Does Heathrow Accept US Dollars?

[Ro_Laren]

I will be doing some travelling this fall and will most likely have a layover at Heathrow. Does anyone know if they accept US dollars there? I have been to that airport before, but it has been a long time. If I have a long layover I am gonna get hungry and it seems silly to have to exchange $10 US dollars into British pounds just for one meal!

By the way, do other major European airports take US dollars or do they make you exchange your money into Euros if you just want a meal?

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Why not just pay credit card?

 

[Holdfast]

Yes, many (not sure if all) of the shops there accept euros and dollars as well as pounds (and some other key currencies too). Their tills are set up in a way that the cashier can punch in the currency of choice before the transaction. I'm not sure whether they use interbank rates though.

However, as AJ points out, it's simpler just to use plastic.

I never change any money in advance when travelling; I just either pay by card, or use an ATM to withdraw cash at my destination. Much simpler and cheaper. Paying by card gets you the interbank rate which is the cheapest possible, and no fee. And even if withdrawing cash, the conversion rate is still interbank and the fee is low. Overall, it's a lot cheaper than exchanging currencies.

Life has got a lot easier these days.

 

[bigdaddy]

But banks are now charging insane feels for using a card, and even more so when using a card outside the country.

 

[Holdfast]

Well, obviously you know your own banks, but mine doesn't charge any fee for using their credit card either inside or outside of the country. If I withdraw foreign currency in another country using my debit card, there's something like a £2 fee, but the exchange rate is interbank, so overall, as long as you're withdrawing a normal sized sum, it's amazingly cheap compared to using any bureau de change whether commission-based or spread-based.

 

[sojourner]

I don't think $10 U.S. will get you a fast food meal in Heathrow. Expect to pay $20.

 

[Marie1]

Well, obviously you know your own banks, but mine doesn't charge any fee for using their credit card either inside or outside of the country. If I withdraw foreign currency in another country using my debit card, there's something like a £2 fee, but the exchange rate is interbank, so overall, as long as you're withdrawing a normal sized sum, it's amazingly cheap compared to using any bureau de change whether commission-based or spread-based.

Mine too- just converts it via whatever the exchange rate is at the time. Some people have scary credit cards though.

But IIRC they, as mentioned, accept USD.

 

[WillsBabe]

I don't think $10 U.S. will get you a fast food meal in Heathrow. Expect to pay $20.

My thoughts, too. Personally, I'd take cash. That way you can buy small things, too, like a bar of chocolate or magazine. I'm not sure they'd take credit cards or a dollar bill for small value items like that. Same with the airports in the eurozone.

 

[DimesDan]

I don't think $10 U.S. will get you a fast food meal in Heathrow. Expect to pay $20.

My thoughts, too. Personally, I'd take cash. That way you can buy small things, too, like a bar of chocolate or magazine. I'm not sure they'd take credit cards or a dollar bill for small value items like that. Same with the airports in the eurozone.

I would say that shops wouldn't accept a credit card for a really small item, debit cards on the other hand, most places allow you to use them for really low cost items. And most food places accept them aswell.

 

[Roger Wilco]

I am certain this won't be a problem. They might rip you off a bit with the exchange rate, but for just one meal that's not a big deal either.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I found the exchange rate for credit cards to be relatively fair. Then again, when I was in London, the exchange rate screwed me over no matter what (1.90 to the pound), so the credit card rate just had to stay in that ballpark to seem fair.

 

[Holdfast]

I don't think $10 U.S. will get you a fast food meal in Heathrow. Expect to pay $20.

My thoughts, too. Personally, I'd take cash. That way you can buy small things, too, like a bar of chocolate or magazine. I'm not sure they'd take credit cards or a dollar bill for small value items like that. Same with the airports in the eurozone.

The Heathrow shops do accept credit cards for things even as small as a chocolate bar or a bag of crisps or a newspaper.

I know this because I usually clear my wallet of all loose change and all UK currency (bar a few emergency notes that I never break) before travelling. So anything I buy in an airport before flying goes on a card.