New “rabbit” Card Brings E-money System To Bangkok Transit And Retail

By Author: Tourism Authority of Thailand
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Travelling, shopping, and eating in Bangkok has just gotten a whole lot easier. With the introduction of the Rabbit smartcard – or stored value pass – it will soon be possible to hop between Bangkok’s different mass transit networks using only one card, cutely and aptly named Rabbit.

The modern world is discarding many of its old paper products as it moves into a more digital, cyber age. In the not too distant future, travellers and shoppers will no longer need to carry fat wallets full of transit cards, credit cards, discount cards, and eventually even cash. These will be replaced by smartcards like Rabbit, and smartphones that can be scanned at the old registers.

The Rabbit card is now available at all BTS ticket offices, and the issuing fee is being offered at the reduced rate of 50 Baht through the end of 2012, after which the standard fee of 150 Baht will be charged.

If you have an existing BTS Sky SmartPass or 30-Day SmartPass, you can exchange these cards for Rabbit. You will also be required to provide a 50 baht refundable deposit and top up starting from 100 baht.

Presently, Rabbit ...
... cards are available for use on the BTS Skytrain, as well as some 20 eateries, coffee shops, fast food outlets, and a number of shops in the Emporium and Siam Paragon. These include the following well-known brands at present: Dunkin Donuts, McDonald’s, Starbucks, Black Canyon, Au Bon Pain, Burger King, Oishi Group, Gourmet Market, and Major Cineplex.

By the end of the year, Rabbit is set for use on the MRT subway and BRT buses, as well as a growing number of Rabbit Service Providers. Rabbit is now available at all BTS ticket offices, and can be topped up there, while plans are underway to increase top-up venues to banks, additional retailers, and other transit system operators.

Rabbit also comes with their own loyalty and points program, appropriately called Carrot Rewards. Members earn “Carrot Points” when they top up their Rabbit or use it at any of Rabbit’s affiliates. These points can subsequently be cashed in for gift certificates, which can be used at a number of Rabbit partners, including Major Cineplex, McDonald’s, the Mall Group, and even AirAsia.

Rabbit cardholders can sign up for Carrot Rewards on the company’s website, and a network of Carrot Kiosks is expected to open at BTS stations by August. If you sign up on the website and apply before 31 July for their Special Launch Offer, you’ll be eligible for one of many prizes with a total value of 300,000 Baht, including an iPad2.

It seems clear that Rabbit will attain their goal of making its members’ daily lives that much more convenient, easy, and simplified. This includes less trips to the ATM, no queues for single-journey tickets or change, no annual fee, ease of use – beep and go, and benefits through Carrot Rewards. The card can also be used for personal identification, security, and access control.

Further details and info can be found on www.rabbitcard.com and www.carrotrewards.co.th