Using your CC to pay for other people's flights

[Disney Ella]

I booked flights for my sister and nephew using my credit card. My sister is worried that she will have trouble at the airport if she doesn't have the credit card used to make the reservation. I called United and first the customer service rep told me something about having to go to a United office at the nearest airport before the flight. When I questioned what exactly I had to do at this office, he put me on hold again, looked up her reservation and said it was fine for her to just show up for the flight.

I thought that as long as she doesn't check in a kiosk, she'll be fine. No one has ever asked me to see the credit card I used to book a flight. Anybody have any experience with this?

 

[Bo'sMom]

I've booked other people's airfares using my charge card in the past, and they have never incurred any problems at check in or at any other time. As long as she has a ticket that is paid for and a form of I.D, she should be all set.

 

[NotUrsula]

It does happen sometimes, especially in situations where the tickets were purchased less than 14 days before the flight. It is usually not a deal-breaker, in that the passenger will usually still be allowed on the flight, but may delay the transaction at the ticket counter. Destination also matters; it is much more likely to happen if the person is flying to S. America or the 3d world.

Some people have said that giving the person a photocopy of the CC is helpful, and also your phone number, so that the ticket agent can call you to verify that you did authorize the purchase. It will usually NOT be questioned if both the passenger and the purchaser are members of the airline's FF program, and having the same last name is VERY helpful. (I buy tickets for family members very often, and the only ones who have ever been questioned are those who do not have the same last name as mine.)

Airline tickets are a popular thing for CC thieves to charge, so the airlines have been known to be vigilant about making sure that 3d party purchases are legitimate. The most important thing is for the person flying to stay calm; if you have a fit they are more likely to think that the transaction is fraudulent.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I have purchased airline tickets for my sons numerous times with my cc card and they have never had a problem.

 

[safetymom]

Corporate books my travel with a credit card all the time and I haven't had any problems.

 

[Disney Ella]

Thanks for your replies. It's nice to know that all of you were able to do it without problem.

 

[nucpharm29]

I do have an experience last fall where I booked an award ticket for my MIL two days before my wife and I were expecting the birth of our 2nd child. I make the reservation with Delta the night before, and I read the fine print in the email, and it said the passenger needed to present the credit card used to purchase the itineraray at time of check-in since it was purchased within 7 days of travel. Well, since it was my card, I called Delta and the person I talked to said I needed to go to the nearest airport to verify the reservation. I only live 10 minutes from our regional airport, so it wasn't a big deal and ultimately, I don't know if my MIL would have been cleared I didn't go to the airport, but I didn't want to chance it. To conclude, just beware of buying tickets for others at the last minute.