cherylmacourt

I am travelling to Europe early 2017. Has any body used Quantas cash card
I will be travelling through a range of places from England to Greece. Spain.
Having never travelled to Europe before and travelling with my 13 year old. I'm unsure about money
Thanks in advance

BigRuss

What logos does it have on the back? You need to be on a plus (Visa affiliated) or cirrus (MasterCard) network.

Honestly, you're better off getting a card tied to your bank account and withdraw at ATMs - preloaded cash cards like what you're describing often cost more.

janisj

Use regular credit cards to charge things and a regular debit/ATM card to get cash.

Christina

BigRuss is right in general, I have no idea of Australia is different in their typical bank card terms. But usually your own bank's ATM/debit card will give you a better rate.

I checked that card out and it isn't as bad as some in that there is no maintenance fee and you get airline points when using it. But when you use it in Europe, you will have a 1.95 AUD ATM flat fee per usage, plus you lose about 6% on the currency conversion. This is not a good deal.

They say that you get 64 euro for 100 AUD, for example, and the current interbank rate would give you 68 euro for 100 AUD.

In the US, you can find some bank cards with no currency conversion markup, but even the ones that have one seem to typically charge 3%. 6% is very high compared to a bank card in most places.

I don't know how that card works re various currencies, I think you could get stuck just as much as using an ATM if that's what you fear (you will have leftover cash). Because it's a weird kind of card where they make you load various currencies on it (ie, you load 100 euro or whatever). But it appears you can just load AUD (I have no idea why you wouldn't) and use it in any country with that same exchange rate so if by any chance you do use this card, load it with AUD.

traveller1959

We Europeans cannot answer your question because no one in Europe knows Quantas.

American citizens cannot help you either because their systems are also exotic in Europe.

Check the cooperating banks of your credit card organization and the cooperating systems. For withdrawing cash, MAESTRO is the very best system in Europe. As said, look on the little logos on your card and tell us about them. Then we can tell you more.

Be aware that England is not a part of Europe. It is an island with a financial system of its own. So, things in England are different from Greece and Spain.

Hooameye

"Be aware that England is not a part of Europe."

Uh, it certainly is and has been for millions of years, has someone picked the island up and moved it somewhere else while I wasn't looking.

janisj

>> I have no idea of Australia is different in their typical bank card terms.<<

They are different . . .

Heimdall

Presumably Qantas (not Quantas) is a card affiliated with the Australian airline. As long as it has the Visa or MasterCard logo you should be able to use it in European ATMs, and if so, would be a good backup card. That said, I would rather use standard bank debit and credit cards, but be sure to let them know you are travelling overseas so they don't block the transactions

Heimdall

According to this, the Qantas Cash Card is affiliated with MasterCard:
https://www.qantascash.com/features-benefits/

bilboburgler

"Be aware that England is not a part of Europe. It is an island with a financial system of its own. So, things in England are different from Greece and Spain."

Every country in Europe has its own financial system.

Geographically the island of Britain is part of Europe.
The Island of Britain is made up of three nations.
The UK is made up Britain and bunch of other bits of islands including Northern Ireland

The UK is part of the EU or indeed the UE (because within the EU/UE the countries can't even agree what to call it)

England is part of the UK and is made up part of Britain a bunch of smaller islands.

The EU/UE is not Europe, it is part of Europe.

drums fingers ,,,,,,,

Hooameye

Bilbo + 1.

brizzieLizzie

Cheryl

I have travelled with a Qantas cashcard which like many cards have pros and cons depending on what you are looking for. ( also have a couple of credit cards and have used my normal bank access card on occasion)
This is what I have found.

1. It is affiliated with Mastercard so widely accepted and generally I have no problems. I recall it not working in Fauchons ( Paris) and some small supermarkets but that is more about the store facilities than the card itself I think.

2. While the upload is free, the rate is 2-3% less than the advertised exchange rate. ( if you ever get that)

3. The amount is locked in at the rate of the day ( see above) which can be an advantaging with a fluctuating $AU at time.

4. If you withdraw a currency preloaded on your card ( eg £ in UK or € in France , Spain etc) there is a ATM fee of $2.20aud and no Fx fee. But if you withdraw in a country where the the local currency is not one of the QC options ( eg none € zone countries in Europe)there will be.

5. If you pay directly with the card ( as debit card) then no withdrawl fee and I dont think a currency conversion fee

6. In the latter scenario you also get Qantas frequent flyer points ( if QFF member)

7. You are only issued with one card unlike some other organizations which give you a back up card

Hope this helps. Happy to answer any questions if I can.

WoinParis

EU is called CEE. Or EEG. In Belgium.

I would advise to have 2 cards.
VISA is the card for France and MasterCard is not so widely accepted.
Amex is coming back and has no ceiling.
I often find myself in places where only one of the 3 major cards is accepted.

Havana128

Be aware that England is not a part of Europe. It is an island with a financial system

Huge news! England is part of Europe. England isn't an island.

Amazing what a tiny bit of research does for you.