FairFX Press Releases > Heathrow Related Posts
-69% of people say “every penny counts” when it comes to buying foreign currency
-Yet only 2% use the cheapest payment method for foreign currency – pre-paid currency cards
Despite the credit crunch putting a squeeze on everyone’s wallets new research from FairFX.com reveals British holiday makers still aren’t spending prudently abroad. 69% of people might say every penny counts when buying their foreign currency, but 98% still don’t use pre-paid currency cards – the cheapest way to spend abroad.
Two thirds (66%) prefer to spend foreign cash taken abroad with them, and a further 29% choose to withdraw foreign currency from a hole in the wall once they get overseas. Despite the extortionate fees involved, 21% of holidaymakers still choose to spend on their credit cards.
Stephen Heath, Chief Executive of FairFX.com, said: “Will 2009 be the year that travellers wake up to the savings they can make by using a pre-paid card for all their holiday spending? Two thirds of people might say every penny counts, but then don’t actually ensure they have the right tools to make it happen.
“A family of four could have an extra $300 or €200 to spend on their holiday this summer if they used a pre-paid card, more than enough to pay for a days entry for the whole family to Disneyland in Paris or Orlando.* What’s more, the FairFX.com card is the only card with no global surcharge.”
For example, a family of four planning to exchange £1,500 for their holiday, would get $2,347.50 or €1,691.25 using a FairFX.com card compared to only $2,170.35 or €1,575.15 if they exchanged at Heathrow airport.**
Before buying their holiday money just 9% of people check a comparison site, and 16% of people don’t bother to do anything and simply use the card they already have in their wallet – a costly mistake which will only come to light when they check the statement the following month.
58% say they look for a supplier that charges 0% commission when they get their holiday money, but simply opting for deals based on “0% commission” or “commission-free” doesn’t ensure the best rate of exchange, in fact in some instances they could lose up to 19% of their holiday cash value.
Sadly, a misplaced belief that there is little difference between the best and the worst rates (one in ten consumers), or the view that foreign travel is costly already so there is no point in penny pinching (one in twenty consumers), mean many people are simply not willing to shop around for their foreign currency despite the extra money they could have with minimal effort.
Stephen Heath, Chief Executive of FairFX.com, continued: “There seems to be quite a large divide between consumers’ desires to make the most of their cash, and the reality of their foreign spending habits.
“Many of us might intend to look for the best deals, but when it comes to the crunch people aren’t making the effort to get the best bang for their buck. But they might think twice if they knew they could save up to 18% if they use the FairFX.com card instead of changing their money at the airport – savings not to be sniffed at.“
Tuesday 26 May 2009, 02:05pm
Travellers flying from Heathrow could find buying their holiday money comes at a hefty price tag. New analysis from FairFX.com reveals anyone buying foreign currency from Heathrow Airport will get less than parity at just €0.9831 to £1.
Stephen Heath, Chief Executive of FairFX.com, said: “Following last week’s base rate cut and the introduction of quantitative easing, the Pound is being traded at just €1.0831 to £1. However, Brits buying their holiday spending money from Heathrow Airport will get even less bang for their buck, just €0.9831 to £1.
“Airport travel money bureaus have long taken advantage of travellers who leave buying their holiday cash until they reach the airport by offering far worse rates than outside the terminal. And now Heathrow Airport has become the biggest airport out of many to offer below parity.”
Currently, you can still get €1.0725 to £1 with the FairFX.com currency card, 7% above the average airport rate, and 9% better than Heathrow Airport.
Friday 13 March 2009, 03:15pm
• 57 per cent of Brits to cut holiday spending
• Strong Euro puts summer sunshine breaks in jeopardy
• Regional airport foreign currency purchase swindle
The Great British summer get away is looking in danger. Credit crunched families planning to escape to sunnier climes will have to battle high inflation, the spiralling cost of living, a weak Pound against the Euro, and extortionate airport currency exchange rates - all before they even step foot on the plane.
