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From: jerry@oliveb.UUCP (Jerry Aguirre)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Credit Cards in Europe
Message-ID: <205@oliveb.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 30-Oct-84 13:33:16 EST
Article-I.D.: oliveb.205
Posted: Tue Oct 30 13:33:16 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 3-Nov-84 08:05:19 EST
References: <303@whuxl.UUCP> <474@aluxe.UUCP> <261@idi.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Olivetti ATC, Cupertino, Ca
Lines: 19

I have always been able to use my AmEx card in Europe but was surprised
to find it useless on a trip to Saudi Arabia.  I don't mean at some
restaurant or hotel, I mean at the airline ticket office.  Saudi only
has one airline, Air Saudi, no others permitted.  Had to get a travel
advance from my employer's local office.

So, if you are traveling outside Europe, indeed anywhere not regularly
visited by tourists, check before traveling there.  In Saudi you could
probably get away with carrying cash as the crime rate is very low.  Of
course you can still lose things.

I probably could have arranged something thru a bank, or just payed for
a ticket to Europe instead of all the way back to the states but don't
expect to show up at the airport, charge a ticket, and fly.  They don't
sell tickets at the airport anyway.  You have to pick them up ahead of
time as they must get your travel approved.

					    Jerry Aguirre
{hplabs|fortune|idi|ihnp4|ios|tolerant|allegra|tymix}!oliveb!jerry