Air New Zealand has launched a smart prepaid card that supports MasterCard PayPass contactless functionality, the airline announced Nov. 22.
Called OneSmart, the new card combines two functions– the collection and use of Air New Zealand membership Airpoints and the ability to pay and check in using contactless technology, a customer-service representative tells PaymentsSource.
“The MasterCard-branded card has a chip and works as a debit card would,” he says. “You could use it at normal [point-of-sale] terminal as well as tap for purchases under NZ$80 (US$59 or 44 euros) at PayPass-enabled merchants.”
Consumers may load the card account for free and use it to make purchases online within New Zealand. Consumers also may reload the card account in four different currencies at a time for use abroad, he adds.
“The four currencies can be chosen from a total selection of eight currencies,” the representative says. “The funds loaded can also be withdrawn, free of any international ATM withdrawal fees, in local currency at MasterCard-accepting ATMs abroad.”
Cardholders can earn Airpoints when making purchases with the card, and they can use the funds in the prepaid account to purchase more Airpoints.
The prepaid card will be distributed to more than 700,000 New Zealanders over the next few weeks, Simon Pomeroy, Air New Zealand head of loyalty, said in a statement.
Consumers may use the card at 32.9 million locations, including more than1.9 million ATMs, worldwide, according to the statement.
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