topic Re: AARP Travel Card? in Credit Cards

AARP Travel Card?

wingennis — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 01:49:45 GMT

I hadn't seen this before although I remember a thread earlier in the year about the gas/drugstore card. It might be a good travel card for cashback enthusiasts. If I wasn't invested in MR's, I would be interested myself.

Re: AARP Travel Card?

4sallypat — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 14:52:46 GMT

AARP changed bank to Barclays and offered 2 cards.

I was thinking of this one since I am a Barclay's customer (3 card accounts) and AARP member.

But they HP for their products as well as CLI so I will wait and see if they loosen up....

Re: AARP Travel Card?

Save-n-Invest — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 16:48:41 GMT

I closed my Chase AARP card to avoid this. Credit limit was transferred to Freedom. Minimum cash back redemption is $25. I don't buy that much gas in a pandemic. Too restrictive not to mention downgrading from Chase to Barclay.

Re: AARP Travel Card?

wingennis — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 19:07:11 GMT

@Save-n-Invest wrote:
I closed my Chase AARP card to avoid this. Credit limit was transferred to Freedom. Minimum cash back redemption is $25. I don't buy that much gas in a pandemic. Too restrictive not to mention downgrading from Chase to Barclay.

This isn't the card that gives cashback on gas. It is the travel card. If you are buying a $500 plane ticket and have hotel charges, $25 minimum is no problem.

Re: AARP Travel Card?

SunriseEarth — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 15:36:19 GMT

@wingennis wrote:
I hadn't seen this before although I remember a thread earlier in the year about the gas/drugstore card. It might be a good travel card for cashback enthusiasts. If I wasn't invested in MR's, I would be interested myself.

That SUB is definitely low-hanging fruit and might even be worth the app. I'd go for it, but I feel like my TU has already taken a beating. Barclay does have its positives, like their website and rewards that post quickly. The restaurant rewards are a bit underwhelming, and travel is decent, but I think I'd have a lot of cards already in my lineup that would meet or beat this.

Re: AARP Travel Card?

wingennis — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 15:36:51 GMT

@SunriseEarth wrote:
@wingennis wrote:
I hadn't seen this before although I remember a thread earlier in the year about the gas/drugstore card. It might be a good travel card for cashback enthusiasts. If I wasn't invested in MR's, I would be interested myself.
That SUB is definitely low-hanging fruit and might even be worth the app. I'd go for it, but I feel like my TU has already taken a beating. Barclay does have its positives, like their website and rewards that post quickly. The restaurant rewards are a bit underwhelming, and travel is decent, but I think I'd have a lot of cards already in my lineup that would meet or beat this.

That is certainly understandable. That is exactly where I am. With travel reduced, I wonder if some people cancelled their AF travel cards and might see this as a way to get some rewards for travel without the uncertainty of points. Cash is king for a lot of people.

Re: AARP Travel Card?

Save-n-Invest — Sat, 16 Oct 2021 17:15:33 GMT

@wingennis wrote:
@Save-n-Invest wrote:
I closed my Chase AARP card to avoid this. Credit limit was transferred to Freedom. Minimum cash back redemption is $25. I don't buy that much gas in a pandemic. Too restrictive not to mention downgrading from Chase to Barclay.
This isn't the card that gives cashback on gas. It is the travel card. If you are buying a $500 plane ticket and have hotel charges, $25 minimum is no problem.

It's still Barclay. If I wanted one of their cards I would not have applied at Chase.

Re: AARP Travel Card?

SunriseEarth — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 05:36:53 GMT

@Save-n-Invest wrote:

It's still Barclay. If I wanted one of their cards I would not have applied at Chase.

If you want a card with a specific lender, apply for one of their core products. Co-branded portfolios can and will change lenders based on business needs, and it may even happen several times in a product's history.

That said, I don't want to pull too far off-topic, as the AARP Travel Card was not the product received by those who had an AARP card with Chase. ~~AFAIK, Barclay doesn't PC, so this particular product would only be available for new applicants.~~ Update: this product now appears to be available through PC, as I have an offer on my account; however, this was initially only available through new applications.

Re: AARP Travel Card?

SunriseEarth — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 05:40:09 GMT

@SunriseEarth wrote:

...[T]he AARP Travel Card was not the product received by those who had an AARP card with Chase. ~~AFAIK, Barclay doesn't PC, so this particular product would only be available for new applicants.~~Update: this product now appears to be available through PC, as I have an offer on my account; however, this was initially only available through new applications.

I received an offer to PC when I last logged into my account. However, as I have other cards that would match the Travel card's CB, I am unlikely to PC to Travel.