Paying for a flight in euros

tracyk23

I am booking a couple of one way flights from Spain to UK - it defaulted to the price being in euros €139. When I changed it to GBP it was £136 - my reckoning - that is not a good exchange rate.

Can I? Should I? - use my Virgin Money debit card to pay in euros? Or does their no fee on foreign spend only work if I'm spending it abroad - domestic purchase aren't the same??

flaneurs_lobster

M Plus Account?

No fees when you use your card abroad or shop online in other currencies.

Should be fine.

LiveBetter

I suppose that depends on the card you have.

la531983

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82146219#Comment_82146219

Thats still a ridiculous exchange rate. Even if the OP had a card with fees it would still likely be better paying in Euros.

In any case that isnt applicable here. it isnt a "domestic purchase", its a purchase in Euros so its foreign spend.

tracyk23

Luckily I paused to ask you guys - I had been about to book the wrong Sunday :)

Anyway - was €348 - Ryanair 'guaranteed exchange rate' was going to charge £328 - my Virgin money debit card charged me £298

I wonder if there a few travellers - is it worth the hassle to book one way flights either way and use the euro rate coming home?

NoodleDoodleMan

Ryanair's Guaranteed Rate is guaranteed to rip off the customer and benefit O'Leary.

flaneurs_lobster

This is the first tip (of 20+) on MSEs guide to How to Have Fun with Ryanair guide

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/ryanair-tips/

la531983

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82146275#Comment_82146275

If you make two single bookings it is classed as two totally separate bookings. So if one is cancelled they wont give a stuff about the other.

Do it as the same booking wherever possible, imo.