Qatar Airways Privilege Club - Qatar Airways Online Booking: Big Problem: What Can I Do?

I booked a Qatar flight about six months ago online and got an e-ticket to my email address. They said I MUST present my credit/debit card upon check in.

Six months have passed, I have a new debit card (with new expiry dates etc) and I suddenly realised that maybe I should not have destroyed the old card.

I (eventually) got through to a Qatar Airways office and stated my case. I was advised that there was NO WAY I could board the plane without showing the ORIGINAL debit card.

The ticket fee (paid by Lloyds TSB by debit card) was deducted from my current account six months ago, and now they are not honouring my e-ticket.

The cost was just under 500 GBP.

I am at my wits end what should I do?:mad:

Can you ask if a statement from your bank with the transaction details would suffice instead of the debit card? I feel your pain man!

Get a letter from the issuing institution stating that the new card (details xxxxxx) has replaced the old card (details: xxxxxx). That should do the trick. I was in the same situation a year or two ago and it worked well.

Get a letter from the issuing institution stating that the new card (details xxxxxx) has replaced the old card (details: xxxxxx). That should do the trick. I was in the same situation a year or two ago and it worked well.

I will do that, but previous phone calls to Qatar Airways have yielded no assurance. For example I suggested that I bring my bank statement from six months ago, clearly showing the money paid in full (and not contested within 6 months).

I think Qatar Airways are just being bloody-minded and will reap the extra profits of those who try to check-in after an internet booking.:eek:

I will do that, but previous phone calls to Qatar Airways have yielded no assurance. For example I suggested that I bring my bank statement from six months ago, clearly showing the money paid in full (and not contested within 6 months).

I think Qatar Airways are just being bloody-minded and will reap the extra profits of those who try to check-in after an internet booking.:eek:

Don't call their res offices as they are all handled 'down under' but above equator call centres, if you know what I mean.

Go to their offices in London if you're in London if you need to or call the ticketing office there instead of the res office. They're located in earls court.

I don't think this is a case of ripping off people but more a case of QR staff following their rules to the extreme.

I once bought QR tickets on the net for my family and when it became clear that I (together with the credit card) could not drop them off at the airport I went to their local office to have the card verified. It took the station manger to actually verify the card - 'normal' staff would not do it. :confused:

..
I once bought QR tickets on the net for my family and when it became clear that I (together with the credit card) could not drop them off at the airport I went to their local office to have the card verified. It took the station manger to actually verify the card - 'normal' staff would not do it. :confused:

He probably was the only one to waive the check in procedures with an override or something.

So if someone bought a non-refundable ticket online, does this mean that if they showed up at the airport and claimed that they didn't have the credit card used to purchase the ticket that they would get a full refund.

The usual procedure would be for the airline to issue a refund to the original form of payment and then collect payment for a new ticket either in cash or another credit card. What if the passenger didn't have enough cash and does not have another card?

This, once again, shows the complete and utter moronic nature of the beast that gets employed within the airline industry. With 1 hand they push internet bookings, kick travel agents in the teeth and cry via that Big Baby Apologist Bisagnani that they are losing money because of everything and everybody except themselves...and then they pull a stunt like this making their product difficult to purchase, inconvenient to purchase, and negating themselves in their hype of the internet as their salvation from "distribution costs".

Haven't they ever heard of expired cards? Lost or stolen cards? If a purchase was made 6 months ago, and it has not been disputed within 30 days of statement date, then it is a valid charge and they have their money. It would be interesting to try to say, if one had a non-refundable ticket and now didn't want to travel, that "don't have the credit card"...when they refuse to take you because of it, dispute the charge THEN with your c/c stating they didn't provide service as contracted to...and get the refund back for the trip you didn't want to take in the first place and which was non-refundable...turn around and bite these greedy, arrogant airline buffoons in their own pockets.

I'm not sure if this is relevant, but CX has a similar policy of requiring the original CC at the time of check-in. I have never been asked for it. One time, I booked a ticket for someone else using my CC, they asked them for the card (I assume due to ID mis-match). In this case, they issued a refund on my card and charged the passengers card for the same amount.

Do QR typically ask everyone at check-in for the card? Never traveled with them.

I'm not sure if this is relevant, but CX has a similar policy of requiring the original CC at the time of check-in.

However, on CX, if you use "Verified by Visa" or the Mastercard equivalent to "Verified by Visa", this requirement is waived.

