Airlines of India - Foreign credit cards at Indian carriers/portals

Difficulty of using foreign credit cards at Indian websites is a common complaint and I thought it might be useful to gather known info in one place.

Please post recent experiences and I'll try maintain a guide here. (My own OP has been moved to post #2.) Please include card type, bank and country of issue. If your own bank disapproved a charge, that's not the Indian portal's fault, so when possible please separate such cases.

The following is a snapshot of foreign cc acceptance at Indian websites as of November 2009, a few relevant posts are mentioned in parentheses:

Mainly, Appear to Work

^ ClearTrip (#16)
^ Expedia India (#16)
^ Travelocity India (#2,3)
^ Indigo (#2,12)
^ SpiceJet (#3,16)

Mixed Reports

:confused: Air India / Indian Airlines (#16,18)
:confused: Jet Airways (#2,15,16,20,21)

Mainly, Don't Work

:td: GoAir (#16)
:td: Kingfisher (#2,9,14,16,17,18,27,29)
:td: Paramount (#12)
:td: Indian Railways IRCTC.CO.IN (#3,16,18,23,27)

Difficulty of using foreign credit cards at Indian websites is a common complaint. My own experience of September 2009 involving four websites was evenly divided. I have a US-issued Citibank AAdvantage Mastercard:

Jet Airways: :td: The charge didn't go through. No explanation, only "try again later" messages. Trying later didn't help. Jet's portal looked quite dated.

Kingfisher Airlines: :td::td: They take the prize for stupidity and dishonesty. Charge declined with the message that my bank disapproved. I called Citibank and they said no charge was even requested by Kingfisher. Called Kingfisher whose rep admitted that their message was erroneous and KF itself blocks entire batches of cards - nothing specific about my card, just whole batches. He advised to buy from Travelocity-India. As to why KF won't accept cards that Travelocity does, he said "They are different companies". Great insight. :)

I thought this was a good opportunity to try Travelocity-India.

Travelocity.co.in: ^ Almost normal, except a message popped up that my card is registered for "Secure MC" program (something I don't recall doing, but I am glad it's there) and needed one extra click to proceed. The purchase (of the KF ticket) went through smoothly.

IndiGo Airlines: ^^ I could have bought the Jet ticket too at Travelocity, but it was a Jetlite flight, nothing exciting. An IndiGo flight's timing would serve me just as well. So I decided to try a new airline and its website. The website experience was perfect, like an online purchase at any good portal anywhere. Entered the card info, one click and I had my confirmed booking with PNR and other details.

it could also depend on what card you're using (issuing bank). Capital One (Visa) did not work with IndiGo. was first rejected, then accepted after I called Capital One and told them to authorize it (had to tell them how much I was charging).

SpiceJet: Worked fine (a couple months ago, before the new regulation)

airindia.com/indianairlines.in: Works, as long as their site is running :p

+1 with Travelocity India - HSBC Mastercard worked fine, first time.

I've booked on all those sites using my old HSBC Hong Kong mastercard .. no issues. The 9W people ask you for your bank because they want to try sell you the 9W / Citibank visa plat .. if you give them some other bank there they'll pop up a "you could get discounts and earn 9w miles if you book using the 9w card, call 1-800-xxx for details"

Capital One (Visa) did not work with IndiGo. was first rejected, then accepted after I called Capital One and told them to authorize it (had to tell them how much I was charging).

Thanks for the feedback. However, we should note that this was not IndiGo's fault, as your own bank Capital One rejected the charge.

I've booked on all those sites using my old HSBC Hong Kong mastercard .. no issues.

How long ago was this?

Thanks for the feedback. This was not IndiGo's fault, as your bank Capital One rejected the charge.



How long ago was this?

How long ago? Well .. multiple times over the past 8 years.

Kingfisher faced a lot of problems a couple of years ago with tickets purchases fraudulently with stolen credit card numbers. As a general comment though, there are several US carriers as well that also do not allow the use of cards with a non-US billing address.

