First customers receive BalticMiles MasterCards
Nordea bank in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania has started issuing the BalticMiles MasterCard to the first customers. BalticMiles MasterCard is a “two-in-one” solution and functions both as a pan-Baltic loyalty programme and a credit card that customers can use for purchases at over 29 million points of sale around the world.
Tero Taskila, Chief Commercial Officer of airBaltic: “We teamed up with Nordea and MasterCard to introduce a unique pan-Baltic loyalty and credit card – every purchase with the new BalticMiles MasterCard in the supermarket, petrol station or any other shop earns points that you can use for free flights, cinema tickets, spa treatments, hotels, telephone conversations. BalticMiles MasterCard holders also enjoy free of charge check-in at airports.”
Valdis Siksnis, Branch Manager of Nordea Latvia: “We are delighted that Nordea continues to strengthen its positions in the co-branding card segment. Together with strong partners – airBaltic and MasterCard – for the first time we launch a new co-branding loyalty card simultaneously in all three Baltic states. BalticMiles MasterCard is a successful example of a “win-win-win” of three strong brands that enables to offer our clients an impressive package of benefits.”
Carlos Rodriguez, General Manager Nordic Region, MasterCard Europe: “As the global pioneer of airline co-branding programmes, we are proud to partner with Nordea and airBaltic for the first pan-Baltic loyalty card of this kind. Today’s consumers are looking for payment tools that combine security and control with convenience and rewards, and we are dedicated to delivering on these needs together with two leaders in their field.”
airBaltic, Nordea and MasterCard offer extra benefits for the card-holders. BalticMiles MasterCard has no fee for opening an account with Nordea and no monthly fees for the first 6 months of usage. BalticMiles MasterCard holders pay only for the credit used, moreover, they enjoy a “grace period” (a credit without interest) of up to 55 days. Customers earn Reward Miles with every purchase worldwide and a valuable travel insurance is included in the offer for free.
How to apply for BalticMiles MasterCard?
Customers can join BalticMiles, filling the application form found inside the Baltic Outlook magazine, onboard aircraft, at airBaltic ticket offices, check-in counters or at airBaltic Business lounge in Riga. You may also fill in an online application at balticmiles.com , via the airBaltic call centre, as well as Nordea branch offices and Nordea Internetbank.
BalticMiles
BalticMiles is a pan-Baltic loyalty programme that earns Miles, or points, for customers every time they use services or products of BalticMiles partners – be it flights, banking, telecom, hospitality services, entertainment or transport. The earned Miles can later be spent with any of the BalticMiles partners (e.g. to enjoy a free flight, hotel room, spa treatment, car rental). This feature makes BalticMiles an alternative/parallel currency that one can earn and spend with any partner of the loyalty programme.
BalticMiles members can currently earn and spend miles when flying airBaltic, using financial services of Nordea, telecommunications services of Latvijas Mobilais Telefons, staying at Reval Hotels or Islande Hotel, indulging in ESPA Riga treatments, renting cars from Sixt, and taking Eurolines/LUX Express buses or SAS flights. Forum Cinemas is a partner offering to spend miles for cinema tickets.
BalticMiles loyalty programme has three status levels for members– Basic, Executive and VIP. BalticMiles also offers a special card for children with no minimum age limit called Young Pilots card.
airBaltic also offers extra benefits for BalticMiles members. One of the benefits for Economy class ticket holders will be free of charge check-in for flights at airport counters, if they are members of BalticMiles. Passengers who are not BalticMiles members, will have an option to become enrolled in the loyalty programme at the check-in counter at their airport, in order to avoid the check-in fee (5 EUR, takes effect 16 November 2009).