Eric Bank is an M.B.A. who has covered financial and business topics since 1985, appearing regularly on Credible, eHow, WiseBread, The Nest, Zacks, Chron, BadCredit.org and dozens of other outlets. Eric specializes in taking complex subject matters and explaining them in simple terms for consumer audiences, particularly in the world of personal finance. Eric holds a Master's in Business Administration from New York University and a Master's in Finance from DePaul University.
Ashley Fricker has more than a decade of experience as a finance contributor and editor, and has specialized in the credit card industry since 2015. Her credit card commentary is featured on national media outlets that include CNBC, MarketWatch, Investopedia, and Reader's Digest, among many others. She has worked closely with the world’s largest banks and financial institutions, up-and-coming fintech companies, and press and news outlets to curate comprehensive content and media. Ashley holds a bachelor's degree in multimedia journalism from Florida Atlantic University.
With more than 10 years of accounting experience, Danielle Marshall has a deep understanding of many financial disciplines, including personal and commercial lending, retirement annuities, financial forecasting, and general bookkeeping. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Florida's Fisher School of Accounting and currently manages all accounts receivable and payable for the parent company of CardRates.com. She works directly with credit card issuers and advertising partners to ensure our content meets compliance expectations and regulatory standards.
The Mastercard® Titanium Card™ is the lowest-priced member of the Barclays Bank Luxury Card trio. It offers many of the same benefits as its Gold and Black siblings without their eye-watering annual fees.
In this review, we’ll take a closer look at the card and three of its best alternatives. If you’d like a little pampering when you travel, one of these cards will oblige you without breaking the bank.
You must have excellent credit to qualify for the Mastercard® Titanium Card™. That translates into a minimum credit score of around 720 to 740 to be eligible for the card.
The issuer, Barclays Bank, does not reveal any specific income requirements for its Luxury Cards other than earning enough to pay the monthly bill. Obviously, your approval chances increase as you earn more income.
You can apply for the card through the Apply Now button below, which will direct you to Barclay’s website, where you can also learn more about the card and its terms:
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Ideal for those seeking an introductory premium travel card that provides exceptional airfare redemption, access to hotel privileges and elevated service beyond the ordinary. Find peace of mind with protection benefits that exceeds standard credit cards.
Flat-rate redemption value of 1% for cash back or 2% value for airfare redemption with no airline or seat restrictions and no blackout dates. Earn one point for every dollar spent. Straightforward redemption without needing a high-maintenance reward strategy. No foreign transaction fees, no earning caps, no rotating categories, and no need to chase down transfer partners to escape very low point values.
24/7 Luxury Card Concierge®—Make requests the way you want by phone, email, SMS and chat in the app. Connect directly with a real agent and receive 24/7 assistance for tasks big and small. Requests do not require a purchase, incure no charge for making them, and do not involve department transfers.
Exclusive Luxury Card Travel® benefits—average value of $500 per stay (e.g., resort credits, room upgrades, free wifi, breakfast for two and more) at over 3,000 properties. Receive protection benefits like trip cancellation and interruption, auto rental car collision waiver, travel accident and baggage delay. Cell phone protection for eligible claims of up to $1,000 each year. Plus additional World Elite Mastercard® benefits.
Members-only LUXURY MAGAZINE®.
Brushed Metal Card Design: Weighing in at an industry-leading 22g. Designed for frequent shoppers, big ticket purchases and everything in between.
Annual fee: $195 ($95 for each Authorized User). Terms and conditions apply.
0% introductory APR for the first fifteen billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening.
21.24%, 25.43% or 28.24%
$195 ($95 for each Authorized User added to the account)
Excellent
You can see above that the Mastercard® Titanium Card™ provides a high airfare redemption rate: You can get a $1,000 ticket on any airline with no blackout dates or seat restrictions for 50,000 points.
It provides the same fabulous Luxury Card Concierge privileges as its stablemates, from arranging flower deliveries to booking tee times. You also receive free insurance for trip cancellations and interruptions, baggage delays, travel accidents, cellphone damage, and rental car collisions.
The annual fee is relatively affordable, and you can recoup the expense through the card’s hotel and resort benefits. Of course, you’ll also receive a complimentary subscription to the ultra-posh Luxury Magazine.
Benefits & Drawbacks to Consider
The Mastercard® Titanium Card™ provides many of the travel benefits available from the Gold and Black versions. Its reward rate on non-travel purchases is the lowest of the three.
FEATURE
DETAIL
BENEFITS
Airfare Redemption Rate
You can redeem points for airfare at the 2% rate tier.
Cash Back Redemption Rate
You can redeem points for cash back at the 1% rate tier.
