MS in Germany
Nov 10, 2014, 7:46 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: AA, USAir, UA, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum, National Executive Elite
Posts: 86
MS in Germany
Tried searching but couldnt find any definitive answer so wanting to know if there are any helpful tips of MS in Germany. I am going to be there for a couple of months so any help is appreciated!!!
Nov 10, 2014, 4:03 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Long Beach
Programs: HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,171
I recall reading that the luggage trolleys at FRA take a credit card to the 2 euro deposit and then you can return the trolley and get a 2 euro coin, rinse and repeat. I don't recall is the CSP gave 2x travel tho.
Nov 11, 2014, 5:48 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,207
lol... can just see it now, someone being reported for suspicious activity for continuously buying and returning carts....
Dec 29, 2014, 9:45 am
#8
Formerly known as Stephenk19
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 409
Wanted to give this thread a little bump 
I am in Germany as well and curious if anyone knows of any opportunities for MS.
From what I have seen of the culture to date, credit cards are not as common as in US so I am guessing not many options at present for MS but you never know...
Thanks
Steve
I am in Germany as well and curious if anyone knows of any opportunities for MS.
From what I have seen of the culture to date, credit cards are not as common as in US so I am guessing not many options at present for MS but you never know...
Thanks
Steve
Dec 29, 2014, 10:43 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: LAC
Programs: Regal Crown Club
Posts: 488
However, I've seen that some banks like DKB now offer like 1% cashback or so when you use their debit card (EC Karte). So you might wanna look into this stuff. I'd guess others in this small bank brotherhood like Cortal Consors or ING Diba would offer similar cards/programs/incentives.
Dec 29, 2014, 12:56 pm
#10
Formerly known as Stephenk19
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 409
I wasn't aware that credit cards with cashback exist in Germany at all. As you know pretty much all of them do not even allow you to carry a balance (except that Advanzia card from Luxemburg) and many merchants don't accept them at all due to the fees, so there's no real incentive for the banks to give you a CC. It's more like a convenience tool they give their customers for travel purposes...
However, I've seen that some banks like DKB now offer like 1% cashback or so when you use their debit card (EC Karte). So you might wanna look into this stuff. I'd guess others in this small bank brotherhood like Cortal Consors or ING Diba would offer similar cards/programs/incentives.
However, I've seen that some banks like DKB now offer like 1% cashback or so when you use their debit card (EC Karte). So you might wanna look into this stuff. I'd guess others in this small bank brotherhood like Cortal Consors or ING Diba would offer similar cards/programs/incentives.
Yes I agree as well that CC's in Europe (or at least Germany) see to be a tool for travel purposes and not much else. Interesting to see how they differ from the US where it feels like everyone gets at least 5 credit card apps a day all with different types of benefits.
Dec 29, 2014, 1:11 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Between AMS and BRU
Posts: 8,852
MS is not going to happen here... Especially now that the EU will mandate a max of 0,3% in future fees to be charged for payments. The margin is simply not there for generous point schemes or MS.
Different market here than in the US, almodt all that have credit cards pay their full bill each month and plenty of vendors are reluctant to accept these cards due to high costs.
Different market here than in the US, almodt all that have credit cards pay their full bill each month and plenty of vendors are reluctant to accept these cards due to high costs.
Dec 29, 2014, 6:57 pm
#12
Formerly known as Stephenk19
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 409
MS is not going to happen here... Especially now that the EU will mandate a max of 0,3% in future fees to be charged for payments. The margin is simply not there for generous point schemes or MS.
Different market here than in the US, almodt all that have credit cards pay their full bill each month and plenty of vendors are reluctant to accept these cards due to high costs.
Different market here than in the US, almodt all that have credit cards pay their full bill each month and plenty of vendors are reluctant to accept these cards due to high costs.
Yes, this is what I feared, but oh well. I was a novice at MS and did not perform a whole before the move. It is frustrating though to not be able to use CC for a lot of common transactions, but part of the change of living in a new environment.
**Side Note - I was able to perform a little MS inadvertently. I bought and returned a modem to Saturn paid for on my CC. Doing the return the clerk looked at me funny when I gave him my CC to credit the amount back, he just asked if I wanted to get the cash instead which I accepted. Sadly this method is not likely to work on a larger scale and without hassle I fear
Dec 29, 2014, 9:41 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angles
Posts: 2,101
MS is not going to happen here... Especially now that the EU will mandate a max of 0,3% in future fees to be charged for payments. The margin is simply not there for generous point schemes or MS.
Different market here than in the US, almodt all that have credit cards pay their full bill each month and plenty of vendors are reluctant to accept these cards due to high costs.
Different market here than in the US, almodt all that have credit cards pay their full bill each month and plenty of vendors are reluctant to accept these cards due to high costs.
laws apply to financial institutes, outside USA.
Dec 29, 2014, 9:54 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angles
Posts: 2,101
Wanted to give this thread a little bump
I am in Germany as well and curious if anyone knows of any opportunities for MS.
From what I have seen of the culture to date, credit cards are not as common as in US so I am guessing not many options at present for MS but you never know...
Thanks
Steve
I am in Germany as well and curious if anyone knows of any opportunities for MS.
From what I have seen of the culture to date, credit cards are not as common as in US so I am guessing not many options at present for MS but you never know...
Thanks
Steve
(years ago I was student at TU Berlin)
Dec 30, 2014, 4:04 pm
#15
Formerly known as Stephenk19
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 409