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Forums Payment cards Barclaycard Avios What are the Barclaycard Mastercard World Elite privileges?

  • duggie1982 279 posts

    After extensive testing I can confirm the Barclaycard World Elite does provide unfettered access to my lounge. I’ve walked in and out of the lounge several times with the card, and never had a problem. I’ve even been able to bring the dog with me.

    The appletv+ is nice for a few months. Unfortunately for the Apple music and Apple news you need an iPhone or iPad.

    Downgraded. Which weirdly was super easy. It’s like they want you do downgrade/leave hahaha

    Do they swipe your card to get access to lounge? I still have my metal curve with world elite (and use the card daily) but downgraded back to ‘free’ curve. If they dont swipe i wonder if i can use it

    zio 328 posts

    After extensive testing I can confirm the Barclaycard World Elite does provide unfettered access to my lounge. I’ve walked in and out of the lounge several times with the card, and never had a problem. I’ve even been able to bring the dog with me.

    The appletv+ is nice for a few months. Unfortunately for the Apple music and Apple news you need an iPhone or iPad.

    Downgraded. Which weirdly was super easy. It’s like they want you do downgrade/leave hahaha

    Do they swipe your card to get access to lounge? I still have my metal curve with world elite (and use the card daily) but downgraded back to ‘free’ curve. If they dont swipe i wonder if i can use it

    I think you’ll be fine, but depends if your lounge dragon is more watchful than duggie’s.

    harrisjamieh 39 posts

    After extensive testing I can confirm the Barclaycard World Elite does provide unfettered access to my lounge. I’ve walked in and out of the lounge several times with the card, and never had a problem. I’ve even been able to bring the dog with me.

    The appletv+ is nice for a few months. Unfortunately for the Apple music and Apple news you need an iPhone or iPad.

    Downgraded. Which weirdly was super easy. It’s like they want you do downgrade/leave hahaha


    @Ash
    , which lounges are you getting success with? Any in particular? Or are you referring to MyLounge at Gatwick South? Keen to try it out without having to leave again with my tail between my legs!

    jek 137 posts

    After extensive testing I can confirm the Barclaycard World Elite does provide unfettered access to my lounge. I’ve walked in and out of the lounge several times with the card, and never had a problem. I’ve even been able to bring the dog with me.

    Same here. I can even bring as many guests as I want! Food is meh but drinks are awesome!

    NorthernLass 9,747 posts

    Which lounges is this? Do you just have to show the Barclaycard?

    Rui N. 962 posts

    I’m thinking it’s the lounge at his/her home.

    Luca M 391 posts

    I will share my knowledge around MasterCard world and world elite “benefits” as I have experienced them over several years now with various cards, including the HSBC World Elite:

    – firstly, as people have asked why Barclays would have different branding on those cards, let me clarify that outside the EU and the UK (for now) MasterCard will indeed charge retailers different fees to process those cards (higher).

    – there used to be a MasterCard website where you entered your 6 digit BIN number and MasterCard would confirm the additional benefits of your world/world elite card. That site has been discontinued.

    – Unless the issuing Bank has specifically signed up to the MasterCard concierge extra benefits (which in the UK I believe only Santander did), the only really cool unadvertised benefit is that you can gain status with some Car Rental Companies (and other by then doing Status Match). Also as someone alluded and someone else said it was not the case, I can confirm that Avis will then downgrade you after 12 months, whilst Hertz will not. As I am probably getting rid of my HSBC card (downgrading to the free World version), I have now linked my Avis and Hertz account to my Amex Platinum card: Hertz status stayed the same, whilst Avis has been upgraded again. I have to say that in my first year, with both Avis and Hertz, in addition to discounted tariffs, I did get upgraded few times in Italy.

    So, other then was I have listed above (car Rental Status), there is no underlining benefits to Barclaycard Avios World Elite.

    NunoBettencourtsPinky 117 posts

    You can also sign up for complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status via Mastercard with your Barclaycard World Elite card here:

    http://www.hertz.com/worldelite

    Signing up using this link also gives you 10% off all future bookings (the discount is coded into your account when you sign in before making a reservation). In other words, log in with your new account before you book a car. You don’t have to use the reservation link provided on that page when making a booking once you’ve signed up.

