Barclaycard Arrival Plus MasterCard Review

Barclaycard Arrival Plus MasterCardThe Barclaycard Arrival Plus MasterCard is a travel rewards credit card that delivers a high rewards rate along with flexible redemption options.  The Rewards Program is structured to most benefit people who travel frequently and spend substantial amounts annually on airline tickets, hotels, and other transportation costs.  The card is issued by Barclays Bank Delaware.

New card members have the opportunity to earn 40,000 bonus miles upon approval.  To receive these miles, you need to make at least $3,000 worth of purchases in the first 90 days that your account is active.  The Barclaycard Arrival Plus MasterCard allows members to earn “miles” as opposed to “points” and the 40,000 bonus miles promotional offer is equal to a $400 travel statement credit.  Returns and credits do not count towards the spending threshold and all eligible transactions must post to your account by the specified date.

New account holders receive a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for the first 12 billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of opening your account.  After this time, the APR on balance transfers will be 14.99% or 18.99%, depending on your creditworthiness at the time of approval.  This is a variable APR based on the Prime Rate.

There is no 0% introductory APR on purchases.  Your APR will be 14.99% or 18.99% based on your credit score and payment history.

Members earn two miles for every $1 spent on eligible net purchases using the card.  You also earn miles for any eligible purchases made by an Authorized User of the card.  Net purchases do not include credits, returns, or adjustments.  Balance transfers and cash advances do not earn miles.  Miles do not expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing.

Cardholders can redeem miles in the following ways:

  • For a travel statement credit- Members receive the best reward value with this option. Travel statement credit redemptions start at 2,500 miles which is equal to $25.  Travel purchases must have been made within the last 120 days.
  • For a cash back statement credit- Cash back statement credit redemptions also start at 2,500 miles but with this option the value is only $12.50.
  • For gift cards and merchandise- Miles can be redeemed for gift cards and merchandise starting at 5,000 miles but here the value is only $25.

Card members earn 10% miles back as a travel redemption bonus each time you redeem miles for travel statement credits.  For example, if you redeem 25,000 miles for a travel credit, you will receive 2,500 bonus miles to use towards your next redemption.  The travel statement credits and miles back redemption bonus are two features of this card which heavily favor the frequent traveler.

Members receive additional World Elite benefits.  These include:

  • Concierge Service
  • MasterCard Global Service Premium
  • Trip Cancellation Insurance

Cardholders are not charged foreign transaction fees on any purchases made on the card while traveling outside of the U.S.

The Barclaycard Arrival Plus MasterCard comes with enhanced Chip and PIN technology for greater security both at home and abroad.

There is an annual fee of $89 which is waived for the first year of membership.

The Facts

Below we’ve broken down the specific details of the Barclaycard Arrival Plus MasterCard to help you determine if it’s the right card for you.

The Good:

Significant signup bonus:

New account holders have the opportunity to earn 40,000 bonus miles upon approval.  To be eligible, you need to make at least $3,000 worth of purchases in the first 90 days that your account is active.  Members earn “miles” as opposed to “points”.  The 40,000 bonus miles promotional offer is equal to a $400 travel statement credit.  In addition to the bonus miles, you will also earn two miles for every dollar spent on eligible purchases (the $3,000 spending threshold equals 6,000 miles).

0% introductory APR on balance transfers:

New members receive a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for the first 12 billing cycles following any balance transfer that posts to your account.  All transfers must be completed within 45 days of your account being opened.  After this time, the APR on balance transfers will be 14.99% or 18.99%, depending on your creditworthiness at the time of approval.  This is a variable APR based on the Prime Rate.  It may take up to 4 weeks for balance transfer requests to be processed and post to your account.

Easy to earn miles:

Card members earn two miles for every dollar spent on eligible net purchases made with the card.   Net purchases do not include credits, returns, or adjustments.  Cash advances and balance transfers do not earn miles.  As long as your account is active and in good standing, your miles do not expire.

Easy to redeem miles:

Members have three options from which to choose when redeeming miles.  These are:

  • Travel statement credit- Travel statement credit redemptions start at 2,500 miles which is equal to $25. Travel purchases must have been made within the last 120 days.  This option gives you the highest rate of reward.
  • Cash back statement credit- Cash back statement credit redemptions also start at 2,500 miles but this is only equal to a $12.50 reward.
  • Gift cards and merchandise- Miles can be redeemed for gift cards and merchandise starting at 5,000 miles but the value is only $25.

Miles back bonus redemption:

Cardholders earn 10% miles back as a travel redemption bonus every time you redeem miles for travel statement credits.  If you redeemed 25,000 miles for a travel statement credit you will receive 2,500 in bonus miles which you can then use towards your next redemption.

No foreign transaction fees:

The Barclaycard Arrival Plus MasterCard does not charge cardholders foreign transaction fees on purchases made while traveling internationally.

World Elite benefits:

Members receive these additional benefits:

  • Concierge Service- Complimentary 24/7 assistance with dining reservations, travel questions, and finding just the right gift.
  • MasterCard Global Service Premium- Provides emergency assistance 24/7, anywhere, anytime, and in any language. Lost or stolen card?  Receive a replacement one or a cash advance.
  • Trip Cancellation Insurance- Reimburses you and your family for any nonrefundable cancellation or change fee if your trip is interrupted or cancelled. Tickets must have been paid for with the card.

Good flexibility:

Card members can book with any hotel chain or airline carrier and earn miles when you use the card to pay for your purchase.  Qualifying travel redemptions are:

  • Hotels
  • Motels
  • Airlines
  • Timeshares
  • Campgrounds
  • Car Rental Agencies
  • Cruise Lines
  • Tourist Attractions
  • Discount Travel Sites
  • Trains
  • Buses
  • Taxis
  • Limousines
  • Ferries
  • Your annual fee (if applicable)

The Bad:

Annual fee:

There is an $89 annual fee with this card which is waived for the first year.

No promotional APR on purchases:

There is no 0% introductory APR on purchases.  Your APR will be 14.99% or 18.99% depending on your credit score.

The Ugly:

Highest reward rate is for travel purchases:

If you spend a significant amount of money each year on airline tickets and hotels, this card will give you a good return when you redeem your miles.  However, if most of your annual spending is on groceries, restaurants, and gas, this card may not be the best choice for you.  Miles that are redeemed for cash back statement credits have significant less value than miles that are redeemed for travel statement credits.

 

Not everyone will qualify:

Not everyone will qualify for the Barclaycard Arrival Plus MasterCard.  Generally, an excellent credit score (750+FICO) is needed for approval but Barclays Bank also adheres to certain credit and income requirements.

In comparison, the Barclaycard Arrival World MasterCard is a no annual fee credit card which comes with different benefits and rewards.  Members earn two miles per dollar on travel and dining and one mile per dollar on all other purchases.  The signup bonus is 20,000 miles when you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days.  The credit requirements are a bit less restrictive (710+FICO) so this may be a reasonable alternative to consider.