Miles Without Surcharge
 

FYI, for those who are looking for cards that give miles without imposing ripoff foreign currency charges, a woman named Jeannie in the First USA Bank customer service department just told me that the British Airways Visa will continue to charge only one per cent (as opposed to Amex two per cent, United and AA three per cent, and Diners three per cent plus fees to cash the miles in.)

I thought that the BA VISA already charged the additional 2% (and the same for Marriott), and that only UA VISA didn't. At least that's what I was told when I inquired July last year. I don't doubt your accuracy Lindsy, but that of your source... I've been told the wrong thing so many times by FUSA...

Honu, I also found the people who answered the phone/email at First USA often didn't know their assets from their elbows, and before I renewed last year, I went through a weeks-long process to get someone in authority to tell me in a letter that the BA card is excluded from the surcharge. (At the time there were several other affinity cards that were also "excluded," including United, Marriot, and one or two others.)

First USA does many things well but getting the phone reps accurate info on the foreign currency mark-up is not one of them. A while back I called 3 times in 15 minutes and got 3 different answers.

Also, I wouldn't switch to another First USA card if these charges are you concern. They bumped the UA cards and so might not BA follow?

Given their reputation for obfuscation and cheeziness, I wouldn't be at all surprised if they do just that, and I don't know when their contract is up with British. But I'm probably going to Europe the month my card renews. If they haven't changed the policy by then (early summer) it'll still be worthwhile for me to renew for another year.