Israeli Credit Card Companies Offer Free Flights With Conditions Amid Competitive Promotions

Israeli credit card companies are intensifying their competition by offering free or discounted flights to attract customers. El Al's frequent flyer program, Fly Card, provides new members with a free round-trip ticket to popular destinations like Athens, Barcelona, and Berlin. Meanwhile, Cal's Playol and travel company Issta offer round-trip tickets for $999 to destinations including Bangkok, Tokyo, Phuket, Hanoi, and New York, sometimes representing discounts of several hundred dollars along with additional benefits at the destination.

SkyMAX, a competitor under Max, has launched a promotion for new members offering round-trip tickets to a more limited set of destinations such as Naples, Budapest, and Larnaca. However, all these offers come with fine print. Fly Card's promotion is valid only for new members joining between July 5 and August 5, requiring a minimum spending of 10,000 shekels by the end of November to qualify. The offer includes 50,000 tickets excluding taxes and fees, with flights available from November through March.

Playol's offer requires minimal spending (just one shekel per month) and is valid from late October to the end of March with Arkia Airlines, including taxes, fees, and luggage. The tickets can be booked until August 22, but availability is limited to a minimum of 1,000 tickets. SkyMAX's free ticket offer is for new members joining by July 15, requiring monthly spending of 2,000 shekels in August, September, and October, with flights from November to February and a maximum of 1,000 tickets.

Despite the spending requirements and limited availability, the competition benefits consumers by providing various flight options and discounts. These promotions reflect a broader trend of credit card companies leveraging travel incentives to attract and retain customers in a competitive market.