It is little wonder nearly three in five Brits (57 per cent) have been forced to slash how much they pay out overall on their holidays, or at the very least reduce their expenditure while abroad over the year ahead, according to research* from pre-paid currency card provider FairFX.com.
Nearly 10% admitted the credit crunch and fear of recession meant they would have to cut how much they will spend on holiday. Also, more than half (55 per cent) felt forced to curb foreign expenditure because the cost of living is too much for them and outgoings have increased drastically.
Stephen Heath, Chief Executive of FairFX.com, said: “As the credit crunch continues to bite, and the cost of living spirals upwards, Brits have been forced to slash their holiday spending. Understandably, basic housekeeping costs are a bigger priority for families, but many people will be disappointed to have to cut back just when they could do with a little sun and relaxation.”
And already hard-up Brits are being fleeced when it comes to getting their foreign cash from the airport. Holidaymakers flying from Liverpool, Leeds, City, Bristol or Birmingham airports could be paying well over the odds for their spending money as these airports are the most expensive UK departure points for buying foreign currency at the moment.
FairFX.com’s league of the UK’s most expensive foreign exchange bureaux: 1= Liverpool, Travelex 1= Leeds, Travelex 1= City, Travelex 1= Bristol, Travelex 1= Birmingham, Travelex 6 Luton, ICE 7 East Midlands, Travelex 8 Newcastle, Travelex 9 Manchester, ICE 10 Birmingham, ICE
Stephen added: “Holidaymakers could be paying as much as 11 per cent more for foreign currency if they leave it until they get to the airport compared to organising beforehand.
“Brits who need to stretch their holiday money as far as possible due to the high cost of living and continued credit squeeze should think about using a pre-paid currency card. For example, they would be able to get seven to 11 per cent more for their Pound using a FairFX.com card compared to waiting and buying their foreign cash at the airport.”
Notes: Research carried out by Opinium Research LLP. Opinium Research carried out an online poll of 2,000 British adults between 18th and 22nd of April 2008. Results have been weighted to nationally representative criteria. www.opinium.co.uk ** FairFX.com’s Airport Tracker
Monday 14 July 2008, 06:03pm
• Luton, Newcastle, Liverpool, Leeds, and City are UK’s most expensive airports for foreign currency purchase*
• Save 11 per cent on foreign currency by buying online
• Strong Euro makes summer sunshine breaks dearer
Credit crunched British families planning a break in the Spanish sunshine face a double blow this half term. Faced with a weak Pound against the Euro and extortionate airport currency exchange rates their holiday money might not stretch as far as hoped.
Brits flying from Luton, Newcastle, Liverpool, Leeds, and City airports could be paying well over the odds for their holiday money. Prepaid currency card provider FairFX.com has discovered these airports are the most expensive UK departure points for buying foreign currency ahead of the half term rush to sunnier climes.**
Travellers planning to head abroad over the summer half term holidays could be paying as much as 11 per cent more for foreign currency if they leave it until they get to the airport compared to organising beforehand.
FairFX.com’s league of the UK’s most expensive foreign exchange bureaux: 1 Luton, ICE 2= Newcastle, Travelex 2= Liverpool, Travelex 2= Leeds, Travelex 2= City, Travelex 2= Bristol, Travelex 7 East Midlands, Travelex 8 Birmingham, Travelex 9 Birmingham, ICE 10 Edinburgh, Travelex
Indeed, many travel money providers claim they offer travellers 0 per cent commission but, as the FairFX.com analysis shows, this hides the true margins they add to wholesale currency rates when providing foreign exchange for travel purposes.
According to research*** conducted for FairFX.com by YouGov three quarters (74 per cent) of travellers typically use cash when they spend abroad. Travel cash bought outside of the airport can also be overpriced. Most high street providers charge, on average, a five per cent premium. The one in four Brits who favour plastic (29 per cent with Visa, 25 per cent with a debit card and 22 per cent with MasterCard) will also be paying a premium to use their cards abroad, usually around three per cent.
