I would like to “branch” out to different banks and I have been looking at the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard for some time. However, I will not apply at this time because Rob and I recently applied for and got a number of credit cards because of big sign up bonus offers and I honestly don’t know if I will be approved at this time. In addition, I also did recently “branch” out to a new bank (Bank of America) when I got my Virgin Atlantic World Elite MasterCard. So maybe I will apply in a few months……
But I like this card for a number of reasons. First, it has a pretty attractive sign up bonus. The current offer is you earn 40,000 bonus miles if you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months and the annual fee of $89 is waived the first year.
Next, you earn two (2) miles for every $1 you spend on all your purchases. (Unlike a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred where you earn 2 points per dollar on certain purchases, ie dining, travel).
Once you start earning miles, you can redeem these miles for statement credits. Your best value is to redeem them for a travel statement credit. Here redemptions start at 2,500 miles for $25, toward travel purchases made within the last 120 days. (A change after this post-redemptions now start at 10,000 miles for $100 towards travel purchases) Once you redeem your miles for a travel statement credit, the credit will be posted to your Account within 5 to 7 business days. You also have the very unattractive option to redeem your miles for cash back statement credits.
Also you earn 10% of your miles back as a travel redemption bonus every time you redeem for travel statement credits. (Now 5% since the time of this post) For example, if you redeem 25,000 miles for travel, you will receive 2,500 miles as a bonus to use towards your next redemption. Travel redemption bonus miles are added to your account within one business day after your travel redemption is processed.
To read about other features and to apply for the card click here.