Customer Service Agent - Travel

Luxury Escapes launches Société Credit Card: 2x Points & Zero FX fees. Is the new Luxury Escapes credit card worth it? Luxury Escapes has lifted the lid on its brand new Société credit card, and it's a product that might not be on the radar of most frequent travellers just yet. But given how much the points landscape has shifted this year, the Société credit card is well worth a look. Luxury Escape's first credit card is issued by MoneyMe, an Australian non-bank financial services provider. They're known for fast, digital-first personal loans and car finance, now moving into credit cards as a challenger to the major banks. The card earns points in the Luxury Escapes Société loyalty program, which can then be redeemed across Luxury Escapes' hotel, tour and cruise offering. Until now, Société Points could only be earned on Luxury Escapes bookings, plus through a handful of brand partners. But with the Société credit card, travellers can earn 2 Société Points per $1 spent on eligible purchases up to $15,000 per month, with spending above that threshold earning 1 Société Point per $1. Of course 2 points per dollar is a generous earn rate these days, with most rewards credit cards tanking their earn rate below even a single point. It's important to understand however that Société Points are valued differently to airline points. Based on its testing, a Points + Pay redemption with Luxury Escapes offers an average of around 0.48 cents per Société Point. With that in mind, the effective return on everyday spending is around 1%. Cardholders can maximise that earn rate without fees overseas too, as the Société credit card has zero foreign exchange fees. Most rewards credit cards charge at least 3% when tapping overseas, but Luxury Escapes is offering the Mastercard foreign exchange rate with zero markup. The Luxury Escapes card also comes with Mastercard Flight Delay Pass, giving cardholders plus one travelling companion lounge access if their flight is delayed by more than 120 minutes. For this, you will need to register your flight for the perk in advance, and be departing from an airport with a LoungeKey lounge. It's not unconditional though: cancelled flights or next-day reschedules are not considered delays, and would not gain lounge access. New cardholders receive a $150 Luxury Escapes credit after spending $5,000 in their first 90 days. Plus, the first 100 approved cardholders also receive 25,000 bonus Société Points (ends 29 October 2026). These can easily offset the $149 annual fee in year one, while the other card perks stack on top to tip the value further in your favour. Luxury Escapes Société Credit Card Sign-up bonus Société Points * Earn rate - 2 Société Points per $1 * Its rating Disclaimer. This article was produced in partnership with Luxury Escapes, of which Flight Hacks is an affiliate partner. This allows Flight Hacks to publish free content and offer you exclusive discounts like 10% off Luxury Escapes with code FLIGHTHACKS10. [New Luxury Escapes customers only. Applies to Limited Time Lux Exclusive, Lux Premium Collection, Tours, and Cruise bookings.] Société Credit Card fees & benefits explained. The Société Credit Card backs up its earn rate with a genuinely solid list of extras, from fee-free overseas spending to a welcome credit that cancels out the annual fee in year one. Here's a simplified breakdown of what you get, and what it costs to hold the card. Card benefits. * 2 Société Points per $1 spent on eligible purchases up to $15,000 per month * $150 Luxury Escapes credit for new cardholders who spend $5,000 in their first 90 days * 25,000 bonus Société Points for the first 100 approved cardholders (ends 29 October 2026) * Mastercard Flight Delay Pass offers lounge access if your flight is delayed more than 120 minutes, at airports with a LoungeKey lounge * Zero foreign exchange fee using the Mastercard rate with no markup * Mobile phone protection insurance up to $900 per claim for accidental damage or theft to your mobile phone when your bill is paid using the card * Travel inconvenience insurance up to $3,000 combined, covering cancellation, delay and missed connections, provided your ticket is charged to the card Card fees. * Annual fee: $149 * Purchase interest rate: 18.99% to 23.99% p.a. (personalised) * Cash advance rate: from 21.99% p.a. * Interest-free period: up to 44 days * Foreign transaction fee: 0% * Credit limit: $2,000 to $30,000 Maldives launch competition. Luxury Escapes is running a Société credit card launch competition where new cardholders can win a Maldives stay for two, valued at up to $11,434. Every Société credit card applicant approved between 7 September and 29 October 2026 is automatically entered in the draw! The prize is a 5-night stay for two at Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru, and excludes flights. Included insurances. The Société credit card offers travel inconvenience insurance, covering up to $3,000 combined, including $1,500 for cancellation, curtailment or postponement, $150 for delay and $150 for a missed connection. To claim, the full cost of your common carrier ticket needs to be charged to the card. There's also mobile phone protection, covering accidental damage and theft up to $900 per claim and $1,500 across 12 months with a $37.50 excess, on the condition your last phone bill was paid on the card. Lost phones, cosmetic damage and accessories aren't covered. Summing up. All up, it's exciting to see Luxury Escapes launch a challenger credit card when many big banks are diluting rewards in light of the RBA surcharge ban. It is a solid offering too, with the $150 Luxury Escapes credit easily offsetting the $149 annual fee in year one provided you spend it. From there, the earn rate and other perks are a cherry on top. While Société Points are unlikely to outvalue a program like Qantas Frequent Flyer dollar for dollar, the Société credit card can easily find its value. If you already treat Luxury Escapes as your default booking platform, earning 2 Société Points per dollar on everyday spending like groceries and bills could prove a solid strategy. Flight Hacks

