Booking using non American Credit Card
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: 1K MM
Posts: 53
Booking using non American Credit Card
Hi,
Recently, I booked UA tickets through their 1K Desk (no fees) using my Australian CBA Platinum credit card & paid in A$'s. Two days later I was shocked to see a 3% International Transaction Fee (ITF) debited. So, I am looking for a way to avoid this bank fee for future bookings.
Has anyone purchased UA tickets from UA's Australian website (www.untiedairlines.com.au) or any non USA site? If so, and if you used an Australian (or your country's) credit card, were you charged the 3% ITF? So, it seems that if UA processes the transaction in Australia (or in your non USA country) no ITF is incurred. Is this correct?
I have USA credit cards & a USA address so I could purchase the tickets using that method. However, I need to deposit funds in US$'s into my USA credit card to cover the purchase & I will therefore incur the currency conversion fee of approx 4%. I cant win!
john
Recently, I booked UA tickets through their 1K Desk (no fees) using my Australian CBA Platinum credit card & paid in A$'s. Two days later I was shocked to see a 3% International Transaction Fee (ITF) debited. So, I am looking for a way to avoid this bank fee for future bookings.
Has anyone purchased UA tickets from UA's Australian website (www.untiedairlines.com.au) or any non USA site? If so, and if you used an Australian (or your country's) credit card, were you charged the 3% ITF? So, it seems that if UA processes the transaction in Australia (or in your non USA country) no ITF is incurred. Is this correct?
I have USA credit cards & a USA address so I could purchase the tickets using that method. However, I need to deposit funds in US$'s into my USA credit card to cover the purchase & I will therefore incur the currency conversion fee of approx 4%. I cant win!
john
#2
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
This will depend on your card, and not United. Some will charge for all fees in foreign currencies, others will charge for all fees processed offshore, regardless of payment currency.
Edit: and of course, others won't have foreign transaction fees at all, which you should use whenever possible
Edit: and of course, others won't have foreign transaction fees at all, which you should use whenever possible
#4
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Syd
Programs: UA 1k 1MM, VA G
Posts: 886
Hi,
Recently, I booked UA tickets through their 1K Desk (no fees) using my Australian CBA Platinum credit card & paid in A$'s. Two days later I was shocked to see a 3% International Transaction Fee (ITF) debited. So, I am looking for a way to avoid this bank fee for future bookings.
Has anyone purchased UA tickets from UA's Australian website (www.untiedairlines.com.au) or any non USA site? If so, and if you used an Australian (or your country's) credit card, were you charged the 3% ITF? So, it seems that if UA processes the transaction in Australia (or in your non USA country) no ITF is incurred. Is this correct?
I have USA credit cards & a USA address so I could purchase the tickets using that method. However, I need to deposit funds in US$'s into my USA credit card to cover the purchase & I will therefore incur the currency conversion fee of approx 4%. I cant win!
john
Recently, I booked UA tickets through their 1K Desk (no fees) using my Australian CBA Platinum credit card & paid in A$'s. Two days later I was shocked to see a 3% International Transaction Fee (ITF) debited. So, I am looking for a way to avoid this bank fee for future bookings.
Has anyone purchased UA tickets from UA's Australian website (www.untiedairlines.com.au) or any non USA site? If so, and if you used an Australian (or your country's) credit card, were you charged the 3% ITF? So, it seems that if UA processes the transaction in Australia (or in your non USA country) no ITF is incurred. Is this correct?
I have USA credit cards & a USA address so I could purchase the tickets using that method. However, I need to deposit funds in US$'s into my USA credit card to cover the purchase & I will therefore incur the currency conversion fee of approx 4%. I cant win!
john
United Proccess the charges in AUD using a bank in the USA
I have personally raised a complaint with the ACCC over UA doing this as under my interpretation of Australian regulations they need to be using a local bank to process the payments as they have a local presence in australia
They changed the processing to use a US bank shortly after they merged with CO a few years ago.
Your specific bank CBA (Same one who issued my Diamond CC) has chosen to implement Forex fee's on charges in AUD setteled by a foreign bank. CBA did this to maintain an income stream as did a number of other Aus banks after a large number of merchants started offering to charge in AUD instead of the local currency.
Other Australian Banks do not have this charge
E.g My other account is with Teachers Mutual Bank and there is no forex fee's on any charges (local or charges in other currencies) using them
You should make a complaint to CBA over the fee (it was only implemented in october last year) and explain the situation and they will generally waive the first charge of this type that hit you. (Did for me)
There are lots of other banking options for Aus and they are well discussed on whirlpool and the CC section of this forum.
RE using the USA credit card
If the flights are EX sydney, if the billing address is set to USA instead of AUS... there can be frustrating differences in fare class availability that make the tickets artifically more expensive. it can be as high as a 40%+ difference in price and not in your favor.
#5
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: UA 1K MM, HH Gold, Marriott Gold Elite
Posts: 1,478
IME, some foreign carriers quote me the price in local currency. At the payment page, it gives me the option to pay in local currency or USD. I always choose to pay in local currency. Because to pay in USD, they always use less favorable exchange rate or has FX built in. And my credit cards do not charge FX.
#6
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: UA 1K/MM, EK Gold, CX Silver
Posts: 880
Like everything else in travel these days, it is very complicated as others above have indicated.
I always check prices with Australian and USA billing addresses, and use a USA credit card for bookings on the US site, and use paypal (backed by the same USA card) for Australian POS (point of sale) tickets. This gives me the best of both worlds. Interestingly enough, the paypal charge on the credit card usually comes through with the name of the airline, United Paypal or similar, and is earns credit card points as a ticket purchase.
I am sure similar games can be played with Australian CC's, to avoid the overseas charges and get best pricing.
I always check prices with Australian and USA billing addresses, and use a USA credit card for bookings on the US site, and use paypal (backed by the same USA card) for Australian POS (point of sale) tickets. This gives me the best of both worlds. Interestingly enough, the paypal charge on the credit card usually comes through with the name of the airline, United Paypal or similar, and is earns credit card points as a ticket purchase.
I am sure similar games can be played with Australian CC's, to avoid the overseas charges and get best pricing.
#7
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: YVR
Programs: UA Premier Platinum
Posts: 3,759
This will depend on your card, and not United. Some will charge for all fees in foreign currencies, others will charge for all fees processed offshore, regardless of payment currency.
Edit: and of course, others won't have foreign transaction fees at all, which you should use whenever possible
Edit: and of course, others won't have foreign transaction fees at all, which you should use whenever possible
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,164
The typical terms for these two are "foreign exchange fee" and "foreign transaction fee". Both are unwarranted and really should be banned worldwide.