{"id":15698,"date":"2020-04-30T11:54:08","date_gmt":"2020-04-30T03:54:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/?p=15698"},"modified":"2026-03-05T17:59:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T09:59:34","slug":"foreign-currency-transactions-earning-miles-vs-youtrip-savings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/blog\/foreign-currency-transactions-earning-miles-vs-youtrip-savings\/","title":{"rendered":"Foreign Currency Transactions: Earning Miles vs YouTrip Savings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You can earn miles on your credit card when spending in foreign currency, but is it worth the poor exchange rates and extra overseas transaction fees?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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When you first get an air miles credit card, it can almost feel like you\u2019re part of some sort of game that never ends. You start to feel like every single purchase you make needs to be optimised for maximum rewards on whichever credit card you\u2019re using. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bank Cards vs YouTrip Guide:
#1: Earning Miles vs YouTrip Savings
#2: Earning Cashback vs YouTrip Savings<\/span><\/a><\/strong>
#3: Should I Ditch My Miles Card?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The one that gives you the most miles for your buck, the one best suited for everyday expenses or the one that guarantees miles that never expire. All with the promise of offsetting the price of your next flight or maybe even getting a sweet, sweet upgrade to Business or First Class. Sounds pretty great, right?
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But what if we were to say that there are actually times when it might be in your best interests to put those cards back in your wallet and use another one instead? Indeed, it’s the YouTrip card<\/span><\/a> we’re talking about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And more specifically, we mean using it when making payments in foreign currency, both online and offline. Because unlike the typical miles credit card, YouTrip guarantees that all foreign currency transactions are made with Wholesale Exchange Rates<\/span><\/a> and no transaction fees. But is this worth switching over from playing the miles game? Well, that depends on the type of spender and traveller that you are.
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How is Spending in Foreign Currency Different From Day-to-Day Transactions?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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So let\u2019s break this down. Imagine that you had your eye on a specific pair of shoes. Local retailers don\u2019t seem to have them in stock. But finally, after some nifty Google searches, you find an American online store that has them available, in your size, and free shipping to boot. Bingo! Its listed price is US$250. Pretty steep, but you\u2019ve been saving up. So what does that mean in Singapore Dollars?
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You head back to Google and search for the exchange rate. Here\u2019s what you might see:
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USD Price<\/strong><\/td>SGD Price Converted by Google<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
US$250<\/td>S$356.23<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Cool, it\u2019s just within your budget. So you add it to your cart, and the site takes you to its payment page where you have to input your credit card details. Here, you might be inclined to use your go-to miles credit card and collect some miles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How Much Miles Can I Earn From Foreign Currency Spending?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Here\u2019s a quick breakdown of some of the popular air miles credit cards in Singapore, excluding any of their ongoing promotions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit Card<\/strong><\/td>Foreign Spend Per Dollar<\/strong><\/td>Foreign Transaction Fee<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Citi Rewards Card<\/td>4 miles<\/td>3.25%<\/td><\/tr>
UOB PRVI VISA Miles Card<\/td>2.4 miles<\/td>3.25%<\/td><\/tr>
DBS Altitude Card<\/td>2 miles<\/td>3.25%<\/td><\/tr>
OCBC 90\u00b0N Card<\/td>2.1 miles<\/td>3%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Some of the best rates offered here for overseas spending range between 2 and up to 4 miles per dollar. While these reward rates may seem enticing in and of itself, some of them also have caps placed on how many points can be earned each month. But more relevant to this article, notice the column next to it. While it varies among the many miles credit cards here, including the foreign transaction fees and unfavourable bank exchange rates, you\u2019ll typically end up paying around 3.25% more for your foreign currency purchases.
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Are Miles Really Foolproof?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Here\u2019s another thing about going all in on miles credit cards \u2013 it can be unpredictable<\/span><\/a>. How so?<\/p>\n\n\n\n