Origin Pacific New Membership Rewards Partner

American Exress Welcomes Origin Pacific Airways As A New Membership Rewards Direct Ticket Partner

New Zealand's regional airline joins up with the fastest way to fly using points

American Express today announced a partnership with Origin Pacific Airways, giving Cardmembers the ability to redeem loyalty points directly for flights at great rates to regional destinations in New Zealand.

American Express spokesman Craig Dowling said it was an exciting enhancement to the company's Membership Rewards Direct Ticket initiative launched just two weeks ago, and already causing a stir in the market.

"Origin Pacific Airways provides a wonderful service to regional destinations in New Zealand and I'm sure our Cardmembers will appreciate having the choice of being able to fly with them."

Membership Rewards Direct Ticket was unveiled on 23 February, with ticket sales on trans-Tasman routes and main domestic routes available from 15 March.

Origin Pacific Airways will be part of the programme from April, offering an extension of domestic destinations to include Hamilton, Napier, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Nelson, Blenheim and Dunedin.

General Manager, Sales and Marketing, for the Nelson-based airline Ewan Wilson said Origin Pacific was delighted to join New Zealand's leading card loyalty programme.

"Joining Membership Rewards Direct Ticket allows us to introduce our services to American Express' premium base of Cardmembers, and it helps American Express offer a greater range of destinations within its loyalty programme initiative."

Domestic flights through Membership Rewards Direct Tickets start from 10,000 points - requiring up to 50% less spend than other card reward programmes. American Express' Membership Rewards programme awards one point for every dollar spent on enrolled accounts.

Coupled with the company's Turbo offer, or on a Platinum Card - where Cardmembers can earn two points for every dollar spent - a person could be rewarded with enough points for a domestic flight after just $5,000 spend.

Membership Rewards Direct Ticket is also offering special rates of 25,000 points for trans-Tasman flights ex Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, with other routes and offers to be added over time.

Origin Pacific joins other confirmed Membership Rewards Direct Ticket partners Emirates, Qantas Airways and Thai Airways.

Mr Dowling said that, with Membership Rewards Direct Ticket, you just call American Express to arrange a flight. "Because we source seats directly from a range of airlines Cardmembers are not constrained by the seating limitations of an individual airline's points programme."

American Express continues to offer the option of transferring points to the air miles programmes of a selection of premium airline transfer partners and will continue to enhance its market leading non-air redemption options, RapidRewards.