The Chase Sapphire Preferred vs the Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ World Elite Mastercard®
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The Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard is not currently available for new applicants.
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This is a review and comparison of two of the most popular travel reward credit cards: the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard.
These cards are both designed for people with good credit, and they offer some of the best rewards and benefits you’ll find on travel credit cards. They have similar annual fees, but the Barclaycard’s is waived for the first year.
Read on to learn if one of these cards is the right one to help pay for your next vacation.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Enjoy new benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3X points on dining and 2X points on all other travel purchases, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories
- Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12 for a minimum of one year with DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get up to $60 back on an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership through 12/31/2021, and get full access to their workout library through the Peloton app, including cardio, running, strength, yoga, and more. Take classes using a phone, tablet, or TV. No fitness equipment is required.
| Spending Rewards |
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| Introductory Bonus |
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Bonus restrictions
You are ineligible for this bonus if you have a Sapphire card, or you’ve received a new cardmember bonus for any Sapphire card in the past 48 months.
A balance transfer is a way to move debt from one card to another with the goal of saving money on interest.
- Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A
- Regular Balance Transfer APR15.99% - 22.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer FeeEither $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Penalty APRUp to 29.99%
- Late FeeSee Terms
- Returned Payment FeeSee Terms
- Additional Cards Annual FeeN/A
- Foreign Transaction Fee$0
- Min. credit levelGood
- Annual Fee$89, $0 first year
- Purchase APR18.24%, 22.24% or 25.24% Variable
- Introductory bonus: 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases and pay the annual fee in the first 90 days
- Earn 2X miles on all purchases
- Get 5% miles back to use toward your next redemption, every time you redeem
- Miles don't expire as long as your account is open, active and in good standing
- No foreign transaction fees on purchases made while traveling abroad
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening
- Regular purchase and balance transfer APR of 18.24%, 22.24% or 25.24% Variable
- 2X miles per dollar for all purchases
- 5% of your miles back when you redeem
| Introductory Bonus |
|---|
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A balance transfer is a way to move debt from one card to another with the goal of saving money on interest.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR0% for 12 months
- Regular Balance Transfer APR18.24%, 22.24% or 25.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee3%, $5 minimum
- Penalty APRN/A
- Late FeeUp to $37
- Returned Payment FeeUp to $37
- Additional Cards Annual FeeN/A
- Foreign Transaction FeeNone
The Rewards
Chase Sapphire Preferred
You’ll earn:
| Spending Rewards |
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| Introductory Bonus |
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- 25% redemption bonus when you redeem points for airfare, hotel stays, car rentals, and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards
You can transfer your points at a 1:1 rate to a number of different frequent traveler programs:
| AIRLINE TRAVEL PARTNERS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus AerClub | British Airways Executive Club | Flying Blue AIR FRANCE KLM | Iberia Plus | JetBlue TrueBlue |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards | United MileagePlus | Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | |
| HOTEL TRAVEL PARTNERS | ||
|---|---|---|
| IHG Rewards Club | Marriott Bonvoy | World of Hyatt |
Barclaycard Arrival Plus
This card provides:
- 2 miles per dollar on every purchase you make
- 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 90 days and pay the annual fee
- 5% of your miles back every time you redeem them
- Miles that won’t expire as long as your account is open, active, and in good standing
You’ll earn 1 cent per mile when redeeming for travel expenses, but only .5 cents per mile when redeeming for cash back statement credits or gift cards. Miles will vary in value when redeeming for merchandise. To get the best value you’ll want to redeem your miles exclusively for travel statement credits.
The Verdict
As you can see, these cards offer similar rewards. But there are a few important differences to think about if you’re considering one of these cards.
The Barclaycard has the better point offer, with 2 points per dollar for every purchase you make compared to 2 points for travel and dining with the Sapphire Preferred. The Sapphire Preferred has a slightly better signup bonus.
The Sapphire Preferred also seems to have the edge when it comes to the other terms. The 25% redemption bonus on travel beats out the 5% mile redemption bonus, as long as you can redeem your points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program. Or, you can transfer your Sapphire Preferred points to another frequent traveler program if you prefer the benefits you get there.
The Benefits
Here are some of the more valuable benefits offered by each card.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Perks
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DoorDash Membership
A free membership (DashPass) for at least a year, which provides free delivery and reduced service fees on orders over $12.
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Exclusive Sapphire℠ Events and Experiences
Special travel and event opportunities for cardholders.
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24/7 Access to Customer Service Specialists
No matter where you are in the world, call to speak directly to a real person.
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No Blackout Dates or Restrictions
As long as you can find a seat on the flight, you will be able to book it using Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Barclaycard Arrival Plus
Perks
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Mastercard World Elite Concierge Services
Like having your own personal assistant, call for non-emergency help in all sorts of situations.
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Mastercard World Elite Luxury Travel Services
Includes access to special vacation packages, travel planning, and hotel deals.
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Barclaycard Travel Community
A place to share travel stories and advice, as well as earn miles for certain community activities.
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Free FICO® Credit Score
Access your FICO score online at any time, for free.
The Verdict
When it comes to the benefits offered by these cards, the Barclaycard seems to take the cake.
