From left Diane Corrie, commercial manager - Caribbean, British Airways; Milton Brady, managing director, corporate investment banking, FirstCaribbean International Bank, and Atiles, senior business leader for the Caribbean, VISA Inc, celebrate the launch of the FirstCaribbean/British Airways co-branded VISA platinum credit card at the Jamaica Pegasus, on November 18. - Contributed

FirstCaribbean International Bank and British Airways (BA) on Tuesday launched co-branded credit cards, the Platinum Visa and Business Visa.

The cards offer two BA fly miles per US$1 spent on airline tickets and one mile for every US$1 on other purchases. There is also a sign- up bonus of 5,000 BA miles. The annual fee for the card subscription will be waived in the first year.

BA miles are also redeemable on partner airlines, such as Caribbean Airways and American Airlines, as well as carriers that are members of the 'oneworld' alliance.

500 destinations

The alliance has 10 of the world's largest airlines, which fly to some 500 destinations in nearly 150 countries.

Reward flights from the Caribbean to North America on partner airlines start at 25,000 BA miles and flights to Europe start at 50,000 BA miles.

Visa's platinum cards come with travel-accident insurance, auto-rental insurance, extended warranty coverage, personal concierge service, emergency medical-indemnification assistance, baggage-loss insurance, legal-expenses insurance, trip-cancellation insurance and per-sonalised travel-agent service.

The cards are available across First-Caribbean's regional network.