HSBC, the world’s local bank, in association with Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national airline and MasterCard Worldwide, a leader in advancing global commerce, today announced the launch of their first co-branded airline card ‘HSBC Etihad Guest MasterCard Card’. This Card will be accepted across the MasterCard global network with 24 million acceptance locations around the world, which include more than 1 million ATM locations worldwide.
This Card is the only co-branded credit card with the national carrier within the region. The Card offering includes three Card variants based on income variables: the HSBC Etihad Guest Classic Card, the HSBC Etihad Guest Privilege Card and the HSBC Etihad Guest Exclusive Card. The Cards offer customers free and immediate enrollment into the airline’s loyalty and miles reward programme, Etihad Guest.
This unique Card allows you to earn Etihad Guest Miles on all your purchases at home and abroad. The cards will offer from two Etihad Guest Miles for every USD 3 spent on purchase transactions to one Etihad Guest Mile for every USD 1 spent on purchase transactions, depending on the type of card.
So whether you are shopping, buying your groceries or just refueling your car, simply present your HSBC Etihad Guest Card and watch your miles grow.
What’s more, you earn miles faster when you use the HSBC Etihad Guest Card to purchase your Etihad flight tickets or when using it for any transaction with any of the Etihad Guest programme partners.
Other travel related key benefits range from a free Priority Pass membership with unlimited access to over 450 airport lounges worldwide, free insurance and the UAE e-Gate functionality, allowing fast track immigration at airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. There are plans to enable acceptance at eGates at other UAE airports in the future.
“We are delighted to launch another innovative and quality product for the UAE consumer. The unveiling of the ‘HSBC Etihad Guest Card’ exemplifies the unique partnership between UAE’s national carrier, Etihad Airways, and HSBC, the first bank to be established in the country 60 years ago. To reflect this, the Card will be the first in the UAE to bear an image of the UAE national flag on it. The launch of this Card also reflects the extension of our association with MasterCard, a highly respected global brand,” said Mr. Lester Wynne-Jones, Regional Head Personal Financial Services, HSBC Bank Middle East Limited.
“The unveiling of this co-branded Card is part of HSBC’s continued efforts to provide innovative products and services to its customers and we are confident that this Card will best meet the needs of the travelers in every aspect and bring greater value to them,” he added.
“Customers will earn Etihad Guest Miles on all their purchases worldwide, combined with other benefits including free access to over 450 airport lounges worldwide, and the UAE Gate feature providing comfort and convenience on the Card. Additionally, cardholders will also enjoy peace of mind with free insurance like purchase protection; secure wallet etc to make this Card truly unique and rewarding,” explained Mr. Wynne-Jones.
“The launch of the co-branded ‘HSBC Etihad Guest Card’ is a significant milestone for Etihad Guest because it provides our members a wealth of new opportunities to earn and spend their miles. Etihad Guest has been designed to provide our members with maximum flexibility and immediate rewards, which will now be even easier with the introduction of the co-branded Card. Since the launch of Etihad Guest at the end of August the demand for membership has been immense, and this new partnership with HSBC will continue to fuel that demand,” said Mr. Peter Baumgartner, Head of Marketing, Etihad Airways.
Mr. Denzil Lawson, General Manager, Middle East & Levant, MasterCard Worldwide said “MasterCard is a critical link for businesses and cardholders worldwide and this collaboration with HSBC and Etihad Airways is an example of how MasterCard works with businesses to develop secure, convenient and rewarding payment solutions that add real value for cardholders. MasterCard is thrilled to offer cardholders such an innovative program. The card combines the various travel related benefits and offers MasterCard payment solutions technology, allowing MasterCard cardholders to use their cards at more than 24 million acceptance locations around the world, which include more than 1 million ATM locations worldwide.”
1. HSBC Bank Middle East Limited
HSBC is the largest and most widely represented international bank in the Middle East. HSBC Bank Middle East Limited has 33 branches throughout the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait,
Jordan, Lebanon, and the Palestinian Autonomous Area, including an offshore banking unit in Bahrain. This extensive regional coverage is strengthened by another member of the HSBC Group HSBC Bank Egypt SAE, and by its associated companies, The Saudi British Bank and British Arab Commercial Bank Limited. In addition to its Middle Eastern network, the Bank has a representative office in Tehran, Iran.
2. HSBC Holdings plc
HSBC Bank Middle East Limited has been a principal member of the HSBC Group since 1959. Serving over 125 million customers worldwide, the HSBC Group has some 9,500 offices in 76 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. With assets of US$1,738 billion at 30 June 2006, HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations. HSBC is marketed worldwide as ‘the world’s local bank’.
3. Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways, the National Airline of the United Arab Emirates, is the world’s leading new airline and currently offers flights for Guests and cargo to 45 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, North America, Africa and Asia. Etihad Airways has been awarded the titles of the world’s leading new airline in 2004, 2005 and 2006, and the world’s leading flat-bed seat in 2006 by the World Travel Awards. For more information about this award-winning aviation group, please visit www.etihadairways.com.
4. MasterCard Worldwide
MasterCard Worldwide advances global commerce by providing a critical economic link among financial institutions, businesses, cardholders and merchants worldwide. As a franchisor, processor and advisor, MasterCard develops and markets payment solutions, processes approximately 14 billion transactions each year, and provides industry-leading analysis and consulting services to financial institution customers and merchants. Through its family of brands, including MasterCard®, Maestro® and Cirrus®, MasterCard Worldwide serves consumers and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. For more information, go to www.mastercardworldwide.com.
