Cards for a gap year - baffled and confused!

msLucindaa

Hi Everyone,

I'm going travelling for the first time and have a couple of questions that may seem really obvious to money savvy folk so apologies in advance!

Firstly, is it possible to buy flights over the internet with a debit card, or do most flight suppliers require a credit card?? (I was considering getting a CC but may not if my debit's just as good!)

Also I've taken out a Nationwide flexi account to use abroad but was a little worried about the sudden card refusals people have been experiencing, that were listed when I follwed the link below from a previous post (by pin 27/06.07) http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ght=Nationwide Does anyone have any further info about this issue?

And last but not least I noticed a post saying that if you pre put credit onto a credit card it may be recognised as unusual activity and problems may ensue. I don't like the idea of worrying about paying a monthly bill while i'm away so my novices reaction was to have the money there before I use it. Is this naive?

Really appreciate any advice!! Thanks

Stew68

mslucinda,

Can't help with all your questions i'm afraid, however I personally would recommend buying flights with a credit card rather than a debit card, mainly because of the security you get with the money paid if you have a problem with the airline. I orignally booked a flight with the ill fated Maxjet last August and when they went bust I had a much easier time getting my money back from my credit card company than some of the poor people who paid with a debit card.

Hope that helps,


Stew

Decla

This may not be too much help but gap-year sites I've looked at seem to suggest taking debit cards and/ or travellers cheques away with you rather than credit cards. It would be difficult to pay the credit off regularly while travelling.

Skint_Catt

Its not difficult at all - you can set up a Direct Debit to either pay the minimum while you're away OR the full amount every month. Most cards (I have Halifax and Lloyds TSB) can be paid online by transferring money from your current account so you could always pay over the minimum at any time - you can pay any amount off at any time of the month.