Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - travel agent asking for copy of cc & drivers lic

I am planning a trip to Thailand for March and, trying to find the best deal, called a number of different Thai travel agents located in LA whose information I found online, to compare prices. I then decided to book a ticket with the one offering the cheapest price. However, I was told it cannot be done over the phone; I will be emailed a form which I need to return, with a copy of my credit card and drivers license. This surprised me, as I have never been asked to provide a copy of cc/drivers license when purchasing something online before, and it seems somewhat of a security risk. The agent also asked me for my date of birth among other information when I was speaking to her on the phone. Is this standard practice for agents handling international flights? Before proceeding any further, I wanted to get some feedback from users here with more experience booking international flights. Thanks.

It does sound like a lot of personal information and I too am very paranoid about things like this. Have you tried a competing site to see if the requirements are the same?

Buyer beware.

The birthdate is required to book your flight. Credit card, well the agent can be held liable by the Airline Reporting Corporation if you decide the dispute the sale, even if you used the air transportation.

Bottom line if you are a new customer, first timer, this is not an irresponsible request on their part and actually demonstrates they are likely a very well run operation and ultimately able to serve you better

Worldspan

I am planning a trip to Thailand for March and, trying to find the best deal, called a number of different Thai travel agents located in LA whose information I found online, to compare prices. I then decided to book a ticket with the one offering the cheapest price. However, I was told it cannot be done over the phone; I will be emailed a form which I need to return, with a copy of my credit card and drivers license. This surprised me, as I have never been asked to provide a copy of cc/drivers license when purchasing something online before, and it seems somewhat of a security risk. The agent also asked me for my date of birth among other information when I was speaking to her on the phone. Is this standard practice for agents handling international flights? Before proceeding any further, I wanted to get some feedback from users here with more experience booking international flights. Thanks.

1. Birthdate they need, for the gov't Secure Flight program.
2. Charge card image and driver's license, if it's a high $ ticket, and you're a new customer, not a request without precedent, since tickets are a potential fraud item, and the agent is on the hook if the cc used is stolen/fraudulent.

You need to decide how you feel about #2. If I felt comfortable with the agency, had references, good reviews, etc., I'd provide it (and have done, in similar cases in the past).

I have encountered this business practice with several Asia oriented consolidators in Los Angeles. As squeamish as it makes me, I made the copies and faxed it to them because I had some knowledge about their reputations. I have done it a number of times with several different agents and nothing ever bad came of it. So I can attest that it is a common business amongst a certain subset of old school agents in Los Angeles. Even in this day and age. That said. Be careful you know who you are dealing with.

Happy Sun Travel, City Travel and Tours, and at least a couple of others that I can't think of at the moment come to mind as very legitimate LA agents who practice this.

deleted double post

Yes, many agents do this. It's a fraud prevention measure, and it covers them if you decide to dispute the transaction with your credit card issuer.

Perhaps they also get a lower interchange fee if they have a copy of your card, as it becomes a card-present transaction... anyone know?

If you book directly with the airline's website for an international flight, they will usually require you to show the credit card you used to book the seat when you check in at the airport, for similar reasons.

Thanks to everyone who replied. It set my mind at ease to hear this was what sounded a pretty common practice in the business.

I actually ended up using a different agent, but for reason of fare price rather than the cc/drivers license issue. As it happens when I booked with this agent he didn't ask for or mention the necessity of my providing him a copy of my cc/drivers license, so I thought I had received the additional benefit of avoiding that inconvenience.

However, after our transaction, he emailed me a "credit card verification form" requesting exactly the same things as the previous agent and kindly letting me know my ticket would be canceled if I did not provide copies of said items.

Ah, the ironies of fate!