Does the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard from Barclays have an annual fee?

No. Our record lists a $0 annual fee for the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard from Barclays.

Is the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard from Barclays worth it in the first year?

Using our illustration ($12,000 of yearly spending, $3,000 of it in airfare), the first year comes out around $380 before credits, including a welcome bonus valued at $200. Year two drops to about $180 before credits.

AARP® Travel Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays

Barclays

No Annual Fee

Annual Fee

mastercardFairno-annual-feetravel16 days ago

Welcome Offer

20,000 pts(≈ $200)Spend $1,000 within 3 months

OpenCard analysis

Is the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard from Barclays right for you?

The AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard from Barclays is a no-annual-fee rewards card from Barclays. Its strongest everyday earning is 3x on airfare, with 1x on most other purchases. With no fee, the question is simply whether 3x on airfare beats what your current card earns there.

Who it's for

✓ People who spend steadily on airfare, where it earns 3x
✓ Anyone who wants airfare rewards without paying an annual fee

Who should skip it

— Heavy spenders outside airfare — everything else earns 1x

First-year value estimate

Welcome bonus

$200

Rewards on spending

$180

Annual fee (year 1)

−$0

Year 1, before credits

$380

Year two, without the welcome bonus: about $180 before credits ($180 in rewards minus the $0 fee).

Assumptions

$3,000 a year in airfare (3x) and $9,000 on everything else (1x) — $12,000 total, about $1,000 a month.
Rewards valued at 1¢ per point or 1% cash back (cash-equivalent).
Welcome bonus: 20,000 Points at 1¢ each (OpenCard valuation) ≈ $200.
No annual fee in any year.

An illustration, not a promise of value. Change the spending to match yours; rewards are not cash until redeemed. Card data reviewed 2026-10-03.

How it compares

Royal ONE Visa Signature →

Bank of America, same $0 annual fee; earns 3x on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea purchases.

TD First Class Visa Signature →

TD Bank, higher fee ($89 vs $0); earns 3x on Travel (airfare, hotels, car rentals, travel agencies).

Amex Cash Magnet →

American Express, same $0 annual fee; earns 1.5x on everything.

Compare side by side →

Rules and gotchas

The welcome bonus requires $1,000 in 3 months — roughly $333 a month. That fits inside the $1,000 a month in our illustration.

Frequently asked questions

Does the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard from Barclays have an annual fee?: No. Our record lists a $0 annual fee for the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard from Barclays.
What does the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard from Barclays earn?: 3x on airfare, 3x on hotels and car rentals, 2x on restaurants, and 1x on other purchases.
Is the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard from Barclays worth it in the first year?: Using our illustration ($12,000 of yearly spending, $3,000 of it in airfare), the first year comes out around $380 before credits, including a welcome bonus valued at $200. Year two drops to about $180 before credits.
What credit do I need for the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard from Barclays?: Our record lists "Fair" credit as the typical target for the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard from Barclays. Barclays makes the final decision based on its own criteria.

Earning Rates

3×AirfareUnlimited 3% cash back on airfare

3×Hotels and car rentalsUnlimited 3% cash back

2×RestaurantsUnlimited 2% cash back

1×All other purchases

Other Benefits

Insurance

Sources

Last Updated: Oct 3, 2026