Prepaid currency cards offer a different solution. They work just like a debit card but can be topped up via the internet or by text. The FairFX currency card offers rates for Euros and US dollars at less than one per cent margin above wholesale rates – i.e. giving all users ‘business’ level foreign exchange rates.
Stephen Heath, Chief Executive of FairFX.com, said: “Since the second half of April the Pound has gained over a 2.5 per cent against the Euro and lost over a 2.5 per cent against the Dollar. Despite the Pound’s current weakness we will hopefully see some better rates for holidaymakers travelling to the Euro-Zone in the next few weeks, but this is of little help to hard up Brits going away now.
“Most providers rely on the fact holidaymakers will be in a complete rush when preparing for a trip abroad, and either fail to organise currency before they get to the airport or opt to use costly credit or debit cards for their foreign spending. Our analysis shows to what extent this approach could be costing travellers dear.
“Whichever way you look at it UK travellers are losing out when they buy currency.”
How does the FairFX card work? The FairFX Currency Card is a MasterCard chip and pin enabled prepaid debit card. It differs from regular debit cards in two ways. Firstly, the cards are issued in either Euros or US dollars and secondly, funds must be loaded onto the card before they are available to spend. The currency to be loaded is obtained simply by logging on to www.fairfx.com and can be paid for by any sterling debit or credit card or internet bank transfer.
- All airport currency exchange rates are indicative of ‘walk up’ rates *See Airport Tracker above *Research conducted by YouGov Plc among 2,177 GB adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 28th - 30th August 2007. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
Wednesday 21 May 2008, 02:48pm
• Bristol, Luton, Birmingham and London City are UK’s most expensive airports for foreign currency purchase
• Save 11 per cent on foreign currency by buying online
Brits flying from Bristol, Luton, Birmingham and London City airports could be paying well over the odds for their holiday money. Prepaid currency card provider FairFX.com has discovered these airports are the most expensive UK departure points for buying foreign currency.*
FairFX.com’s research reveals British travellers planning to hit the beach or slopes this Easter holidays could be paying as much as 11 per cent more for foreign currency if they leave it until they get to the airport compared to organising beforehand.
FairFX.com’s league of the UK’s most expensive foreign exchange bureaux:
1= Travelex, Luton
1= Travelex, Bristol
1= Travelex, London City
1= Travelex, Birmingham
5= Travelex, Leeds
5= Travelex, Liverpool
7= Travelex, Belfast
8 ICE, Manchester
9 Travelex, East Midlands
10 Travelex, Newcastle
Indeed, many travel money providers claim they offer travellers 0 per cent commission but, as the FairFX.com analysis shows, this hides the true margins they add to wholesale currency rates when providing foreign exchange for travel purposes.
Over the last 15 months the average profit margin on currency bought at UK airports is around seven per cent. However, while Heathrow typically offers the cheapest currency, the figures show customers using regional airports like Luton, Birmingham, Manchester or Bristol could needlessly be paying as much as 11 per cent for their ‘0 per cent commission’ currency.
According to research** conducted for FairFX.com by YouGov three quarters (74 per cent) of travellers typically use cash when they spend abroad. Travel cash bought outside of the airport can also be overpriced. Most high street providers charge, on average, a five per cent premium. The one in four Brits who favour plastic (29 per cent with Visa, 25 per cent with a debit card and 22 per cent with Mastercard) will also be paying a premium to use their cards abroad, usually around three per cent.
Prepaid currency cards offer a different solution. They work just like a debit card but can be topped up via the internet or by text. The FairFX currency card offers rates for Euros and US dollars at less than one per cent margin above wholesale rates – i.e. giving all users ‘business’ level foreign exchange rates.
Stephen Heath, Chief Executive of FairFX.com, said: “Whichever way you look at it UK travellers are losing out when they buy currency. Most providers rely on the fact holidaymakers will be in a complete rush when preparing for a trip abroad, and either fail to organise currency before they get to the airport or opt to use costly credit or debit cards for their foreign spending. Our analysis shows to what extent this approach could be costing travellers dear.”
