November 28, 2012… Kenya Airways and Barclays Bank of Kenya have partnered with Visa to relaunch a co-branded credit card dubbed KQ Msafiri Visa Credit Card. The KQ Msafiri Visa Credit Card holders will benefit by earning miles on any purchase on Visa points of sale worldwide. The miles will be redeemed for a world of travel rewards on Kenya Airways flights.
Kenya Airways Flight Attendants Hazel Nzioka and Sonia Sheikh accompanied by Captain Isaac Owino deliver the KQ Msafiri Visa Credit Card from the latest Kenya Airways Embraer E190 jet.
Under the partnership, cardholders are entitled to an array of benefits that include: free travel insurance worth up to US$56,500 annually, priority check-in and boarding at airports and seasonal discounted fares and holiday packages. They will also get free SMS alerts on all card purchases and payments, monthly e-statements, Visa Platinum benefits including Global Customer Assistance, purchase and warranty protection of up to USD 20,000 per year, exclusive Visa hotel offers and more reward packages. In addition to this, the cardholders can redeem the earned points for free KQ tickets and class of travel upgrade to various destinations. No joining fees for the card apply.
Speaking at the launch, Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer Dr. Titus Naikuni said: “Kenya Airways recognizes the need to offer value addition to its customers and this partnership with Barclays Bank of Kenya and Visa, will ensure that our passengers enjoy the opportunities that it provides. Through this partnership, we will reward our customers by ensuring they make the most out of their everyday purchases to earn Kenya Airways miles for award tickets or upgrades."
Left to Right – Kenya Airways Flight Attendant Hazel Nzioka, Visa Area Manager for Southern and East Africa Jabu Basopo, Barclays Bank of Kenya Consumer Director Edgar Kayla, Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer Dr. Titus Naikuni and Kenya Airways Senior Flight Attendant Sonia Sheikh.
Barclays Bank of Kenya Managing Director Adan Mohamed said: “We understand that our customers have busy lifestyles so we focus on quick turnaround solutions that respond to their ever-changing needs; they must address convenience, flexibility, real-time and above all offer value for money. We at Barclays Bank of Kenya are delighted to partner with Kenya Airways and Visa to offer an innovative and reward-packed credit card to our customers. I attest that this solution will be of great value to our esteemed customers who are frequent flyers. At Barclays Bank, we strive to provide world class banking services evident in our broad gamut of superior products and services. We are taking a strategic relationship with Kenya Airways where we can offer our customers the combined power of world-class airline and the leading global financial powerhouse.”
The card will enable cardholders to earn 3,000 bonus air miles on successful application and first use of the card within 30 days of application. Card users will also earn 1 air mile every time they spend Ksh. 100 at any KQ sales shops or Ksh 200 at any point of sale that accepts Visa cards both locally and internationally.
Also speaking at the same function, Visa Country Manager for Southern and East Africa Jabu Basopo said: “The introduction of the KQ Msafiri Visa card brings unparalleled global and local privileges tailored to the needs of Kenyans. Visa has many cardholders in Kenya and we are confident the new Msafiri card will be well received and valued as the payment card of choice both when travelling near and far and for every day purchases at home.”
The new KQ Msafiri Visa Credit card is expected to create a significant difference to Barclays Bank of Kenya and Kenya Airways customers as it will offer increased convenience and rewards through one card to meet their daily travelling and spending needs.
About Barclays Bank Kenya
Barclays has operated in Kenya for over 95 years. Financial strength coupled with extensive local and international resources has positioned Barclays as a leading provider of financial services. Barclays has established an extensive network of 119 branches with over 230 ATMs spread across the country.
For more information, please visit www.barclays.com/africa/kenya
About Kenya Airways
Kenya Airways, a member of the SkyTeam Alliance, is a leading African airline flying to over 50 destinations worldwide, with over 40 of which are in Africa and carries over three million passengers annually. The on-board service is renowned and the lie-flat business class seat on the wide-body aircraft is consistently voted among the world’s top 10. Most recently it has scooped top awards at the Africa Investor (Ai) Tourism Investor Awards and was declared the Business Airline of the Year in Africa. Kenya Airways takes pride for being in the fore front of connecting Africa to the world and the World to Africa through its hub Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
For more information, please visit www.kenya-airways.com
About Visa
Visa is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments in more than 200 countries and territories to fast, secure and reliable electronic payments. We operate one of the world’s most advanced processing networks—VisaNet—that is capable of handling more than 24,000 transaction messages a second, with fraud protection for consumers and guaranteed payment for merchants. Visa is not a bank and does not issue cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for consumers. Visa’s innovations, however, enable its financial institution customers to offer consumers more choices: pay now with debit, ahead of time with prepaid or later with credit products.
For more information, visit www.corporate.visa.com
For further press information, please contact:-
1. Regina Gichuhi-Mwangi
Ag Head of Corporate Affairs – Barclays Bank of Kenya
Cell: +254 722 395505; DL: +254 20 4254103
E-mail: regina.gichuhi@barclays.com
2. Chris Karanja,
Corporate Communications Manager, Kenya Airways
Tel.: +254 02 642 2582
E-mail: chris.karanja@kenya-airways.com
3. Kate Kelly
Corporate Communications Manager, Visa CEMEA
Tel. : 27 11 547 8318
Email: kakelly@visa.com