It seems like I cannot find the currency conversion rate that American Express uses, unlike Visa and Mastercard, where they have a specific page where they let their customers to calculate the currency conversion rate that they use in a specific date.
Does American Express ever have the similar page? Or do they not want the public from accessing it?
Edit:
Visa - https://usa.visa.com/support/consumer/travel-support/exchange-rate-calculator.html
Mastercard - https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/personal/get-support/convert-currency.html
So for those familiar with Amex's currency exchange rules, I'm hoping to clarify how the exchange is actually done. Is the following correct?
According to Amex theres 2 parts to the policy:
(1) 2.99% charge for non GBP transaction
(2) Use of an Amex rate which is a charge on top of the ECB's rate
Does this mean that for a 1000 USD transaction. The charge in GBP is calculated as follows:
ECB rate :
USD/EUR: 1.0772
GBP/EUR: 0.83188
USD/GBP rate = 1.0772 * (1/0.83188) = 0.7722614184923877 (Can be confirmed via their site)
Amex Rate:
USD/GBP * 1.02457 = 0.7912358815447456
Final Charge:
Amex then adds a 2.99% charge for converting.
*Therefore a 1k USD purchase translates into: (Cost) * (Conversion Charge) * (Amex Rate)
= 1000 * 1.0299 * 0.7912358815447456 = 814.89 GBP
Comparision:
Compared to 776.94 GBP charged by MasterCard. Which means a 4.89% difference. Is that right?
Sources:
ECB Rates: https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/euro_reference_exchange_rates/html/index.en.html
https://data.ecb.europa.eu/currency-converter
I’ve heard a few times that it’s worth it to use the Amex card overseas because “they give you better FX rates”. Has anyone tried two transactions on an Amex and a Visa/Mastercard on the same day to actually validate if this is true?
Also, if they are better, is the rate difference enough to compensate for the 3% foreign transaction charge, considering that Amex gives you reward points / Avios too?
I’m going on a Europe trip to several different countries in a couple months. I was wondering what the international fees on the Amex gold card would be like. It says there are no international fees by Amex but, merchants may charge their own foreign fees.
What’s everyone’s experience with this traveling abroad? Are there any fees either from Amex or merchants, especially in Europe?
I just got an AMEX Gold USA. I would be mostly using this for online payments for my business.
I pay marketing in currencies like EUR, GBP and AUD.
Does it mean I will have to pay a 3% conversion fee, or not?
Online it says there are no currency conversion fees (overseas) for this AMEX card, but what about online payments in a different currency other than the USD? IT does NOT specify this.
Can someone confirm?