Card payment sucharges banned in Australia from 2026

I buy airline tickets in many different countries and it’s only the Australian airlines that add a payment surcharge. Even Ryanair doesn’t stoop that low!
Several non Australian airlines also have surcharges for tickets originating in Australia. Further afield, Scoot reintroduced their credit card fees in Singapore, following the lead of the very soon to be defunct Jetstar Asia But it’s not a common practice like it is in AU.
 
According to ChatGPT - I laughed at the "consumer friendly" part!
  • Australia stands out as a country where credit and debit card surcharges are both permitted and widespread, making it consumer-friendly in everyday transactions.
  • EU and UK lead with a ban on surcharges for both credit and debit cards, creating a transparent pricing environment.
  • In the U.S. and Canada, credit card surcharges are common, while debit card surcharges are rare for everyday purchases.
  • In many other countries, credit card surcharges are common for high-end cards or international cards, with surcharges being applied more often in tourism-related sectors (e.g., travel agencies, airlines). Debit card surcharges are rare. Everyday purchases generally don’t attract surcharges.
 

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