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 18, 2014, 7:36 am
#961
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: AA,UA,BA,SPG,IHG Plat, HH Gold, CC Gold, UR, MR
Posts: 195
Data points:
I have been able to successfully get credited as travel expenses the following:
Admission to the Denver Zoo.
Tickets to tour the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, CO.
I will be contacting customer service next week to get the Pikes Peak toll-road fee reimbursed as well. I will try to remember to provide an update when one is available.
I have been able to successfully get credited as travel expenses the following:
Admission to the Denver Zoo.
Tickets to tour the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, CO.
I will be contacting customer service next week to get the Pikes Peak toll-road fee reimbursed as well. I will try to remember to provide an update when one is available.
Aug 18, 2014, 12:27 pm
#962
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
I redeemed 15K UA miles for an intra-China flight (tax was only $8.10) for a ticket would sell for $290.
In order to generate the $290 on the Barclays card, I would need to spend $290/0.022 = $13,181.
In order to generate the 15K UA miles via UR pts, I only need to spend $3000 on the Ink cards in bonus category, namely office supplies with Staples participate in Visa SavingsEdge 1% rebate for business cards.
You really need to do some serious calculations on EACH scenario in order to determine which card to use for what purpose when you have that purpose defined and then try to find the least cost path to get there. This is especially important when you supplement your natural spend.
Aug 18, 2014, 3:21 pm
#963
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SAN
Posts: 127
"Easily" is arguable, depending on your restrictions. For those with inflexible travel schedule (like mine), it is not that easy at all. Also for me, Chase accumulates ~1.25 points/$, compared to 2.2/$ for Arrival+
Aug 18, 2014, 6:40 pm
#964
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
But also dont forget that at redemption, your 2.2 "miles" only worth 0.005 per mile if you do not redeem it against travel expenses, versus UR pts the value of earning side and the redeeming side is the same when it comes to straight cash (statement credit).
So while it might not be as easy for you to use higher value redemption on UR, it would still be restrictive for you to do travel in order to redeem the Barclay's miles at the 2.2 cent value. Else it would only be 1.1 cent.
Aug 18, 2014, 9:08 pm
#965
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 434
Anyone able to open up a 2nd card and get a 2nd bonus?
(If you did, was it with or without an active Arrival+ card)
(If you did, was it with or without an active Arrival+ card)
Aug 18, 2014, 9:45 pm
#966
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,537
Okay, easily is based on the assumption that both your dates and destinations are flexible.
Aug 19, 2014, 10:04 am
#968
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 5
Applying for a new card after a month of closing prior one
I was wondering if it is worth trying to apply for a new Barclay's card, due to upcoming travel, even though I just close my last card about one month ago. Do I stand any chance for them to approve a new card?
Thanks,
Thanks,
Aug 19, 2014, 10:06 am
#969
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: Delta silver, HH silver, IHG platinum, SPG gold, AMEX platinum
Posts: 400
This card is a no brainer-keeper for me.
Aug 19, 2014, 7:14 pm
#970
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SAN
Posts: 127
If you count the UR pt at 1 cent per point for its straight cash value, then yes, Barclays is better. However if your travels are limited to domestic, you may still be better off to redeem it thru BA's program where the UR pts transfer to Avios at 1:1. If you can use the BA program for short haul one-segment flights, the UR easily worth twice or more than the Barclay's mile.
But also dont forget that at redemption, your 2.2 "miles" only worth 0.005 per mile if you do not redeem it against travel expenses, versus UR pts the value of earning side and the redeeming side is the same when it comes to straight cash (statement credit).
So while it might not be as easy for you to use higher value redemption on UR, it would still be restrictive for you to do travel in order to redeem the Barclay's miles at the 2.2 cent value. Else it would only be 1.1 cent.
But also dont forget that at redemption, your 2.2 "miles" only worth 0.005 per mile if you do not redeem it against travel expenses, versus UR pts the value of earning side and the redeeming side is the same when it comes to straight cash (statement credit).
So while it might not be as easy for you to use higher value redemption on UR, it would still be restrictive for you to do travel in order to redeem the Barclay's miles at the 2.2 cent value. Else it would only be 1.1 cent.
Aug 19, 2014, 11:19 pm
#972
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
Pretty moot point. The obvious assumption is that one generates enough travel expenses to redeem accumulated points for, otherwise a straight cashback card (Cap1 Quicksilver, for example) is all they would ever need. Personally, I only travel once a year, but I spend $3-4K on each trip (hotel and air for 3 pax). I seriously doubt that I will ever accumulate more points than I can redeem annually (I wish I could). My travel pattern does not include countless short-haul flights that would maximize my UR point value. Different strokes for different folks...
That's my point. I will venture a guess that not everyone who reads this forum value maximum redemption value over convenience. I don't want an airline to dictate when and where I should vacation, because it is more favorable for its revenue.
That's my point. I will venture a guess that not everyone who reads this forum value maximum redemption value over convenience. I don't want an airline to dictate when and where I should vacation, because it is more favorable for its revenue.
Us? We hardly do shorthaul domestic. We on the other hand, do have multiple International short hauls in each of our month-long Asia/Europe trip that we tend to do 3 to 4 times a year. In each trip we often have 2 to 3 short flights enbedded in the big tickets (last Dec was a record of 6 short flights) that we used Avios and LCCs. The TPAC/TATL tickets are from mileage redemption - well, the airlines may "dictate" how we get where we would like to go, but for the "value" of the tickets we fly on, there is absolutely NO WAY the Arrival+ would even come close...
