Question
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?
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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?
westie2 -- Citibank's surcharge consists of two parts: 1% imposed by MasterCard (same goes for VISA), and additional 2% imposed by the Citibank itself. While you can't avoid 1% surcharge imposed by VISA/MC, you definitely can avoid those extra 2% by switching to MBNA cards (e.g., Amtrak MC (http://www.amtrakguestrewards.com/), GoldPoints Rewards VISA (http://www.goldpoints.com/site/earn/MbnaIntermediate.jsp) - no annual fee and no additional bank-imposed fees for transactions in foreign currencies). Amtrak points can be converted 1:1 to United, Continental and Midwest Express Miles, and GoldPoints can be converted to many airlines (at a ratio of 4 points to 1 mile, provided you join GoldPoints program through Radisson - important!).
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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.
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Last I checked the United Mileage Plus Visa/MasterCard still limited the fee to 1%.
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Visa and MC charge 1%. The banks can but do not have to charge more. UA First USA does not so it's 1% only with them, a good. deal.
See prior threads for more details,
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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...
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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?
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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?
Confusing, isn't it? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
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 (http://www.goldpoints.com/site/earn/MbnaIntermediate.jsp).
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!
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Thanks very much, Eugene! Big help.
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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?
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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?
Yes, and yes.
Participating airlines (http://www.radisson.com/RAD/Gold_Rewards/GoldRewards.jsp?P0=&P1=redeem): 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 (http://www.radisson.com/RAD/Profiles/GoldRewardsInformation.jsp?mode=enrollGoldRewards) , then register your account at GoldPoints (http://www.goldpoints.com/common/Home.jsp).
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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?
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You can avoid everything but the 1% surcharge by getting an MBNA Quantum Master Card.
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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?
Hmm... I counted only 18 airlines (OK, 19, if you count TWA that is still listed on Radisson's site), not 29... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
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.
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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?
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Originally posted by Lindsy:
I don't see Any place on the Radisson site you sent to me to about redemption... what am I doing wrong?
http://www.radisson.com/RAD/Gold_Rewards/GoldRewards.jsp?P0=&P1=redeem , then scroll down to "Exclusive Radisson Airline Partner Rewards".
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Thanks, Eugene! <I LOVE Flyertalk.> This is great -- it's going to allow me to dump Diners and/or First USA and still accumulate British miles.
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Any idea on the currency surcharge on the HHonors Visa card?
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I can't explain this, but my wife used her Chase/CO Mastercard while we were in the UK over the holidays, and I wanted to see just how much overcharged we were with the card. We were expecting the STATED 3% transaction fee.
Imagine our surprise when we cross referenced the charges with the bank rate for that day.
The result -- 0.81%!!!!
I don't know how to explain it nor would I counsel using it blithely, but you may wish to do a test and see for yourself.
The next time we will go we will do a test, and if it is indeed accurate, well then we will use it more notwithstanding their stated fee.
AMEX came out to have a 2.1% transaction fee for charges on the very same day.
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I seem to be posting this all over the place tonight. Sorry for multiple posting.
Effective with transactions processed on or after April 1st, FUSA is imposing a 2% markup on foreign transactions on both the United MP Visa and the Marriott Rewards Visa, which, as I understood it, were the only FUSA cards that didn't previously impose a surcharge. The FUSA CS rep told me that there were no other FUSA cards that won't have a surcharge effective April 1st.
The surcharge is imposed on top of the built-in 1% surcharge over the wholesale exchange rate imposed by VISA USA, using the wholesale exchange rate on the day the transaction is processed.
My Capital One/Miles One card used to have no additional surcharge. I'm not sure if that's still true or not. Anybody know?
-David
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The Juniper Bank Mastercard does not impose the extra 2% on foreign currency transactions. It has a cash back feature similar to that of Discover. It has no annual fee. In my experience, they have excellent customer service. A human being actually answers the phone!
You can get this card through MileSpree and get 3500 MileSpree miles. Info and links on my site below. Click on Free Frequent Flyer Miles in the left menu, then on Credit Cards in the top menu. Scroll down towards the bottom of the credit card section to "MileSpree and credit cards".
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The Personal Travel Experience of Gary Steiger - including how to get free frequent flyer miles on the web.
http://home.earthlink.net/~pgary/TravelFrame.html
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LIH Prem is right-First USA is trippling the foreign currency fee on UA Mileage Plus credit cards from 1% to 3%. I spoke to a First USA rep on the phone a few days ago-he said they were increasing it to 2%-the reps apparently still can't access the right info on their screens.
I charge a fair amount in Europe so I'll be looking for a better deal. Even a card with no miles is better than a 3% load.
In my view, we can't blame First USA for this-I assume their allowed fees are in their contract with UA. I guess someone has to pay for those higher paychecks. Maybe I'm wrong-if so, I hope someone will lay out the truth.
