UPI has definitely made lives easier and has eliminated the need to carry cash and cards all the time. But recently, an Indian traveller at Changi Airport in Singapore faced trouble while trying to make a payment through UPI. He advised travellers to keep their cards handy at all times because even today, UPI does not work everywhere. Here’s what happened.
Indian Traveller Tries UPI At Changi Airport In Singapore
Tried paying with UPI at The Cocoa Trees in Changi Airport today.
The cashier warned me upfront that it almost never works, but I insisted on trying.
Scanned the QR using GPay and it just stalled and threw: “Could not get conversion rate. Try scanning again.”
Despite all the… pic.twitter.com/T3KPWsa60b
— nikhil george (@nikhilgeorge) September 27, 2026
Nikhil George, an Indian traveller, was recently at Changi Airport in Singapore, shopping at The Cocoa Trees, a confectionery and chocolate boutique. However, when he tried to make the payment through GPay (UPI), the cashier at the shop warned him that it almost never works. But Nikhil insisted on trying, as payments through UPI can be hassle-free, quick and easy.
But when he scanned the QR code using GPay, the screen just stalled and said, “Could not get conversion rate. Try scanning again.” The payment failed, and Nikhil had to resort to other means of payment to buy the stuff.
Also Read: Bengaluru’s Popular Smash Burger Brand Goes Global With 1st Singapore Outlet
Netizens Share Their Experiences With UPI
Nikhil highlighted the fact that India’s UPI has expanded globally in many countries, but acceptance is still unreliable and ground-level reliability abroad has a long way to go. He also advised travellers to “keep cards handy” always, as situations like these can happen to anyone.
Many netizens took to the comment section to share their own experiences with UPI. One user wrote, “I think PhonePe is the most successful one for international UPI,” while another said, “Worked for me in 2 countries so far; it’s very good.”
Also Read: Delhi Airport Steps Up Transfer Passenger Checks After Sept 4 Lapse; What Travellers Need To Know
What do you think of this situation? Have you ever tried using UPI abroad and did it work for you?
Cover Image Courtesy: Changi Airport, Wikipedia/Mattewre
FAQs
Where is Changi Airport?
Changi Airport is located in Singapore and is the country’s main international airport.
What is UPI?
UPI is a digital payment system that allows people to make instant payments directly from their bank accounts using a QR code.
What are the benefits of UPI?
UPI allows quick and convenient payments without needing to carry cash or cards.