Upcoming trip - UA F award to China for 2 weeks, then a few days in Hong Kong before flying to Paris for another 2 weeks in northern France. Multiple this by 3 in any given year - This is the 3rd trip in 2014 - first one was in Dec/Jan AA F awards to Asia, second one was in May UA business class and coach awards to Asia / Europe / Canada, and the upcoming Sept/Oct one UA F to Asia/Europe. Indeed, different strokes for different people.
The suggestions others posted, are just giving you some ideas and options that may or may not open up minds.
BTW, all our trips are designed by our own preferences as to where we like to go now, then we figure out how to get there, in comfort and style with as little cash outlay as possible. The restrictions from airlines are very small concession to pay. Basically we do not argue with our own pocketbook.
Aug 20, 2014, 9:38 am
#973
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SAN
Posts: 127
Most definitely. A friend loves his Avios because he could take weekend trips very often out from PHL now US is OneWorld member.
Us? We hardly do shorthaul domestic. We on the other hand, do have multiple International short hauls in each of our month-long Asia/Europe trip that we tend to do 3 to 4 times a year. In each trip we often have 2 to 3 short flights enbedded in the big tickets (last Dec was a record of 6 short flights) that we used Avios and LCCs. The TPAC/TATL tickets are from mileage redemption - well, the airlines may "dictate" how we get where we would like to go, but for the "value" of the tickets we fly on, there is absolutely NO WAY the Arrival+ would even come close...
Upcoming trip - UA F award to China for 2 weeks, then a few days in Hong Kong before flying to Paris for another 2 weeks in northern France. Multiple this by 3 in any given year - This is the 3rd trip in 2014 - first one was in Dec/Jan AA F awards to Asia, second one was in May UA business class and coach awards to Asia / Europe / Canada, and the upcoming Sept/Oct one UA F to Asia/Europe. Indeed, different strokes for different people.
The suggestions others posted, are just giving you some ideas and options that may or may not open up minds.
BTW, all our trips are designed by our own preferences as to where we like to go now, then we figure out how to get there, in comfort and style with as little cash outlay as possible. The restrictions from airlines are very small concession to pay. Basically we do not argue with our own pocketbook.
Us? We hardly do shorthaul domestic. We on the other hand, do have multiple International short hauls in each of our month-long Asia/Europe trip that we tend to do 3 to 4 times a year. In each trip we often have 2 to 3 short flights enbedded in the big tickets (last Dec was a record of 6 short flights) that we used Avios and LCCs. The TPAC/TATL tickets are from mileage redemption - well, the airlines may "dictate" how we get where we would like to go, but for the "value" of the tickets we fly on, there is absolutely NO WAY the Arrival+ would even come close...
Upcoming trip - UA F award to China for 2 weeks, then a few days in Hong Kong before flying to Paris for another 2 weeks in northern France. Multiple this by 3 in any given year - This is the 3rd trip in 2014 - first one was in Dec/Jan AA F awards to Asia, second one was in May UA business class and coach awards to Asia / Europe / Canada, and the upcoming Sept/Oct one UA F to Asia/Europe. Indeed, different strokes for different people.
The suggestions others posted, are just giving you some ideas and options that may or may not open up minds.
BTW, all our trips are designed by our own preferences as to where we like to go now, then we figure out how to get there, in comfort and style with as little cash outlay as possible. The restrictions from airlines are very small concession to pay. Basically we do not argue with our own pocketbook.
Aug 20, 2014, 10:28 am
#974
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
Wow, I wish I had the luxury of traveling like you - awesome ^ We can only travel when my wife can get off work and my son is on vacation from school (I work from home, so more freedom). Typically this is during major holidays, and airline award availability is very limited. I am 100% sure we are not alone in this situation. I also understand airlines trying to make maximum profit during this time, precisely for this reason. It is nice to have forums like this to get an idea of all the pros and cons, but it would be silly to assume that there is a universal solution for everyone. Nothing to do with the mind being open or not, certain things are simply beyond one's control.
Depends on the ages of the kids, here are some friends do. If the kids are very young, like below grade 3, they sometimes take the kids out of school for a week or so, but make sure the kids do all the school assignments given by the teachers ahead of time when they are on the trip. Or, when the kids are already teens and have good grades in school, sometimes they would go on trips and skip school for a few days. The premise is of course, the kids grades must be very good and the school agree the arrangements, without skipping any of the school assignments / exams etc.
I am sure you will reach the stage of life when you would have much more freedom on arranging your vacation time. This should give you something to look forward to. Right now you are finding the best solution for the limitation in your own situation. And that is all good.
Aug 20, 2014, 10:59 am
#975
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: San Antonio
Programs: AS MVP
Posts: 2,276
School schedules make things more difficult especially if you only want to travel at a slow 'sensible' pace. But you can also use them to your advantage. We get our schedule 13+ months in advance and plan to travel basically whenever space opens up in conjunction with school holidays. We'll take several 3 day trips, turn one 3 day weekend into 5 or 6 and have them miss a couple or 3 days. Yes, it's fast paced travel and not a very efficient use of miles. But it's also a lot more fun than staying home, I've tried both 