BarclayCard Arrival 40,000 points after spending $500

[Bobert22]

So my father just received this offer in the mail (targeted offer) for the BarclayCard Arrival World MasterCard 2x miles on travel and dining, and 1x on everything else. 40,000 bonus miles after $500 spend in first three months, which equates to a $400 statement credit. 10% extra miles when you redeem for travel ($40+). No annual fee. No foreign transactions fees. 0 % intro APR on all purchases for the first 12 months, after than 14.99% Variable APR. 

My father was thinking about getting the CSP (he's also pre-approved), but this seems like a much better offer, especially since he won't have to spend total $3000 in three months and no annual fee. He'lI be flying internationally in April or May. 

what do you guys think? Should he take this? Also since he received this in the mail, is he pre-approved or will he get hit with a hard inquiry if he applies?

Link to the offer online to apply (will need personal code): http://barclaycardarrival.com/1829

[Cdnewmanpac]

it comes down to what he does with the points and how he values "extras". from my understanding, barclays points are redeemed as statement credits for travel purchases made on the card. they aren't "miles". however, csp points can be converted to miles or points with its partners (ba, sw, united, Hyatt, Marriott). if timed well, these points can be used at values >2 cents per point. so yes, the minimum spend is less and there is no annual fee. so for those who don't travel or spend enough to justify the annual fee, it looks like a great deal. but just be aware the "miles" are less flexible and worth less than the points you get with csp.

[Bobert22]

Yeah I just read the fine print. 

So if points are redeemed (in $25 increments) for statement credit, they are worth 0.5 cents -- so the 40,000 miles/points is worth $200. Not $400 as I had been led to believe. The points can also be redeemed for various dining, retail, or travel gift cards at the same value.

To receive the full $400 value, the points must be assigned to specific travel charges on your statement. 

But in my fathers case who travels internationally maybe once a year, he will be able to get the full $400 plus 10% since his airline ticket would be over $900. 

[bs6054]

The good part is certainly the bonus.    But in almost all other ways, after the bonus, it is inferior to another Barclay's offering, the Priceline Visa, which gives 2% on anything and isn't restricted to travel redemption.  However, that card doesn't have the 10% bonus for redemption for travel and the sign up bonus here is good!

There is another version of the Arrival, with an annual fee that does earn 2% on all purchases.  Both of these cards compete with Capital One's Venture/Venture One, and BoA Travel Rewards.

But with your father's plan, may as well get this for the bonus, and then consider whether to keep using it or get another/use existing cards once the spend has been met.

[Bobert22]

Yeah I think he'll get this card just to use the sign-up bonus and then just SD it afterward. 

Now to find out if it'll be a HP on his CR or if he's already preapproved. 

[Walt_K]

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@Bobert22 wrote:

Yeah I think he'll get this card just to use the sign-up bonus and then just SD it afterward. 

Now to find out if it'll be a HP on his CR or if he's already preapproved. 

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Should be a hard pull.  Only times I can think of when you don't get a hard pull for being approved for a credit card application are when you do a product change from one CC to another CC that the same issuer offers, or the shopping cart trick with certain store cards (I don't really know the details of that).

It's nearly always a hard pull when you apply for a new card and are approved (Amex will often soft pull current card holders if they apply for a new card and are denied).