com.

2. Wait for the charge to post.

3. Redeem your points against the charge, then cancel your reservation. You will get the credit for redeeming your points and the refund for the cancellation posted to your account.

Of course, I have no idea how Barclay or hotels.com would react to doing this repeatedly so proceed at your own risk.
nuugatman is offline  
Old Jul 29, 2014, 11:54 am
  #845  
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AA Exec Plat, Hilton Diamond, Citi-Prestige,
Posts: 131
Originally Posted by nuugatman
For anyone that needs to get rid of some excess miles and effectively redeem for cash at full 2%, I found this trick accidentally when I had to cancel a hotels.com reservation:

1. Book a refundable reservation on hotels.com.

2. Wait for the charge to post.

3. Redeem your points against the charge, then cancel your reservation. You will get the credit for redeeming your points and the refund for the cancellation posted to your account.

Of course, I have no idea how Barclay or hotels.com would react to doing this repeatedly so proceed at your own risk.

Interesting
Khiaao is offline  
Old Jul 29, 2014, 12:44 pm
  #846  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 920
Wouldn't try the above method more than once. Plenty of shutdowns over this kind of abuse.
hitman1420 is offline  
Old Jul 29, 2014, 2:38 pm
  #847  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 319
Originally Posted by shawnshx
wondering the same thing
metro cards? take a taxi that's over $30?
Pecan Pie is offline  
Old Jul 29, 2014, 11:35 pm
  #848  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 131
Originally Posted by nuugatman
For anyone that needs to get rid of some excess miles and effectively redeem for cash at full 2%, I found this trick accidentally when I had to cancel a hotels.com reservation:

1. Book a refundable reservation on hotels.com.

2. Wait for the charge to post.

3. Redeem your points against the charge, then cancel your reservation. You will get the credit for redeeming your points and the refund for the cancellation posted to your account.

Of course, I have no idea how Barclay or hotels.com would react to doing this repeatedly so proceed at your own risk.
What happens if you cancel your card before your reservation? They usually try to refund to your original payment.
wonderboy is offline  
Old Jul 30, 2014, 12:04 am
  #849  
Suspended
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, AS, DL, BA, F9, IHG Plat, HH Gold, CC Gold, SPG Gold, MR Silver
Posts: 1,786
Originally Posted by wonderboy
What happens if you cancel your card before your reservation? They usually try to refund to your original payment.
A cc can still have refunds processed even if it is a closed acct
skibum7732 is offline  
Old Jul 30, 2014, 2:10 am
  #850  
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: OC/LAX
Posts: 376
Originally Posted by nuugatman
For anyone that needs to get rid of some excess miles and effectively redeem for cash at full 2%, I found this trick accidentally when I had to cancel a hotels.com reservation:

1. Book a refundable reservation on hotels.com.

2. Wait for the charge to post.

3. Redeem your points against the charge, then cancel your reservation. You will get the credit for redeeming your points and the refund for the cancellation posted to your account.

Of course, I have no idea how Barclay or hotels.com would react to doing this repeatedly so proceed at your own risk.
If you do this do they just go back as points or actual cash credit?
aceofcards is offline  
Old Jul 30, 2014, 7:57 pm
  #851  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 115
Hi All,

Currently have the Lufthansa Miles&More card with the annual fee about to hit. I called for retention but no dice, but they did offer to move me to the no-fee Barclay Arrival card. My question is, if I go with the Arrival card, can I later sign up for the Arrival Plus and still get the bonus? Are these considered different products? Thanks!
nsmn4945 is offline  
Old Jul 30, 2014, 8:32 pm
  #852  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 45
I am planning upcoming trip on American Airlines.
I have the Barclaycard Arrival, give 2.2% back and my AA MasterCard
I plan on spending $1000 for the ticket. AA is telling me I will only get their benefits if I use the AA mastercard to make my purchase?
•Your first checked bag is free for you and up to 4 traveling companions†
• Group 1 Boarding3

The 2 benefits below I don't care about
•25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases4
•Double AAdvantageŽ miles on eligible American Airlines purchases7

So if I use the Barclayarrival card for the purchase, will I really lose the free checked bag and priority 1 boarding???
flyer12345 is offline  
Old Jul 30, 2014, 8:40 pm
  #853  
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: OC/LAX
Posts: 376
Does the AU card have a different number than the main account for the Arrival Plus?
aceofcards is offline  
Old Jul 30, 2014, 8:42 pm
  #854  
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: OZ *G; HH Diamond;
Posts: 1,644
Originally Posted by flyer12345
I am planning upcoming trip on American Airlines.
I have the Barclaycard Arrival, give 2.2% back and my AA MasterCard
I plan on spending $1000 for the ticket. AA is telling me I will only get their benefits if I use the AA mastercard to make my purchase?
•Your first checked bag is free for you and up to 4 traveling companions†
• Group 1 Boarding3

The 2 benefits below I don't care about
•25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases4
•Double AAdvantage® miles on eligible American Airlines purchases7

So if I use the Barclayarrival card for the purchase, will I really lose the free checked bag and priority 1 boarding???
No.
geclub1 is offline  
Old Jul 30, 2014, 8:47 pm
  #855  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: NYC
Posts: 538
Originally Posted by aceofcards
Does the AU card have a different number than the main account for the Arrival Plus?
Yes, the AU card's number is different and the charges are grouped by cardholder on the statement.
st1575 is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.