Overseas Credit Cards

[spitfire1500]

Just wanted to find out from some of you guys doing the Atlas, Southern, Kalitta type of flying what you are using as far as credit cards for personal use. I am constantly having trouble with mine if I use it in a few countries over a short period of time.. My card company says I need to call each time I'm going overseas and tell them where I'm headed...yea like thats an option when my gtrip changes in Nairobi or Lagos..

 

[propilot]

I use a Citi Mastercard. I use it all over the world with only the occasional glitch. When it gets denied for a possible fraud alert, the bank calls you(I carry an international cell), you verify your identity and it gets turned back on instantly. That being said, it's only happened maybe two or three times. I spoke with Citi and they said the program tracks your usage and will not deny if it sees a trend of overseas use. That may be good or bad. I like that it denies me on occasion. Makes me think someone is actually looking out for my account. I've never had any issues other than that...Now my Wells Fargo card is another story...

 

[Flyingtom145]

I use a Visa Check card from my bank. I only keep a few hundred in it just in case it gets lost or stolen. I can go online anywhere and refill it when it gets low.

 

[atpcliff]

If u qualify for USAA, go with them...used to overseas travellers.

 

[avpro91]

Another vote for Citi Mastercard. I don't use it much however. Most places we go take debit cards. But don't use Bank of America for an ATM/Debit card for cash, they charge $5 every time you get cash out overseas. I just take cash out before I leave the country and use it as a debit card (no fee).

 

[mushroom]

Plus one for USAA. Best of everything out there, IMHO. I called them once years ago to let them know I would be overseas a lot and to put a note in my file, and I have never had any issue since. Plus USAA has extremely low international charges when some other companies' charges can be outrageous.

 

[bigsky]

Usaa is seems to be good. I also have a citi MasterCard. Usually not too many troubles.

 

[Talon757]

Another satisfied USAA customer. Been with them since the mid '70s and have no complaints. They even refund any ATM fees I incur anywhere in the world. That alone makes it a pretty good per diem card.

 

[cargoflyr69]

HSBC credit or debit.... You can link it to your regular bank accounts. HSBC is just about everywhere in asia and the world for that matter

 

[dash8driver]

I use a debit card for my Charles Schwab Bank account. I transfer small amounts of money into it as I need. Unlimited worldwide ATM fee refunds, no min balance, $0 to open, no fees.

I also have a USAA debit card too, also really good.

 

[unwashed]

Visa Debit card and Capitol One Master Card. CO zero fees, Visa debit with a few hundred does the job for most things.

 

[spitfire1500]

Thx for all the input...It gets old wondering whether my card is going to work or not when I need it.

 

[belchfire]

Be very careful with your personal cards overseas. Used one in Bahrain one time to pay for a meal in the hotel and suddenly had fraudulent charges popping up that took 6 months to clear up!

 

[l8fr82hub]

My USAA card was declined twice in Mexico last week in two different hotel restaurants. I called when I returned and they claim the restaurants did something wrong. It worked OK in London two days ago.

 

[belchfire]

On this line of discussion, who has the best security and response to illegitimate charges?

I can assure you that HSBC doesn't!

 

[satpak77]

be careful many places will swipe it like 15 times and that will trigger fraud alert

 

[Nalo Boy]

Cash machine.

 

[satpak77]

what I do overseas is use an ATM inside a hotel or inside a mall (versus off the street ATM) and get money that way. You will automatically get the best exchange rate.

Yahoo Currency Converter will give you the exchange rate

 

[Floyd R. Turbo]

No problems with USAA either. Just got the Chase Priority Club card, it seems to be working well so far. No foreign transaction charges, which puts me ahead even with the annual fee, which is waived the first year. Also two free nights when you get the card, and one night a year after that. Plus 5 points per dollar charged at Priority Club hotels (we stay at a lot) and one point per dollar everywhere else.

 

[mach3matt]

Chase just upheld my dispute of a 4000+ dollar charge on my personal card. The charge was for a flight on American. A good sign they didn't suck up to such a large vendor.

I had to call Chase once when I first started flying international to advise them of my new travel habits. Since then, no problems.

Good luck.

 

[414Flyer]

Last time I was in french West Africa, a Mastercard was pretty much worthless, Visa was the only card that was accepted, when you did find places that took cards.

 

[TX_DFW]

Capital One Visa for a few years now. No intl exchange fee some cards charge 2%

 

[cbogacz]

I 2nd the Capital one No hassles Visa, been living in Saudi for 19 months now and the cards worked all over the world. Best part is of course no exchange fee's.

 

[Front Office]

I just got off the phone with Bank of America, I told them I travel all over the world and I asked about the fee's. They told me that since I had an Advantage account all fee's will be waived and all previous fee's will be reimbursed.

All you have to do is call them.

 

[Jurasicpilot]

AMEX Platinum, it gets you into just about all the FF fly'er lounges/clubs. If you detect a false charge its like unleashing the 3rd Riech onto a small Polish village. Absolute brutality.....

Always use cash if you can though, card cloning is getting popular. The merchant can simply palm a cloner and you'll never see it.

 

[414Flyer]

I 2nd the Capital one No hassles Visa, been living in Saudi for 19 months now

My sympathies

 

[ksu_aviator]

Call your CC company and tell them to turn off the fraud protection. The operator may not have offered that option, but it is an option.