Buying a travel card with Westfield XS gift cards?

urzu on 01/01/2014 - 16:49

Hello people of OzBargain,

I recently received two Westfield XS cards from my job, but am planning on travelling to Japan in a few months and would rather avoid spending them on stuff I won't be able to take with me. Has anybody tried purchasing a Cash Passport (or similar travel card on which I can pre-load some Yen) card with those XS gift cards? Is it possible?

I also received a Flight Centre gift card. Besides booking a trip (whoch I have already booked), does anybody know if Flight Centre sells and pre-loads travel cards?

Thanks

Travel

Comments

  • donga100 on 01/01/2014 - 17:23

    Flight Centre does sell Cash Passport and it wouldn't be a problem using a gift card to pay for it.

    • urzu on 01/01/2014 - 18:05

      Thanks for your reply Donga! Have you used the cash passport cards in the past? Do you know if they're good or are there better alternatives?

      • donga100 on 01/01/2014 - 18:11

        I haven't used them because I prefer to just take cash and use my eftpos card for any other withdrawls if necessary. It's not always easy finding an ATM that will accept foreign cards (including cash passport) in Japan. Also, when you load the card you are getting basically the same rate that you would get to exchange for cash and then pay additional fees on top of that. The only slight benefit is that they are a little more secure than cash.

        • donga100 on 01/01/2014 - 18:12

          In saying that, they seem to be competitive with other prepaid travel cards.

        • urzu on 01/01/2014 - 18:21
          +1

          I am planning on going there for a few months though, on a working holiday visa. I will therefore be needing a lot of money. Last time I was there, my 28 degrees mastercard worked fine at 7/11 ATMs but the fluctuating rates were an inconvenience. Since the conversion rates are pretty good at the moment, I am thinking of just using that $1500 flight centre gift card to load up a cash passport with as much Yen as possible.

        • Cyphar on 02/01/2014 - 13:10

          The gift cards won't allow you to buy a cash passport. When I tried, they told me, and indicated in the T&C's that they could not be exchanged for cash, foreign currency included. I was pretty bummed about that as it was a $2000 Westfield card I won. I ended up just using it to buy the ticket instead

  • JordanM on 01/01/2014 - 18:25

    In my previous experience they would not allow me to use a Flight Centre gift card to buy a cash passport. Your experience may vary of course.

    • urzu on 01/01/2014 - 18:28

      Hey JordanM, what branch did you go to when that happened? (to know which one to avoid)

      • JordanM on 02/01/2014 - 04:52

        Myer Centre in the CBD

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