Money & travel
Skip the exchange booth at Fairbanks International Airport. Use an ATM with a no-fee card — the ATM gives you the real mid-market rate, while airport exchange booths charge 10–20% above it. On a $500 exchange, that difference is $50–100 in hidden costs.
The key rule
Airport currency exchange booths typically charge 10–20% above the mid-market rate.
On a $500 exchange, that is $50–100 in hidden fees. The ATM is almost always better — even with a bank fee. And with a no-fee card, the ATM is unambiguously better.
None — FAI has no currency exchange counter or kiosk anywhere in the terminal, despite hosting a seasonal international route (Condor's nonstop Fairbanks–Frankfurt service, April–October).
There has never been a dedicated exchange operator at FAI. The nearest option is a bank branch in town (e.g., First National Bank Alaska's Golden Valley branch, about 3 miles from the airport, open weekdays 10am–6pm) — banks generally offer worse retail exchange rates than an ATM withdrawal in USD.
Four ATMs total: two landside on the first floor (one beside the escalator, one across from the Ravn Alaska counter) and two airside on the second floor near TWIGS Alaskan Gifts, across from Gates 2 and 4.
FAI's ATMs run on the Visa/Plus, Mastercard/Cirrus, Discover, and American Express networks. Using a Charles Schwab, Wise, or Revolut debit card avoids foreign transaction fees and ATM surcharges — a meaningful savings for the German travelers arriving on the seasonal Condor flight.
Best cards for ATM use abroad
Recommended for FAI
Withdraw U.S. dollars before you fly, or use one of FAI's four in-terminal ATMs on arrival — there is no exchange booth at this airport, so don't count on converting cash on-site.
Pro Tip
Travelers arriving on Condor's seasonal Fairbanks–Frankfurt flight (FAI's only scheduled international route) should exchange euros before departure or plan to withdraw dollars at the airside ATMs near TWIGS just past the International Passenger Processing area — there is no exchange desk to greet arriving international passengers.
Before you leave
Order foreign currency from your bank before departure — Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo all offer currency ordering at branches and online (3–7 business days). Rates are better than airport booths, and you avoid the airport rush entirely.
At your destination
Withdraw from a local ATM at your destination — you get the real mid-market exchange rate, minus a small network fee. A no-fee card eliminates even that. This is almost always the cheapest option.
In transit
Currency exchange at city banks or post offices in your destination country is typically far better than airport rates in both countries. Most major cities have walk-in currency exchange with rates 5–10% better than airport booths.
Is it better to exchange currency at FAI airport or at my destination?
Almost always at your destination. Airport exchange booths at Fairbanks International Airport charge 10-20% above the mid-market rate. At your destination, ATMs give the real interbank rate minus a small network fee — typically saving $50-100 on a $500 exchange versus the airport booth.
Where are the ATMs at FAI airport?
Four ATMs total: two landside on the first floor (one beside the escalator, one across from the Ravn Alaska counter) and two airside on the second floor near TWIGS Alaskan Gifts, across from Gates 2 and 4. FAI's ATMs run on the Visa/Plus, Mastercard/Cirrus, Discover, and American Express networks. Using a Charles Schwab, Wise, or Revolut debit card avoids foreign transaction fees and ATM surcharges — a meaningful savings for the German travelers arriving on the seasonal Condor flight.
Which currency exchange is at FAI airport?
None — FAI has no currency exchange counter or kiosk anywhere in the terminal, despite hosting a seasonal international route (Condor's nonstop Fairbanks–Frankfurt service, April–October). There has never been a dedicated exchange operator at FAI. The nearest option is a bank branch in town (e.g., First National Bank Alaska's Golden Valley branch, about 3 miles from the airport, open weekdays 10am–6pm) — banks generally offer worse retail exchange rates than an ATM withdrawal in USD.
What is the best card to use for foreign currency at FAI?
The Charles Schwab debit card is the top choice — it reimburses all ATM fees worldwide and charges 0% on international transactions, giving you the real mid-market exchange rate. Wise and Revolut travel cards are strong alternatives with similar 0% fee structures. Avoid using a standard bank debit card, which typically charges 1-3% foreign transaction fee plus an ATM surcharge of $3-5.
See also: Getting around FAI airport · Live FAI TSA wait times
Know exactly when to leave for the airport
The Leave-By Time calculator folds the live FAI TSA wait, real-time drive time from your door, and gate-walk distance into one exact time to leave home — no guesswork.
Calculate my Leave-By Time →