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NatWest swaps AIRMILES for new points scheme with ebookers
NatWest has joined forces with ebookers and easjyet to launch a new travel reward programme.
The YourPoints programme will replace the bank’s 19-year old relationship with the AIRMILES scheme from June.
Meanwhile, Lloyds TSB and AIRMILES have announced a new partnership.
From June 1, Lloyds TSB will become AIRMILES’ official financial services partner, providing it with exclusive rights to offer Airmiles to its customers.
Lloyds TSB will double the Airmiles earn rate offered by NatWest.
But a spokesman for NatWest claimed the AIRMILES scheme was out of date.
“The airline and travel industry has changed beyond recognition since the AIRMILES partnership was established in 1988 and many customers now require ultimate flexibility,” said a spokesman.
“They also choose to fly with low-cost airlines and use travel websites to take advantage of special offers.”
The bank’s new YourPoints allows customers to choose any flight, to any destination, at any time, alongside a wide range of other travel options.
There are no restrictions or black-out days, and airport taxes can be paid for in YourPoints.
NatWest has secured a deal with easyJet to allow its customers to buy easyJet flights with YourPoints, the first loyalty programme that allows customers to do this.
The new programme comes into effect from the date customers receive their June credit card statement.
At this point customers will cease to collect Airmiles on their credit or charge card and will start to collect YourPoints.
Customers’ existing Airmiles are unaffected.
Under the new scheme, customers earn one point for every £1 (of qualifying spend).
Initially, YourPoints is only available to existing NatWest customers who collected Airmiles with their credit cards.
The programme is designed to reward loyal customers who regularly use their card and will be free to customers who spend more than £1,000 a month.
Other customers who want to join the programme will pay £3 per month.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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