NatWest card air miles cannot be collected from June onwards

NatWest customers that use their credit cards to collect air miles have been informed that as of 1st June they will no longer be able to collect air miles on their cards. This will affect over two million customers, after NatWest decided that it was going to change its rewards scheme through a link up with ebookers, the online travel agent, and Easyjet, the budget airline.

The good news is that although cardholders will no longer be able to collect air miles on their cards, they will not lose the miles that have already accumulated on the account. These will be held in an account that is run by Airmiles, and Airmiles has written to all affected customers to offer an alternative credit card with Lloyds TSB, which will now be partnering with Airmiles.

Consumers will still be able to add to their accumulated air miles when they shop at certain places, such as Esso and Tesco, as these retailers have their own partnerships with Airmiles. There is also no time limit by which cardholders have to use up their air miles. The new scheme now being offered by NatWest will only be available for customers that have these air miles accounts, and although those changing over to the new scheme will be eligible to join for free, others that wish to join will be charged a monthly membership fee of £3.00.

There are changes in the amount that has to be spent to collect air miles on the new Lloyds TSB and Airmiles partnership. On the NatWest card customers received one air mile per twenty pounds spent on the card. However, the new card will combine a MasterCard and and American Express card on one account, with one air mile per £50 spent on the MasterCard, and one air mile per £10 spent on the American Express.

Tom Smith
8th May 2007

More Information:

• Airmile Credit Cards
  These days most major UK credit card providers offer a vast array of reward programs to try and entice potential new customers to apply for a card. Since the inception of reward packages, one of the most popular packages that applicants go for is airmile credit cards.
• Credit Card Benefits
  A credit card can be a highly effective and flexible financial tool for the smart shopper – and saver. It has many obvious advantages over cash and cheques – and a few hidden ones too!
• The Value Of Having Branded UK Credit Card Loyalty Programs
  Anyone who has taken even the briefest of looks at the UK credit card industry will immediately notice that there are well over a thousand credit card providers. However, even in this hugely competitive industry, there are still only two main types of card available – the Visa card and the MasterCard