Emirates Skywards Launches First Co-Branded Emirates Skywards MasterCard® In partnership With Barclays
Emirates and flydubai’s Emirates Skywards loyalty program has joined hands with Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS) to launch a co-branded credit card, Emirates Skywards MasterCard®.
Emirates Skywards launches two new co-branded credit cards
This will be the first co-branded suite in the US, allowing customers to quickly earn Skywards Miles through daily spending, including lifestyle purchases and travel. Customers will also enjoy in the first year immediate Gold or Silver tier membership status with the possibility of earning up to 40,000 Skywards Miles bonus, among other benefits. The card suite includes Emirates Skywards premium World Elite MasterCard® and Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite MasterCard® backed by MasterCard network and issued by Barclays.
The launch of the credit card is in line with the strategy of Emirates Skywards to offer customers opportunities to earn extra miles on the ground. It will complement the recently introduced Skywards Miles @mall in the US that offers members more than 1,000 ways of earning miles as they shop online with leading brands.
Rewards offered by the cards
The two cards have similar rewards program but with different fees and additional benefits. Some of the similar benefits include 3 Skywards miles for each dollar spent on Emirates purchases, 2 Skywards miles for each dollar the customer spends on travel purchase that include car rentals, airfare, and hotel stays as well as 1 Skyward mile for each dollar a customer spends on other purchases. The rewards are similar to those airline credit cards such as Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers.
However, when it comes to bonuses, the cards are different. The Emirates Skywards rewards World Elite MasterCard attracting 30,000 Skywards Miles for spending $3,000 in the first three months. On the other hand, Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite MasterCard customers will earn a 40,000 Skyward Miles bonus for spending $3,000 in the first 90 days. Other benefits include miles that do not expire and no foreign transaction charges.
Dr. Nejib Ben Khedher Skywards Emirates’ divisional SVP said they are introducing the cards to help customers earn more miles on their travel purchases and daily spending.