The New Barclays Arrival Premier Is Live – And Disappointing

Oh, Barclays, your latest card had such potential – and for the very market of customers that it is obvious you are going after! Yet, you sort of killed the high expectations on the new Barclays Arrival Premier right away. Here are the details.

The New Barclays Arrival Premier Is Live – And Disappointing

Update: This offer is no longer available

Link: Barclays Arrival Premier 

I first wrote about the new Barclays Arrival Premier last week and about the potential this card could have. Well, the new Barclays Arrival Premier is official and it is really not as good as any of us would have hoped.

The Details About the New Barclays Arrival Premier

• There is no signup bonus
• Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent
• Earn big bonuses based on spending:
  • Spend $15,000 in a card year and earn 15,000 bonus miles
  • Spend an additional $10,000 and earn an additional 10,000 bonus miles for a total of 25,000 bonus miles
    • This spending would add an additional 1 mile per dollar for a total of 3 miles per dollar – if you spend exactly $25,000 on this card in a year
• Can transfer to travel partners (see below)
• $150 annual fee
• Global Entry credit
• No foreign transaction fees
• Can use points for 1 cent per point for travel
• Lounge Key membership (must pay $27 per visit at lounges)

Barclays Arrival Premier Transfer Partners

The real gem on this card, besides the 2 points per dollar on everything, was to be the transfer partners. There were high hopes for American Airlines to be on the list (and they still could add them), but they are not for the initial roll out. Here are the transfer partners and the transfer ratios:

• Aeromexico – 1.4:1
• Air France/KLM Flying Blue – 1.4:1
• China Eastern – 1.4:1
• Etihad – 1.4:1
• EVA Air – 1.4:1
• Japan Airlines (JAL) – 1.7:1
• Jet Airways – 1.4:1
• Malaysia Airlines – 1.4:1
• Qantas – 1.4:1

Yes, that’s right, the points won’t even transfer at a 1:1 but at 1.4 and as bad as 1.7. That makes the earning rates pale somewhat when you look at what you are getting in the end.

There still is hope since the above airline partners are not even Barclays’ own co-branded partners. We may be paying a premium on transfers because of that so maybe (hopefully!), their own transfer partners will be folded in at 1:1 – like American Airlines? 🙂

For now, I would say avoid this card completely as the Amex Business Blue Rewards card is clearly better with the full portfolio of Membership Reward partners available, 2 points per dollar (up to $50,000 in a year) and no annual fee! 

C’mon, Barclays, with transfer partners like you have, it is clear you are trying to target the savvy traveler. So, give us something that will make your new card look appealing!

HT: Doctor of Credit