Barclaycard Arrival Mastercard is Increasing the Minimum Spend Requirement

Through the grapevine (thanks to The Points Guy, View from the Wing, and Mommy Points), I read that the Barclaycard Arrival World Mastercard is increasing the minimum spend requirement to earn the 40,000 point sign up bonus. As of today, the card still remains with the current minimum spend of $1,000 within the first three months. At a date TBD, the minimum spend requirement will go up to $3,000 within the first three months to earn the exact same sign up bonus. This card now requires you to spend $3,000 within the first three months to earn the 40,000 point sign up bonus. You can read more details about this card in this prior blog post.

I personally do not think this is a huge deal, but for some the extra $2,000 can be a big difference. I am able to meet my minimum spend by using Vanilla Reloads, but I know many are not a fan of this method.

If you were thinking about applying for this card soon, then you might as well lock it in with a lower spend. But if you are still not 100% sure about this card, I wouldn’t let this increase spend force you to apply now. If you are not sure if you’ll be able to spend the minimum requirement, you can always purchase gift cards which you can then use throughout the year.

Card details: Earn 40,000 points after spending $3,000 on the card within the first three months. With this card you earn 2 miles per dollar spent on ALL purchases. This is a fixed redemption program, where 1 mile = 1 cent, however, when you use your points for travel you get 5% points back.

For example, the 40,000 miles you get from the sign up bonus equals a flat $400, but when you go to use those 40,000 miles towards travel you will get 5% back to your account, which equals 2,000 miles (or $20). So really, you are earning a flat 2.1% back on all purchases.

This card has an annual fee of $89/year, but waived for the first year.  There is, however, a no-fee version of this card, although the sign up bonus isn’t nearly as good. Since the annual fee is waived the first year, you are better off signing up for the premier version of the card and then downgrading when the annual fee is about to hit.

You can read more about the card and sign up here.

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