You will first need to obtain an online shopping password from your Visa/Mastercard issuer before purchasing the tickets online.

Do QR typically ask everyone at check-in for the card? Never traveled with them.

Yes, they do. On occasions I even had to show the credit card more than once on the same itinerary, i.e. they checked both in CPT and MUC/LHR on a CPT-DOH-MUC/LHR return flight. Now, that doesn't make sense at all.

Yes, they do. On occasions I even had to show the credit card more than once on the same itinerary, i.e. they checked both in CPT and MUC/LHR on a CPT-DOH-MUC/LHR return flight. Now, that doesn't make sense at all.

I have sent a total of eight emails concerning my problem to Qatar Airways help desk. Not one has been answered.

When I call the helplines, I get the feeling I am talking to idiots who just don't understand my problem. When I ask to talk to someone experienced, they take my telephone number and NEVER call back.

My last hope is to visit a Qatar Airways office directly, but that will mean a long unecessary and expensive 2 hour train journey. :mad:

Hi FFlyer189,

I am contacting you from UK Qatar Airways office. Apologies for all the trouble you had to experience with regards to the credit card issue. As you can appreciate, it’s necessary for us to have procedures in place for verifying credit cards which were used for payment online. However in your case (as I understand) if your booking was made more than 130 days prior to travel then you will be ok to travel with no problems. Hope this helps. Please contact me via ddeshapriya@uk.qatarairways.com if you need further information. Thanks you for your interest in Qatar Airways.

I am contacting you from UK Qatar Airways office.

Welcome to FlyerTalk. We appreciate having a member of Qatar staff responding to a traveler's concerns.

Hi FFlyer189,

I am contacting you from UK Qatar Airways office. Apologies for all the trouble you had to experience with regards to the credit card issue. As you can appreciate, it’s necessary for us to have procedures in place for verifying credit cards which were used for payment online. However in your case (as I understand) if your booking was made more than 130 days prior to travel then you will be ok to travel with no problems. Hope this helps. Please contact me via ddeshapriya@uk.qatarairways.com if you need further information. Thanks you for your interest in Qatar Airways.

Thank you for your response. I appreciate your post and will be contacting you shortly. ^

FYI - I turned up without the CC i paid with and they allowed me to board without any issues as i was a member of their FF program.

by the way its one of the best out there
qatar airways

by the way its one of the best out there
qatar airways

I was denied boarding at London Heathrow because I was unable to show the exact debit card I made when making my internet e-booking. I even showed a bank statement from seven months previously showing the money debited from my account.

I finally manged to board by making a guarantee payment of 788 GBP.

My warning to all is this: Do not book Qatar Airways online with your debit/credit card. Go to a travel agent and pay for the ticket in cash.

I have nothing against Qatar Airways, I think that they are an excellent airline but this rule about producing the original debit/credit card is perverse.

:mad:

I have sent a total of eight emails concerning my problem to Qatar Airways help desk. Not one has been answered.

When I call the helplines, I get the feeling I am talking to idiots who just don't understand my problem. When I ask to talk to someone experienced, they take my telephone number and NEVER call back.

My last hope is to visit a Qatar Airways office directly, but that will mean a long unecessary and expensive 2 hour train journey. :mad:

Sounds like day to day business at QR to me! Nothing has changed...that is why I don't fly with them anymore.
To hear that you were denied to board without an additional payment is confirmation to me that I was right not to fly them anymore.

I was denied boarding at London Heathrow because I was unable to show the exact debit card I made when making my internet e-booking. I even showed a bank statement from seven months previously showing the money debited from my account.

I finally manged to board by making a guarantee payment of 788 GBP.

My warning to all is this: Do not book Qatar Airways online with your debit/credit card. Go to a travel agent and pay for the ticket in cash.

I have nothing against Qatar Airways, I think that they are an excellent airline but this rule about producing the original debit/credit card is perverse.

:mad:

So you had to pay again? Did they refund you the previous payment?

What happened with regard to the representative that contacted you on FT?

I was denied boarding at London Heathrow because I was unable to show the exact debit card I made when making my internet e-booking. I even showed a bank statement from seven months previously showing the money debited from my account.

I finally manged to board by making a guarantee payment of 788 GBP.

My warning to all is this: Do not book Qatar Airways online with your debit/credit card. Go to a travel agent and pay for the ticket in cash.