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Fleet sent me a no-fee titanium visa app with a 9.9% fixed interest rate on purchases (plus 0% promotional rate on purchases until Nov. if you do a balance transfer of $100 or more at 9.9%).
The Fleet card has no Foreign Exchange fees above the VISA USA charge as far as I can tell.
On the other hand, it also doesn't give points or miles.
The titanium benefits are pretty much just souped up platinum benefits. At no fee, I'm not complaining.
-David
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Actually .. thinking about this some more, O think Eugene posted the right idea above ... the best replacement for the FUSA UA Visa card seems to be the Amtrack Rewards MBNA Master Card, assuming, like the other MBNA cards, there's no surcharge for foreign exchange.
I think the MBNA Amtrack MC ends up yielding 1 UA Mile per dollar for non-amtrak charges, doesn't it? Since there's no annual fee, presumably no markup on foreign transactions it seems like a win-win, doesn't it?
There are annual limits to point earning on the MBNA cards .. 100k per year for the plat. plus card and 50k per year for the "preferred" card.
Hmmmmmm.... when my FUSA UA card comes up for renewal, I think it will be time to re-evaluate my relationship with FUSA.
-David
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I just applied for the Fleet Platinum Rewards card. The nice lady assured me there was no fee at all for foreign purchases. (I'm assuming there will still be the Visa 1% fee.) Got approved on line in about 10 seconds.
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Originally posted by MileKing:
Any idea on the currency surcharge on the HHonors Visa card?
MileKing, the HHonors Visa card is issued by Citibank. Their Credit Card Agreement, effective on March 1, 2002, says Visa keeps 1% of the conversion rate on foreign transactions and Citibank keeps 2%.
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Does anyone have an update or recommendation for no annual fee and low surcharge credits cards for international purchases?
I have a relative who will working in the UK for three months and needs a card that will avoid as many additional fees as possible. She really does not have an interest in miles at this time so a no annual fee card would make more sense for her.
Any info would be appreciated.
Mike
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Eugene, you are mostly well informed and you have been a great help for me. However, you are not quite right regarding the exchange ratio.
On the Radisson website they show a ratio 8 to 1:
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Exclusive Radisson Airline Partner Rewards
Only a Radisson Gold Rewards member is entitled to redeem Gold Points to airline miles at an 8:1 ratio. PARTICIPATING AIRLINE MILES PARTNERS: Air Canada, America West, American, Asiana, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Continental, Delta, EL AL, Gulf Air, Icelandair, Latin Pass, Mexicana, Midwest Express, Northwest, Qualiflyer, United, US Airways
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Originally posted by USAFAN:
you are not quite right regarding the exchange ratio.
On the Radisson website they show a ratio 8 to 1
USAFAN -- Please note the dates of my posts above in this thread. Everything posted there was correct at the time of posting.
Exchange ratio has been changed on May 1, 2002 (with the grace period through June 1). http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif
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I have a Citibank Visa, BOA Visa and a AE Skymiles card. I had given up on finding a credit card company that didn't add an extra 2% surcharge.
Thanks to you all I discovered that the MBNA cards do not. I am going to cancel my BofA card immediately.
Thanks again.
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Eugene, sorry, now I can see that your post was in January.
When you recommended Radisson > Goldpoints, it was a good deal, now it's not. I get only 6 points (3 + 3) for one dollar = 6/8 miles = 0.75 miles. I'll send the card back - sooner or later.
Here is another deal: I opened (Holiday Inn) Priority Club. Got 10,000 points for the FirstUSA credit card and still wait for the 10,000 points from Netbank; have e-mailed Holiday Inn and Netbank.
I used Netbank to get Euros at an ATM in Paris. I got a very good rate (equal or better than published spot rates) and NO FEE charged.
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Originally posted by USAFAN:
Eugene, sorry, now I can see that your post was in January.
When you recommended Radisson > Goldpoints, it was a good deal, now it's not.
I agree. That's why on April 29th I started the following thread in this forum: MBNA's GoldPoints Rewards VISA loses its appeal (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum112/HTML/000250.html).
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I've had it. I've always known that they were gouging me 1-3% on the international exchange fee, but when a purchase costs more in dollars than euros, that's where I draw the line. The exchange rate is bad enough as it is, for crying out loud.
An actual double check of charges shows that the Citi AA is 3-4% above the exchange rate. Incidentally, my Citi ATM card is under 0.5% above the exchange rate (no ATM fees, either). I'm pretty sure the Delta AMEX was about 3% (AMEX seems to have better exchanges than Visa/MC).
Is the MBNA card the recommended card to avoid this surcharge and getting the best exchange rate, short of making all purchases in cash? I sure don't think paying 2.5-3.5% is worth the miles. (I have no intention of carrying an Amtrak card.)
[This message has been edited by flightrisk (edited 07-15-2002).]
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I have the Fleet Platinum Rebate Visa. 1% exchange surcharge (total), 0.5% cash rebate on purchases.