Kuwait Airways Launches Prepaid MasterCard for Frequent Fliers (April 16, 2013)
Kuwait Airways aims to increase customer loyalty with a new prepaid MasterCard that provides members of its frequent-flier Al Waha Club with rewards for every purchase using the card. The Baitok-Waha Club card, offered in collaboration with a local bank, Kuwait Finance House, enables cardholders to earn two free miles for every domestic purchase and three free miles for every overseas purchase. Cardholders may redeem their additional miles for free airline tickets, upgrades and other airline perks. Cardholders may use the card to make online and POS purchases worldwide, as well as withdraw cash at ATMs. The Baitok-Waha card also offers discounts of up to 50 percent off on merchandise at 500 merchant locations. Other benefits include free use of certain international airline lounges and cardholders may also participate in a monthly sweepstakes to win one of two free airline tickets to Dubai.
The Baitok-Waha prepaid card is one of a growing number of cards combining airline loyalty programs with prepaid card functionality. Air New Zealand in 2011 launched the Paybefore Award-winning OneSmart Card in conjunction with Rev Worldwide. The prepaid debit MasterCard enables cardholders to load funds in eight currencies and earn rewards with every purchase.
