So I think I am going to get a prepaid credit card as it seems to me that a normal credit card is not possible with L permit (for Migros...)..:_(

Has anyone used before a prepaid credit card to book on airline website like ebookers.ch or easyjet? Is the prepaid credit card accepted without problem as a normal credit card there?

Would appreciate any share of experience! Thanks.

Well, I have a virtual prepaid Visa card from Entropay (www.entropay.com), and I used to pay my Ryanair tickets with it, without any problems.
It actually counts as Visa Electron, so I didn't have to pay any transaction cost to Ryanair => cost of tickets 4 * 0.01 GBP total

kzs

Thanks for your reply kzs. Did you apply the virtual prepaid Visa card from CH? I reckon one has to be in the UK as the currency is not actually CHF?

Would appreciate any feedback to find out the best prepaid credit card available in CH. Anyone got experience with prepaid credit card? Thanks...

Yes, I've been in CH when registering for this card: on Entropay you can choose between EUR, USD and GBP (no CHF) - it' a VIRTUAL card.

Technically, if a card is prepaid, it cannot be a "credit card" by definition.
I haven't used Entropay card too much, but for what I've used it was good enough for. I have a normal credit card too, I needed this virtual card because I wanted to save the transaction fees on low cost airlines, and you don't have to pay a card fee only when booking with Visa Electron (eg. Easyjet), or Mastercard Prepaid (Ryanair - since January 1)

If your intend to us in a similar way, I suggest getting the GBP(!!!) card from, as only this one counts as Visa Electron (EUR or USD counts as Visa debit card - where you have to pay a fee)

Yes many times, you can save the extra fee charged by Easyjet and RyanAir.

I use the Visa Elektron which comes optional with the SBB railway half fare card. Before I am planning a trip I transfer money onto the card, this takes an extra day or 2 above the normal Swiss Post Finance transfer time.

You need to be resident in Switzerland to be able to buy Half-Fare travelcard with Visa Card. Start paying with your Half-Fare travelcard: you can now get a combined Half-Fare travelcard and free Visa Card.

You might need to copy and paste this link,
http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reisemarkt/...visa-karte.htm

The card costs Fr. 125,-- for 12 months

Is the prepaid Visa by SBB really a Visa Electron?? I alwaysa thought it is a Visa debit and Visa Electron is only something for people in the UK (i.e. not available in CH)?

So may I make the conclusion: with Prepaid Visa from SBB one can make flight booking on Easyjet without additional charge. For ryanair, I think it is only a Prepaid Mastercard (example, from Migros) that enjoys no charge...?

Can anyone else confirm this or maybe experience on ebookers or other flight website? Thanks...

JT, I've been using the prepaid Visa card for over a year now with no problems whatsoever. It's been accepted by Swiss, Delta, AA and Austrian airlines. I've also made reservations with it for hotels across the world and left it as a deposit at Sixt and Rent-a-Car. The only time it DIDN'T work is at Delta kiosk at JFK when paying additional for extra luggage. They (for some reason) take American cards only. BUT this had nothing to do with what type of card it is, only with its origin. Voilà! Hope this helps

Femme T, may I ask where you get the prepaid Visa card from? SBB or your bank? How much % commision you need to pay each time you upload money on it?

Thanks for your information.

Sure. It's an SBB 1/2 Visa card. The commission is equal to 2 chf every time you upload. You can upload up to 3,000 chf at once and it takes roughly 2 working days for the money to be deposited in your account.

I also had them block the card when I purchased on 3 different travel websites in one day for "security purposes". It took just one phone call to resolve the matter and the woman from Jelmoli (that's the company that's actually in a partnership with SBB for these Visa cards) was very friendly and helpful.

I wrote I had booked flights with Easyjet and RyanAir using a Visa Elektron pre-paid card.

The link http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reisemarkt/...visa-karte.htm I published is from Swiss railways, not from UK) and shows pictures of Visa Credit and Visa Pre-Paid cards.

sorry Ittigen if I am asking the obvious. I read somewhere in the forum saying that Visa Elektron is actually not available in CH and usually it is issued by banks in UK. So I reckon there are maybe several types of Visa Prepaid: Visa Elektron or other Visa like from SBB.

Or could anyone confirm if the SBB Visa Prepaid is indeed a Visa Elektron which allows no exctra charge when booking with Easyjet?

It would indeed be an useful information. So far I see the combination of SBB Visa Prepaid and Migros Mastercard Prepaid as ideal for me...then I can book everywhere (air flights I mean) with no extra charge (Easyjet requires Visa Elektron and Ryanair requires Mastercard Prepaid)...

The SBB prepaid visa card is not a VISA electron and you cannot use it to get fee free flights through Easyjet. I have one and I was charged fees and I called the number on the back of the card and they told me it is not Visa electron

I used to have a prepaid Cornercard Reload. It did allow me to get fee free flights through easyjet. But I recently sent them an email and they told me the prepaid Cornercard Reload is not a Visa Electron? So maybe it has changed since.

Cornercard do have a Cornercard emotion reload visa electron card but if you apply for this card it will be valid only until the June 2011. They told me to wait till July to see if they will offer a new Visa Electron in July.

It was and now it isn't anymore!

My latest renewal half fare card is no longer an Elektron Card.

The SBB partner has also changed from Jelmoni to Valartis Bonus Card AG, and other than partner name change, the two cards are identical.

Maybe Jelmoni still have an Elektron Card?
Jelmoni Bonus Card AG
Postfach 3020
8021 Zürich

I have a prepaid mastercard from ZKB and I have used it for easyjet and swiss bookings plus hotels and shops in Switzerland and the UK, Norway and Germany, plus amazon, itunes etc online.

Never had a problem and I can check the balance etc online 24/7.

I would recommend it...

Thanks nigelr
But for us tight arses who live in Basel and only fly Easyjet the creditcard must be a VISA ELECTRON card as this is the only card that allows you to book flights with easyjet without a credit card fee. It seems like all the banks in CH are now moving away from VISA ELECTRON? I dont know why?
Pat

There is also the PostFinance MasterCard Value. No fees to upload deposits, snag part is waiting 2-3 days for the credit to be available as well as the current inability to see your statements online ( a quick call in EN to the Call Centre resolves this though ).


PostFinance Prepaid Mastercard

http://www.postfinance.ch/en/priv/pr...lue/offer.html

CHF50 a year with some cash back. Has 3D-Secure as well. no problems whatsoever with SBB TicketShop, Bahn.DE, TGV-Europe.com, Renfe.com etc.

I used a Prepaid Card of Viseca, it works fine but in the End your costs are higher with a Prepaid card than with a regular credit card as you pay fees or a percentage of the deposit into your credit card account every time you refill the card . so if you have the chance i would suggest you to order a regular credit card not a prepaid credit card.

kind regards
natasha

Yes you pay fees to deposit money onto a Visa prepaid card. I book a lot of flights on Easyjet and a Visa electron allows you to avoid the 20+CHF credit card fee /per booking. So the benefits outway the extra fees. I just finished a call with cornercard and the cornercard reload prepay VISA is not a VISA electron card but if the number on the card you receive matches a Visa electron number you can use it as a Visa electron on the easyjet site.
For example my credit number starts with 4508 which when you look on google this Issuer Identification Number matches a Visa Electron. And therefore is recognised on the easyjet website as a Visa electron.