Originally Posted by studentff
Not sure about other airlines, but UA lets me check in at a kiosk using either my FF card or a credit card. (any credit card, not just the card from ticket purchase, as all the machine does is read the name off the mag stripe) I assume most other airlines are the same as there isn't a universal way for kiosks to read names off DLs, passports, and the myriad of other IDs.
So many times I travel, the only time I show photo ID is to the contract ID checker and/or TSA, depending on the airport layout. (That doesn't bother me--identification != security.)
The airlines use the credit cards in the kiosks because it is a uniform method to read the card (afterall $$ is better than anything else
) While the TSA advised the airlines to check IDs at the ticket counters we know the kiosks are the best way to go. You will still need to show the ID at the checkpoint.