The Sapphire Preferred offers the Exclusive Sapphire Events and Experiences, which could be quite valuable depending on how often you use them, but that’s about it.
The Barclaycard, on the other hand, offers a premier concierge service along with quite a few luxury travel benefits through World Elite Mastercard. There are many options to explore here, for several different kinds of vacations.
Each card offers some additional shopping and travel benefits and protections. You can check out the full set of benefits for the Chase Sapphire Preferred here or the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard here.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the benefits offered by each card:
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite | |
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Perks |
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Account Management |
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Security |
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Shopping |
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Travel |
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The Costs & Fees
| Card | Annual Fee | Intro Balance Transfer APR | Regular Purchase APR | Regular Balance Transfer APR | Cash Advance APR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | $95 | None | 15.99% - 22.99% Variable | 15.99% - 22.99% Variable | 24.99% Variable |
| Barclaycard Arrival Plus | $89, $0 first year | 0% for 12 months | 18.24%, 22.24% or 25.24% Variable | 18.24%, 22.24% or 25.24% Variable | 25.49% *Variable |
| Card | Balance Transfer Fee | Cash Advance Fee | Foreign Transaction Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater | Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater | $0 |
| Barclaycard Arrival Plus | 3%, $5 minimum | 5%, $10 minimum | None |
| Card | Penalty APR | Late Fee | Returned Payment Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | Up to 29.99% | See Terms | See Terms |
| Barclaycard Arrival Plus | None | Up to $37 | Up to $37 |
The Verdict
These cards have almost the same costs and fees. You’ll have to pay the Sapphire Preferred card’s annual fee right off the bat, while the Barclaycard’s fee is waived for the first year. You’ll get a lower interest rate with the Sapphire Preferred, but it’s not a very significant difference. And if you pay off your balance in full every month, you won’t have to worry about interest payments.
The biggest difference between these cards is that the Barclaycard has a 0% intro APR offer for balance transfers. So, if you want to transfer a balance the Sapphire Preferred won’t be the better option.
The Bottom Line
The Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard are both popular travel rewards cards, and you could use one of them to help pay for your next trip or vacation.
If you’re thinking about one of these cards, examine your spending habits and the kind of traveling you usually do. The annual fees and interest rates are pretty comparable, so take a look at the other features.
Do you want to use the card to buy all sorts of purchases, or will you stick to dining and travel expenses? Would you be able to take advantage of the 25% point bonus when redeeming points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards very often?
Think about the other benefits that each card offers. Do you love the look of the Sapphire Exclusive Experiences? If not, you’ll probably get more out of the luxury travel benefits on the Barclaycard, as well as the personal concierge. The concierge, for example, can be used at any time you might need it, while the Sapphire Preferred Experiences take a bit more work to access.
If you own one of these credit cards, how do you like it? Leave your own review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card or the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard, we’d love to hear from you!
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Enjoy new benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3X points on dining and 2X points on all other travel purchases, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories
- Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12 for a minimum of one year with DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get up to $60 back on an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership through 12/31/2021, and get full access to their workout library through the Peloton app, including cardio, running, strength, yoga, and more. Take classes using a phone, tablet, or TV. No fitness equipment is required.
| Spending Rewards |
|---|
|
|
|
|
| Introductory Bonus |
|---|
|
Bonus restrictions
You are ineligible for this bonus if you have a Sapphire card, or you’ve received a new cardmember bonus for any Sapphire card in the past 48 months.
A balance transfer is a way to move debt from one card to another with the goal of saving money on interest.
- Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A
- Regular Balance Transfer APR15.99% - 22.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer FeeEither $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Penalty APRUp to 29.99%
- Late FeeSee Terms
- Returned Payment FeeSee Terms
- Additional Cards Annual FeeN/A
- Foreign Transaction Fee$0
- Min. credit levelGood
- Annual Fee$89, $0 first year
- Purchase APR18.24%, 22.24% or 25.24% Variable
- Introductory bonus: 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases and pay the annual fee in the first 90 days
- Earn 2X miles on all purchases
- Get 5% miles back to use toward your next redemption, every time you redeem
- Miles don't expire as long as your account is open, active and in good standing
- No foreign transaction fees on purchases made while traveling abroad
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening
- Regular purchase and balance transfer APR of 18.24%, 22.24% or 25.24% Variable
- 2X miles per dollar for all purchases
- 5% of your miles back when you redeem
| Introductory Bonus |
|---|
|
A balance transfer is a way to move debt from one card to another with the goal of saving money on interest.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR0% for 12 months
- Regular Balance Transfer APR18.24%, 22.24% or 25.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee3%, $5 minimum
- Penalty APRN/A
- Late FeeUp to $37
- Returned Payment FeeUp to $37
- Additional Cards Annual FeeN/A
- Foreign Transaction FeeNone
Or learn more about Travel Credit Cards and see our picks for the top cards!
Brendan Harkness
Brendan has been writing about personal finance for over eight years, and is now taking on the challenge of bringing high-quality credit education to the masses. He makes sure that Credit Card Insider is covering the most important credit topics transparently and precisely, and that we have up-to-date reviews of credit cards so you can find cards that are right for you.
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