The Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard has been a popular choice for travelers seeking a flexible rewards credit card. Known for its high rewards rate on all purchases and ease of redemption, this card has garnered positive reviews by both experts and users alike.

However, it is essential to note that the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard is no longer available to new applicants. Current cardholders can continue to enjoy its benefits, but those seeking a travel rewards card will need to explore other options.

In this article, we will discuss the features and benefits of the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard to shed light on what made it an attractive choice for many. This information can be helpful when comparing other travel rewards cards on the market.

Key Features

Sign-Up Bonus

The Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard offers a generous sign-up bonus of 70,000 miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first 90 days. This bonus is worth $700 when redeemed towards travel expenses.

Rewards

Cardholders can earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all purchases, which is a competitive rewards rate. Additionally, you’ll receive a 5% rebate on redeemed miles, effectively increasing the value of your rewards.

Foreign Transaction Fee

The Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard does not charge any foreign transaction fees. This makes it a great option for international travelers who want to avoid extra costs when using their credit card abroad.

Travel Statement Credits

Miles earned with the Barclaycard Arrival can be redeemed as travel statement credits, which allows you to apply your rewards directly to travel purchases. Miles are worth a flat 1 cent apiece when redeemed this way. When redeeming miles for travel statement credit, you’ll need to meet a minimum redemption threshold of 10,000 miles, or $100 in travel purchases.

Annual Fee

The Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard has an annual fee of $89. While this fee might be a factor to consider, the rewards and other features of the card can easily offset it, especially for frequent travelers.

Earning and Redeeming Rewards

Earn Miles on Purchases

With the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard, cardholders earn 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases. There are no categories or caps to the rewards you can earn, making it a simple, straightforward program.

Redeeming for Travel

To redeem your miles for travel expenses, you can use the Barclaycard’s online portal. For every 10,000 miles, you’ll receive $100 in travel statement credits, equating to a 1 cent per mile value. Additionally, when you redeem miles for travel, you’ll receive a 5% miles rebate, further enhancing the value of your redemptions.

Travel Expenses Include:

• Flights
• Hotels
• Cruises
• Car rentals
• Other travel-related services

Cash Back and Gift Cards

While the primary focus of the card is travel rewards, you can also redeem your miles for cash back and gift cards. However, the value of your miles decreases, as you’ll only receive 0.5 cents per mile when redeeming for these options. For example, 10,000 miles would be worth $50 in cash back or gift cards.

Statement Credits and Merchandise

Another option is redeeming your miles for statement credits and merchandise, although the value of your miles is lower than travel redemptions. Again, expect to receive 0.5 cents per mile for these categories. It’s important to maximize the value of your miles by prioritizing travel redemptions whenever possible.

While there is no introductory bonus points offer or waiver for the annual fee, the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard provides a consistent earning and redemption system. With no foreign transaction fees, it’s a great choice for international travelers looking to earn rewards from their everyday spending.

Comparisons to Other Travel Credit Cards

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a popular travel rewards credit card, offering 2 points per dollar spent on travel and dining, and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. When redeeming points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, they are worth 25% more, making it an effective 2.5% cashback on travel and dining purchases. The card also allows for point transfers to various partner airlines and hotels, and it comes with no foreign transaction fees. The current sign-up bonus is 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases, with no category limitations. Miles can be redeemed for statement credits on travel expenses at a flat rate of 1 cent per mile or transferred to airline and hotel partners. The card comes with no foreign transaction fees and offers a sign-up bonus of 60,000 miles after spending $3,000 within the first three months. Additionally, it has an annual fee of $95 which is waived for the first year.

JetBlue Plus Card

The JetBlue Plus Card is designed for frequent JetBlue travelers and offers 6 points per dollar spent on JetBlue purchases, 2 points per dollar spent at restaurants and grocery stores, and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed for JetBlue flights at a varying rate. Cardholders also receive benefits like complimentary first checked bag, 50% savings on eligible in-flight purchases, and the ability to earn Mosaic status after spending $50,000 in a calendar year. The card has a $99 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. Currently, the sign-up bonus is 50,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days.

While the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard has some similarities with these other travel rewards credit cards, it stands out in a few ways like offering a consistent 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases, and the 5% bonus miles when redeeming for travel statement credits. However, it may not have as many point transfer options as the Chase Sapphire Preferred or as many travel benefits seen with the JetBlue Plus Card.

Additional Benefits of Barclaycard Arrival

World Elite Mastercard Benefits

The Barclaycard Arrival Plus is a World Elite Mastercard, which comes with a variety of additional benefits. Cardholders can enjoy exclusive travel perks like access to luxury hotels, complimentary room upgrades, and late check-out. They can also take advantage of travel insurance coverages, such as trip cancellation/interruption protection, car rental insurance, and baggage delay coverage.

