SBI Card And Etihad Guest Launches Visa Credit Cards For International Travellers

SBI Card Etihad Guest, the loyalty programme of Etihad Airways, has launched a travel specific Visa credit card for members and Indian travellers. The card which will be available in two variants, Etihad Guest SBI Card and Etihad Guest SBI Premier Card, will offer rewarding experiences to Etihad Guest members and international Indian travellers. Travel is a key spend category for Indian consumers, with 33 per cent of overall card spends in the SBI Card portfolio made within the travel industry.

Etihad Guest SBI Card and Etihad Guest SBI Premier Card offer complimentary Etihad Guest Silver Tier Status along with 2,500 Etihad Guest Miles, and Gold Tier Status with 5,000 Etihad Guest Miles respectively, upon first card swipe, so cardholders can start collecting rewards right from the word go.  

The new co-brand cards offer an accelerated rewards programme which allows guests to earn up to six Etihad Guest Miles per Rs100 spent on Etihad.com. Cardholders can also earn up to four Etihad Guest Miles on every Rs100 of international spends and upto two Etihad Guest Miles on every Rs100 of domestic spends. In addition, guests can earn two Tier Miles per Rs100 spent on all transactions. Etihad Guest Miles can be redeemed to travel to destinations worldwide with Etihad Airways and over 20 partner airlines. Members can also choose to use their Etihad Guest Miles to stay at over 300,000 hotels worldwide, rent car hire brands with Travel Rewards or purchase thousands of products at the Etihad Guest Reward Shop.

Additional benefits include additional excess baggage allowance of 10kgs and 15kgs respectively and priority boarding, 3-10 per cent discount on direct Etihad Airways bookings, as well as the new Guest +1 voucher, allowing cardholders to take a companion along with them on a reward flight in any cabin or destination.

Yasser Al Yousuf, Vice President Commercial Partnerships, Etihad Airways, said, “This card enables members to earn Etihad Guest Miles every time they spend, empowering them to make choices about how they collect and spend their miles. With increased travel from our guests to USA, we believe this card also strengthens our existing travel benefits including US pre-clearance.”

Hardayal Prasad, MD & CEO, SBI Card, said, “These cars will bring Indians travelling to and via the Middle East an exceptional travel experience along with maximum value in its segment.”