A credit card from Absa Bank and card giant MasterCard will generate a high rate of Avios flight points that can be used on air carrier British Airways flights and is aimed at the high-end market segment and corporate frequent flyers, says Avios Group new markets and business development director Nick Pilbeam.

The card will earn users one Avios point for every R7.50 spent and one point for every R5 spent at retailer Pick n Pay, fuel station chain BP and British Airways. Each user is given 5 000 points upon first use, which are more than enough points for a one-way flight from Johannesburg to Durban or Port Elizabeth, in South Africa; Harare, in Zimbabwe; or Livingstone, in Zambia; for example.

“The card gives users priority check-in on British Airways flights, while those who spend more than R50 000 a year will have a day’s access to the British Airways Slow Lounge and receive a cabin upgrade voucher. “Those who have spent more than R100 000 a year will also recoup 10% of the Avios points they have redeemed for a trip and users who spent more than R200 000 a year will also have unlimited access to the Slow Lounge and other upgrades while flying on British Airways.”

The card also enables users to receive invitations for special-interest events, such as golfing and culinary events worldwide; it is also internationally accepted as part of the World MasterCard Rewards programme, Pilbeam adds.

The card is part of British Airways’ Executive Club Frequent Flyer Programme and points do not expire, as long as the user remains active.

The card will be based on the South African rand, but generates points at a superior rate, compared with other flight reward programmes worldwide, avers Absa Card division head Jim Campbell.

Further, while the Avios points generated by the card can be used in lieu of most charges, the traveller must pay airport tax and rates. For example, a return trip from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth will require 9 000 Avios points to be spent, as well as R700 by the user in airport surcharges, he says.