Maldivian to operate Melbourne to male' flights year-round in 2027. Luxury Escapes and Maldivian Airlines have announced that their direct Melbourne-Malé service will operate year-round in 2027, following strong demand from Australian travelers seeking direct access to the Maldives. Launched in May 2026, the service represents the first and only regular direct air link between Australia and the Maldives, providing travellers with a direct connection between Melbourne and Velana International Airport in Malé. The year-round continuation marks an expansion from the route's initial seasonal operation and reflects sustained demand for direct travel between Australia and the Maldives. Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus welcomed the decision, highlighting the popularity of the service among Australian travellers. "It's no surprise that direct flights from Melbourne to the Maldives have been popular with Australian travellers and we're delighted that Luxury Escapes and Maldivian Airlines have decided to extend this service to operate year-round." The service is operated through a partnership between Luxury Escapes and Maldivian Airlines, supporting the growth of direct connectivity between the Australian market and the Maldives. The year-round operation in 2027 is expected to provide greater flexibility for Australian travellers visiting the Maldives throughout the year and further establish the Melbourne-Malé route as an important link between the two destinations.

World360 Rewards appoints Chris Brandon to lead travel partnerships. 04/06/2026 1 min. read Flight Centre Travel Group's travel loyalty program, World360 Rewards, has appointed former Luxury Escapes executive Chris Brandon as Head of Travel Partnerships as the business looks to expand its partner network and strengthen its position in the loyalty market. Brandon rejoins Flight Centre Travel Group after nearly 18 years with the company, bringing more than two decades of experience across travel, product and distribution roles. Most recently, he served as Senior Manager Retail Distribution at Luxury Escapes. The appointment comes as World360 Rewards continues to grow its ecosystem of airline, hotel, cruise, tourism and travel partners, offering members more ways to earn and redeem points through travel and everyday spending. Returning to Flight Centre. Brandon said the opportunity to return to Flight Centre Travel Group was an easy decision. "When I got the opportunity to come back to Flight Centre during what I think is the company's most exciting chapter yet, it was an easy 'yes'," he said. "The team has built something incredible with World360 Rewards, and I feel very lucky to be playing a role in helping Aussies travel more." Brandon said he was looking forward to working with existing partners while expanding relationships with airlines, tour operators, tourism bodies, hoteliers and cruise lines. Focus on partnership growth. World360 Rewards Executive General Manager Clinton Hearne said Brandon's experience across both travel retail and loyalty would support the program's next phase of growth. "Chris has a deep understanding of both the travel industry and what our customers want from a loyalty program," Hearne said. "Having someone of his calibre leading our travel partnerships puts us in a great position as we scale World360 Rewards." Expanding the loyalty ecosystem. Launched by Flight Centre Travel Group, World360 Rewards enables members to earn points through travel bookings and everyday purchases across participating brands, including Flight Centre, Travel Associates and Cruiseabout. The company said Brandon's appointment reflects its ongoing investment in building new commercial partnerships and enhancing member value as competition in the travel loyalty sector intensifies.