BA & Malaysian to KL & Penang
Sep 23, 2013, 2:02 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: 16 Miles From ABZ
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 526
BA & Malaysian to KL & Penang
Flying with BA and Malaysian from the UK to Penang in January. Normally we visit Thailand each winter where it is better to purchase Bhats locally rather than in the UK. Does anyone know if this also applies if we were to purchase Ringgits in KL or Penang rather than the UK?
Sep 23, 2013, 2:31 am
#2
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,804
Flying with BA and Malaysian from the UK to Penang in January. Normally we visit Thailand each winter where it is better to purchase Bhats locally rather than in the UK. Does anyone know if this also applies if we were to purchase Ringgits in KL or Penang rather than the UK?
Sep 23, 2013, 2:32 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: BA Silver, Velocity Gold
Posts: 329
Flying with BA and Malaysian from the UK to Penang in January. Normally we visit Thailand each winter where it is better to purchase Bhats locally rather than in the UK. Does anyone know if this also applies if we were to purchase Ringgits in KL or Penang rather than the UK?
Sep 23, 2013, 12:15 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Australia
Programs: QF, SQ
Posts: 326
We're off to KL and Penang in November and usually just go to a money changer - found in most reputable shopping malls.. And most give pretty good rates without the ATM fee that many UK banks charge. We used to use Citibank all over Malaysia which used to be fee-free for Citibank account holders but Citi now charges for most types of current accounts.
There are also ATMs after immigration enroute to Baggage reclaim at KL airport so will also withdraw some local currency if we need to.
Enjoy!
There are also ATMs after immigration enroute to Baggage reclaim at KL airport so will also withdraw some local currency if we need to.
Enjoy!
Sep 23, 2013, 4:28 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Gold, TG Gold, HHonors Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 8,665
A few points to note
1.Overheads are far cheaper in Malaysia. Hence the spreads are smaller.
2. Also unlike the UK, there are loads of small independent money changes in KL and Singapore. Competition is fierce compared with the few large bureau de change in London despite all the tourists in London.
3. Another point to note is that there are are lot of Malaysia students studying in the UK leading to high local demand for sterling giving rise to a good Sterling / Malaysian Ringgit exchange rate so there is a good market for currency exchange in Malaysia. The demand for Malaysian Ringgit in the UK is limited. I use have seen a whole year's worth of school fees paid in physical currency notes although I am not sure if that is allowed any longer
1.Overheads are far cheaper in Malaysia. Hence the spreads are smaller.
2. Also unlike the UK, there are loads of small independent money changes in KL and Singapore. Competition is fierce compared with the few large bureau de change in London despite all the tourists in London.
3. Another point to note is that there are are lot of Malaysia students studying in the UK leading to high local demand for sterling giving rise to a good Sterling / Malaysian Ringgit exchange rate so there is a good market for currency exchange in Malaysia. The demand for Malaysian Ringgit in the UK is limited. I use have seen a whole year's worth of school fees paid in physical currency notes although I am not sure if that is allowed any longer