Bidvest, Voyager join in FFP deal

Bidvest Bank has announced a deal with SAA’s Voyager frequent flyer programme that is designed to give consumers ‘miles more than they spend’.
 
Through the World Currency Card, travellers ‘load up’ their currency at predetermined rates, thus avoiding problems if the rand weakens while they are overseas. Now, through Bidvest Bank’s partnership with the national carrier, card-users earn Voyager Miles when they load foreign currency ahead of a trip. Miles are calculated on the total amount of loaded cash at a rate of one mile for every R25.
 
Unlike credit card schemes that participate in frequent flyer programmes, miles on the World Currency Card are not calculated on the amount spent but on the total amount loaded on to the card, irrespective of the amount of transactions done.
 
“Even if travellers spend only half the money they load, they are still credited with Voyager Miles equivalent to the total amount that is loaded on to the card,” said Craig MacFarlane, Bidvest Bank’s head of retail operations.
 
“It’s a great deal for our customers and we believe it to be a first in the South African market.”
 
The bank’s card range covers, US and Australian dollars, British pounds, euros, Chinese yuan, Indian and Mauritian rupees, UAE dirham, Israeli shekels, Brazilian reais, and Argentine pesos. Canadian dollar and Thai baht cards will be added this month.
 
Craig explained: “With a preloaded World Currency Card you know the exchange rate upfront. You don’t have to deal with ‘statement shock’ when you return home to a bigger credit card bill than expected due to the weakening rand.
 
“What’s more, you pay no point-of-sale or merchant fees when you transact on a World Currency Card while travelling. ATM withdrawals attract only a single low usage fee.
 
“The Voyager link-up now creates an opportunity to develop the proposition that you get ‘more miles than what you spend’ with a World Currency Card.”
 
The Bidvest Bank World Currency Card range is accepted at more than a million Visa-accredited ATMs worldwide as well as by millions of retailers across the globe.