Mastercard, ShareTrip, and EBL launch co-branded travel credit card, and strategic upsides for ShareTrip

The first full-suite Travel Card promises end-to-end travel solutions to travelers along with a safer and more convenient payment option

ShareTrip, Mastercard, Eastern Bank Limited (EBL) on 9th March announced the launch of Bangladesh's first full-suite co-branded travel credit card called “SkyTrip”. The exclusive card promises to provide end-to-end travel solutions to travelers along with a safer and more convenient payment option.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali was the chief guest at the launching ceremony, with Md Motasem Billah, Director (PSD), Bangladesh Bank, present as the special guest, Hasan A Arif, Head of Portfolio Investment, Startup Bangladesh Ltd was the Guest of Honor. 

Eastern Bank Limited MD & CEO Ali Reza Iftekhar, Mastercard Country Manager Syed Mohammad Kamal, and ShareTrip CEO & Co-founder Sadia Haque were present at the event along with senior officials from the respective organizations.

Important details and benefits for cardholders 

• SkyTrip is the first full-suite travel credit card in Bangladesh. 
• The card comes with unique benefits that include access to the EBL Sky Lounge at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka and Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram. 
• The cardholders will benefit from ShareTrip’s travel insurance and baggage protection services. 
• Cardholders will also have access to Mastercard's LoungeKey program which offers free access to over 1,100 international airport lounges across 120 countries.
• Additionally, 'SkyTrip' will allow cardholders to take advantage of various exciting travel deals in popular travel locations, including a flat all-inclusive round trip price of BDT 11,500 to Kolkata on Novoair and a 5% discount on tickets from Air Arabia, to name just a few of the exciting card-bundled deals. The card will also allow customers to get a 15% discount on Biman Bangladesh Airlines, US-Bangla Airlines, Novoair, and Air Astra. 
• Furthermore, the card enables cardholders to avail of exciting travel offers in popular travel destinations such as Thailand, India, and Singapore.
•  In addition to travel benefits, 'SkyTrip' cardholders can access exciting deals through Buy1-Get dining deals, cashback offers, dining discounts, 2x TRIPCOINS on ShareTrip and EBL SKYCOINS, and exclusive offers at over 6,000 merchant outlets of Mastercard across Bangladesh.

FS Insight 

Travel credit cards are common thing across the world but not so in Bangladesh. While a number of banks offer travel credit cards, SkyTrip is the first co-branded credit card by a travel-tech company. This makes it unique. 

The initiative will benefit ShareTrip in a number of ways. First of all, this amplifies ShareTrip’s market position and brand image. It sends a positive brand message to travelers and to the market, which should help ShareTrip in solidifying its position with its existing users and also make it desirable to new customers. This can open new doors of opportunities for the company and help attract new customers. 

Travel cards are primarily relevant for people who travel frequently. Frequent business and leisure travelers usually use travel credit cards since the right travel credit card can offer many benefits and help reduce the travel cost of travel. To that end, the move will help ShareTrip further strengthen its position among frequent travelers. 

This sentiment is apparent in what Sadia Haque, CEO & Co-founder, ShareTrip, said at the event: "We are thrilled to partner with Mastercard and EBL to launch this unique card which adds to the joy of travel, opening up new opportunities and experiences to do more of what people love and need. At ShareTrip, we have been working tirelessly to enhance our customers' traveling experience and assist them in exploring new destinations and SkyTrip is just a start of the many other wonderful adventures that await."