Malaysian Airlines Ticket and International Transaction Fees

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Phantom Yoda

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I bought three tickets last week from the Malaysian Airlines website and paid using my NAB Qantas Premium Card, but the bank has changed me International Transaction Fees for this transaction.

The fare shown during booking was in Australian Dollars and on the Payment Page, I verified that that the Payment Currency was in AUD.

I have spoken to the bank and they have told me that this charge was for Malaysian Airlines Ticket.

I have spoken to the Malaysian Airlines customer service agent in Melbourne and they say that the charge should be in AUD as well.

Does anyone know that all ticket bookings on Malaysian Airlines is not in AUD? Not sure who to talk to now?
 
If the merchant is deemed to be outside the country the banks will whack you for foreign transaction fees even if the currency is AUD. This is partly why DCC is so dangerous.

There's not much you can do, it's not a battle they'll concede since they make so much money out of it. Instead, look for a card that doesn't have foreign transaction fees like Bankwest World or 28 degrees.
 
I do have 28 degrees card, but it would have helped if this information was listed anywhere. I have bought on Singapore Airlines before without this fees using the same card.
 
I bought three tickets last week from the Malaysian Airlines website and paid using my NAB Qantas Premium Card, but the bank has changed me International Transaction Fees for this transaction.

The fare shown during booking was in Australian Dollars and on the Payment Page, I verified that that the Payment Currency was in AUD.

I have spoken to the bank and they have told me that this charge was for Malaysian Airlines Ticket.

I have spoken to the Malaysian Airlines customer service agent in Melbourne and they say that the charge should be in AUD as well.

Does anyone know that all ticket bookings on Malaysian Airlines is not in AUD? Not sure who to talk to now?

Unfortunately this is one of the new credit card scams we are subject to by the banks. It's complete cough and a rip off but there's nothing you can do about it if you purchase direct through the airlines.

Most airlines, whether they have an Australian web site and Australian registered company, actually change your credit card though an offshore clearing house. It matters not what the currency is even if you 'see' AUD. The banks now define that as an overseas transaction and will charge you foreign transaction fee (up to 3.5% with Amex).

We got hit with $950 in fees for EK flights last year, booked through the EK Australian web site and payed in Australian Dollars. I cancelled the fares and got a refund and demanded a refund of the fees from Westpac Earth, then I bought the same fare through Flight Centre and payed FTF.

The scam even extends to buying FF award seats on QF. Just booked two FF award flights, one intra-UK and one UK-Spain, through Qantas web site and was charged in pounds and got hit with FTF.

It's an outrageous rip-off since the transaction has been done by the company charging not by the your bank itself. It sucks. Badly. Should be outlawed by the Reserve Bank and ACCC but they don't seem to care. (My complaints to them were greeted with a form letter.)

What this means is that if you purchase ANY product through an Australian Web site, from an Australian registered company, there is no way to accurately know at the time of purchase whether your bank will hit you with a FTF.
 
Just a note, the fee has nothing to do with MAS. It's the bank's fault.
 
Unfortunately this is one of the new credit card scams we are subject to by the banks. It's complete cough and a rip off but there's nothing you can do about it if you purchase direct through the airlines.

Most airlines, whether they have an Australian web site and Australian registered company, actually change your credit card though an offshore clearing house. It matters not what the currency is even if you 'see' AUD. The banks now define that as an overseas transaction and will charge you foreign transaction fee (up to 3.5% with Amex).

We got hit with $950 in fees for EK flights last year, booked through the EK Australian web site and payed in Australian Dollars. I cancelled the fares and got a refund and demanded a refund of the fees from Westpac Earth, then I bought the same fare through Flight Centre and payed FTF.

The scam even extends to buying FF award seats on QF. Just booked two FF award flights, one intra-UK and one UK-Spain, through Qantas web site and was charged in pounds and got hit with FTF.

It's an outrageous rip-off since the transaction has been done by the company charging not by the your bank itself. It sucks. Badly. Should be outlawed by the Reserve Bank and ACCC but they don't seem to care. (My complaints to them were greeted with a form letter.)

What this means is that if you purchase ANY product through an Australian Web site, from an Australian registered company, there is no way to accurately know at the time of purchase whether your bank will hit you with a FTF.

This is just so unfortunate, I used my AMEX as well, and it is too steep to pay 3.5% transaction fees, specially when you are looking for bargain deals and booking well in advance. Might as well go with a travel agent in the future.

The bigger problem I have is that this is not advertised anywhere, at least they should specify that any purchases made via Malaysian Airlines website will have this charge. They boldly say on the top of the payment page that you can now pay in AUD, well charging this fees definitely is not the case. I would have preferred to pay in the international currency and let the bank decide on the Foriegn Exchange as compared to this unknown number that has been charged by this unknown offshore clearning website.