    New Hertz signups only. If you have Hertz status already with a points balance, an email to Hertz UK customer services will do the trick referencing this Mastercard deal. Or far easier is to just sign up with a new email address.

    President’s Circle status is great for USA pickups especially from Airports. Booking a class C car or higher, allows you to choose your own car on arrival from the PC lots. I’ve picked up some great upgrades over the years for the cost of a standard car.

    • This reply was modified 54 years, 12 months ago by .
    mikeWA14 8 posts

    You can also sign up for complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status via Mastercard with your Barclaycard World Elite card here:

    http://www.hertz.com/worldelite

    Signing up using this link also gives you 10% off all future bookings (the discount is coded into your account when you sign in before making a reservation). In other words, log in with your new account before you book a car. You don’t have to use the reservation link provided on that page when making a booking once you’ve signed up.

    New Hertz signups only. If you have Hertz status already with a points balance, an email to Hertz UK customer services will do the trick referencing this Mastercard deal. Or far easier is to just sign up with a new email address.

    President’s Circle status is great for USA pickups especially from Airports. Booking a class C car or higher, allows you to choose your own car on arrival from the PC lots. I’ve picked up some great upgrades over the years for the cost of a standard car.

    Hertz are asking me to enter a CDP number – which I think is like a promo code that tells them this is Mastercard World Elite rather than a different affiliate discount – any idea where I would find this number?

    NunoBettencourtsPinky 117 posts

    Hertz are asking me to enter a CDP number – which I think is like a promo code that tells them this is Mastercard World Elite rather than a different affiliate discount – any idea where I would find this number?

    Not sure what you mean. When signing up via the link, the CDP box should be prepopulated with MASTERCARD WORLD ELITE already.

    If you’re talking about actually booking a car, just log in with your new account and the discount is applied automatically. No need for a CDP number. If you want the CDP number though, its 1795034.

    • This reply was modified 54 years, 12 months ago by .
    mikeWA14 8 posts

    Hertz are asking me to enter a CDP number – which I think is like a promo code that tells them this is Mastercard World Elite rather than a different affiliate discount – any idea where I would find this number?

    Not sure what you mean. When signing up via the link, the CDP box should be prepopulated with MASTERCARD WORLD ELITE already.

    If you’re talking about actually booking a car, just log in with your new account and the discount is applied automatically. No need for a CDP number. If you want the CDP number though, its 1795034.

    This was after the registration – they emailed me to ask for this mystery code before they could confirm I was entitled

    sun7 25 posts

    I bought this mastercard only because it offere Wolrd elite privileges and I saw other competitors provide as part of World elite priviliges and assumed Lounge access was included.

    If someone has tried, can you please let us know?

    Rui N. 962 posts

    You “bought” the card because you “assumed” lounge access was included?! If you wanted lounge access, why didn’t you buy that directly?

    Marc 46 posts

    I bought this mastercard only because it offere Wolrd elite privileges and I saw other competitors provide as part of World elite priviliges and assumed Lounge access was included.

    If someone has tried, can you please let us know?

    Sorry to disappoint but there’s no lounge access included as there’s no partnership with LoungeKey, Priority Pass, etc. The HSBC Premier World Elite card for example can be used for lounge entry as they partner with LoungeKey. This is not the case here. I’m afraid it’s not a default World Elite benefit. And you can be assured that if the Barclaycard would allow lounge access, it would have been heavily advertised as a benefit

    cinereus 161 posts

    Rob/Rhys – what is your take on this? You’ve been royally led up the garden path by Barclays with this card rollout.

    Don’t expect them to ever admit an error or mistake.

    JDB 5,875 posts

    Rob/Rhys – what is your take on this? You’ve been royally led up the garden path by Barclays with this card rollout.

    Don’t expect them to ever admit an error or mistake.

    There is no “error or mistake”! No WE benefits were promised by Barclaycard or HfP. All the terms were put in front of applicants before completing an application.

    In any event the moniker ‘World Elite’ is just a marketing gimmick applied by MasterCard to certain paid cards. It means no more than labelling a packet of sausages as ‘Premium Sausages’.