Point Rewards and Partner Benefits
You earn one point for every $1 you spend, plus deals with Lyft, Instacart, and Peacock.
Introductory 0% APR on Balance Transfers
0% introductory APR for the first fifteen billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening.
24/7 Concierge Service
A concierge will provide you with personalized assistance with numerous services.
Metal Card Design
The construction of this card is stainless steel, weighing in at 22 grams.
Worldwide Automatic Travel Accident Insurance
The card insures against accidental loss of life, limb, sight, speech, or hearing while traveling.
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
The card covers you for non-refundable common carrier passenger fares due to trip cancellation or interruption.
Trip Delay Reimbursement
You’ll receive reimbursement for delays over 12 hours caused by covered hazards.
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
You may ask for assistance with medical, legal, transportation, and other emergency services.
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
You will receive reimbursement for damage due to collision or theft of a rental vehicle.
Luxury Card Travel Program
The program offers you a value of $500 per stay with an exclusive suite of benefits and services at over 3,000 global properties.
Cellphone Protection
You receive coverage for cellphone damage or loss.
Zero Liability Protection
You are not responsible for charges arising from a lost or stolen card.
DRAWBACKS
Annual Fee
The annual fee is $195 ($95 for each Authorized User added to the account).
No Signup Bonus
The card doesn’t offer a welcome bonus to new cardmembers.
Rewards Rate
The card’s reward rates are not as attractive as those of several competitors.
No Point Transfers
You cannot transfer your points to another loyalty program.
High Credit Requirements
The card has stringent credit approval criteria.
Comparative Value
The card’s cost/benefit tradeoff is not as compelling as that of other premium cards.
Balance Transfer Offer Restrictions
You must complete balance transfers within 45 days of account opening. There is a fee for balance transfers.
The card’s lower annual fee rules out several benefits, including Priority Pass airport lounge access, TSA PreCheck reimbursement, and an annual travel credit. Still, its perks outweigh the costs if you can take advantage of the hotel and resort benefits.
Similar Cards Worth a Look
The following three mid-tier cards provide stiff competition for the Mastercard® Titanium Card™. In particular, the Chase card offers better benefits at a lower price point, and the Amex card provides a much higher reward rate on a wider range of purchases.
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 Travel℠.
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a lower annual fee and provides a handsome welcome bonus and many other perks, including trip cancellation insurance that also covers interruptions and delays. The card’s top reward tier handily beats that of the Mastercard® Titanium Card™, and its points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel through Chase.
You can redeem your points in several ways or transfer them to leading loyalty programs on a 1:1 basis. Your insurance covers luggage loss, damage, or delay. Other benefits include extended warranties, purchase protection, travel accident insurance, and auto rental collision damage waiver.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a signup bonus after account opening and a flat membership rewards rate on most purchases. A bonus rate applies to hotels and rental cars when you book them through Capital One Travel.
This card gives you up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fees. You also get access to Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment. Other benefits include credits for stays at Lifestyle Collection hotels and Hertz Five Star status.
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on purchases on your new card in your first 6 months of card membership
Earn 4X Points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases. Also earn 4X Points at restaurants, including takeout and delivery, and 3X points on flights when booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. All other eligible purchases earn 1X point.
No foreign transaction fees
Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub, Seamless, Boxed and other participating partners. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
Delight your senses when you book The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel. Get a $100 experience credit to use during your stay. A minimum 2-night stay is required.
The American Express® Gold Card competes directly with the Mastercard® Titanium Card™. It offers bonus points for flights you book with Amex Travel or directly through an airline. You can earn credits for stays at the Hotel Collection and for purchases with select partners.
Perks include baggage insurance, travel accident and inconvenience insurance, purchase protection, extended warranties, personalized travel services, and no foreign transaction fees.
Cardholder Reviews Around the Web
Here are a couple of online forum remarks we could find about the card that may help persuade your decision.
Aim_High praises the card for its high credit limits:
“The cards are some of the heaviest and most ‘impressive’ metal cards available to the general public, weighing in at 22 grams. And reports that they give super-sized credit limits have surfaced. [A physician] claimed his Titanium Luxury Card credit limit had climbed to $330,000.”
Longtimelurker is not impressed by the card’s design and value:
“According to the web page, the front is stainless steel, back is carbon fiber. It is a “patented design” which must be worth, oh, about $0, and you get the Luxury Magazine, which must be worth another $0, so that’s quite a way to the $195 annual fee for a 2% travel card (1% if redeemed for non-travel).”
Truthfully, the Mastercard® Gold Card™ and the Mastercard® Black Card™ receive the lion’s share of forum comments among the Luxury Card Mastercard offerings. The Mastercard® Titanium Card™ doesn’t seem to elicit the same abuse that the higher-priced cards do.
