International Surcharge
Dec 28, 2001 | 2:05 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Kensington, CT, USA
Posts: 97
International Surcharge
I discoverd the Citibank Aadvantage World MasterCard imposes a 3% service fee for international transactions. Does anyone know of an affinity card that does not impose such a fee?
Dec 28, 2001 | 4:48 pm
#2
Join Date: May 1999
Posts: 6,084
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by westie2:
I discoverd the Citibank Aadvantage World MasterCard imposes a 3% service fee for international transactions. Does anyone know of an affinity card that does not impose such a fee?</font>
I discoverd the Citibank Aadvantage World MasterCard imposes a 3% service fee for international transactions. Does anyone know of an affinity card that does not impose such a fee?</font>
Dec 31, 2001 | 10:04 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 792
A year or so ago I researched surcharges for the cards I had. Everybody had the currency conversion differential, i.e. nobody will exchange money for free. However, I did find that my AAA Visa card did not have a surcharge in addition to the currency conversion. When we got home from Ireland, all the charges did post without a surcharge. However, I think that was before MBNA started servicing AAA Visa accounts (it was an earlier issuing bank). Also, there are no rewards (points, miles, etc.) with the AAA Visa, but lack of a surcharge is reward enough.
Jan 6, 2002 | 6:46 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Sugar Land,Texas USA
Posts: 4,889
Yes, MBNA VI/MAs are one of the favorite cards that some of the FTs carry because of the low int'l surcharge...espcially with the recent addition of the Amtrak Card. Just too bad that if one wants to earn AA miles overseas...he/she will have to settle with these high charges...
Jan 8, 2002 | 9:31 am
#7
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: New York City
Posts: 3,527
I seem to remember that if you register thru Radisson for Gold Points, the choice of airlines and conversion rate is better? However, I can't seem to find the Gold Points Rewards Visa card on the Radisson web page. Or is this card only available thru Gold Points?
Jan 8, 2002 | 9:58 am
#8
Join Date: May 1999
Posts: 6,084
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by leroy11:
I seem to remember that if you register thru Radisson for Gold Points, the choice of airlines and conversion rate is better? However, I can't seem to find the Gold Points Rewards Visa card on the Radisson web page. Or is this card only available thru Gold Points?</font>
I seem to remember that if you register thru Radisson for Gold Points, the choice of airlines and conversion rate is better? However, I can't seem to find the Gold Points Rewards Visa card on the Radisson web page. Or is this card only available thru Gold Points?</font>
Radisson is a participant in the GoldPoints program, so all the points are the same GoldPoints. Same with the card, one and only, GoldPoints Rewards Visa from MBNA.
Here's the tricky part. There are several ways of joining GoldPoints. One, which is the most beneficial to you, is to do it through Radisson. If you join GoldPoints through Radisson, you will be able to redeem your GoldPoints to a much bigger selection of airlines, at a much better rate (4:1, compared to 10:1 if you join GoldPoints through any other partner, e.g., TGIF).
Keep in mind that your ability to earn GoldPoints (through this new credit card, lodging, eating, etc.) will not depend on how you joined the GoldPoints.
Hope it helps!
Jan 8, 2002 | 11:59 am
#11
Join Date: May 1999
Posts: 6,084
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Lindsy:
Eugene, is BA one of the participants? And is there a way to join through Radisson if you're not staying with them anytime soon?</font>
Eugene, is BA one of the participants? And is there a way to join through Radisson if you're not staying with them anytime soon?</font>
Participating airlines: Air Canada, American, America West, Asiana, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Continental, Delta, EL AL, Gulf Air, Icelandair, Latin Pass, Mexicana, Midwest Express, Northwest, Qualiflyer, United, and US Airways.
Join Radisson Gold Rewards, then register your account at GoldPoints.
Jan 9, 2002 | 2:21 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2001
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Lifetime Platinum, AA
Posts: 420
Eugene, thanks. I followed the dots like you said, but (I guess this is the same question that was asked earlier in this thread) I see that the Gold Points site has redemption to three airlines, not 29. So you EARN on that website, but redeem through Radisson?
Jan 9, 2002 | 4:39 pm
#14
Join Date: May 1999
Posts: 6,084
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Lindsy:
Eugene, thanks. I followed the dots like you said, but (I guess this is the same question that was asked earlier in this thread) I see that the Gold Points site has redemption to three airlines, not 29. So you EARN on that website, but redeem through Radisson? </font>
Eugene, thanks. I followed the dots like you said, but (I guess this is the same question that was asked earlier in this thread) I see that the Gold Points site has redemption to three airlines, not 29. So you EARN on that website, but redeem through Radisson? </font>
Earning abilities through any means (lodging at Radissons, eating at TGIFs, buying from Hallmark.com and valuemags, etc.) do not depend on how you joined GoldPoints, be it through Radisson or any other partner (e.g., TGIF). Only redeeming rules are different (much better) if you joined GoldPoints through Radisson. See my response to leroy11 above.
Jan 9, 2002 | 4:51 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2001
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Lifetime Platinum, AA
Posts: 420
Eugene, pardon me for being dense. I can;t find anything on the Radisson or Gold Point website that gives me the info you've been talking about here. If you click on "redeem gold points for frequent flyer miles" (or something like that) on Gold Points' site, it only talks about Northwest, Delta, and one other (CO?). I don't see Any place on the Radisson site you sent to me to about redemption... what am I doing wrong?