Originally Posted by
YariGuy
JPY1100 to USD8.69 is 126.58. Today's exchange rate is 138.46. That's an 8.5% difference, and very significant (multiples of any rewards value). These amounts can add up. If it were me, I'd try other US cards to see what kind of exchange rate they offer.
The photographed meal was actually eaten on May 27, when the yen-dollar exchange rate was 126.8583 (I went back and checked the May rates at: nl.bk.mufg.jp) which is close to 126.58 as you calculated. That would make the actual cost US$8.67. What I'm basically saying in this post is that if I ate that same meal today, it would only cost $8.00 (as calculated a few days ago). According to
Steve M's post above, Amex doesn't have DCC, so this calculation basically confirms that. Still, at 8.69, that meal's a bargain and will continue to get cheaper as the dollar gets stronger.