I know there are many posts on this subject but I want to raise a query on a slightly different angle. I want to make a booking to take advantage of a good fare offer. Not flying until later in 2011 but the card I will need to use will expire in May - some months before I actually depart. What happens in case like this ????

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Do you expect to obtain a replacement card on the same account with an updated expiration date?

In my case I just kept the expired card (Nov 2010) and showed it to the gate agent when asked before my flight in Feb 2011. She verified that it was the card used to buy the ticket in Aug 2010, no problem.

I have never, ever, not once, been asked to show the credit card I booked a ticket with.

You'll be fine.

LH has a ruling where you are required to show a credit card entered during booking (not necessarily the one you used to pay) as identification during checkin.
However, a recent court ruling (last week I believe) awarded a passenger damages for beeing rejected for not having the Credit Card during checkin available (although that was I believe on Iberia).
So, if they say its mandatory, you might be ok even without it.

(Ruling: sorry, link to a german newspaper: http://www.faz.net/s/RubBEFA4EA6A594...~Scontent.html
)

OP is from Malaysia. The correct answer is this one:

I've been asked to show my card on international tickets, but only when I flew United.

First I've heard airlines checking credit cards to boarding passes.. It's more likely they'll ask for ID i.e. driver's license.. and in my case being from Canada.. passport

But.. I'd like to hear if its really common place to check cc's because then I'll have to carry cc's I've paid with..

Its common mainly for Asia main carriers if you purchase ticket online and pay with credit card. The LCC such as Air Asia or JetStar never check cc.
Below are excerpts from CC requirements for some major airlines in Asia :

Cathay Pacific FAQ

Please note: The physical credit card used to pay for tickets must be presented by the cardholder for verification at check-in, or when collecting the tickets. Otherwise the cardholder must present the physical card used at the nearest Cathay Pacific Ticketing Office for verification prior to the flight departure.

If the credit card used is renewed with a new card number by the credit card issuer between the time of ticket purchase and time of verification, please retain and present the original credit card for verification.

EVA Air

You are required to present the credit card used to purchase the ticket during check-in at the airport. For identification at the check-in counter, you must use a credit card with the card number and name stamped into it. You are required to input your first name and last name exactly as displayed on the credit card. Passengers who fail to do so will be denied boarding unless they purchase a full-fare ticket at the airport ticket counter.

Singapore Airlines Ticketing

For non-redemption bookings, your credit/debit card will need to be presented during check-in or ticket collection for purpose of verification.
What should I do if my credit/debit card expires before I commence my travel?
Before your credit card expires, please bring your credit card to the nearest Singapore Airlines Ticketing office to have it verified. You will then no longer be required to present your credit card during check-in.

Thai Airways Ticketing

Passengers who have used their own credit card or Visa/MasterCard debit card for purchase of the ticket must also present their payment card together with their personal identification (photo ID or passport) during check-in. Please note that the name and number on the payment card must be spelled exactly identical to the name on the identification card or passport.

If your replacement card has the same account number with a new expiration date and code on the back, the new card will work for any credit card checks.

If you don't get a new card, or close the account, or the new card has a new number, the easiest thing is just to bring the old one for the credit card check.

So what happens if you lose your card (wallet stolen etc)?

Believe that's addressed above on at least one airline

As pointed out, this is common for Asian carriers to prevent fraud.

The best thing to do would be to photocopy the front and back of the card in case you lose the original. If you also have photo ID matching the name printed on the copy of the card, a reasonable check-in agent should allow you to board but, obviously, different airlines will have different policies.

That's interesting as Mrs C uses a slightly different forename spelling on her CCs to that on her passport (first initital). Wonder what Eva would do then. Didn't have any effect when we used them a couple of years ago, but maybe it's a good job we're going Cathay later this year.