Originally Posted by
irishguy28
Ivories are not Elite members, and are not entitled to lounge access or Fast Track [their baggage fee reductions are contingent on having their Ivory number in their reservation - mere membership of the programme is not enough to secure these baggage fee reductions].
Elite (Silver) and Elite Plus (Gold, Platinum) members are still issued with physical cards for these reasons. Ivories have no need to show proof of status (given that Ivory, by definition, has no status), hence why the physical cards are no longer issued. They served no useful purpose.
Which is exactly what I meant, Silver and above obviously need one which is why I explained a physical card is necessary.
A scenario where an Ivory would need a physical card is for example checking in at JED with Saudia and for some reason there's no FF# on the ticket so they tell the agent to enter it in, and they don't have Internet access not do they have an iPhone with the card in Wallet so a physical card is the most convenient option.