Why is the purchase credit card required to be presented at check in?

[oskidunker]

I am buying two tickets for wife and son. also 10:30 red eye out of oakland to IAD is $100.00 more o that Saturday, even connecting flights. why? Is it because they will not be there to spend a Saturday night?

[UNITED959]

Answer to your subject: I haven't had the cc verification done in a long time. If you're traveling domestic and are at an Easy Checkin airport, you can slide by.

Answer to the $100 question: I don't understand what you're asking.

[kcvt750]

Haven't had the CC checked yet in 2003.

[Condition One]

I fly out of OAK twice a month and have never been asked for my credit card. I was there last Monday (Memorial Day). Usually the two ladies at the Checkin counter are too busy processing long lines to be harried with checking CC's (if it's even required).



[This message has been edited by Condition One (edited 05-28-2003).]

[oskidunker]

The 10:30 pm direct flight from OAK to IAD on A Saturday in Decemberis $100.00 more than other Saturday flights, even connecting ones. I was wondering if it was becasue you did not arrive at your destination to stay "a Saturday night."

[*HighFlyah*]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by oskidunker:
The 10:30 pm direct flight from OAK to IAD on A Saturday in Decemberis $100.00 more than other Saturday flights, even connecting ones. I was wondering if it was becasue you did not arrive at your destination to stay "a Saturday night."</font>

That could be it. The Saturday night stay means you should arrive at your destination on a Saturday and leave for your return not earlier than the next day (Sunday).


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When once you have experienced being a 1K, you will forever fly the friendly skies with your eyes set on 100% mileage bonus and SWUs, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return, every year!

[wcj1]

I was asked for my credit card yesterday.
BillJ

[PW1P]

What do they do in cases where they ask to check the card and the following has happened:

You bought the ticket with a CC that has now expired, or

You bought the ticket with a CC that you have now cancelled, etc etc.

[oskidunker]

You will have a hell of a time boarding the plane. I was told by a United Reservationist that they can ask for it. This is really stupid.But it does not apply if you DO NOT buy the ticket through the internet.SO Call and make the reservation.Maybe I'll do that.

[L Dude 7]

When I used Mr. Easy Checkin last week, I slid in the credit card used for payment, and proceeded right to the boarding pass screen (didn't even ask me for the destination like it was done before.)

On the return, the lady at the ticket counter didn't ask to see ID or the credit card. (However, she gladly accepted my $100 to change the date of the ticket. It happened to be the same card.)

As for the red-eye. The missing the saturday night does sound like what you are running in to. I've often run in to that with international flights also. I've also known people who've run in to nastiness when trying to standby with an earlier connecting fligth after being booked on a redeye...

[UNITED959]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by L Dude 7:
[b]When I used Mr. Easy Checkin last week, I slid in the credit card used for payment, and proceeded right to the boarding pass screen (didn't even ask me for the destination like it was done before.)
[b]</font>

As an aside, the card you use in Easy Checkin does not have to be the on which you purchased the ticket. The machine merely reads the name information from the metallic strip to match it up with that day's flight database.

So, in essence, you can purchase a ticket for your friend, he can put his Visa, Amex, whatever into the Easy Checkin, and his BP will pop out.

[nerd]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PW1P:
What do they do in cases where they ask to check the card and the following has happened:

You bought the ticket with a CC that has now expired, or

You bought the ticket with a CC that you have now cancelled, etc etc.</font>

I have no personal experience with this, but I did once ask an agent over the phone what one would do in this situation. She said that you'd have to show a statement from the card that had been used. I guess they think that possession of a statement, in lieu of the actual card, authenticates the transaction.

But this was about 15 months ago and I don't know if the same policy remains. Given the wide range of "rules" set forth by UA agents over the phone, who knows if this was even the policy at the time.

[DBCme]

Only once in the past couple years was I asked for the original credit card I used to purchase the ticket. Of course.. I didn't have it. The gate agent made a fuss, and esentially required me to re-purchase new ticket (same price) and then credit back the old credit card.
I'd stick with the e-check in's for now on

[SEA_Tigger]

With a Premiere card (even as a 1P), I would be asked for my credit card when using Mr. Easy Checkin.

As soon as my Premiere Executive card arrived, Mr. Easy Checkin considered it good to go. Others have noted that 1P/1K cards do not require a credit card when using MEC (and the ones that ask when using Premiere cards may be location/machine specific - I have been asked at SEA).

When checking in at a counter, my MP card (2P or 1P) and my ID has always been sufficient. Only asked for my cc once (before 9/11) since making MP elite - the one time I did not have it on me - and the agent and I played a game of "20 Questions" which satisfied her and I was on my way.

[BangkokTraveler]

I was asked for the CC used to buy the ticket last week in ORD when flying to NRT. The card had been lost and replaced with another with a different number. I showed her that card and she noted that the number was not the same. She asked a few questions and seemed satisfied.