The move follows a liberalisation of China's credit card market, allowing foreign transactions to be processed outside the country, enabling Visa cards issued within China to be used abroad.
The new scheme, co-ordinated by loyalty marketing company ICLP, has started providing value-added airline offers to members, such as free flights for accompanying passengers or discounts on succeeding trips. The four participating airlines are Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, Northwest Airlines and Thai Airways. A plan offering hotel-related benefits is also in the pipeline.
The new scheme, co-ordinated by loyalty marketing company ICLP, has started providing value-added airline offers to members, such as free flights for accompanying passengers or discounts on succeeding trips. The four participating airlines are Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, Northwest Airlines and Thai Airways. A plan offering hotel-related benefits is also in the pipeline.
Visa's country manager for China, Albert Shiung, said that the growing number of mainland platinum cardholders prompted the new benefits.
The new platinum programme will run in tandem with Visa's regular rewards programme, which focuses on discount offers to Visa cardholders.
The platinum programme offers members a range of value-added benefits in exchange for a relatively high annual fee.