Question about Barclay HAL card points

[cruisemom42]

I have a lot of points from my Barclay HAL card. I no longer use the card and would like to cancel it. I was going to gift the points to my parents for a cruise but I think their cruising days may be over.

 

I was wondering if it is possible to use the points toward airfare that is NOT related to a HAL cruise? It's unclear to me from the wording on the website.

 

Has anyone done this? I don't have another HAL cruise booked until 2017 and I don't really want to keep the points/card until then.

[catl331]

We've never redeemed points for air, but IIRC when have redeemed for other things, at some point they ask for your booking number. If that's the case for air discounts too, then it would preclude doing it for non-cruise air. Can you try a dummy air booking without actually committing to using the points?

[Jade13]

I have the card and never use it. I used the bonus points for signing up for OBC on a HAL cruise. I don't cancel cards that have a $0 annual fee,

[qsuzi]

The HAL rewards card details state that one option is to use your points toward a cruise discount. We are only interested in using the card for this purpose. For those who have experience with the process, will you please comment about how it works. I walked through adding the points and discount and all the other information but did not finish the processing. I want to know if it comes off the credit card balance or you are sent a coupon. If sent a coupon do you give the confirmation number to your travel agent at time of final payment and the discount is applied?

Edited January 24, 2016 by qsuzi

[smokesmom]

The HAL rewards card details state that one option is to use your points toward a cruise discount. We are only interested in using the card for this purpose. For those who have experience with the process, will you please comment about how it works. I walked through adding the points and discount and all the other information but did not finish the processing. I want to know if it comes off the credit card balance or you are sent a coupon. If sent a coupon do you give the confirmation number to your travel agent at time of final payment and the discount is applied?

 

I've used points to get a $500 cruise discount on 2 different cruises. Each time it was after final payment of the cruise. About 7 business days after I submitted the information, I received a $500 credit on my HAL visa bill. Very easy.

[qsuzi]

I've used points to get a $500 cruise discount on 2 different cruises. Each time it was after final payment of the cruise. About 7 business days after I submitted the information, I received a $500 credit on my HAL visa bill. Very easy.

I dealt with two different representatives both who said I would get a coupon in the mail. Do I phone in the coupon/confirmation number after final payment? They said I would give the coupon to HAL when on board which does not sound correct. Does it matter if you booked with HAL vs a travel agent? Below is the information that came in the e-mail; appears to be processed as a gift certificate.

 

Please review this information carefully.

 

By agreeing to and confirming your redemption, xx,xxx points will be deducted from your Holland America Rewards account - agreed to and confirmed your redemption. Redemption transactions are non-refundable/non-changeable/non-transferable.

 

Gift Cards/Certificates cannot be combined with any type of coupon, voucher, or other certificates. Gift Cards/Certificates are not valid on previous purchases. Please allow 7-10 business days for processing.

Edited January 24, 2016 by qsuzi

[RuthC]

I, too, have twice redeemed 40,000 points for a $500 credit toward a HAL cruise. Very easy to do.

 

I coordinate the redemption date and the final payment date. When final payment is due, I authorize my TA to pay the bill, as a charge to HAL on my HAL Visa card. Then, when the bill with the charge is to be paid, I redeem the points, subtract the $500 from the amount due on my card that month, and pay the difference.

 

I could redeem the points any time after the final cruise bill has been charged, so long as it's done by the time I write the check to Barclay card.

 

Don't make this more complicated than it needs to be.

[qsuzi]

I, too, have twice redeemed 40,000 points for a $500 credit toward a HAL cruise. Very easy to do.

 

I coordinate the redemption date and the final payment date. When final payment is due, I authorize my TA to pay the bill, as a charge to HAL on my HAL Visa card. Then, when the bill with the charge is to be paid, I redeem the points, subtract the $500 from the amount due on my card that month, and pay the difference.

 

I could redeem the points any time after the final cruise bill has been charged, so long as it's done by the time I write the check to Barclay card.

 

Don't make this more complicated than it needs to be.

I told both specialists I had a final payment coming up early next month and wanted to redeem my points for a discount off the final payment amount. I asked them to describe how this is done. They said it needed to be processed as a cruise discount and the last one processed it for me saying the discount would be subtracted from my final payment when it was made. They did not instruct me to wait until after I made final payment and then how at that time to subtract the amount due on my card. I will see when I get it in the mail but the "coupon" may be a gift certificate. I hope I can hold the "coupon/certificate" until after final payment and it can be subtracted when I go to pay off the balance. :)

Edited January 24, 2016 by qsuzi

[SeaBands]

you OBCs and not just a discount on buying a cruise.

[jtl513]

I thought the card can give you OBCs and not just a discount on buying a cruise.

Sort of. If you click on the "Onboard Credit" icon it gives you four choices:

$100 Shore Excursion credit

$50 Casino chips

$50 Spa credit

$50 Beverage card

 

but whenever I have chosen the "Shore Excursion credit" I was not forced to use it for that. In years past I was given an immediate $100 credit off my balance due on the card, while the most recent time I did it (Dec 2014) it just showed up on my on-board account as a general OBC.

[qsuzi]

Just got off the phone with a manager from Barclays Visa HAL Rewards Card who confirmed that I received wrong information from the Redemption Specialist who also processed my rewards redemption incorrectly. The manager also stated:

 

***Card holders may also contact 877 Sail HAL (877 724-5425) for additional details regarding redemption of a cruise discount (or other options). The Barclays Redemption Specialists at 866 922-7663 are generalists and rules are different among the cards they answer calls for. You can ask them to talk with a HAL card specialist to confirm details.

 

***Wait until after final payment has been posted to your card before processing a rewards redemption. You will receive an e-mail confirmation when you complete the redemption process. For *Cruise Discount* requests, after processing is finalized your credit card balance will be adjusted (reduced) by the amount of your dollar amount awarded.

Edited January 25, 2016 by qsuzi

[RuthC]

***Wait until after final payment has been posted to your card before processing a rewards redemption. You will receive an e-mail confirmation when you complete the redemption process. For *Cruise Discount* requests, after processing is finalized your credit card balance will be adjusted (reduced) by the amount of your dollar amount awarded.

This is what two of us tried to tell you.

[qsuzi]

This is what two of us tried to tell you.

 

The processing occurred before I got the response from you and Smokesmom. Your responses conflicted with what I was told by the Redemption specialists (see my reference about the coupon). My response to your post was 11 minutes after your instruction and it describes what had already occurred. Did you miss that post?

Edited January 25, 2016 by qsuzi

[qsuzi]

The processing occurred before I got the response from you and talking with the second specialist after reading the post by Smokesmom. The responses conflicted with what I was told by the Redemption specialists (see my reference about the coupon). My response to your post was 11 minutes after your post and it describes what had already occurred. Did you miss that post? All's well that ends well.

Edited January 25, 2016 by qsuzi

[syesmar]

cruisemom42,

For your specific question, flyertalk dot com may have the answer on one of their boards and further advice. All the best!

Edited January 27, 2016 by syesmar

[cruisemom42]

cruisemom42,

For your specific question, flyertalk dot com may have the answer on one of their boards and further advice. All the best!

 

Thanks -- will check there. :)