New Delhi – American Express has teamed up with IndiGo Airlines and the Taj Group to offer a new Platinum Travel credit card intended to “offer the urban Indian unmatched travel experiences.” The card allows members to rack up reward points that can be redeemed from over 600 businesses through the American Express Membership Rewards Program. It also awards bonus points that can be used for flight vouchers on IndiGo Airlines or hotel stays at Taj Group hotels.
Card members receive points for every Rs 40 ($.72) spent on their card. Members can receive either five or ten times the number of reward points they normally get if they spend money at certain businesses. This includes receiving ten times the regular points when booking international flights through MakeMyTrip, and receiving five times the regular points when grocery shopping.
In addition to regular points, card members will receive 5,000 bonus membership rewards points on their first purchase with their card. Those membership points are worth up Rs 4,000 ($72.04) of airline service with IndiGo. Spending Rs 1,90,000 ($3,422.07) with the card gives members an additional 7,500 rewards points- worth another Rs 6,000 ($108.07) on IndiGo services. Spending Rs 4,00,000 ($7,204.36) in a year will give members Rs 10,000 ($180.11) to spend with IndiGo and a Rs 10,000 voucher for Taj Group.
American Express said the card was created for the Indian who travels frequently and values quality. “The marketing alliance with IndiGo Airlines and the Taj Group have helped us create a valuable proposition with the best spend-linked benefits which would help those who enjoy travel and value quality. The card has been tailored to meet an underlying customer need for a complete travel product which offers value and flexibility backed by American Express’ best-in-class Platinum Services,” Shailesh Baidwan, the Country Manager in India and the Head of the Consumer Cards business, said.
In addition to these benefits, members will also receive a free return domestic flight and luxury hotel stay for every year they remain a card member. American Express says there are no blackout dates on their airline services. Members can also receive a 25 percent discount at 400 “premium restaurants” across the country.
American Express says their card offers the “fastest ways to earn complimentary travel by combining everyday spending and accelerated spend based rewards.” All the reward points add up to two free IndiGo return flights for spending Rs 1,90,000 ($3,422.07) a year and four return flights plus a two nights stay at a Taj Group hotel for spending Rs 4,00,000 ($7,204.36) a year. This is in addition to the fraud prevention and card replacement services that American Express offers with most of their cards. (IATNS)