As a layman (legally speaking), and having indeed been asked on my two most recent EK check-ins to produce my CC, I am having a little trouble understanding the need for this procedure.
Surely by the time I check-in for a flight that I paid for over 3 months previously EK have received payment (or at least guarantee of payment) from my CC company... Why then the need to ascertain if it is indeed the same person that paid who is travelling? That payment can't be withdrawn after it has been made surely? So if I can't produce my CC what exactly does that show EK? That somebody else bought the ticket for me? I don't understand why this could be a problem.
Can anybody explain why this practise is becoming so widespread?