FAQs: What is the Card’s Credit Limit?
The card’s minimum credit limit is typically $5,000. However, six-figure limits are apparently available — see the above forum comment.
Naturally, your credit limit will depend on your credit profile, income, and debts. You can request a higher credit line from Barclays Bank, but it’s best to wait at least six months between requests.
What Kind of Travel Insurance Benefits Does It Offer?
The Mastercard® Titanium Card™ offers several travel insurance benefits, including:
Worldwide automatic travel accident insurance
Baggage delay insurance
Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
Trip delay reimbursement
Travel and emergency assistance services
Auto rental collision damage waiver
See the Benefits & Drawbacks Chart above for specific information on each travel benefit.
What Are the Redemption Options For Points Earned?
Barclays offers several redemption options for the points you earn. You can apply the points for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and merchandise. You can also get cash back through a direct deposit to a US checking or savings account, statement credit, and gift card or certificate.
To redeem your points, visit myluxurycard.com or call Customer Service using the number on the back of your card.
The value of your points varies with how you choose to redeem them:
Airfare: Begins at 50 points for $1.00. You must have a valid email address for travel redemptions, which you can make with a combination of points and a purchase using a major debit or credit card. You must book air travel through Loyalty Edge.
Cash back direct deposits and statement credits: Starts at 67 points for $1.00. A statement credit reduces your account balance, but you cannot apply it toward any minimum payment requirement. You can redeem and deposit up to $500 per day to your bank account.
Hotel stays and car rentals: Begins at 100 points for $1.00.
Gift cards, gift certificates, and merchandise: Minimums vary.
You should generally allow three to four business days for your redemptions to complete.
How Does it Compare to the Mastercard® Black Card™?
The Mastercard® Titanium Card™ has an annual fee that is $300 below that of the Mastercard® Black Card™. This difference means that it cannot provide as many benefits as its more expensive companion.
FEATURE
Mastercard® Black Card™
Mastercard® Titanium Card™
Annual Fee
$495 ($195 for each Authorized User added to the account)
$195 ($95 for each Authorized User added to the account)
APRs
Same
Points on Purchases
Same
Airfare Redemption Value
Same
Cash Back Redemption Value
Higher
Lower
Luxury Concierge Service
24/7 access for personal and travel assistance
Annual Air Travel Credit
Up to $100
None
Travel Benefits
Comprehensive travel benefits and privileges
It does not include airport lounge access or TSA Precheck fee reimbursement.
Travel Insurance
Included, with extensive coverage options
It does not have luggage loss insurance
Card Material
Carbon/steel construction
Stainless steel construction
Intro APR on Balance Transfers
Usually available, typically for a limited time after account opening
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
Credit Required
Excellent
The Mastercard® Titanium Card™ will save you a bundle in annual fees if you can get by without some of the Mastercard® Black Card™ benefits. For infrequent travelers, the savings will probably outweigh the lost benefits.
Does It Have Lounge Access?
Lounge access is one of the premium benefits missing from the Mastercard® Titanium Card™. Barclays had to shave a few benefits from the card to compensate for the lower annual fee.
We would rather own the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It costs $100 less per year yet offers more travel and consumer benefits than the Mastercard® Titanium Card™.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has the same annual fee as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card but is not nearly as beneficial as the Preferred card.
The annual fee on the American Express® Gold Card is $55 more than that for the Mastercard® Titanium Card™, but we believe the American Express® Gold Card’s rewards and benefits justify the small additional cost.
The Mastercard® Titanium Card™ is a sound card, and we recommend it to Barclays Bank customers. But overall, it is not the most compelling card in its price range.
This Card May Be For You If…
You want luxury travel benefits, such as 24/7 concierge services and travel insurance.
You make a lot of travel purchases that will earn rewards you can then redeem for more travel, cash back, or merchandise.
You can appreciate its 22-gram, stainless steel design, providing a sense of luxury and status important to some folks.
Of the three Luxury Card Mastercard offerings, we believe the Mastercard® Titanium Card™ is the best compromise between value and cost. But please consider the reviewed alternatives — they may fit your requirements better.
About the Author
Eric Bank
Finance Expert
Eric Bank is an M.B.A. who has covered financial and business topics since 1985, appearing regularly on Credible, eHow, WiseBread, The Nest, Zacks, Chron, BadCredit.org and dozens of other outlets. Eric specializes in taking complex subject matters and explaining them in simple terms for consumer audiences, particularly in the world of personal finance. Eric holds a Master's in Business Administration from New York University and a Master's in Finance from DePaul University.
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