If you love credit card rewards but crave flexibility, you would be hard-pressed to find a better travel credit card than the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard.
After all, this card offers 2x points for each dollar you spend, along with a 50K signup bonus after you use your card for $3,000 in purchases within the first three months.
While earning 2x points is a lucrative prospect indeed, it's the way you redeem these points that makes them so valuable.
Unlike other cards that make you book travel through their own portal, you can use Barclaycard Arrival miles to book any type of travel you want. Once you book a travel experience with your card, you use your miles to erase the charge from your account.
The process is simple, although there are a few caveats.
For example, you can only redeem your miles in increments of $100 (10,000 miles) or more. If you have 9,867 Arrival miles in your account, for example, you'll have to earn more miles before you can redeem at least 10,000 points for $100.
Also, while you can redeem your points for cash back, you'll only get half the value.
From the fine print:
"Travel statement credit redemptions start at 10,000 miles for $100 toward a qualifying travel purchase of $100 or more made within the last 120 days. Cash back statement credit and gift card redemptions start at 5,000 miles for $25."
To make the most of your miles, you'll need to redeem your points for travel. Unfortunately, not every "travel purchase" will count.
So, what can you redeem these miles for? Most types of travel are fine, but you need to make sure your purchase actually "codes" as travel.
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Here's what Barclaycard's fine print says about travel redemptions:
"A travel redemption is defined as airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, campgrounds, car rental agencies, cruise lines, purchase and travel agencies, discount travel sites, trains, buses, taxis, limousines and ferries as defined by the merchant category code. Purchases made at merchants that do not process transactions under these terms or that use incorrect merchant category codes will not qualify."
In this case, Barclaycard makes it clear that purchases which code incorrectly aren't their responsibility. They also add a few exclusions to clear things up:
"Please note, some merchants that provide transportation and travel-related services are not included in this category; for example, real estate agents, websites or owners that rent properties, in-flight goods and services, merchants within airports and merchants that rent trailers, trucks and other vehicles for the purpose of hauling."
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If your goal is earning free travel, a fixed-value travel credit is one of the best options available. Not only does this type let you book any type of travel you want, but it makes it easier to shop around and get the best price before you book.
Just make sure your purchase will code as travel before you count on a specific redemption.
While regular airfare, hotel stays and rental car purchases should always code as travel, there's a gray area to be aware of.
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