I have nothing against Qatar Airways, I think that they are an excellent airline but this rule about producing the original debit/credit card is perverse.

:mad:

1) Why couldn't you produce your original debit card?
2) If you had lost it, then you know that you have to show proof
so why did you wait till you're at the airport

Showing the cc you paid for the ticket is not particular only with QR but with many of the asian/middle eastern carriers. TG would not even allow boarding even if you paid for the ticket through a travel agent if you don't show the cc.

QR and other airlines doing this are simply protecting them from fraud. So if you use a cc or debit card, make sure you have the same exact card on hand. Or else produce a letter from your bank stating WHY there is a change of number... but best is to go to the ticket office with your documents and get an authorisation added to your PNR.

QR's office is in Earls Court.

Showing the cc you paid for the ticket is not particular only with QR but with many of the asian/middle eastern carriers. TG would not even allow boarding even if you paid for the ticket through a travel agent if you don't show the cc.

QR and other airlines doing this are simply protecting them from fraud.....

Quite right. If I book LH flights from SA I have to produce the creditcard before ticketing at either an office or via mail or fax with a copy of my ID/passport. They won't even ticket the stuff without it. Interestingly, Swiss waives this requirement for SENs and HONs (not sure about the rest of their frequent travellers) wheras LH does not.

This rule is indeed not very practical. I have been, back in Aug-07, in a situation where I was not able to show the relevant credit card, here is the story:

I booked online, in a rush and 3 hours before the flight departs, a F class ticket for DOH-DXB. For some obscur reasons, my two credit cards are rejected and I have to use my wife's credit card. That card is in Belgium and I am in Qatar... I was completly unaware of the "need to show the credit card" thing. I went to check-in, and I am asked to show the card. I explain I don't have it with me. After some intense talks with a manager, he said that if I have the credit card's number, it is fine... So, I gave them the number and all was fine, I could board! I think they made an exception as I was part of a group of 5 persons flying in F or C on that particular flight.

Oh, it makes me sooooo sad when airlines, like QR, cry cry cry about "online credit card fraud"...when it is they, and their brethren led by Grand Apologist Bisagnani, that forsake all of the travel agencies, commission payments, etc., and look at the web as their saviour...
When they had TAs on their side, they could always send a DM to them if the c/c was a fake or declined. Now they only have themselves to blame, so, instead of shoring up their own systems, they take it out on their customers, in typical airline arrogance. Please explain how they expect corporate travel, or family travel, to be arranged. No logical explanation from them, only their bleatings like sheep about how governments unfairly tax them, how ATC needs to be improved, how fuel costs have skyrocketed, how they are unfairly targeted by unions...cry cry cry...that's all airlines ever do. Grow up, you big babies. You created the internet web-booking monster, live with it.

What happened with regard to the representative that contacted you on FT?

Indeed , what happeneed ? Did they tel you the issue was solved from QR London office ? Quite upsetting that would be...

Oh, it makes me sooooo sad when airlines, like QR, cry cry cry about "online credit card fraud"...when it is they, and their brethren led by Grand Apologist Bisagnani, that forsake all of the travel agencies, commission payments, etc., and look at the web as their saviour...
When they had TAs on their side, they could always send a DM to them if the c/c was a fake or declined. Now they only have themselves to blame, so, instead of shoring up their own systems, they take it out on their customers, in typical airline arrogance. Please explain how they expect corporate travel, or family travel, to be arranged. No logical explanation from them, only their bleatings like sheep about how governments unfairly tax them, how ATC needs to be improved, how fuel costs have skyrocketed, how they are unfairly targeted by unions...cry cry cry...that's all airlines ever do. Grow up, you big babies. You created the internet web-booking monster, live with it.

Er, look who the cry baby is now... !

If corporate travel is relevant, they book it thru TAs. There is nothing here that suggested that tickets booked by TAs on whoever's card is rejected. Only people who use other cards other than their own are rejected...

This rule is indeed not very practical. I have been, back in Aug-07, in a situation where I was not able to show the relevant credit card, here is the story:

I booked online, in a rush and 3 hours before the flight departs, a F class ticket for DOH-DXB. For some obscur reasons, my two credit cards are rejected and I have to use my wife's credit card. That card is in Belgium and I am in Qatar... I was completly unaware of the "need to show the credit card" thing. I went to check-in, and I am asked to show the card. I explain I don't have it with me. After some intense talks with a manager, he said that if I have the credit card's number, it is fine... So, I gave them the number and all was fine, I could board! I think they made an exception as I was part of a group of 5 persons flying in F or C on that particular flight.


