Double Standards for UA customers outside the USA

[brown891]

Okay firstly - this is a minor rant but also has this happened to anyone else?!

Today I was trying to book an internal US flight (one way) with United using my Velocity travel card. So I have the appropriate amount of USD loaded onto the card and the reason being I wanted to receive the 2x points per $1 spent as well. Thought this would be straight forward considering the other day I did the same thing with Spirit Airlines.

I go through the payment areas of the United website (all in USD), hit ‘pay’ and it flicks over from USD and now shows me the amount I will he charged in AUD. I find this odd so I ring up reservations and the mileage team to ask about it. Here’s the reason: I cannot pay for a flight in USD because my card is Australian based and billed here. Hmm odd and annoying considering I am ready to pay in USD.

Adding to this - not only can I not use my card to pay in USD, but I can’t book the lowest economy fare available as “Basic Economy is not available to customers Not booking in USD”.

So now my flight costs of $258.9 USD (~$380 AUD) is now $493.50 AUD as I have to pay for the more expensive economy ticket.

First world problem yes - but holy wow if Spirit can do it, what on earth are UA doing?

 

[Daver6]

What about using PayPal? Can you set up your debit card there in USD?

At the very least if you use PayPal you can book the Basic Economy fare that way since

 

[RooFlyer]

First world problem yes - but holy wow if Spirit can do it, what on earth are UA doing?

I wouldn't call that a 'first world problem' - its real money!

The reason you were given about being 'billed in Australia' sounds nonsense - just an excuse. I think American Airlines does similar - if you book through their Australian web site, fares are more expensive than on their US site. This doesn't sound like that sort of problem - but was it an 'Australian' site? That, plus an Aussie card might be the issue?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Can you book through someone like Expedia's US site? That may get you the fare you want, and in USD.

 

[Hvr]

Did it actually ask for an address during the booking process?

If so search for "El Segundo" on AFF and try that method.

 

[twiningb]

Here’s the reason: I cannot pay for a flight in USD because my card is Australian based and billed here. Hmm odd and annoying considering I am ready to pay in USD.

Doesn't this constitute a violation of Visa's and MasterCard's merchant terms that insist you can't force dynamic currency conversion on a customer?

 

[dajop]

Doesn't this constitute a violation of Visa's and MasterCard's merchant terms that insist you can't force dynamic currency conversion on a customer?

This is not dynamic currency conversion, this is restricting availability based on location of purchaser. I’ve noticed several threads on FT about this in relation to US and Canada as well for some airlines. The agreed way around it, as per MEL_Traveller’s suggestion is to use a US based online travel agent.

This can be seen on itamatrix by changing the “Sales City”.

 

[Daver6]

When you enter your credit card details, it asks for your address at that point, which presumably need to match the details on file for your credit card. Fraud protection.

 

[Hvr]

When you enter your credit card details, it asks for your address at that point, which presumably need to match the details on file for your credit card. Fraud protection.

Which can be overcome on AA using the El Segundo method I mentioned above.

It worked for me just last week.

 

[ozstamps]

Booked some award tix tonight and taxes came up in USA.

So filled in all card details and billing address etc, etc.

THEN it all reverted to AUD (at gawd knows what horrible exchange rate!) and needed to do it all over again.

Do UA take paypal? Never even thought of that, as have a heap on USD sitting there.

 

[NateB]

Seems old that they won't sell Basic Economy fares on their website to non US customers.

Australian travel agents have access to Basic Economy fares converted at the BSR so as long as they don't charge any fees that might be the best bet?

 

[drron]

When you enter your credit card details, it asks for your address at that point, which presumably need to match the details on file for your credit card. Fraud protection.

I have paid with my Aussie Amex on both AA and UA USA websites.I am lucky as I put in my proper address but put State as Maine,put a 0 in front of postcode-it is actually a place in Maine.They let me pay in USD and Amex have never complained.