If someone else is booking international ticket for me using his credit or debit card, does he need to be present physically at the time of check-in?
Suppose I am coming back from Singapore to my home country and my ticket is booked by my friend for me, who lives in my home country. Do airlines in Singapore ask for the person to be present physically to check in?
First of all, it doesn't matter where you're flying from. What really matter is what airline you are flying with, so the short answer is: it depends.
Some airlines, in an attempt to fight frauds, may ask you to show the card and if you fail to do so they CAN refuse to embark you.
I once flew Royal Jordanian from Milano Malpensa to Amman and I was asked to show the credit card. Since I paid that flight with my father credit card, I didn't have it with me. They refused to embark me and I had to call home and make my father fax a self-certfication signed by him along with a copy of the credit card used to book the flight.
Another time I was leaving from Amsterdam to Atlanta flying Delta and I was asked the same. That time I had my credit card with me and I pass the control flawlessly.
Always read the conditions very carefully. It's always stated somewhere if they may ask you to show the card or not. If unsure, write an email or call them.
Here some examples:
Singapore airlines [click on "What happens if I don't comply with the credit card verification requirements?"]
If the booker does not bring his or her card used for the booking at check-in for verification, then passengers on the booking will not be allowed to check in and will be asked to purchase a new ticket using a new credit/debit card. However, the ticket price will remain the same. A refund will then be manually processed for the earlier purchased ticket.
On the Enter billing information page where the credit card details are entered, if the "Cardholder name" can be typed in, you would be able to pay for the booking even if you are not travelling. If the "Cardholder name" appears in a drop-down menu and cannot be changed, you would unfortunately not be able to pay for the booking unless you are travelling.
In some countries, for security reasons, the holder of the credit card used to book a ticket or group of tickets must be one of the travellers on that itinerary, and will be required to show the actual credit card at the airport check-in counter prior to receiving boarding passes.
Skywards members may make a redemption booking for friends and family, and pay for the applicable taxes online with their own credit cards, if the country of departure offers credit card payment.
Business Rewards administrators may also pay for their organizations members bookings by credit card, if the country of departure offers credit card payment.
Delta [click on the credit card link]
To safeguard against credit/debit card fraud, the purchaser may have to show us the credit/debit card along with a valid photo ID. The time varies based on the billing address of the credit/debit card or the country of travel. If the purchaser is not traveling, they can show us their credit/debit card and ID at an airport ticket counter or another ticket office location, whichever is most convenient.
Due to increased credit card fraud problems, Air France does not accept third party payments (the credit card holder not being the passenger or part of the group traveling together). Exception: We allow payments for family members with the same surname. Please make sure the family member you book for brings the personal identifier you specified during booking to check in at the airport or to Customs and Immigration if required (this applies to e-tickets only).
If you have booked directly with British Airways, either through ba.com or a British Airways Telephone Sales office, and you paid with your debit/ credit card you must present that debit/ credit card at check-in. This is to assist the check-in process and to provide debit/ credit card verification.
Yes, the check-in counter staff need to check the card number and name on the credit card for reference only. If you are purchasing tickets for family members or other persons with your credit card or Visa/MasterCard debit card, and not travelling yourself, please follow the specified Regulation (http://www.thaiairways.com/en_PK/Terms_condition/consent_form_regulations.page)
Some airlines do some silly restrictions, Check this FAQ: Can someone else purchase and pay for my ticket on line?. They do this to fight unauthorized usage of credit cards.
It is silly because you can buy the same airline ticket from other airline tickets website without this credit-card restriction.
I have had this issue a number of times, especially with BA. I send my children to their grandparents in the UK and booking online with a credit-card. On the website it says that the card must be shown when checking-in. This would be ok outbound when I bring them to the airport but problematic on the way back. I rang and asked if the card must be shown which they confirmed. So a number of times I gave the kids the card to take with them.
However, I have NEVER had to show the card when I have traveled and the kids never had to show it either.
I was stopped at Turkish airlines because my ticket was paid for by another person. I could not fly for the first time in my life. And yes, they have this rule on their website. And they send this information with the ticket. But moreover, they have the right to stop you before check-in even if you paid with your card but did not bring it with you.
Since the best answer didn't have EVA airline and I have experienced with that before so I just want to contribute in case someone might have this problem with EVA.
The answer is it does matter which credit card you used to book your tickets with EVA. It's clearly stated on the website that the credit card has to be presented at the counter if purchased by your own credit card and not travel agent. If you have to book a flight for someone else there's an option on the website that you have to choose and credit card verification procedure. http://www.evaair.com/en-global/public/credit-card-non-card-holder.html
So, my experienced was I failed to present the credit card and I had to purchase a new ticket at the counter with the same price and I got refunded again later on. The process was quick and not too painful. I understand why they do this so no mourning.
Turkish Airline has also the policy not to accept third party credit card. The passenger and the card holder should be the same, or at least the card holder should be joining the group of passengers.
In most cases, the one who pays is not necessarily the one who travels, whatever the country of departure is. There may be some exceptions depending on individual airlines.
For instance, an important part of the airlines revenue comes from business travelers. The typical scenario in such cases is that the ticket is paid by the company, using the company credit card. The payment can also come through a travel agency.
The only required ID check is for the traveller, as far as I experienced in Europe and USA. Airlines and governments want to make sure that you are not a security threat such as using the no-fly list for US-bound flights for example, in addition to the usual immigration and customs controls. This is as far as I could experience once again; things can be different in other parts of the globe.
