Tag Archives for debit.
Southwest’s new debit card lets members earn Rapid Rewards points — and even Companion Pass credit — on everyday spending. But the real story is what it signals: a new wave of debit-based loyalty products that could upend how travel rewards work.
United Airlines is reviving debit card rewards as its next major move to expand MileagePlus profits. After years of focusing on credit cards with Chase, United appears ready to tap into everyday debit spending. It’s a return to an old idea—but one that could reshape loyalty economics.
Airlines aren’t getting a share of debit payments currently. The last major U.S. mileage-earning debit card was the SunTrust Delta SkyMiles product a decade ago.
The Supreme Court heard a challenge to the Durbin Amendment. Specifically, they’re expected to rule on whether a new challenge to the Durbin Amendment is too late.
Prior to the Durbin amendment, 76% of checking accounts were free. That declined to 39% in 2012 after the rollout of the Durbin amendment and recovered slightly to 46% in 2022. Cramming down the debit revenue stream for banks will certainly benefit retailers, but we’ve seen that it isn’t paid for entirely by banks but by consumers through higher fees.
Two Americans vacationing in Costa Rica were charged $29,994.33 for one Uber ride. It was supposed to be 29,994 a single Uber ride due to a suspected currency conversion error. The couple claims that the cost of the ride should have been 29,994 Costa Rican Colón – or US$55.16.
Complaining to Uber, they were told to contact their bank. The bank says Uber’s the one who charged them this way. And since they paid via debit card, their bank account has been fully drained. They shared their story having made it to Guatemala with “no access to funds” for their five year anniversary.
American Express just announced ‘Rewards Checking’ for U.S. credit card customers. It has no account fees or minimum balances, pays half a percent annual yield on balances, and comes with a points-earning debit card (1 Membership Rewards point per $2 spend). I expect this will be my go-to for tax payments.
A new Destiny’s Child pre-paid Visa debit card was introduced last week. It’s probably been in the works for awhile, so I’m sure there were plenty of groans when the executives involved learned that Destiny’s Child is breaking up.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
