Originally Posted by
wandering_fred
Maybe it is time to start to question VISA/MC/AMEX about their policies regarding the acceptance of credit cards worldwide - independently of the home location of the card holder.
Second alternative has been mentioned a number of times - where an alternative billing address is able to be added. Perhaps c/o AMEX Johannesburg would be acceptable to both the holder and AMEX - though perhaps not to AA.
Final question - what would AA do if they were told VISA/MC/AMEX would no longer work with them unless they accepted cards no matter where the billing address was located.
Happy wandering
Fred
You can complain to Amex at least, they do not like to hear a member merchant has declined their card for no good reason.
I suspect the other payment networks have a similar view.
It is worth noting that actually AA is very clear in the agreement it makes with travel agents, "The agent must accept all credit cards that AA accepts" [or words to that effect], so really Mindpearl is probably in breach of their agreement with AA and in breach of their agreement with the payment networks in declining foreign cards.