TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin New Barclays Aviator cards are Chip + PIN

the new Barclays AAdvantage Aviator mastercards that are being sent out to replace the old US Airways Dividend Miles cards are true chip + PIN...this is one of the very few chip + PIN cards available in the US that i am aware of...(most new cards in the US are chip + signature)...and the Red and Silver cards do not charge foreign transaction fees...only downside is the yearly fee after the first free year, unlike the PenFed Platinum Rewards card that is also chip + PIN but has no yearly fee (or forex fees)

chip + PIN can be useful in some situations on some Caribbean islands like St. Martin or St. Barth where unmanned credit card machines require a chip and PIN to make a payment...(i personally had to use a chip + PIN when getting gas after hours at a gas station on St. Barth)...but realistically these cards would be much more useful when traveling in Europe, like for unmanned metro ticket kiosks, gas stations, and toll booths

I have the new card with the chip but still have to do the signature, no PIN. Sort of confused on what you mean by that. I do have to say that I greatly dislike US Air constantly changing things. Our cards have been cancelled so many times due to fraudulent activity or possible fraudulent activity. Each time it means a new card. We use one for business so constantly have to call all our vendors to let them know that our cc has changed yet again! Hoping with this new card that things will be calm for at LEAST a year if not longer!! Have hesitated to activate hubby's card as it will mean that I have to call vendors yet again. Probably the third time this year. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/hammer.gif" alt="" />

Yup....got my Chip/PIN Aviator a week or so ago...have to use it first at a manned chip terminal but after that it is a go with the chip/PIN when needed

Definitely will be a plus for getting tickets on the RER to Paris from CDG and at unmanned gas stations all over Europe

from what i understand from the literature that came with the card, it's only if you change the original PIN do you first have to use it a manned chip terminal...in my case, i did personalize/change the PIN when i activated the card, so i am aware i will have use it first at a manned terminal...the literature was somewhat confusing <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Previously I had no reason to even have a PIN on a CC...no way was I ever going to get a cash advance that way...so the PIN for me was new...and now appropriate

Got my new card last week too. The annual fee is quickly offset if you do a domestic flight or two per year, as up to four people can check a bag for free! I love this benefit! I just wish it extended to international flights. We usually do enough domestic trips a year that the fee is definitely worth it. The priority boarding is a great benefit as well.

Dustin

The literature that came with my card today states:
"At most stores in the U.S. you'll swipe your card and sign just as you do now. But at U.S. stores that already use chip-card terminals, you'll insert your card into a slot in the card reader and leave it there until your transaction goes through. You'll most likely need to sign for your transaction as you do today. Occasionally, you'll be prompted to enter a PIN at self-serve terminals like ticket kiosks or vending machines."
Presumably, these instructions apply outside the U.S. also only PIN's may be required more often elsewhere even at attended locations.
A PIN is automatically assigned when an account is created. They recommend changing it after you get and activate the card. As IslandBoi said, after the PIN is changed the card must be used and signed for at a chip terminal with a cashier or attendant. Only then will the new PIN be activated for use at unattended terminals where a PIN is required.

Yup, that's what was mentioned