Originally Posted by number_6
This is a common requirement -- almost every airline requires it; actually the credit card companies require this, I believe. I don't think it is fair to blame IB for this behaviour at the airport; whoever took payment for the reservation should have made this requirement quite clear. Didn't IB give you the option to (re)purchase the ticket using a card that you did have (and then process a refund for the other card)? Or did you refuse that option?
I guess there is quite a bit of fraud with 3rd party purchases of airline tickets, and the more expensive your ticket the less flexible the airline is likely to be on this -- one time that fully refundable is less desirable!
Who's blaming IB? I took great care in my post not to blame anybody, and tried hard to stick to the facts. No, I was not given the option to (re)purchase the ticket, maybe because it was not refundable, maybe because the agent did not think about it, maybe because it was one of those days when nobody thinks straight. In any case, I did not refuse anything; in fact, I took it on the chin, politely thanked those involved, accepted they were simply doing their job, and returned home. My post, far from being a tirade against IB, or anybody, was simply designed to sound a word of caution for those who may find themselves in a similar situation in future. And on the subject of this being so common, no, it is not: an IB manager has since explained to me (just got back from the airport, again) their computer runs random checks on credit card purchases, and from time to time somebody gets hit with this. It is anything but a common thing, or so they say.