Starling bank?

GibbsRule_No3.

I have opened a Starling account for my trip to the US later this year.  It looks like I can send money to my US friend from the account (SWIFT?), bit like sending to a UK friend (but for a small fee, happy to do that). Can anyone share their experience of doing this, was it easy, anything I should look out for to make it go easier?  I'd like to pay for some flights for us, probably easier if US friend buys them her end, as they are internal flights.

eDicky

Might be easier and avoid transfer costs to buy the tickets on the airline's US website in dollars with your Starling debit card. But be sure to decline any offer to charge you in GBP after card details are entered.

I've often made transfers in euros from Starling, not dollars. Payments are not immediate. If fraud checks are made for a new payee, Starling contact you about it, instead of leaving you in limbo as some banks do.

GibbsRule_No3.

eDicky said:

Might be easier and avoid transfer costs to buy the tickets on the airline's US website in dollars with your Starling debit card. But be sure to decline any offer to charge you in GBP after card details are entered.

I've often made transfers in euros from Starling, not dollars. Payments are not immediate. If fraud checks are made for a new payee, Starling contact you about it, instead of leaving you in limbo as some banks do.

I think because it is my US friend who is conversing with the people we are visiting, and she has some membership with AA there will be less booking problems if she books the flight, she only needs to enter my Passport details, if I do her there looks like a lot more to enter. I am happy to pay the fee to Starling. I assume (maybe should not!) that once she is in my payee wallet I will be able to give her money in future easily as well, granted with a fee.  Nice to know that Starling do contact people if a problem occurs.  I will also let US friend know it might not be immediate into her account, we have a couple of months for the trip.