Arrival premier card
$150, waived first year
None
Signup Bonus Chart2x All Purchases (≈2%)
No Foreign Transaction Fee
This card is no longer available to new customers.
Advanced reward point collectors can increase their annual points haul by spending exactly $25,000 (or $15,000) on the Arrival Premier card. However, most people shouldn't bother with this card. However, the Arrival Premier "transferable points" program was just introduced in March of 2018, so program details may still be in flux, and this may eventually turn into a more interesting card for a broader range of people.
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Introduction to Arrival Premier Points
The points you earn from the Arrival Premier card can be used in two different ways. They can be used to offset any travel-related charge you make with the card, or they can be converted into frequent flyer miles with one of several partner frequent flyer programs.
- When used to offset travel charges, you'll get 1 cent per point. You'll need to go online to request the redemption, the charge must be a minimum of $100, and you don't have to have enough points to cover the entire charge.
- When converted into frequent flyer miles, you'll get .71 miles for each point (.59 miles with JAL)—It requires 1,400 points to get 1,000 frequent flyer miles. You can then use the miles to book frequent flyer tickets. Arrival Premier Points Guide.
- Compared to the other transferable point programs, Barclays has a weaker set of partners. They don't partner with any US-based airline program, and don't have particular good options for the Star Alliance or Oneworld Alliance. You can still use your points to book frequent flyer tickets with all three alliances, but with more hassle, and less opportunity to take advantage of sweet-spots than the other transferable point programs. Introduction to 'Transferable' Reward Points
Annual Spending Bonuses
The normal reward rate for the card is 2 points per dollar, but you can earn up to 3 points per dollar via the annual spending bonuses.
- If you spend $15,000 a year on the card, you'll receive an extra 15,000 points. Or if you spend $25,000 on the card, you'll receive an extra 25,000 points. Spending is based on each 12 month period from when you open your account.
- When you spend exactly $15,000 or $25,000, you'll be earning 3x points per dollar. Spend any less, or any more, and you reward rate starts dropping. In other words, you'll still only earn 2x rewards, if you don't meet the $15,000 threshold; for any extra spending over $25,000 per year, and for any amount of spending over $15,000, if you don't hit the $25,000 target.
- Subtracting out the annual fee, you can up to 2.4% cash back. For many people that is the highest possible cash-back rate. For example the Alliant card would still earn less cash back with $25,000 of spending. However, if you don't spend exactly $25,000, the average cash-back rate drops. Anyone spending exactly $15,000 would earn the same 2% after fees, as a no-annual-fee cash-back card.
- If you spend exactly $15,000 or $25,000, you'd be earning 2.14 miles per dollar. This is higher than any other card. However, when you factor in the annual fee, you are still better off with the Amex Blue for Business card (assuming you are eligible for it). Even considering the annual fee, you'd can earn more miles with this card than with the Chase Unlimited combination, the Amex Everyday Preferred card, or any other personal credit card.
- The extra rewards aren't usually worth the extra hassle and the annual fee. Even though anyone without a Blue for Business card can earn extra miles with this card, and anyone outside of handful of special circumstances can earn extra cash back, we don't recommend it. The extra miles can only be used with a weaker-than-normal set of transfer partners, and the you'll need to pay some extra fees. In addition, it is a pain to have to make sure to hit the spending targets, while avoiding spending too much more.
- Nevertheless, if you are experienced enough to know that you can get good value from Barclay's transfer partners, you can earn extra rewards by utilizing this card. And, like the Ultimate Rewards cards, you'll have the flexibility of getting good value on your rewards through frequent flyer tickets or through easy-to-use redemption options.
For example, if you spend exactly $25,000, you'd get 53,570 miles with the Arrival Premier card, and only 37,500 miles with a 1.5x Ultimate or Membership Rewards card. You'll need to pay a $150 annual fee, but there are still some fees associated with the Chase Unlimited combo and Everyday Preferred card.
Collecting the Signup Bonus
There is none.
Other Notable Benefits
- Lounge Key airport lounge program ($27/per visit). You'll have access to over 850 aiport lounges that participate in the program. There is a lot overlap between these lounges and the Priority Pass program, but Priority Pass has a few hundred extra particiapting lounges, and Lounge Key has some unique locations. You'll need to spend $27 per person for each visit, so this benefit isn't particularly valuable. Lounge Key website.
- $100 TSA fee credit. Every 5 years, you can receive an automatic reimbursement of your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee (up to $100).
- Elite car rental status. As with all World Elite MasterCards, you get free National Emerald Club Executive and Sixt Platinum status. Instant Car Rental Elite Status.
- Access to Mastercard's luxury hotel program. Another benefit of high-end MasterCards is access to MasterCard's luxury hotel program. When you use the program to book one of the participating hotels, you'll get a number of valuable benefits, like free breakfast, a $100 hotel credit, a room upgrade, and late checkout.Take Advantage of Luxury Hotel Programs for Valuable Extra Perks.
- Free ShopRunner membership. Like all World Elite MasterCards, your card entitles you to a complimentary ShopRunner membership, which provides free two-day and return shipping from around 150 of the largest online retailers. ShopRunner.
- DoorDash and Hello Fresh discounts. Cardmembers who have a DoorDash membership get $5 off their first two orders each month when paid for by their Mastercard. If you don't have a free membership from Chase, you can get your first three months membership for free through Mastercard. You also get a 5% credit back on each HelloFresh purchase.
- Some additional discounts. If you pay for at least 3 Lyft rides each calendar month with your Mastercard, you'll receive a $5 Lyft credit good for the following month (once you enroll in the Lyft app). You also receive double Fandango points, a 5% reward rebate at Boxed, and $5 off every Postmates order of $25 or more.
Bonus Categories
There are none. But, you'll earn 2x rewards on every purchase. Or up to 3x rewards if you can take advantage of the spending bonuses.