Loyalty and Flexibility

Barclaycard Arrival Plus offers great flexibility when it comes to earning and redeeming points. Cardholders earn 2X miles on every purchase made and receive a 5% rebate when redeeming their miles. This reward system encourages loyalty and makes it easier for cardholders to maximize their rewards. Miles can be redeemed as travel statement credits, allowing for simplicity in the redemption process.

Partnerships for More Redemption Options

Barclaycard Arrival partners with several airlines and hotel chains to provide more redemption options for cardholders. Some of the airline partners include JetBlue, Aeromexico, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, China Eastern, Etihad, EVA Air, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, and Hawaiian Airlines. Additionally, they have a partnership with Wyndham, which offers cardholders more options when redeeming their miles for hotel stays. These partnerships make it convenient for cardholders to make the most of their points and miles and enjoy a wide variety of travel experiences.

Things to Consider

Minimum Redemption Amount

When using the Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard®, it is important to understand the minimum redemption amount. You need to accumulate enough miles for travel statement credits, which requires having a sufficient balance. Make sure you meet the minimum redemption requirements, especially when redeeming for travel expenses or hotel stays.

Balance Transfers

The Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® allows balance transfers, which can be helpful if you have existing credit card debt that you’d like to consolidate. Keep in mind, however, that there may be fees associated with making a balance transfer. Be sure to review the terms and fees involved in balance transfers to make the right decision for your financial situation.

Spending Thresholds

To maximize the rewards and benefits of the Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard®, consider the spending thresholds for earning bonus miles. For example, in order to get the 70,000-mile welcome bonus, you’ll need to spend $5,000 on the card within the first 90 days. Be sure to plan your spending accordingly to avoid missing out on valuable rewards.

Intro APR

The Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® may offer an introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers. Be sure to review the promotional APR terms and take advantage of lower interest rates if they are applicable. However, also remember that the intro APR will eventually expire, and standard interest rates will apply.

Welcome Offer

The welcome offer for the Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® can be quite generous. For instance, a 70,000-mile bonus can be worth $700 in travel expenses when used for travel statement credits. Furthermore, the card provides a 5% redemption bonus, giving you a small percentage of your redeemed miles back. This bonus can be especially beneficial when redeeming miles for travel-related expenses, such as hotel stays and dining. Be sure to take advantage of the welcome offer to fully leverage the card’s benefits.

Bottom Line

The Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard offers a simple and straightforward way to earn travel rewards. With 2x miles per dollar spent on all purchases and a generous one-time signup bonus, this card caters to those who value simplicity and flexibility in their travel rewards.

One of the key features of this credit card is its lack of bonus categories. This makes it an ideal choice for those who prefer a no-fuss approach to earning rewards without having to keep track of different categories and spending limits.

The card uses a chip-and-pin system, which provides added security and convenience, especially when traveling internationally. This feature is valuable for those who frequently travel abroad, as it is more widely accepted in foreign countries.

An attractive aspect of the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard is the flexibility in redeeming travel rewards. Cardholders are not limited to specific travel partners and can use their miles for a wide variety of travel expenses, such as flights, hotels, cruises, and car rentals. This broad range of travel redemption options makes it an excellent choice for those who prefer to have multiple travel options at their disposal.

Though there are no specific spending thresholds for earning travel rewards, cardholders can maximize their rewards earnings by using the card for all their purchases, thus accumulating more miles to use toward their desired travel experiences.

In summary, the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard offers a simple, flexible, and user-friendly travel rewards program. The lack of bonus categories and spending thresholds make it an excellent choice for those who prefer a straightforward rewards system, while the chip-and-pin technology and diverse redemption options cater to frequent travelers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top benefits?

The Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ World Elite Mastercard has a few notable benefits. First is the consistent earning rate of 2X miles per dollar spent on all purchases. Secondly, you will receive a 5% miles rebate every time you redeem points, which adds value to your rewards. Additionally, there are luxury travel benefits available for cardholders.

Is it still available?

Unfortunately, the Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ World Elite Mastercard is no longer available for new applicants. However, current cardholders can still use the card and enjoy its benefits.

How does it compare to Arrival Premier?

Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ World Elite Mastercard and Arrival Premier have similar features, but there are some differences. The main advantage is the stronger earning rate of 2X miles per dollar spent on all purchases for the Arrival Plus card compared to the Arrival Premier.

Any special elite status?

As a World Elite Mastercard, the Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ offers luxury travel benefits for cardholders. This includes complimentary access to Mastercard Airport Experiences provided by LoungeKey, which allows access to over 1000 airport lounges worldwide.

How hard is approval?

Approval for the Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ World Elite Mastercard is based on various factors, such as your credit score and history. Generally, a good to excellent credit score is required for approval.

What is the mile value?

The value of miles earned with the Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ World Elite Mastercard varies based on the redemption option. Generally, miles can be redeemed for travel-related expenses at a rate of 1 mile equivalent to one cent. This means that 1000 miles are worth $10 in travel redemptions. Keep in mind the extra value provided by the 5% miles rebate upon redemption.