Which was STUPID... as you basically used someone else's card other than your own! Even if its your wife's...

QR bent the rules for you on that one... SQ wouldn't have let you board at all !

Airlines these days use the creditcard verification system which loops you through a series of questions such as birthdate, social security/id numbers and various other questions before you are approved. Some airlines still require proof of cc upon check in using this system though.

It is understandable for airlines to do the cc check. Cos anyone can get information on another's card, use it to purchase tickets, and board.

Er, look who the cry baby is now... !

Which was STUPID... as you basically used someone else's card other than your own! Even if its your wife's...


Airlines these days use the creditcard verification system which loops you through a series of questions such as birthdate, social security/id numbers and various other questions before you are approved. Some airlines still require proof of cc upon check in using this system though.

It is understandable for airlines to do the cc check. Cos anyone can get information on another's card, use it to purchase tickets, and board.

It does not make sense for an airline at check-in to demand to see the credit/debit card used online to pre-pay for the flight IF THE PASSENGER IS THE SAME AS THE CARD HOLDER.

In my case I attempted to show the bank statement showing full payment more than six months before. My old card had expired and I showed my new card, but obviously the new card had different expiry dates.

Although I was advised above by a Qatar Airways staff member, it is useless to argue with check-in staff, they just stick to the rules. No card, no check-in. Surely a passport is the best ID in the world and any fraud would be just idiotic if you travel on a flight fraudulently.

I saw other passengers refused check-in for the same reason; forgotten cards, lost cards, new cards etc. This is just a money making scam by Qatar Airways.

I will never fly Qatar Airways again and I have contacted a British newspaper which will be doing an exclusive story on Qatar Airways before Christmas. I am also taking legal action and my solicitor is confident that I will be successful in my claim for refund and damages, which will probably be settled out of court top avoid publicity.

:mad:

I will never fly Qatar Airways again and I have contacted a British newspaper which will be doing an exclusive story on Qatar Airways before Christmas. I am also taking legal action and my solicitor is confident that I will be successful in my claim for refund and damages, which will probably be settled out of court top avoid publicity.

:mad:

Good for you, please keep us posted on the developments if you can.

A renewal credit or debit card retains the same number. Only the expiry dates are different. Airlines only require the cc to verify the exact number. Different expiry dates do not matter.

If you lost your card, then its a different matter.

Basically you can avoid such problems if you had sought the assistance of the airline before you went to the airport.

I doubt QR will settle out of court to avoid publicity.. they can afford to wait it out, you can't. Besides it is on the website somewhere that you have to produce the cc you used to purchase the ticket at check in.

A renewal credit or debit card retains the same number. Only the expiry dates are different. Airlines only require the cc to verify the exact number. Different expiry dates do not matter.

If you lost your card, then its a different matter.

Basically you can avoid such problems if you had sought the assistance of the airline before you went to the airport.

I doubt QR will settle out of court to avoid publicity.. they can afford to wait it out, you can't. Besides it is on the website somewhere that you have to produce the cc you used to purchase the ticket at check in.

If you check your facts you will discover that replacement debit cards are being issued with DIFFERENT numbers now by British banks albeit the last digit only, is changed.

I did not lose my card it was a replacement card (which is understandable since I booked my ticket online well in advance).

If you read my previous posts above, you will see that I DID start contacting Qatar Airlines BEFORE my trip and they were unhelpful and never called me back with advice when they said they would.

I am sure Qatar Airlines WILL refund me in full. They haven't got a leg to stand on; it is called bad faith: I have paid for a service and they have refused to provide the service.

Their website advice about showing a C/C at check-in will not hold up in a court of law because it must be accepted as impossible that all people will be able to do this if there are mitigating circumstances; ie. Loss of card/changed card etc. etc.

Also, let me assure you that I CAN 'Wait it out' I am probably one of the few people who have successfully taken legal action against Ryanair: (They settled out of court for a substantial sum, however part of that settlement was a confidentiality agreement so I am unable to give details). ^

...

Their website advice about showing a C/C at check-in will not hold up in a court of law because it must be accepted as impossible that all people will be able to do this if there are mitigating circumstances; ie. Loss of card/changed card etc. etc.

