Originally Posted by
brunos
Slightly OT, but anyone know why there is no FFP competition among credit cards in France.
The countries I know (HK, UK, US) have very strong competition. Even very competition for the same major FFPs. For example UK has many credit cards with BAEC. HK has many credit cards with Asia Miles. I remember that BA tried a pseudo-card in France but quickly stopped. Any reason why 1) AMEX has exclusivity for FB in France and possibly elsewhere, and 2) no other FFPs are linked to a French credit card?
It is always possible to use a "foreign" card (e.g. my HK BA-linked card earns me 2.5 miles per EUR10), but there are huge forex fees.
My guess is (for once
) slightly different from
Goldorak's and would have more to do with comparative banking habits. My perception of France is that a majority of people have much fewer credit cards than, say, in the UK or the US, and still tend to get it/them through their primary banking institution (ie where they have their current account). In the UK, it is perfectly usual for someone to, say, have their current account with NatWest but get an RBS mastercard and an MBNA visa card etc. This means that there is a strong market for 'niche' cards which have ties with airlines, supermarkets, or even sportsclubs. My feeling is that this is still not very usual in France because typically, someone who has their current account at LCL or the SG will tend to get their credit card from LCL or the SG as well. Amex is the key exception, so probably the only 'logical' target for a special co-branded credit card, but as said, it is not widely accepted. All this is, however, totally unscientific an interpretation on my part and just a hunch.