It’s hard to beat convenience or value, and when both are successfully integrated into the same loyalty program, it can become one of the most useful tools in brand’s marketing arsenal. This powerful combination will soon be displayed in RwandAir’s loyalty program as it just announced plans to expand member benefits through a new partnership with Ecobank, a leading Pan African financial institution.
Promising to be the first program of its kind in the region, RwandAir will integrate Dream Miles, the airlines award-winning loyalty program, with a reloadable Visa Prepaid Card. The new card will be called the RwandAir Dream Miles Global Travel Wallet™ card. Starting in July it will allow members to accumulate miles whenever they shop at Visa retailers anywhere in the world.
“The new RwandAir Dream Miles loyalty program provides features and benefits that enhance the value to its members,” said John Mirenge, CEO of RwandAir. “The new innovative RwandAir Dream Miles Global Travel Wallet™ card combines the functionality of a reloadable payment card with the benefits of Dream Miles membership in a single piece of plastic, a first in loyalty and travel payments in Sub-Saharan Africa.”
Perhaps the most exciting new feature of the new Global Travel Wallet will be the ability to convert miles to money. The Universal Redemption™ function will actually allow members to collect and redeem airline miles and use them as real currency. They will also be able to download a mobile app, which will let iOS and Android users to see account balances, transfer funds, and check transaction records.
These new benefits come in addition to the significant rewards already offered by RwandAir Dream Miles. With four levels that include emerald, silver, gold, and diamond tiers, Dream Miles offers reserved seating, priority business upgrades, additional baggage space, and a wide range of complimentary services such as lounge privileges and free in-flight champagne.
Both RwandAir and Ecobank are excited about the potential of this innovative program.
“This is a highly innovative product and the first of its kind in the region,” said Mareme Ndiaye, Managing Director of Ecobank Rwanda. “Ecobank is proud to assist RwandAir in developing a multi-functional card, which vividly demonstrates Ecobank’s ground-breaking product development capabilities.”
Currently, members can only earn Dream Miles while flying and making purchases with RwandAir. However, there are plans to add additional partners from outside the airline industry.