Bonus points for international purchase

[lonewolf]

Hey guys,

I tried to search for this but couldn't find anything on it. Is it worth using the amex on international purchases due to the card offer of bonus points for every $1 spent on international purchases? Doesn't the extra fees still make it not as worthwhile as using a card that doesn't get charged any fees even if it doesn't earn any points?

 

[sudoer]

Is it worth using the amex on international purchases due to the card offer of bonus points for every $1 spent on international purchases?

Do you have a payment option available to you which incurs less than 3% forex surcharge?

If so, use that.

If not, this promo is for you.

 

[lonewolf]

Do you have a payment option available to you which incurs less than 3% forex surcharge?

If so, use that.

If not, this promo is for you.

Yes , I have a credit card that earns no points but doesn't have any fees for international purchases / foreign currencies.

 

[Human]

I don’t think it’s worth it but it does make foreign currency transactions just a little more palatable. I was overseas last month and put all my CC purchases on my Commbank Smart Awards Mastercard despite the AmEx offer — but when I rented a car I put it on the AmEx to get the insurance. I was glad for the offer then.

 

[lonewolf]

I don’t think it’s worth it but it does make foreign currency transactions just a little more palatable. I was overseas last month and put all my CC purchases on my Commbank Smart Awards Mastercard despite the AmEx offer — but when I rented a car I put it on the AmEx to get the insurance. I was glad for the offer then.

Good point, Hadnt thought about the insurance part. Shame amex cards have a forex fee.

 

[elanshin]

The 3% also gets muddied if you have it as a business expense or tax deductible expense. So there's no one size fits all but generally speaking if you have alternative purchase options on cards, that's better.

 

[lonewolf]

I miss the citibank diners club, wish they hadnt removed that. I guess if i need to make an expenditure for travel insurance viability too then i need to use the card.

 

[mswindells]

I don’t think it’s worth it but it does make foreign currency transactions just a little more palatable. I was overseas last month and put all my CC purchases on my Commbank Smart Awards Mastercard despite the AmEx offer — but when I rented a car I put it on the AmEx to get the insurance. I was glad for the offer then.

Exactly what I did in May - except the offer wasn't in place then. But CBA card for all purchases, car rental on the Amex, and unfortunately have to cop the fees on that.