Court will probably show that many airlines also require this. See http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/singapore-airlines-krisflyer/1012248-almost-refused-boarding.html

Also, let me assure you that I CAN 'Wait it out' I am probably one of the few people who have successfully taken legal action against Ryanair: (They settled out of court for a substantial sum, however part of that settlement was a confidentiality agreement so I am unable to give details). ^

So I see that you're just out to milk whatever airline you can out there.

Good fortune, bad karma?

Best of luck then..

So I see that you're just out to milk whatever airline you can out there.

Good fortune, bad karma?

Best of luck then..

I have never and indeed will never try to "Milk" an airline. I resent that glib remark; 'Guy Betsy'.

I will bring Qatar Airways to justice, I paid my flight fare online, seven months before the actual flight. The fact that they denied me boarding is a pure extortion and no more than a scam.

Keep you sarcastic remarks about 'karma' and 'luck' for your other helpless victims of Airline disservice. Just because you cannot respond with a civil written opinion upon my post above, does not give you the right to rubbish my claims and my bad treatment by an Airline. :mad:

does not give you the right to rubbish my claims and my bad treatment by an Airline. :mad:

He's not rubbishing your claims. By your own admission, you were aware of QR's policy:

I booked a Qatar flight about six months ago online and got an e-ticket to my email address. They said I MUST present my credit/debit card upon check in.

Yet when they enforced said policy, you decided instead that you disagreed with the policy and felt they should waive it in your case. This is not extortion; had you met their conditions of carriage they would have happily allowed you to board.

If you don't like the policy, don't fly with the airline. Personally I am of the opinion that you are entitled to nothing more than the original rules of your purchased fare -- whether that's a refund, or a credit, or a loss of the value altogether, since none of the mitigating factors which led to your inability to board at LHR were either undocumented or inconsistently applied.

Thus your piss and vinegar about lawsuits and the like comes across as 'protesting too much'. QR haven't done anything unjust to you. Get over it.

twj

I really have to empathize with the OP in this case. You are all right, OP was well aware of the restrictions of the fare and the rules. And IMHO OP made every effort to contact QR and explain his card has expired and he has been issued a new one with a new number. He went above the requirement to show the bank statement showing the full payment, as well as a similar (current card).

QRs policy is definitely the problem here, as mentioned earlier in the thread many airlines have similar policies but are more flexible. My personal example is with CX, I had booked a ticket for my gf (couple of years ago) using my CC. I had seen the "CC holder is required to show card" warning and it wasn't a problem as I'd planned to drop her off anyway, but then I ended up having to fly out to London the same day she was traveling so couldn't get to the CX term in NYC. CX refused to let her check-in; fine, that's policy, complete different person's CC on file. However, they told her to go to the ticketing desk where they refunded my payment to my card, and then charged the same amount back to my gf's CC. Problem solved (other than I lost the points!). I'm not sure if this is normal CX policy but it's a lot more reasonable than making the pax buy a whole new second ticket.

Guy Betsy and tegwj, what would have done in a similar situation? CCs expire all the time, or what if you'd lost your CC and had a new one issued? Would you be happy having to buy a new ticket on the day of travel, presumably at a walk-up fare cost? What if that was a paid J or F ticket?

Guy Betsy and tegwj, what would have done in a similar situation? CCs expire all the time, or what if you'd lost your CC and had a new one issued? Would you be happy having to buy a new ticket on the day of travel, presumably at a walk-up fare cost? What if that was a paid J or F ticket?

I faced the exact same situation, per another thread in this forum. In between when I bought my ticket and boarded my flight, my original CC was canceled and a new number was re-issued by the bank. As it was explained to me, QR's procedure in such circumstances is as follows:

1) If the customer has a documentation trail (i.e. an explicit letter mentioning both old and new card numbers) then QR will mark an exception on the record and issue boarding passes
2) If the customer doesn't have such documentation in their possession but can arrange for it to be sent to the airport, QR will accept it by fax. (This was what I ended up doing @ JFK)
3) If the customer cannot provide documentation, QR will charge them the fare against a card in their possession; if the original account successfully remits funds to them at the *conclusion* of the final leg of the itinerary, QR will refund the second card.

Even though the OP (and I) had both been charged by our banks, the CC issuers don't release funds to QR until the itineraries are flown, so the risk QR faces is that a bogus card was used, and by the time they can irrefutably confirm card fraud, the customer has already flown the flights.