What makes is harder is the the customer service consultants who don't understand this is happening and just plead ignorance.
 
Just a note, the fee has nothing to do with MAS. It's the bank's fault.

Not sure what you mean here? Banks will process whatever is given to them, if you are advertising fares in Australian, on a website that is booking flights out of Australia, then at least customers know that the payment will be processed offshore.
 
This is just so unfortunate, I used my AMEX as well, and it is too steep to pay 3.5% transaction fees, specially when you are looking for bargain deals and booking well in advance. Might as well go with a travel agent in the future.

The bigger problem I have is that this is not advertised anywhere, at least they should specify that any purchases made via Malaysian Airlines website will have this charge. They boldly say on the top of the payment page that you can now pay in AUD, well charging this fees definitely is not the case. I would have preferred to pay in the international currency and let the bank decide on the Foriegn Exchange as compared to this unknown number that has been charged by this unknown offshore clearning website.

What makes is harder is the the customer service consultants who don't understand this is happening and just plead ignorance.
As stated earlier, unfortunately it's not actually the airlines fault or issue. It's the sleezy banks credit card ripoff for an 'apparent' FTF. It's actually impossible to tell if you will be charged the FTF when you commit to the payment in AUD from the airline. IMHO such behaviour by the banks should be outlawed by the ACCC.

The only way to avoid this ripoff from the banks it is to book through Qantas (for Australian origin flights) or pay through an Australian TA.
 
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The scam even extends to buying FF award seats on QF. Just booked two FF award flights, one intra-UK and one UK-Spain, through Qantas web site and was charged in pounds and got hit with FTF.

It's an outrageous rip-off since the transaction has been done by the company charging not by the your bank itself. It sucks. Badly. Should be outlawed by the Reserve Bank and ACCC but they don't seem to care. (My complaints to them were greeted with a form letter.)

What this means is that if you purchase ANY product through an Australian Web site, from an Australian registered company, there is no way to accurately know at the time of purchase whether your bank will hit you with a FTF.

Not sure why you are angry about this one. You made a transaction for flights based out of the UK and were charged in pounds so 100% should have a FTF applied (unless you are exempt).
 
Do not blame the airline for this, blame your bank. Not all cards have this clause in them for foreign merchants but AUD transactions. The company shouldn't have to let you know where their merchant is based. Consider some of these companies operate websites in multiple countries and offer multiple currencies of sale. Just because Australian banks are fleecing us seems a bit strange that we should blame them?
 
Not sure why you are angry about this one. You made a transaction for flights based out of the UK and were charged in pounds so 100% should have a FTF applied (unless you are exempt).
It's appalling! I'm redeeming a QF Award ticket through Qantas and paying through Qantas Australian web site. Just a ripoff. Sorry.
 
Not sure what you mean here? Banks will process whatever is given to them, if you are advertising fares in Australian, on a website that is booking flights out of Australia, then at least customers know that the payment will be processed offshore.

nope, it's your bank. You could use a Citibank card, or an Amex issued Amex, or a GE 28 degrees. Possibly ANZ too, but I won't guarantee that one.
 
Gday

I booked a MAS Enrich points and pay ticket on their website 12 days ago and the invoice was emailed to me in AUD and i have checked my credit card bill and it was charged in AUD with no foreign processing fee.

What are FTF and DCC?

Thanks.

Pele.
 
It's appalling! I'm redeeming a QF Award ticket through Qantas and paying through Qantas Australian web site. Just a ripoff. Sorry.

What you are doing is paying taxes and fees for a ticket from UK to somewhere else and then supplementing that with some points. Because the point of sale is the UK the purchase will always be denominated in pounds. If you would prefer for Qantas to do their own DCC of pounds to Australian dollars and then sell it to you like that you would probably be worse off anyway. You can't lay any blame

The other case which is the subject of this thread is just downright sneakiness by the banks. Companies must get sick of the calls they receive and having to direct their customers back to their own bank for the complaint. The general view from the public is they are blaming the company and not the bank.
 
Real trick of young players here. My last MH purchase cost me double because I didn't have money loaded on my Citibank Plus card.






Hopefully this post bumps down a certain thread that firmly fits in the loose lips sinks ships. People really need to learn to shut their cake holes.
 
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The other case which is the subject of this thread is just downright sneakiness by the banks. Companies must get sick of the calls they receive and having to direct their customers back to their own bank for the complaint. The general view from the public is they are blaming the company and not the bank.
It's not all the backs. Mastercard and Visa are charging the banks for making cross border transactions, which requires use of some international infrastructure. The banks tack on their cut and there you have it 3%...
 
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