...As a general comment though, there are several US carriers as well that also do not allow the use of cards with a non-US billing address.

True, but they reveal this policy up front, so you don't go round and round hoping that your card would work next time. And they don't blame your bank for the charge not going through!

I have bought two Kingfisher domestic segments about a week ago using my Japan-issued VISA card and it worked smoothly, the e-tickets arrived via email soon after the purchase.

I always cry crocodile tears when I hear any airline cry about "online fraud". They built this monster themselves by telling travel agents they weren't needed, trying to cut their costs by building websites...only to get bitten in the rear by their MBA thinking coupled with the glee of their pony-tailed and tattooed "consultants".

It is known as the WORLDwide web...the INTERNATIONAL Air Transport Association...so how is someone supposed to buy a ticket on said airlines when they do not maintain any ticketing presence outside of their home country?

Oh, right, I forgot...they'll stand and cry and pout and have Apologist Bisagnani send a press release and blame fuel costs and government fees and regulations. No sympathy from me, airline execs are just whiners and cry babies, worse than the worst complainer here on FT.

The 9W people ask you for your bank because they want to try sell you the 9W / Citibank visa plat .. if you give them some other bank there they'll pop up a "you could get discounts and earn 9w miles if you book using the 9w card, call 1-800-xxx for details"

Still, it is pretty clunky behavior. They can tell from the card number if it is theirs or not.

I have bought two Kingfisher domestic segments about a week ago using my Japan-issued VISA card and it worked smoothly, the e-tickets arrived via email soon after the purchase.

I am glad for you. KF is blocking cards beginning with some numbers, but not others.

I had a different experience with Indigo. When I tried to use my Chase visa the portal rejected it. I checked with Indigo, then determined it was the bank. I called the bank twice before it was resolved. My amex was rejected too but I did not try to resolve this.

The same thing happened to my brother when he tried to book on Paramount. After repeated tries, it only accepted the Indian CC.

There should be a procedure to register the foreign credit cards.

However other merchants in India routinely accept foreign credit cards and the charges go through without any problems (hotels, department stores, restaurants etc.). It seems the problem is unique only with airline websites.

I had a different experience with Indigo. When I tried to use my Chase visa the portal rejected it. I checked with Indigo, then determined it was the bank. I called the bank twice before it was resolved.

I am trying to make a reasonable distinction between when (i) an Indian website is not accepting all or some of the foreign-issued cards, and when (ii) your bank itself rejects those charges because their computers detect it as an "unusual purchase" for you.

For example, having used my ATM card in Delhi, London, Tokyo for many years, I found it rejected in Montreal because my bank's computer correctly determined that, though geographically closer, it was an unusual city for me. However, this was my bank's decision and can't be blamed on Canada or the canadian bank I was at.

I have learned to inform my credit card and ATM card issuing banks before every major trip. Maybe we should do the same before a charge spree on Indian portals. :)

However other merchants in India routinely accept foreign credit cards and the charges go through without any problems (hotels, department stores, restaurants etc.). It seems the problem is unique only with airline websites.

I think the banks make a big distinction between when a card is physically swiped and you there to present an ID if asked, and when it is being used online or over phone. So yes, in principle I could probably use my card at an airline's office in Delhi but not be able to use it online.

Another negative report on Kingfisher-

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/airlines-india/1017795-kingfisher-site-booking-problems.html#post12834601

Please keep adding your good or bad CC experiences with any Indian carrier or travel agent. I'll switch to summarizing the current state at the top of the thread.

Just booked BOM-BKK rtn on jetairways.com as follows:

1) itinerary created using home page, book my flights option.
2) on 2nd page, flights selected. Careful to deselect the opt in for the travel insurance. price in INR as itinerary is ex-India.
3) 3rd page takes down traveller details and CC payment.
4) E ticket receipt pops up on the screen.

