Can a USA-issued credit card be used to buy tix on AirIndia.in
Jun 21, 2018, 4:36 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: MD, usually fly BWI
Posts: 28
Can a USA-issued credit card be used to buy tix on AirIndia.in
Update: I answered my own question. I found that a US-issued Visa card (BoA/Merrill) worked. The AirIndia system, apparently, has some bugs/ineptitude in how it handles US-issued AmEx, though.
Hello.
I was hoping that someone here who'd used AirIndia online ticketing from the USA might know if the website accepts USA-issued credit cards
I've done a bit of searching and did not see if this has been covered here/recently
I am trying to buy tickets for flights within India. I am trying to purchase online from the USA, using an American Express card issued by Penfed, a major credit union in the USA. When I try to finalize the order on AirIndia.in (with American Express selected from the drop-down menu), the payment processing system forwards briefly to an "American Express Safe Key" logo site, and then returns to AirIndia.in that displays a "payment error" message.
Online chat with AirIndia : CSR says international cards should work for purchase.
Phone call to AirIndia toll free USA number: CSR says only India-issued cards will work.
Phone call to my bank: they see no evidence that any transaction was even attempted by AirIndia.
I could potentially try a non-AmericanExpress card, or a Visa. But I was hoping that someone here who'd used AirIndia online ticketing from the USA might know if the website accepts USA-issued credit cards. Thanks!
Hello.
I was hoping that someone here who'd used AirIndia online ticketing from the USA might know if the website accepts USA-issued credit cards
I've done a bit of searching and did not see if this has been covered here/recently
I am trying to buy tickets for flights within India. I am trying to purchase online from the USA, using an American Express card issued by Penfed, a major credit union in the USA. When I try to finalize the order on AirIndia.in (with American Express selected from the drop-down menu), the payment processing system forwards briefly to an "American Express Safe Key" logo site, and then returns to AirIndia.in that displays a "payment error" message.
Online chat with AirIndia : CSR says international cards should work for purchase.
Phone call to AirIndia toll free USA number: CSR says only India-issued cards will work.
Phone call to my bank: they see no evidence that any transaction was even attempted by AirIndia.
I could potentially try a non-AmericanExpress card, or a Visa. But I was hoping that someone here who'd used AirIndia online ticketing from the USA might know if the website accepts USA-issued credit cards. Thanks!
Last edited by fw10001; Jun 21, 2018 at 9:21 pm
Jun 21, 2018, 11:52 pm
#2
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,172
The problem is with the payment verification gateway of amex and some times visa. Depending on what your card provider has set up there is usually a verification step before the payment is cleared (entering a password/phrase, a code sent to you by sms text message etc). It seems many US bank have that verification step switched off for their customers. I have noticed that if such step is deactivated (prime example: Chase switched off 'secured by visa') then the airline will not accept payment for fear of fraud.
Jun 22, 2018, 7:41 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,678
this is a well known problem with ai & has been around for a very long time....amex cards issued outside india do not work but others do....
Jun 30, 2018, 2:27 am
#4
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
I used to stress over these issues, but life is too short for all that. Just buy your tix from any major OTA, from Expedia (India) to ClearTrip / MakeMyTrip. Those are businesses, without sarkari attitiude and service. 
Jun 30, 2018, 5:39 am
#5
formerly gantid
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Mileage Plus Platinum, Marriott Platinum elite, *G, Hilton Gold
Posts: 198
I bought a ticket (domestic travel) on AI site using my Amex card (issued in the US) last month. I do have safe code enabled for my Amex account. So, I am not sure if that mitigates some of the craziness with buying tickets on AI site using Amex.
Aug 16, 2018, 9:38 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: New York, New York
Programs: AA Gold, Alaska MVP; Free Agent Super Duper Diamond Treasure Chest ;)
Posts: 4,682
I have been able to use Chase cards to purchase tickets on Air India's site, but even though there is a choice to pay in either USD or INR, I cannot choose to pay in INR (which Chase recommends in order to save on the Foreign Transaction fee).
