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When Is the Best Time to Apply for a 2nd Barclaycard?

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    Million Mile Secrets reader, Iliana wants to increase her Barclaycard approval chances and tweeted:

    My son’s girlfriend got the wrong JetBlue card.  How soon can she apply for the JetBlue Plus Card after she cancels her other card?

    It’s easy to accidentally apply for the wrong credit card.  Card names can sound strikingly similar!

    You do NOT have to cancel your current Barclaycard credit card to be approved for the JetBlue Plus card.

    However, there are still things to know before you apply for another Barclaycard credit card.

    The Barclaycard JetBlue Plus Credit Card Will Give You Big Travel, as Long as You’re Near a City JetBlue Serves!

    I’ll give you tips on applying for Barclaycard credit cards!

    Improving Your Barclaycard Approval Chances

    Link:   Why You Should Choose Your Barclaycard Credit Cards Wisely

    Barclaycard isn’t as generous as it once was with credit card approvals.  My experience is that Barclaycard is very conservative.  Some readers have even had existing accounts closed down when they’ve called the Barclaycard reconsideration line to ask for approval.

    Here are unofficial guidelines that will help your approval odds for Barclaycard credit cards.

    Barclaycard Will Only Approve You for ~2 Credit Cards Per Year

    It used to be possible to be approved for 4+ Barclaycard credit cards at once!  But in recent years, Barclaycard has become much more strict with how many cards they will approve per person each year.  Folks seem to find that they are only approved for 1 or 2 Barclaycard credit cards per year.

    So choose your Barclaycard applications carefully.  They have great credit cards, so it’s a good idea to see which one will give you the biggest travel!

    Visit London in Style With the Sign-Up Bonus From the Barclaycard Lufthansa Credit Card

    For example, the sign-up bonus from the Barclaycard Lufthansa credit card can get you 2 round-trips within the mainland US, or a Business Class seat to Europe after completing minimum spending!

    Use Your Existing Barclaycard Credit Cards

    Barclaycard likes to see you using their credit cards before they extend you more credit.  They want to know you are a worthwhile investment as a customer, and aren’t just using them for the welcome bonuses!
    Use Your Barclaycard Arrival Plus Credit Card for All Your Non-Bonus Spending and Receive 2.1% Back on $100+ Travel Purchases While Showing Them You’re a Good Customer!

    Million Mile Secrets team member Scott tells me that when starting out, he made the rookie mistake of only using his Barclaycard to unlock the sign-up bonus.  And because of that, he was denied for his 2nd card.

    Eventually, he was approved for his 2nd Barclaycard, the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard, after making a few purchases with his current card.

    Wait 6 Months Before Applying for Another Barclaycard

    Because Barclaycard generally only approves you for ~1 to 2 credit cards per year, this next unwritten rule is not difficult to follow.

    Spacing out Barclaycard applications by 6 months seems to give folks the best odds for approval.  It is definitely possible to get approved for another Barclaycard credit card before 6 months, but not as likely.

    Separating your applications by half a year gives you time to use your new Barclaycard credit card, and prove yourself to be a trustworthy borrower.

    Learn the Barclaycard Quirks So You Can Avoid Missing Out on Big Travel From an Application Denial!

    But I Want the Right Card Now!

    If you don’t want to wait to apply for a 2nd Barclaycard, it’s still possible to get the right card!

    Banks will usually let you upgrade or downgrade your credit card.  If you applied for the regular JetBlue Card, you can call Barclaycard and ask them to upgrade your card to the JetBlue Plus.

    The Pros and Cons to Upgrading Your Card

    The Barclaycard JetBlue Plus comes with great perks that you won’t get with the regular Barclaycard JetBlue, like earning 6 points per $1 on JetBlue purchases, and free checked bags for you and 3 companions.

    You can call Barclaycard and ask if they will upgrade your JetBlue Card to a JetBlue Plus Card, so you can use its perks immediately.

    It Could Be Worth Upgrading Your Card for Better Perks If You Plan to Travel Soon

    The downside to this strategy with most cards is that you will NOT earn the sign-up bonus on the card you are upgrading to.  You will receive the upgraded JetBlue Plus Card but NOT the opportunity to earn its 30,000 point welcome offer.  But when you call to upgrade your card, it’s worth asking for the opportunity to earn the bonus anyway!

     

    Bottom Line to Improve Your Barclaycard Approval Chances

    If you’ve applied for the wrong Barclaycard credit card, it’s not the end of the world.  We all make mistakes!  It’s still possible to get the card you want.

    As long as you’re applying for different credit cards, it’s not necessary to cancel one to get a bonus on the other.  Just keep in mind Barclaycard’s unofficial application rules:

    Or instead of applying for a new card, you can ask Barclaycard to change your card.

    For example, you might request a change from the JetBlue Card to the JetBlue Plus card that has better perks.  But you might miss out on a sign-up bonus.

    Do you have any other tips when applying with Barclaycard?

    Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)