How does the FairFX card work? The FairFX Currency Card is a MasterCard chip and pin enabled prepaid debit card. It differs from regular debit cards in two ways. Firstly, the cards are issued in either Euros or US dollars and secondly, funds must be loaded onto the card before they are available to spend. The currency to be loaded is obtained simply by logging on to www.fairfx.com and can be paid for by any sterling debit or credit card or internet bank transfer.
See Airport Tracker above *Research conducted by YouGov Plc among 2,177 GB adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 28th - 30th August 2007. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
Friday 28 March 2008, 10:21am
• Bristol and Luton UK’s most expensive airports for foreign currency purchase
• ‘Traditional’ travel money choices cost holidaymakers dear
Bristol and Luton airports are today revealed as the most expensive UK departure points for buying foreign currency.
New research* from prepaid currency card provider FairFX.com reveals British travellers off on a half-term trip risk paying as much as to 12 per cent more for foreign currency if they leave it until they get to the airport compared to buying it online.
FairFX.com’s analysis reveals the UK’s most expensive foreign exchange bureaux:
- = Travelex, Luton
- = Travelex, Bristol
- Travelex, London City
- Travelex, Belfast
- ICE, Luton
- ICE, Manchester
- Travelex, Birmingham
- ICE, Birmingham
- ICE, Gatwick
- Travelex, Stansted
Many travel money providers claim they offer travellers 0 per cent commission but, as the FairFX.com analysis shows, this hides the true margins they add to wholesale currency rates when providing foreign exchange for travel purposes.
Over the last 15 months the average profit margin on currency bought at UK airports is around seven per cent. However, while Heathrow typically offers the cheapest currency, the figures show customers using regional airports like Luton, Birmingham, Manchester or Bristol could needlessly be paying as much as 12 per cent for their ‘0 per cent commission’ currency.
According to research** conducted for FairFX.com by YouGov three quarters (74 per cent) of travellers typically use cash when they spend abroad. Travel cash bought outside of the airport can also be overpriced. Most high street providers charge, on average, a five per cent premium. The one in four-or-so Brits who favour plastic (29 per cent with Visa, 25 per cent with a debit card and 22 per cent with Mastercard) will also be paying a premium to use their cards abroad, usually around three per cent.
However, prepaid currency cards offer a different solution. They work just like a debit card but can be topped up via the internet or by text. The FairFX currency card offers rates for Euros and US dollars at less than one per cent margin above wholesale rates – i.e. giving all users ‘business’ level foreign exchange rates.
Stephen Heath, Chief Executive of FairFX.com, said: “Whichever way you look at it UK travellers are losing out when they buy currency. Most providers rely on the fact holidaymakers will be in a complete rush when preparing for a trip abroad, and either fail to organise currency before they get to the airport or opt to use costly credit or debit cards for their foreign spending. Our analysis shows to what extent this approach could be costing travellers dear.”
How does the FairFX card work? The FairFX Currency Card is a MasterCard chip and pin enabled prepaid debit card. It differs from regular debit cards in two ways. Firstly, the cards are issued in either Euros or US dollars and secondly, funds must be loaded onto the card before they are available to spend. The currency to be loaded is obtained simply by logging on to www.fairfx.com and can be paid for by any sterling debit or credit card or internet bank transfer.
Tuesday 12 February 2008, 12:16pm
Latest 'Heathrow' Posts
26 May 2009, 02:05pm
13 March 2009, 03:15pm
14 July 2008, 06:03pm
21 May 2008, 02:48pm
28 March 2008, 10:21am
12 February 2008, 12:16pm
Monthly 'Heathrow' Archives
2009
May (1 entry)
March (1 entry)
2008
July (1 entry)
May (1 entry)
March (1 entry)
Febuary (1 entry)
