In which currency are taxes&fees charged to my credit card when I make a reward booking?
Situation: I'm trying to book a reward flight with Austrian (OS) from Vienna to Baku and back. My address is in Canada, so the taxes and fees are shown in Canadian Dollars (225 CAD).
However, during the booking process I'm told that the ticket is issued in Euro and thus the actual cost can vary due to exchange rate fluctuation.
Would anyone here definitely know if Miles&More will charge my credit card in Euro or in Canadian Dollars?
As I have credit cards in both currencies I'd like to pick the right one to currency conversion fees.
IIRC I've had (normal) tickets issued in Euro-countries but my credit card was still billed in Canadian Dollars. Then again I had a ticket issued in Switzerland but I was billed in Euro.
Just because it is issued in a certain place doesn't mean that the amount sent to the payment processor is actually in that countries currency.
Have you tried with reward booking on OS when their own websites shows you a different currency?
I've called Miles&More (where the automatic on-hold announcement advertises "Did you know that Austrian and BMI are part of Star Alliance?" and invites callers to book BMI). The lady couldn't answer my question and referred me to the Austrian Airlines callcenter for Canada.
There I was told I would be charged Canadian Dollars, but the exact amount could not be guaranteed as that would depend on the exchange rate.
Senior Moderator; Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
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If you want to make sure you get charged in your local currency, you need to book with TA or OTA (eg expedia.ca for CA) in your country. LH group websites will try to redirect you to the point of sale based on the point of origin of the ticket, so it is very probable that you will end up getting billed in the currency of the point of origin and your credit card will charge you transaction fees.
Note that ex Austria OS also charges the OPC, so the ticket may be 8-15€ cheaper when purchased in Canada from a TA/OTA
If you want to make sure you get charged in your local currency, you need to book with TA or OTA (eg expedia.ca for CA) in your country. LH group websites will try to redirect you to the point of sale based on the point of origin of the ticket, so it is very probable that you will end up getting billed in the currency of the point of origin and your credit card will charge you transaction fees.
Note that ex Austria OS also charges the OPC, so the ticket may be 8-15€ cheaper when purchased in Canada from a TA/OTA
OK, rephrase: M&M award tickets booked online on M&M.com are charged in CAD by LH even if its on OS metal.
That is what both M&M Canada AND M&M Austrian in Vienna told me. The latter had even asked the second level: The booking system issues the ticket in Euro, but then looks at your address and converts the amount to Canadian Dollars. You credit card will be billed in Canadian Dollars.
Blatant lies. These people have no clue how their own systems work!
No I've paid forex exchange fees to Amex for no reason. I have an Austrian Amex card as well. Plus, I did not get the double rewards points.
Programs: EK Platinum, EY GoldElite, LH HON, BA Gold & other precious metal
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A little off topic: When checking out of hotels in the Middle East, I am often asked if I would like my bill in EUR or local currency. I always pick local currency, since the exchange rate applied is - surprise, surprise - not favorable.
Also, my credit card company would still charge a fee, even if the transaction were in EUR. The fee is not for foreign exchange, but for foreign usage of the card.