    There are a few generic WE benefits like car hire discounts but these can easily be obtained elsewhere so if anything extra is ultimately offered that would simply be an unexpected bonus.

    The complaints on this issue are totally misconceived.

    Grant 131 posts

    Give it a rest, JDB. There was reference to World Elite privileges in part of the fanfare when the card launched on HfP and a promise of a follow up article to outline the benefits. Indeed the HfP page summarising the card still refers to receiving World Elite privileges. People are well within their rights to be asking questions about what these privileges are, or more accurately, are not, given what comes with other cards bearing the same moniker.

    • This reply was modified 54 years, 12 months ago by .
    dougzz99 642 posts

    @JDB is excellent contributor. He doesn’t follow the herd and gives very clear advice. The piling on from many is sad to see, and it’s refreshing to see someone that reads the details and responds accurately. The entitlement brigade may not like it, but where was anyone promised anything via the WE MC?

    SteveJ 1,035 posts

    The entitlement brigade may not like it, but where was anyone promised anything via the WE MC?

    I have no dog in this race, but the article pinned at the top of the forum does state “You receive Mastercard World Elite privileges” as one of the benefits, but doesn’t elaborate as to what those are. Which is where this thread started, hence the title.

    • This reply was modified 54 years, 12 months ago by .
    Luca M 391 posts

    To add to my previous comment, the concierge services and travel benefits eligibility website has been changed and requires registration, but it can be found here:
    https://travel.mastercard.com/product/mastercard/homepage

    Steven 130 posts

    To add to my previous comment, the concierge services and travel benefits eligibility website has been changed and requires registration, but it can be found here:
    https://travel.mastercard.com/product/mastercard/homepage

    Just tried and doesn’t recognise the Barclays Plus Card.

    colinc57 46 posts

    But my HSBC WE does work on that site either

    NunoBettencourtsPinky 117 posts

    That’s because the issuers concerned (HSBC and Barclaycard) have opted not to give their WE cardholders access to these additional benefits. They are charged by Mastercard if they want to do so. The Santander WE card I believe does give access to the WE benefits site you’ve linked to above.

    When an issuer decides to launch using the Mastercard WE product, there are a suite of optional extras offered to them by Mastercard (concierge, lounge access etc) that they can include for cardholders as additional core benefits. But they come at a cost to the issuer.

    I’m not entirely sure why a card would be launched using the World Elite backbone without any obvious additional benefits. Perhaps something to do with higher interchange fees for the issuer?

    Or maybe more benefits are coming down the line.

    • This reply was modified 54 years, 12 months ago by .
    Luca M 391 posts

    That’s because the issuers concerned (HSBC and Barclaycard) have opted not to give their WE cardholders access to these additional benefits. They are charged by Mastercard if they want to do so. The Santander WE card I believe does give access to the WE benefits site you’ve linked to above.

    When an issuer decides to launch using the Mastercard WE product, there are a suite of optional extras offered to them by Mastercard (concierge, lounge access etc) that they can include for cardholders as additional core benefits. But they come at a cost to the issuer.

    I’m not entirely sure why a card would be launched using the World Elite backbone without any obvious additional benefits. Perhaps something to do with higher interchange fees for the issuer?

    Or maybe more benefits are coming down the line.

    The old version of the site did accept my HSBC card and some other MC World but was displaying doubtful privileges…

    Yes, MasterCard World Elite and World do incur in higher fee charged to merchant outside of the EU and UK (for now), so with card aimed at travellers (airlines miles, hotels, etc), it makes sense offered them on those circuits, similar for the premium version of Visa (Infinite etc)

    tiriavpo 337 posts

    Avis upped me to Presidents Club for having the card. You have to save the new card number in your Avis profile before applying. https://secure-one.avisworld.com/en_GB/Avis-Mastercard/AvisPreferred

    There doesn’t seem to be anything to say that you have to register the card first and that link just seems to upgrade anyone without any further proof. Mind you, I didn’t get recognised as even preferred on my last rental with no upgrade mentioned and they tried to charge me for the additional driver. I was better off as preferred plus it seems.

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