14 ways you're being ripped off at the airport (UK-Centric)

[Happy Trails]

Nothing revelatory, but I did like the accompanying cartoon:





14 ways you're being ripped off at the airport - Telegraph

 

[JohnK]

Excellent cartoon. A simple observation regarding currency exchange on most recent trip to Thailand and Hong Kong.

Exchange rate in all exchange booths in BKK Airport was ~2.05 baht less than mid market rate (~7.7% commission) which is ~1.8 baht less what is on offer in Pattaya and some Bangkok exchanges which offer ~0.25 baht less than mid market rate. CNX airport was ~0.8 baht better than BKK airport and there is at least one exchange in Chiang Mai that offers close to the best Pattaya exchanges. I learnt a long time ago to bring back enough Thai baht with me to last me for 2-3 days on next trip without needing exchange.

Travelex is the only exchange in HKG and was offering ~0.6HKD less than mid market rate at ~1AUD=5.09HKD (~10.5% commission). The interesting part was using the ATM machine I was offered ~5.50HKD but musn't have had any money I could use for cash advance on the 28 Degrees card.

And I will never understand the greed behind not allowing free pick-up or making it extremely difficult for free pick-up. SYD airport is one classic example of that greed.

 

[marki]

Even before you get to the airport parking is a killer draining your wallet well before the duty free prices have a chance.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Excellent cartoon. A simple observation regarding currency exchange on most recent trip to Thailand and Hong Kong.

Exchange rate in all exchange booths in BKK Airport was ~2.05 baht less than mid market rate (~7.7% commission) which is ~1.8 baht less what is on offer in Pattaya and some Bangkok exchanges which offer ~0.25 baht less than mid market rate. CNX airport was ~0.8 baht better than BKK airport and there is at least one exchange in Chiang Mai that offers close to the best Pattaya exchanges. I learnt a long time ago to bring back enough Thai baht with me to last me for 2-3 days on next trip without needing exchange.

Travelex is the only exchange in HKG and was offering ~0.6HKD less than mid market rate at ~1AUD=5.09HKD (~10.5% commission). The interesting part was using the ATM machine I was offered ~5.50HKD but musn't have had any money I could use for cash advance on the 28 Degrees card.

And I will never understand the greed behind not allowing free pick-up or making it extremely difficult for free pick-up. SYD airport is one classic example of that greed.

Get a citibank debit card John! You'll get mid market rates on that and no commission. 28 degrees will slug you commission AND immediate interest now.

Although it's more complicated for Citi in thailand where they will pass on the tourist fee for using the ATM (unless you find a citi bank ATM of which they are now few and far between).

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Although it's more complicated for Citi in thailand where they will pass on the tourist fee for using the ATM (unless you find a citi bank ATM of which they are now few and far between).

ING Orange Everyday is superior as it will rebate the ATM fees (provided you meet the monthly eligibility criteria). There are indeed hardly any Citibank ATMs in Thailand, while ING will rebate the heinous ~$10 fee from any regular ATM on the street.

ING - No International Fees + Fee Free ATM Withdrawals Worldwide (Orange Everyday & Orange One)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

ING Orange Everyday is superior as it will rebate the ATM fees (provided you meet the monthly eligibility criteria). There are indeed hardly any Citibank ATMs in Thailand, while ING will rebate the heinous ~$10 fee from any regular ATM on the street.

ING - No International Fees + Fee Free ATM Withdrawals Worldwide (Orange Everyday & Orange One)

Has it been confirmed that ING refunds this? It doesn't appear as a fee on the statement, but in my case it was wrapped up in a lousy exchange rate (by Citi) which incorporated the fee. (I took out 5000 baht, and this was exactly what appeared on my statement, but the exchange made up for the 200 baht tax).

I wonder how ING would actually go about determining which component was the fee?

edited: from following various links in other threads I see there has been some success with this

 

[get me outta here]

Really? I didn’t know about that change. That makes the 28D pretty useless.

. 28 degrees will slug you commission AND immediate interest now.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Really? I didn’t know about that change. That makes the 28D pretty useless.

It was introduced several years ago now - at least as far back as 2013. They charge 3% cash advance fee and charge interest immediately as per cash advance rules (unless your account is in credit which is not allowed either).

But a further 'rule' made the changes even worse. They changed the order in which credit is applied to your account.

It used to be that any deposit paid off charges earning the highest interest first. Now any deposit pays off charges in the order they appeared on your account.

So you used to be able to withdraw $500 cash advance and then make a $500 deposit and all was said and done (may one day's interest charge). Now the $500 you pay goes to whatever purchases were first on your account, leaving the cash advance unpaid and accruing high interest.

 

[get me outta here]

Thanks for the heads up. I knew of the cash advance fee, but not the interest attribution, but I never took cash out, but do use it as a back up credit card. Is that still just paid off in the normal fashion?

It was introduced several years ago now - at least as far back as 2013. They charge 3% cash advance fee and charge interest immediately as per cash advance rules (unless your account is in credit which is not allowed either).

