Any Way to Avoid the Forex Transaction Charge?

[swagatopablo]

Does anyone feel that the Singapore air website booking interface could be improved, something more like expedia or Cathay pacific. I believe that the prominent display of transit options and timing is more important than the flight numbers. Anyway, a weird nature of the site is it always sets the fare in the currency of the originating nation (whence other airliners let you choose the country and currency). Does it mean that even if I am booking using a DBS credit card, I have to pay a foreign transaction charge?

[SilverChris]

Anyway, a weird nature of the site is it always sets the fare in the currency of the originating nation (whence other airliners let you choose the country and currency).

That's a standard practice and isn't limited to SQ. Some airlines let you choose other currency options but it's not the norm.

[CarbonMan]

And if they do allow you to charge the ticket in your currency, I'm almost certain the rates would also not be favourable.

[SQ218]

I just got a shock too. Never had this issue previously when booking.

Just noticed the currency selection drop down when it comes to pay.

Got quoted in AUD$ when it comes to pay no option to pay in quoted currency so selected SGD$. Just saw what was charged on my CC was almost $400 more than the quoted fare

[andrit]

That's a standard practice and isn't limited to SQ. Some airlines let you choose other currency options but it's not the norm.

Some airlines let you choose the currency for estimate purpose only, when you finalise the booking, you will be charged at the local originated country currency on your credit card. I always prefer to use my credit card fx rate rather than the quoted rate on the purchase website.

[SQ228]

I just got a shock too. Never had this issue previously when booking.

Just noticed the currency selection drop down when it comes to pay.

Got quoted in AUD$ when it comes to pay no option to pay in quoted currency so selected SGD$. Just saw what was charged on my CC was almost $400 more than the quoted fare

What???

I've never heard of this before! We have always paid in AUD on SQ.

May I ask how much the extra charge was in percentage terms? Always booking as a solo passenger in Y, $400 would be a 20% increase for me!

Yes, airlines may follow this practice, but I recently booked flights with Icelandair- I was quoted in GBP, I converted this to AUD using Google and was then billed to CC in ISK. The difference was only a couple of dollars more than my estimation.

[Kyo]

When I booked Icelandair (FI), I did one way in GBP, and one way in ISK, both flights booked separately.

I saved $11.82 by paying in ISK, as far as I can tell

(somewhat annoyingly, the reservation was in Icelandic with no translation option - didn't stop Google Translate, however!)

[SQ218]

What???

I've never heard of this before! We have always paid in AUD on SQ.

May I ask how much the extra charge was in percentage terms? Always booking as a solo passenger in Y, $400 would be a 20% increase for me!

Yes, airlines may follow this practice, but I recently booked flights with Icelandair- I was quoted in GBP, I converted this to AUD using Google and was then billed to CC in ISK. The difference was only a couple of dollars more than my estimation.

I've always paid in AUD$ too. Just clicked next next. This time it stopped saying please select currency payment and in there was SGD, USD, Euro and some other can't remember.

In hindsight it should have rung alarm bells and make me call reservation to enquire. And just wanting to get this booking done I just selected SGD. I rang SQ and they said I selected foreign currency and should contact the Credit Card as it is the FX Charge. I said you never allowed me to pay in AUD like before and had no choice.

Rang the issuing bank they said why I selected foreign currency and explained the whole story and they were quite surprised by the choice of payment method from SIA. She mentioned something like 3.4% but I still failed to see how the maths got to in excess of over AUD$400. They said they are going to follow it up with SQ but not holding my breath.SQ228 it is a C fare.

Have sent an email to SQ and gave them a piece of my thoughts.

I can think of better ways to spend that $400 than giving it to the bank grrr...

[Liski]

So if paying with a Westpac SQ Platinum card it's better to select to pay in AUD on the SQ site/call centre?

[SQ228]

When I booked Icelandair (FI), I did one way in GBP, and one way in ISK, both flights booked separately.

I saved $11.82 by paying in ISK, as far as I can tell

(somewhat annoyingly, the reservation was in Icelandic with no translation option - didn't stop Google Translate, however!)

Yes, I thought I would rather pay in ISK but my Icelandic isn't exactly brilliant... That left me with the options of booking in English and paying in GBP or USD or in German and paying EUR. It billed to my credit card as 'IS' but the amount specified was the GBP amount- if only it had been 320 ISK!

What was interesting is that the CPH-DÜS sector is a codeshare with an SK plane and the CPH-KEF-CPH sectors are with FI 757s. Booking the exact same flights in reverse through SK with the FI sectors as the codeshares was WAY more expensive. Almost an extra 50% so definitely not worth it to gain the *A miles with SK. I'm guessing though, that with an FI codeshare flight number for my SK flight, they won't let me in the *A lounge.

[SQ218]

heard back from SQ

Dear Mr SQ218,

Blah blah blah

Nonetheless, as a gesture of goodwill, we would like to review the exchange rate that was charged to your account. We kindly ask that you forward a copy of your bank statement showing the exchange rate at the time and the total cost. In addition, we kindly ask that you advise us of the following information;

Bank Name
BSP
Account Name
Account Number

Once again Mr SQ218, we sincere apologise for the misunderstanding caused
and hope the above can be of assurance to you

[Kyo]

I'd actually be interested to hear what they said in the 'Blah blah blah' bit...

[SQ218]

I'd actually be interested to hear what they said in the 'Blah blah blah' bit...

haha sorry here it is

We are very sorry for the misunderstanding caused upon trying to finalise
payment for your booking online via our website. If we may explain, our
online system provides an option for passengers to make payment in a
different currency, by selecting from the currencies listed on the drop
down menu, if required. However, we wish to explain that it is not
mandatory to change to select a different currency. Passengers are able to
move onto the next page where they are able to make payment based on the
currency used in the departing country. In this instance, as you had
selected an itinerary that departed from Melbourne, the currency is
automatically arranged to provide you with a fare in Australian dollars as
well as make payment in this currency.

Should you wish to make a booking for future travel via our website, please
note that you would be able to confirm your itinerary and make payment
without having to select a new currency.

[SQ228]

haha sorry here it is

That reassures me that they have no plans to begin forcing me to pay in a foreign currency.

[SQ218]

Just an update to my case.

Got a reply back they have passed my case to the relevant dept to process the reimbursement of the difference I was charged in AUD$ after the SGD$ conversion and also the Foreign exchange fee charged by the bank.