Show credit card
May 15, 2017, 6:58 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: British Airways Executive Club Gold
Posts: 70
Show credit card
I am booking an avios trip on Iberia.com LHR - MAD - RAK BA/IB
I get this message when I try to pay:
"For the correct verification of the payment card holder´s identity, the holder must show the card on the day of departure of the flight at the check-in desk. To the contrary, the passenger in the booking will be refused embarkation.
The card will only be required at the first starting point of the trip (not on the return trip or connecting flights).
Virtual cards
Virtual cards are not admitted as forms of payment. The purchase of a ticket with a virtual card means you will NOT BE ADMITTED on the flight, being able to fly only by purchasing a new ticket at the time of departure. Return to previous page and modify your form of payment."
Someone is paying for the ticket and therefore wont be there to show the card. Will BA enforce this show card rule at Heathrow?
Many thanks,
I get this message when I try to pay:
"For the correct verification of the payment card holder´s identity, the holder must show the card on the day of departure of the flight at the check-in desk. To the contrary, the passenger in the booking will be refused embarkation.
The card will only be required at the first starting point of the trip (not on the return trip or connecting flights).
Virtual cards
Virtual cards are not admitted as forms of payment. The purchase of a ticket with a virtual card means you will NOT BE ADMITTED on the flight, being able to fly only by purchasing a new ticket at the time of departure. Return to previous page and modify your form of payment."
Someone is paying for the ticket and therefore wont be there to show the card. Will BA enforce this show card rule at Heathrow?
Many thanks,
May 15, 2017, 7:50 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: South East, UK
Programs: BA Gold / GfL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,431
If you told BA when you booked that the cardholder was not travelling then they won't insist on this (e.g. booking online there is a tick box to this effect).
If you didn't do this then it could cause you problems.
If you didn't do this then it could cause you problems.
May 15, 2017, 8:01 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,921
The wording on BA.com is that if the card holder is travelling then the payment card may be required to be shown, though it doesn't say what may be required if the holder is not travelling. The OP is purchasing and quoting from Iberia.com but checking in with BA at LHR so BA rules would apply.
May 16, 2017, 7:06 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: British Airways Executive Club Gold
Posts: 70
so, if I book this on Iberia.com - will it be OK if i take a photocopy of the credit card.
Is it likely that I will be asked to show the credit card as I booked it on Iberia but I am flying with BA?
Is it likely that I will be asked to show the credit card as I booked it on Iberia but I am flying with BA?
May 16, 2017, 7:57 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci, BA, AF
Posts: 10,123
Doubt BA will care, as they are not the ones issuing the ticket. It's similar to buying from an OTA and then travelling on QR/CX/another airline that's picky about showing credit cards.
May 16, 2017, 8:17 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: UK
Programs: BA EC
Posts: 524
If one buy it directly from airline website, the airline will suffer.
BTW, why dont fly LGW-RAK direct?
May 16, 2017, 8:41 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: South East, UK
Programs: BA Gold / GfL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,431
From a quick search on Iberia.com (my bolding):
Do I have to show my credit card at the airport?
You do not always have to show the credit card used to buy the ticket at the airport on the day of departure.
When you purchase your ticket (either through Iberia.com or by calling Serviberia) and depending on a number of factors, such as flight dates, destination, cost of the ticket and the country where the credit card was issued, you will be notified immediately if you need to show your credit card at the airport on the day of departure.
If you purchased your ticket from an Iberia ticket office or a travel agent's, please check again with the issuing office. If you are told upon purchasing your ticket that a credit card should be presented, you MAY NOT use a virtual card, remember that Iberia does not accept virtual cards for the purchase of tickets.
So if Iberia.com is telling you that you will need to show the payment card, then you will be a bit stuck if they do ask to see it. Others can better advise as to whether BA will want to see this at LHR on your departure.You do not always have to show the credit card used to buy the ticket at the airport on the day of departure.
When you purchase your ticket (either through Iberia.com or by calling Serviberia) and depending on a number of factors, such as flight dates, destination, cost of the ticket and the country where the credit card was issued, you will be notified immediately if you need to show your credit card at the airport on the day of departure.
If you purchased your ticket from an Iberia ticket office or a travel agent's, please check again with the issuing office. If you are told upon purchasing your ticket that a credit card should be presented, you MAY NOT use a virtual card, remember that Iberia does not accept virtual cards for the purchase of tickets.
I have not booked on Iberia.com for years, so am not sure if there is a 'cardholder not travelling' option like on BA.com. If not, you might want to consider booking by phone to confirm with Iberia.com it will not cause any problems.
May 16, 2017, 10:49 am
#10
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 8
I dont think BA will accept a photocopy of the credit card, man I dont know what to do in your situation. maybe ask to borrow your friends credit card and give him yours while you're away.
May 16, 2017, 10:54 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci, BA, AF
Posts: 10,123
May 16, 2017, 11:00 am
#12
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 538
But if it is a 075 ticket and IB are the operating carrier and if IB state that card needs to be produced at check in then I would expect that this will be rigidly enforced.
May 16, 2017, 11:07 am
#13
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat
Posts: 756
Just curious, is this another security measure they implemented recently or just another money grab attempt? I've never heard of any airline ask for payment verification at checkin.
May 16, 2017, 4:29 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
BA used to do this more than it does now. It was actually quite routine for a while when online bookings began to be offered. Then there was a phase when certain passenger characteristics (eg higher-tier BAEC membership) would tend to exempt you from the check - although that wasn't universal and I remember one occasion when I was the last person of the group of three to arrive at the airport and BA simply wouldn't print BPs for the other two until I'd got there. Now, it's unusual for me to be asked, but it still sometimes happens - particularly with Comair in South Africa.
About 10 years ago, I booked a ticket for a friend on CX to fly from HKG to somewhere like NRT. The way that our plans evolved, I ended up departing HKG earlier than she did, taking the credit card with me. She found that she couldn't travel without paying CX again for the ticket with her card, with me getting a refund afterwards.
