FinnAir and Credit Card Surcharges
Hi all!
I have purchased tickets on AerLingus before, and found that they charge an "international purchase" fee because the hub is based overseas, although the prices on the site are quoted in dollars. I am contemplating purchasing tickets on FinnAir and wondered if this site does the same thing. Would it matter if I purchased the FinnAir tickets via Orbitz?
Thanks!
Monique
Monique
Pittsburgh, PA USA 1/29/13
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It is not Aer Lingus charging the fee, but rather your credit card company. Many credit card companies charge an "foreign transaction fee" for any charges that are processed in a foreign country, even if the charges are in dollars. I have seen complaints about people getting hit with fees by their credit card company when buying from Orbitz and other online ticket sites.
The only way to guarantee it is to to get a credit card with no transaction fee.
As above, I doubt Aer Lingus charged you this (unless their rules said they would and made it clear before you pressed the buy button). I think this is your card provider charging you.
Yes it was the credit card company, just as they would charge me with any purchase made overseas. Sorry I misspoke.
So I can expect this with any foreign airline, even when going through a third party like Orbitz? I would get a card with no fees but I won't have the time between now and when I get the tickets.
Thanks!
To answer your question, Orbitz is in the US so the transaction is US and no additional fees per your credit card.
Many people have had reported a different experience than Frank suggests with Orbitz.
If you do a google search on "Orbitz Foreign Transaction Fee", you will find numerous complaints where people have been charged a fee by their credit card company despite buying a ticket through Orbitz (an American company) in U.S. Dollars.
I don't know the answer for FinnAir from Orbitz ... just know that over the years I have seen many complaints about unexpected foreign transaction fees. Here is one such complaint:
Chris Elliott blog on foreign transaction fees
"So I can expect this with any foreign airline"?
No. I booked Air Berlin, Air France, and Turkish Air direct from their respective websites (my most recent foreign airline bookings), and had no foreign transaction fees. I also booked Aeroflot and had no fee; I don't remember if it was from Aeroflot's site or another site.
But, when I booked Air Berlin in 2004 (before they served the US), they were based in Europe, so I did pay a fee (I remember this, because my transaction was initially questioned by my credit card, and I had to call to get it to go through).
It just depends on how the transaction is processed by the airline (or agent, in the case of Orbitz) in question.
Thanks everyone.
Harold - I am assuming the card you used is one that normally charges international purchase fees, and NOT like Capital One?
Even if there is a surcharge it will still be less expensive than other carriers, so more than likely I will go for it. But I just don't want any surprises.