gordonlee33

I'm about to sign up for the US MasterCard with the 50k link as it looks like this is pretty much my last chance. I had this card in the past, but cancelled it about 14 months ago so I am assuming I am now again eligible for the sign up bonus.

Before I do so, are there any better offers than the 50k that I found online?

kochleffel

I noticed when I logged in earlier today that Barclays now has no foreign-transaction fees for the US MC.

Ironically, Barclays is the bank that has never, ever approved a foreign transaction for me (made online while I was in the United States). It was amusing to hear their automated fraud warning try to pronounce ÖBB (Österreichische Bundesbahn). Not amusing when they declined that charge, another from the Swiss Federal Railways, the Wiener Konzerthaus, Linotype GMBH (in Germany, but according to Barclays, billed from France), and Skype (billed from Luxembourg). After all of those, I didn't even consider using the card while I was actually outside the United States.

ILuvParis

All you need to do is call them and advise them of your travel plans. I always do it before any trip outside the country for any cards I'm taking with me. Called Barclays before a recent trip to UK and France and had no issues. Chase is another one that will decline any charge out of the country unless you advise them of your travel plans. Some cards (don't remember which at the moment) allow you to advise them online.

kochleffel

Am I supposed to call them before I top up my Skype account? Before I purchase from Amazon UK? Not every foreign transaction results from travel plans. In the cases of the train and concert tickets, the travel was two or three months in the future.

If I have to call Barclays before every transaction (when I'm at home) that might be billed from a foreign country, I'm far more likely to pull out another bank's card.

ILuvParis

Good points. I'd be tempted to call them and ask those same questions.

Duane Haas

I'm sorry if this has been answered before but I didn't exactly see it - does the US Airways MasterCard get you a free bag on American Airlines flights? Specifically American Eagle operated ones?

Thanks!

ILuvParis

The website only mentions a free bag on US Air.

I wonder if the new Aviator Mastercard will have chip and pin. Seems like a good time to do it as Barclay's Hawaiian Air Mastercard has them.

rove312

Yes, the FAQ for the default Red card says:

ILuvParis

Great, thanks.

nonstopski

I purchased a US Airways flight (operated by Republic Airways - which is a US Airways express carrier, so shouldn't be an issue there), but bought it with my Amex Premier Rewards as I was working towards a minimum spend on that card.

I figured I'd just carry my bags on so I wasn't concerned about it too much. While I don't need to carry on, I might prefer to for this trip and wanted to see if having the US Airways Barclays Card and bringing it with me when I check in would get me a free checked bag?

I'm not seeing anything prohibiting it in the page devoted to this benefit, but almost every other card I know of, you have to have had purchased the flight on the card to get the benefit: http://www.usairways.com/en-US/divid...Bags.html?re=1

JPG3392

You'll get the free checked bag. Last December I flew US BOS-DCA on a ticket purchased before I even applied for the Barclay's card. The card was issued before I flew, but was still in the mail to me so it was not yet activated. Nonetheless the card was already associated with my account and I received one free checked bag on the flight.

nonstopski

superb.

bsizzle

Hi all, I did some searching and couldn't find an answer and was hoping for some feedback...

I have the Barclays US Airways World MC (hasn't converted to the AA Red yet) which I was planning to use to buy a couple US Airways tickets for my parents to visit. Does anybody know if they'd get the priority boarding benefit even though I'm not on the itinerary? Based on the fine print, it seems like I have to be a traveler on the flight for them to get priority boarding, but was wondering if anybody had any firsthand experiences otherwise.

Thank you!

SpammersAreScum

Technically, you've been converted, they just haven't sent you the new card yet. Lots of people are in that situation, including me.

The card doesn't get you "priority boarding", it gets you zone 2 boarding. Data point: I recently flew DCA-TPA-DCA on USAir; my BP said "Zone 2" both times. When boarding on the return, the GA announced "Priority and Citi AAdvantage card holders". Since he was briefly idle after that, I took the opportunity to approach with my BP and my Barclay USAirways card to ask.

GA, looking at BP: "I haven't called Zone 2 yet, sir."
Me: "I know, I just thought USAirways card would get the same access as AA card..."
GA: "They're different cards, sir."

Again, noone was in line at this point, so he just scanned the BP and waved me through.

I suspect that what he should have said was certain Citi AA cards -- the ones with AFs in the hundreds of $ -- get you "Priority Access"; and maybe the Barclays AA Silver does as well.

bsizzle

Sorry, I should have been more clear, by "priority boarding" I was actually referring to Zone 2... if I buy a ticket for someone else, do you know if they'd get zone 2 boarding, or does it require me to be on the flight as well?