Again, given that their policy and its attendant requirements are well-documented (and used by multiple carriers in similar forms), I fail to see evidence of either extortion or inconsistent behaviour.

twj

Even though the OP (and I) had both been charged by our banks, the CC issuers don't release funds to QR until the itineraries are flown, so the risk QR faces is that a bogus card was used, and by the time they can irrefutably confirm card fraud, the customer has already flown the flights.

Again, given that their policy and its attendant requirements are well-documented (and used by multiple carriers in similar forms), I fail to see evidence of either extortion or inconsistent behaviour.

twj

How can you explain the fact that Qatar Airways received in full my payment directly from my bank account seven months before my flight and yet still refused me boarding without showing the original debit card?

The alternatives I offered; being a bank statement showing the flight ticket cash debit: (Not accepted because my bank statement does not print the complete debit card number just the last four digits) and my new debit card (same number with one digit changed) were not acceptable according to the QR check-in staff.

I put it to you both; tegwy and Guy Betsy that Qatar Airlines policy is unfair and inflexible. Their check-in staff are poorly trained to deal with the problem of lost/forgotten/changed cards (They shouldn't even be asking for debit cards).

I expect that they will lose customers in the long run and will also receive negative publicity for their punitive policies. I will pursue this case through the courts and will not rest until I achieve justice.

:mad:

I put it to you both; tegwy and Guy Betsy that Qatar Airlines policy is unfair and inflexible. Their check-in staff are poorly trained to deal with the problem of lost/forgotten/changed cards (They shouldn't even be asking for debit cards).


Their policy is not unfair and inflexible IMHO. It's there to see for everybody booking a flight with a credit card. Other airlines have similar policies. If you don't like them for whatever reason you don't need to book via their website - you could go through other channels, for example Expedia, where the credit cards don't seem to be a problem. Alternatively, choose another carrier.

I agree, however, that their ground staff lacks proper training to handle unusual situations (not only in regards with credit cards).

hii booked 3 months ago through netflights.com and was told i would not need to show my credit card details as i had booked through them, can anyone confirm this is right as i am starting to get a bit worried now that i have been reading this post as part of the cost was done with my daughters card as way of a gift . any addvise would be helpfull.
thanks shirley

If you don't like them for whatever reason you don't need to book via their website - you could go through other channels, for example Expedia, where the credit cards don't seem to be a problem.

Shirley,

Expedia.com or netflights.com is the same, as you pay to them and not directly to QR; so, you should be save ;)

hii booked 3 months ago through netflights.com and was told i would not need to show my credit card details as i had booked through them, can anyone confirm this is right as i am starting to get a bit worried now that i have been reading this post as part of the cost was done with my daughters card as way of a gift . any addvise would be helpfull.
thanks shirley

You have nothing to worry about Shirley. The card must only be shown at check-in by passengers who have booked their tickets on the Qatar Airways website.

UPDATE: From November 1st 2009, probably due to my pending legal action against the airline and the upcoming article in a British Sunday newspaper, Qatar Airways now accept bank/credit card statements showing the transaction. They have relaxed the punitive rule about entire debit/credit card number appearing on the statement and now accept that the matching ticket cost tallies.

Some progress has been made.^

Jet Airways (9W) have a similar policy. They require that the card be produced at check-in. If pax =/= cardholder, then they require a copy of both sides of the card, with a signed statement from the cardholder authorizing use for travel on those specific 9W sectors.

This is a rational policy that allows unsophisticated pax (like elderly or the very young who may not have their own CC/DCs) to travel on "gifted" tickets.

The QR policy that the physical card MUST be produced is... dum dum dum dum dum ;) It could benefit from some flexibility, as FFlyer189's latest post indicates. However, I can't find this change in the Terms of use of their website, under the Paying by Credit Card section:

http://www.qatarairways.com/global/en/terms_and_conditions.html#PayingByCreditCard

However, I can't find this change in the Terms of use of their website, under the Paying by Credit Card section:

http://www.qatarairways.com/global/en/terms_and_conditions.html#PayingByCreditCard

The Qatar airways internet pages are slowly changing: Now it says on 'At the Airport advice page':

Internet Booking

Please ensure that you bring the credit card used to purchase your ticket or your credit card statement as proof of purchase. This is done for fraud protection. Failure to produce your credit card or statement might lead to you being prevented from travelling on your flight.

Here is the link: http://www.qatarairways.com/my/en/at-the-airport.html

^