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Jetstar spreads its wings with a new credit card


Tags :South Pacific, Jetstar, Jetstar


Jetstar spreads its wings with a new credit card
Jetstar spreads its wings from airlines to Australia’s lowest-rate credit card with flight rewards.

Australia’s low fares airline Jetstar today announced the launch of a new low-rate credit card, the Jetstar MasterCard®.

Partnering with the card’s issuer, Macquarie Bank, this is the Jetstar brand’s first foray into a product beyond airline and holiday travel, and offers consumers a low-rate MasterCard or Platinum MasterCard.

Customers can apply for their Jetstar MasterCard via the Jetstar MasterCard website, Jetstar.com/cards from tomorrow, 29 October 2009.

Jetstar Chief Executive Officer Bruce Buchanan said Jetstar was excited to present Australians with a low-rate credit card that represented real value to consumers.

“We aim to do for credit cards what Jetstar did for low fares airline travel in Australia when we launched back in 2004 – to present consumers a choice with real benefits and with a low every day rate of 10.99%,” Mr. Buchanan said.

“As an extension of the low fares the Jetstar brand is renowned for, the Jetstar MasterCard will reward users with not only low rates, but also a really simple and valuable rewards program to earn Jetstar Dollars.”

As well as one of the lowest interest rates in Australia, the Jetstar MasterCard includes a unique rewards program, giving Australians the chance to accrue ‘Jetstar Dollars’ that can be redeemed for Jetstar Flight Vouchers which can be used to pay for Jetstar flights to over 50 destinations across the Jetstar network.

“Jetstar not only represents low fares, good times, but now also low rates and good times with the Jetstar MasterCard,” Mr Buchanan added.

The Jetstar MasterCard will accrue one cent in Jetstar Dollars for every dollar spent on everyday purchases and two cents for every dollar spent on everyday purchases on the Jetstar Platinum MasterCard.

‘Jetstar Dollars’ can be redeemed for Jetstar Flight Vouchers which can be used as payment for Jetstar flights on the domestic or international network, with three months to book tickets and six months to travel, both from the date the voucher is issued.

“By keeping our rewards simple, and making it easy for customers to redeem and use their Jetstar Flight Vouchers, customers can not only make big savings on interest and fees, but really big savings on their holidays by putting every day credit purchases on their Jetstar MasterCard”, Mr Buchanan said.

Account cardholders don’t have to wait until they have enough Jetstar Flight Vouchers to book a flight, vouchers can be used to purchase a portion of a Jetstar fare. Flight Vouchers will automatically be issued to Account Holders once they accrue 100 Jetstar Dollars, however Account Holders may also request to redeem their Jetstar Dollars for Flight Vouchers in minimum increments of $25.

MasterCard Australian Country Manager Andrew Cartwright said the Jetstar MasterCard is an excellent addition to the suite of MasterCard programs available to Australians.

"This is a terrific combination of an attractive rewards program, coupled with a low rate, and with access to 29.4 million MasterCard acceptance locations worldwide, the Jetstar MasterCard makes life easier for Australian travellers”.

CANSTAR CANNEX, Australia's premier finance research and ratings firm, assessed the Jetstar MasterCard against hundreds of other credit cards in Australia, confirming it as the lowest rate credit card on the market that offers flight rewards.

CANSTAR CANNEX Financial Analyst, Peter Arnold, said the Jetstar MasterCard “represented real value for money for most Australian consumers coupling a low rate card with a no-nonsense rewards program”.

“From our assessment the Jetstar MasterCard is a great new option for Australians offering the lowest rate credit card on the Australian market today that earns you flight rewards. By rewarding customers with Jetstar Dollars to redeem on Jetstar flights, the rewards are kept simple and practical,” Mr Arnold said.

Other features of the Jetstar MasterCard include:

  • 0% balance transfer for 6 months
  • Low $49 annual fee
  • Up to 55 days interest free
  • No card payment fees for flights on Jetstar.com
  • Book a Jetstar flight with your Jetstar Flight Voucher on any domestic or international flight on the Jetstar network within three months for travel within six months, both from the date of issue of the Flight Voucher
  • Jetstar Flight Vouchers are automatically emailed directly to Account Holders, meaning you’ll never have to chase rewards, and can be requested by Account Holders in minimum increments of $25
Jetstar is also working with Qantas Frequent Flyer to introduce Qantas Frequent Flyer points as a reward option for account holders. It’s envisaged these will be available in the first half of 2010.

(c) Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. Date posted: 28-Oct-09

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