I won't bore you with my rave about credit cards, what crap they are, how they are a built in inflation maker, how they are a capitalist scam helping to ruin the U.S. economy...oh, ever mind.

But anyhow I don't have a credit card, I don't really want one, (I do have a bank ATM card for my U.S. bank account) so I never book an airline on line with a credit card. I book through an local travel agent here in Greece, who saved me 200 Euro on my last trip by finding a discounted fare that was available only through travel agents, not on-line, that Thai International had been running in January to promote tourisim.

So I never have been asked for a credit card, and if they do I'll tell them I don't have one. The information is in their computer database records for the E-ticket I purchased. My passport, which I alwas carry anyhow, is fine for identification. In addition I have 3 I.D. cards that have my photos on, issued by the Greek goverment and the U.S. government that allows me to enter my work area.

Credit cards are junk, a capitalist scam, and I will never have one, or hopefully never need one. I pay with cash, or I don't buy it. My passport and governmet I.D.s are what I use for identification. I check in with a human agent, and they accept my passport as identification.

You do not like credit cards then?

Using my credit card for all my purchases, local shops to airline tickets.

I earn enough loyalty points, "Airdollars" with Air New Zealand for an annual free trip to OZ.

Love my credit card.....

What we can learn is that the policy is not evenly applied. Imho, no one should try to take these reports as encouragement to 'chance it'. You don't want to be the one who is suddenly asked when you can't produce the goods.

Very important to phone the airline and explain your predicament.

Try to carry the credit card statement showing payment.

I have always been asked for my CC at check-in by Qatar Airways and Singapore Air at check-in at Bangkok airport when booking online.

It is possible for a third party to pay by credit card and not travel. I did it for my son to fly back to the UK with Jet Airways.

I had to photocopy both sides of my card and then write an explanatory note on the copy and sign it. These instructions are actually included on their web site. I imagine most if not all airlines have these provisions for genuine cases....you just have to ask them.

HL

It is possible for a third party to pay by credit card and not travel. I did it for my son to fly back to the UK with Jet Airways.

I had to photocopy both sides of my card and then write an explanatory note on the copy and sign it. These instructions are actually included on their web site. I imagine most if not all airlines have these provisions for genuine cases....you just have to ask them.

HL

Hi Guys,

I have done this many times. Most of the Airlines have waiver forms that need to be downloaded from the respected website. Also, make sure that the party checking in has plenty of ID (Passport, ID card, DL) as you never know what they will want to see, in addition to your number on speed dial (never hurts). And a smile goes along way...............

As mentioned prior, you or the party checking in should have enough information (paper documents).

I think it depends whether you went through the secure booking or not. (i.e. at the final stage of paying, you're redirected to enter your online password at your bank website).

That seems to be treated as card present at the time of booking, and when that happens, I generally haven't had to produce a card.

However, if that hasn't happened (i.e. when booking with Thai), I've always been asked to produce the card. I believe the issue is purely monetary - if they see and swipe the physical card, there's a smaller charge from the credit card company than with pure "card not present" transactions as there's a far lower likelihood of fraud.

But I'd definitely second everyone else telling you to check with the airline.