Total transaction time = 5 minutes.

paid with a UK issued American Express card. Entered all details required (address, telephone, security number etc etc). Card processed 1st time, no hitches at all. E ticket arrived in email inbox straight away.

Good job Jet ^

I figure this is a good a place as any to post my own experiences with Indian sites and my credit card. I have an Australian issued ANZ Bank Visa card.

FlyKingfisher.com - No Dice, had to get a local agent to book it (turned out cheaper though =)). Attempted 10+ times, constant error messages.

GoAir - Didn't work, it would process for some time, then return an error, had to book through cleartrip.

Cleartrip - Nearly always works, the last time i used it, for an IC flight, i recieved an email saying that the booking had failed but that they HAD debited my card and would call me. Very confusing. I called them, and the agent confirmed the IC flight manually for the same fare and issued the e-ticket. More hassle than i'd like, but it worked out.

Jetairways.com - Worked flawlessly.

SpiceJet - Worked flawlessly.

AirIndia - Trying to book an IC flight, the WORST airline website i have ever had to use. Counter-intuitive design, inputs prone to causing error messages (instead of selecting month and day from a drop down, you type it in yourself) and masses of information all over the screen. If you ever manage to make it to the payment screen, you enter your card, click pay, the screen will go blank and nothing will happen. Ever. Very frustrating.

Indian Railways - IRCTC.CO.IN - does not, under any circumstances, accept my card. I have tried every single one of the multitude of payment gateway options to no avail.

Expedia India - works fine. Although perhaps it was expedia Australia - the hotel was in Goa.

My own experience has been terrible regarding credit cards. I was flying on Deccan (now Kingfisher) and someone else had bought my ticket with his credit card because my US card would not work. For the record it was an Indian cc from Citi. At the airport when i was checking in, they would not let get my boarding pass because they needed to see the card. I explained that it was purchased by my uncle but the rep insisted on seeing the card. I had to call this person and get a copy of his card faxed to the airport. It was insane.

However, there is quite a bit of fraud in India for CC's. There is really no concept of SSN there. Instead they have something called PAN#. But from I hear its very easy to get around it as the verification process is hard.

Indian Railways (irctc.co.in) - Unable to use US-issued MC. Also tried Amex, and kept getting error messages (was not charged).
The website says can only use MC/Visa is "verified-by-visa" or similar system is used by your bank. My bank does not have this unfortunately.


Airindia website - unable to use US-issued MC. Had to book through US-based Orbitz for the tickets.
Airindia does not take Amex (AFAIK).

flykingfisher.com - unable to use US-issued MC or Amex.

Like someone said upthread - if your credit card doesnt support verified by visa / mastercard securecode, you won't be able to use any indian booking site at all. There's a mandatory requirement from the Reserve Bank of India (kind of like the US Federal Reserve) that says all credit card accepting online merchants MUST require this for any card, indian or international, used to buy online.

IRCTC does take Amex - and they'll ask you for your address and some other details on the card for verification.

The website says can only use MC/Visa is "verified-by-visa" or similar system is used by your bank. My bank does not have this unfortunately.

JetAirways.com is consistently rejected on my Chase credit card, but works fine on my Bank of America Card. When I escalated my problem to a Chase supervisor, he told me that "Chase no longer does business with Jet Airways" due to a disagreement about how they handle disputed charges. Interesting.

IRCTC does take Amex - and they'll ask you for your address and some other details on the card for verification.

I had to punch in my address, telephone number etc for my Amex on Jetairways.com

JetAirways.com is consistently rejected on my Chase credit card, but works fine on my Bank of America Card. When I escalated my problem to a Chase supervisor, he told me that "Chase no longer does business with Jet Airways" due to a disagreement about how they handle disputed charges. Interesting.

Not very necessarily. Various banks and various merchants get into this type of argument all the time. One of them (the one that has less txn volume from the other .. like Chase wont get that many 9w tix booked on it) might then end up blacklisting the other for some time.