Definitely carry the International Credit Card that you used to purchase the ticket on the day of travel. While, in my experience, AI seldom checks, they are supposed to. Another domestic carrier (Spice Jet, IIRC) gave me a rather hard time when I had lost the card I made the reservation with and did not have a letter from the card issuer that they were giving me a replacement card! Wanted me to buy another ticket and have the card issuer deal with the airline for refund. I did not, and I forget the details of the interaction (its in a post on this forum), but best if you have the card on you when you travel.
Definitely carry the International Credit Card that you used to purchase the ticket on the day of travel. While, in my experience, AI seldom checks, they are supposed to. Another domestic carrier (Spice Jet, IIRC) gave me a rather hard time when I had lost the card I made the reservation with and did not have a letter from the card issuer that they were giving me a replacement card! Wanted me to buy another ticket and have the card issuer deal with the airline for refund. I did not, and I forget the details of the interaction (its in a post on this forum), but best if you have the card on you when you travel.
Aug 22, 2018, 7:51 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,763
You can pay in INR - there's just a tricky checkbox you need to make sure to leave unchecked on the currency selection page.
Aug 23, 2018, 8:52 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: LON
Programs: SK*D
Posts: 73
I've been able to use a variety of UK based cards on the AI website without any trouble.
As for the currency conversion, the best way to go about it is to let the transaction take place in its default currency. For instance, a recent BOM-LHR J fare was priced at the equivalent of £730, but in INR (around 64,000 if I remember correctly). The option was to pay in INR+fees from my card issuer or pay the "converted" price of £785. Obviously, no cars issuer is going to charge £55 for foreign transaction and the covetedco fare is almost never in the customer's favour.
As for the currency conversion, the best way to go about it is to let the transaction take place in its default currency. For instance, a recent BOM-LHR J fare was priced at the equivalent of £730, but in INR (around 64,000 if I remember correctly). The option was to pay in INR+fees from my card issuer or pay the "converted" price of £785. Obviously, no cars issuer is going to charge £55 for foreign transaction and the covetedco fare is almost never in the customer's favour.
Jan 9, 2019, 4:39 am
#9
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,172
Related question: I'm trying to buy a ticket on AI.com from Europe to India which I want to pay with netbanking and it seems if you book a flight from outside India netbanking does not appear as a payment option. The debit card issued to me by HDFC on my NRO account is a Rupay, so that is not accepted at all (only domestic flights).
Can one of you make a dummy booking from CPH/ARN/VIE/FRA to DEL in March and see if netbanking is shown as an option?
Can one of you make a dummy booking from CPH/ARN/VIE/FRA to DEL in March and see if netbanking is shown as an option?
Jan 13, 2019, 4:45 am
#12
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,172
Finally managed to buy 2 or the 4 tickets I need on via.com. It seems there is a limit on Net Banking at about 1.8 lac.
Feb 5, 2022, 9:04 pm
#13
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 155
You spend an hour trying to get to the payment part and then you have to start all over again, and you NEVER succeed...
Calling their phone means waiting for HOURS...
Still, they're the only Mileage plus partner and they can and do get away with it.
Feb 6, 2022, 5:09 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 155
Vistara is happy to take biz away from AI.... however, they are not *A
Spoke to Vistara... On the return, since Vistara is the primary carrier, they will fleece you for the second suitcase...(if luggage is not booked through to destination on your way IN, they will ALSO fleece you to take you to your in-country destination). Their baggage fee for the in-country round trip will set you back by about 40,000 INR.
Flyer beware
Spoke to Vistara... On the return, since Vistara is the primary carrier, they will fleece you for the second suitcase...(if luggage is not booked through to destination on your way IN, they will ALSO fleece you to take you to your in-country destination). Their baggage fee for the in-country round trip will set you back by about 40,000 INR.
Flyer beware