Why do BA partner with AMEX?
Apr 25, 2017, 9:08 am
#46
Join Date: Jul 2014
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Apr 25, 2017, 9:59 am
#48
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Apr 25, 2017, 10:25 am
#50
Join Date: Feb 2005
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I first got the BA AMEX about 18 months ago. As others have posted, I find about 90% of places take it in the UK, and for the rest I still have my old and trusty Mastercards.
HOWEVER, I have NEVER had a credit card that gives me so little hassle abroad as the AMEX. In the past, despite phoning the Mastercards' issuers in advance of trips abroad, I almost always ended up with at least one transaction refused. With AMEX I have never had any at all, without phoning in advance. For me, that makes it the best card to use regularly, although even in the USA there are the occasional places which only take Mastercard or VISA.
HOWEVER, I have NEVER had a credit card that gives me so little hassle abroad as the AMEX. In the past, despite phoning the Mastercards' issuers in advance of trips abroad, I almost always ended up with at least one transaction refused. With AMEX I have never had any at all, without phoning in advance. For me, that makes it the best card to use regularly, although even in the USA there are the occasional places which only take Mastercard or VISA.
Apr 25, 2017, 10:47 am
#51
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond
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I have generally had no issues using Amex in the UK. I don't think the Metro in Tyne & Wear takes it, but I use my Visa debit card for that. I have actually had more places in the US not take it, whereupon I just use my MasterCard. My US cards usually cause confusion in the UK as they are Chip & Signature rather than Chip & PIN. When living in Belgium a lot of retailers would only take Bancontact / Maestro and a few were just cash or Proton! Travelling abroad I tend to use my Citibank Premier card as it has no foreign transaction fees and comes with a whole raft of additional travel / insurance benefits.
Apr 25, 2017, 11:04 am
#52
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: The Internet
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Posts: 714
Not sure why you guys are waving the Union Jack over Visa and MasterCard--they're both US companies as well.
Of course, the isolationist direction the UK is going, I'd expect you guys to Brexit from the world financial system. Would probably also be prudent to shut down the airport and accept visitors only by schooners traveling under sail. If you do this, can we please also send you Trump? He would really rather be king, and kings and queens are more a British thing than an American one.
Of course, the isolationist direction the UK is going, I'd expect you guys to Brexit from the world financial system. Would probably also be prudent to shut down the airport and accept visitors only by schooners traveling under sail. If you do this, can we please also send you Trump? He would really rather be king, and kings and queens are more a British thing than an American one.
Apr 25, 2017, 11:40 am
#53
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: UK
Programs: BA Silver, AA Gold, A3 Gold, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Gold
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I live in Dundee and I find that AMEX isn't as widely accepted as Visa/Mastercard. Some quite surprising places that you'd think would take AMEX don't. However I just accept that some places don't take it and use another card instead.
Apr 25, 2017, 11:56 am
#54
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Oxfordshire, UK
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But I willingly admit that I cut up my BA Amex card years ago, over the question of avios redemption availability. I had a couple of 2-4-1 vouchers expire so I didnt see the point anymore. Use a Gold charge card now which I am happy with.
Apr 25, 2017, 12:08 pm
#55
Join Date: Mar 2012
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Don't see the point myself any more, either.
Apr 25, 2017, 12:11 pm
#56
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: GLA
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 3,019
My experience here in Glasgow is that Amex is widely accepted, but that I'm not surprised by smaller places that don't take it.
At Oran Mor once, we settled our bill by Amex with one of the staff, only for the manager (I assume) to come over and say that he would "let us away" with it this time, but that they don't accept it, and that he was within his rights to cancel the transaction! I said that he could refund us if he wanted, but we wouldn't be paying again!!
At Oran Mor once, we settled our bill by Amex with one of the staff, only for the manager (I assume) to come over and say that he would "let us away" with it this time, but that they don't accept it, and that he was within his rights to cancel the transaction! I said that he could refund us if he wanted, but we wouldn't be paying again!!
Apr 25, 2017, 1:20 pm
#58
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Apr 25, 2017, 1:23 pm
#59
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: West Sussex
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold
Posts: 916
I live in Scotland and find a LOT of places won't take it. Any local shops, coffee shops, independent restaurants all don't take it.
Sure big chains (McDonalds etc) do take it. But many local places do not.
Just seems a bit mad they would partner with a CC not widely (certainly compared to VISA and MC) accepted.
Sure big chains (McDonalds etc) do take it. But many local places do not.
Just seems a bit mad they would partner with a CC not widely (certainly compared to VISA and MC) accepted.
Besides, do what most others of us do and sign up to another loyalty card that is Visa or MC and direct the non-AMEX spend there. I have hotel loyalty cards that come with perks that I direct non-AMEX spend to. The system works quite well.
Apr 25, 2017, 1:54 pm
#60
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: BAEC - Lowly blue
Posts: 282
Experience here in Bath is that most places do take it. Main place I wish that did is lidl.
I also look out for places with izettle/square as they usually take it so good for independent coffee shops etc. The main thing I long for though is the BA visa offered in the US... 100k sign up bonus right now and obviously no problems with being denied pretty much anywhere!
I also look out for places with izettle/square as they usually take it so good for independent coffee shops etc. The main thing I long for though is the BA visa offered in the US... 100k sign up bonus right now and obviously no problems with being denied pretty much anywhere!