Like someone said upthread - if your credit card doesnt support verified by visa / mastercard securecode, you won't be able to use any indian booking site at all. There's a mandatory requirement from the Reserve Bank of India (kind of like the US Federal Reserve) that says all credit card accepting online merchants MUST require this for any card, indian or international, used to buy online.

IRCTC does take Amex - and they'll ask you for your address and some other details on the card for verification.

My bank does support verified by Visa, and even after entering all credentials correctly trying to book on IRCTC.co.in, i receive an error message every time.

Just booked BOM-BKK rtn on jetairways.com as follows:

1) itinerary created using home page, book my flights option.
2) on 2nd page, flights selected. Careful to deselect the opt in for the travel insurance. price in INR as itinerary is ex-India.
3) 3rd page takes down traveller details and CC payment.
4) E ticket receipt pops up on the screen.

Total transaction time = 5 minutes.

paid with a UK issued American Express card. Entered all details required (address, telephone, security number etc etc). Card processed 1st time, no hitches at all. E ticket arrived in email inbox straight away.



Good job Jet ^

Could U select your seats at the time of booking or did you have to wait?

Could U select your seats at the time of booking or did you have to wait?

No seat selection online, had to phone Jet reservations.

No seat selection online, had to phone Jet reservations.

You can checkin online and select your seats during checkin.

I work in the travel industry and have had to sidestep booking directly with Kingfisher altogether due to their credit card issues. I will use makemytrip, or have to go to the offices. I do most of my contracts through 9W and have no problems, including with Chase, which I have 2 business cards through and haven't had issues booking up to US$20,000 worth of tickets at a time.

As for Kingfisher, the other night is a perfect example, I have US Bank Flexperk Signature, and Gold Visa's, Chase United and Continental Signature visas, then for debits, HDFC (Indian), US Bank, and CharterOne. I needed to pay 200 INR for a change fee over the phone on two tickets I had booked through the Delhi CP desk, and they told me they couldn't accept debits. I said, okay, here is credit card 1, NOPE, 2, NOPE, 3, NOPE. I explained that all of these are very large limits and this is not my card at this point, and it is definitely a system error on their side. I then requested that I pay the 200 INR at check-in, since it is such a small amount, but "not possible." The phone CS agent said, no sir, your card is being declined, so I continued through all of my credit cards, and decided, what the hell, I'll try my debit cards. The US Bank debit worked, and he said, see sir, this error is not in our system. I laughed and told him it was my debit card. "Oh sir, I don't understand, we don't take debit cards."

Anyway, Kingfisher needs to get its act together, I had started to fly them due to the EQM's I get on NWA, but for the sake of sanity, I might jump ship again back to 9W!

Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences. I have updated the first post in this thread with a snapshot summarizing the present situation.

Mainly, Don't Work

:td: Kingfisher

:td: Indian Railways (IRCTC.CO.IN)

I've used a UK-issued Amex successfully on the Indian Railways site twice this year. No issues at all.

I've also used a UK-issued Amex, US-issued Amex and Singapore-issued Visa successfully on the Kingfisher site several times. A few times the Amex cards (both US and UK) didn't go through the first time - I called Amex and told them I'm making bookings on the Kingfisher website and they put a note to allow the transaction the next time, which worked when I retried again. No problems with the Singapore-issued Visa (from UOB).

I've also used a UK-issued Amex, US-issued Amex and Singapore-issued Visa successfully on the Kingfisher site several times. A few times the Amex cards (both US and UK) didn't go through the first time - I called Amex and told them I'm making bookings on the Kingfisher website and they put a note to allow the transaction the next time, which worked when I retried again. No problems with the Singapore-issued Visa (from UOB).

I had same issue using my UK Amex for booking flights on Bangkok Airways. The price was in THB and i tried to complete the transaction online three times before i called up amex. I told them how much it would cost in THB and a rough estimate in GBP. They ok'ed it on their computers and the next attempt on bangkok airways website, the transaction was completed without any hitches.