If you use your DL miles, KE does not ask for the CC. If you use KE miles or book directly with KE on their website, KE will require that you have the CC. It's disclosed on the site, and over the phone when you book your ticket.

If for whatever reason you don't have the credit card, you lost it, someone else's credit card, at the station's discretion, they will refund the amount to the original credit card # and ask you for an alternate card in your name. They'll charge the amount of the ticket on the new card and ask you to sign a credit card fraud disclosure.

If you really really really argue and fight with the station manager, I have seen the managers allow the agents to take the new CC number down, and have you sign a disclosure stating that you and the new card will cover the ticket cost if anything goes wrong with the original card. But note, that this is rare.

There has been so many fraud cases with fradulent cc's being used, esp in Asia, that they've implemented this policy.