But a further 'rule' made the changes even worse. They changed the order in which credit is applied to your account.

It used to be that any deposit paid off charges earning the highest interest first. Now any deposit pays off charges in the order they appeared on your account.

So you used to be able to withdraw $500 cash advance and then make a $500 deposit and all was said and done (may one day's interest charge). Now the $500 you pay goes to whatever purchases were first on your account, leaving the cash advance unpaid and accruing high interest.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for the heads up. I knew of the cash advance fee, but not the interest attribution, but I never took cash out, but do use it as a back up credit card. Is that still just paid off in the normal fashion?

Yeah. no other changes.

it’s still a great card for o/s transactions.

BTW... a little OT but may be of use to some. I rang the other day to advise 28 degrees of an impending overseas transaction (Colombia). The payment was still blocked. Rang back and they said what you need to ask for is a ‘card override’. This completely removes any fraud control for a set period, meaning nothing will be stopped. So if you need to make a large overseas transaction in a known fraud country, the override will give you a window to do that.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Has it been confirmed that ING refunds this?

Yep.

(I took out 5000 baht, and this was exactly what appeared on my statement, but the exchange made up for the 200 baht tax).

There will be four entries:-

• THAI ATM WITHDRAWAL -$XYZ.XY (however much you withdrew including the Thai ATM fee)
• International ATM Withdrawal Fee -$2.50 (ING fee regardless of whether the ATM charges a fee)
• International ATM Fee Rebate +$2.50 (reversal of ING fee for eligible customers)
• International ATM Fee Rebate +$A.BC (reversal of Thai ATM fee for eligible customers)

I wonder how ING would actually go about determining which component was the fee?

The amount is known to them within the transaction details.

Yeah. no other changes.

There were detrimental changes with the introduction of a BPay fee and online payment portal issues.

it’s still a great card for o/s transactions.

Bankwest Zero Platinum is superior (also no annual fee, plus travel insurance), but some people may not be able to get that one. 28D is acceptable if a person must have a credit card for foreign currency purchases (as opposed to the no annual fee Citibank Plus debit card), but it cannot be called great due to the BPay fee and online payment portal issues.

 

[Pete98765432]

Yep.

There will be four entries:-

• THAI ATM WITHDRAWAL -$XYZ.XY (however much you withdrew including the Thai ATM fee)
• International ATM Withdrawal Fee -$2.50 (ING fee regardless of whether the ATM charges a fee)
• International ATM Fee Rebate +$2.50 (reversal of ING fee for eligible customers)
• International ATM Fee Rebate +$A.BC (reversal of Thai ATM fee for eligible customers)

Just to add to the above. Immediately you make the withdrawal there’ll be a pending transaction just for the amount withdrawn (without ATM fee). When the transaction is cleared, the fee is added to the withdrawal amount and the other three transactions are posted.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Bankwest Zero Platinum is superior (also no annual fee, plus travel insurance), but some people may not be able to get that one. 28D is acceptable if a person must have a credit card for foreign currency purchases (as opposed to the no annual fee Citibank Plus debit card), but it cannot be called great due to the BPay fee and online payment portal issues.

I guess my point was that I wouldn't be changing credit card providers simply for the sake of payment options. I can't say I was happy about the change in payment methods when it first came out for 28 degrees, but now i actually find it much easier and saves a lot of time. One click and it's done. My old method involved going to 28 degrees, writing down how much I owed, going to my other bank, logging on, selecting 'pay anyone', selecting account from/to etc etc.

Gone from five or six steps to one. But YMMV

I have concerns about the bankwest zero platinum travel insurance. It requires 'a return ticket' (singular) to activate cover. ANZ on the other hand requires 'a ticket'. So you could have multiple tickets as long as one of them returns you to Australia. Important for award tickets for example where they may come from different airlines.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

I guess my point was that I wouldn't be changing credit card providers simply for the sake of payment options.

I was a huge fan going back to the Wizard Clear Advantage days and used cash advance all the time, both domestically and overseas. That flexibility was simply awesome.

The BPay fee remains unprecedented to my knowledge. The many associated issues were interesting in that they did not affect everyone equally, but in any event they were completely unnecessary detriments for a card that no longer had a competitive advantage. Cancelling it was one of the easiest decisions ever.

But indeed YMMV. If someone has 28D and can't get ZPM, then there's no reason to change. If they can get ZPM, then there's no reason not to change in my view.

I have concerns about the bankwest zero platinum travel insurance. It requires 'a return ticket' (singular) to activate cover.

As per TRAVEL INSURANCE 2017 SINGLE AND ANNUAL "CHOICE" RECOMMEND?, they have said separate one-way tickets would be ok. While I previously elected not to chance it, I'm actually fairly sanguine about it.

Call once, ask, note their name, the time and date. Call a second time to check for consistent advice, note their name, the time and date. I'd be comfortable that that provides enough ammo to take to FOS if need be.

But in any event I just noticed this is way OT from the OP