Strange response when using credit card to purchase Ted ticket

[Simba's Mom]

Tonight DH purchased his Mom's ticket to meet us in WDW (Shh! It's a surprise for her birthday). But he encountered a strange response notice when he purchased her ticket on-line. It said that if the person purchasing the ticket was not part of the traveling party (which he isn't), he has to go to a United ticketing point for verification. He's never gotten any such notice. And the real problem is that United doesn't do business at any airport within 100 miles of us. So what's he to do? I imagine he'll call them, but I was just wondering if anyone's encountered this type of thing before.

 

[DVC-Don]

It's a security thing.

 

[DebbieB]

One time I booked frequent flyer tickets over the phone with USAir for me and my mom. They charge a $5 security fee on FF tickets. I gave them my credit card # but they would not let me use it for my mom's ticket, I had to get her credit card # for her $5.00 charge because the miles came from separate accounts and were considered separate reservations.

 

[Caropooh]

I work in United reservations. He will have to show the credit card before she can fly. Otherwise she will be buying a new ticket when she gets to the airport. It is for security reasons. My guess would be either the billing address didn't match up with the address the bank has or he put in the CID number (3 digits on the back of the card in the signature line) incorrectly.
Was it an actual message he got after buying the ticket or was he just reading this as he was purchasing the ticket? We have a blanket statement on the web sites stating tahat about the credit cards because some cards(diners club for one)don't have the CID number on them. Majority of the time you don't have to show the CC. I'll be happy to look at the reservation at work on Monday and let you know what the actual electronic ticket says. I would just need the reservation number.

 

[PlutoPony]

When you check in for a flight, you're asked to show the credit card that was used for booking the flight -which your mother won't be able to do. When I've had to do it, it had nothing to do w/ a billing address not matching, etc - but rules are changing all the time! Are you flying to WDW yourself? If so, and your flight is before your mother's you can show the credit card when you get to the airport and everything should be fine. It really only takes a minute unless the tickets lines are long (I bought my mom a ticket and went to Dulles to take care of the cc thing). If you're driving, will you be in Orlando before your mother arrives - you could stop at MCO and do it when you hit town if that works. Wish there was an easier way to do this kind of thing!
HTH!

 

[Simba's Mom]

When you check in for a flight, you're asked to show the credit card that was used for booking the flight -which your mother won't be able to do. When I've had to do it, it had nothing to do w/ a billing address not matching, etc - but rules are changing all the time! Are you flying to WDW yourself? If so, and your flight is before your mother's you can show the credit card when you get to the airport and everything should be fine. It really only takes a minute unless the tickets lines are long (I bought my mom a ticket and went to Dulles to take care of the cc thing). If you're driving, will you be in Orlando before your mother arrives - you could stop at MCO and do it when you hit town if that works. Wish there was an easier way to do this kind of thing!
HTH!

The airport we're flying out of doesn't have United, nor does any airport within 100 miles of where we live. There's no way we can get to a United ticket counter. DH's mother is coming from another state, over 1000 miles away. And DH really isn't too keen on sending his credit card thru the mail to his mother so she'll have it at the airport. Boy, this is going to be a fun one!

 

[DebbieB]

I don't think that would work anyway, if his mother had his credit card without him being present.

Did your husband call United and discuss the situation?

 

[PlutoPony]

What a pain for you! Could you do it at the United counter at MCO when you arrive - will you be there before MIL checks in for her flight? Or is there any way a TA could help you get around this (even tho the reservations are already made?) Definitely would call UA on this and see what they have to offer...

GOOD LUCK - and have fun!