A few days ago I flew from Bangkok to Phuket on Bangkokair. When I checked in, they wanted to see the credit card that I used when I booked the flight. (I remember BA wanted to see this, too last year). Is this for security reasons, or to confirm that I am on the flight (In case I tell my credit card company I didn't book the flight?

Anyway, I'm only getting Fox News here in Phuket, and they seem to believe that total bodyscanners are the way to go for security reasons. Why not require that one purchased the flight 24 hours in advanced with a credit card, or at least require one to show a passport when purchasing an airline ticket with cash? I know when I purchased a train ticket in Spain I had to show my passport.

Both times now Delta and American allowed a terrorist to purchase with cash at the last minute with no luggage, a ticket to the United States. Are these airlines so desperate to get that last minute big money on a ticket at our expense?

It's to ensure that the credit card is yours and is valid. Many airlines reserve the right to do such checks. Keeps the airline a bit safe from chargebacks from stolen cards and the potential real owners of the cards.

As to cash purchases I don't think prohibiting the practice is warranted (nor legal in the US). And there's no reason to penalize everyone else if they wanted to do the same thing (I can think of several legitimate reasons to travel last minute without luggage and pay in cash). (And to be able to purchase without a passport for that matter.) It should raise security flags however.

Some airlines require to see the credit card if ticket purchased less than 24-48 hours before flight. The charge hasn't had time to clear, so they want to make sure you don't get the flight, then they don't get the money.

Checking in on a Silk flight to Siem Reap in Singapore, I was asked for the credit card-- but on this trip, I only brought one card with me (didn't feel the need to travel around with multiple cards). Needless to say, the card I brought was not the one I had used to book the flight. The agent almost made me re-purchase the flight- which I'm sure would have cost a fortune!! Luckily, she eventually allowed me to check in on my original ticket without it. On the return on Silk, in Phnom Penh back to Singapore, they never asked for it. Moral: be sure to bring the card you've used to avoid hassle!

Jen - it is often impossible to bring the credit card used to purchase the trip. People and companies purchase tickets for others all the time. My DH has some business trips for which his ticket is purchased by client he is visiting. I purchase tickets for DD multiple times/year on my credit card (she is college student) and she has a different last name than I do. Never had a problem - but obviously others, including you, have. This question has come up here before and I have never found anything on airline websites that indicate this as a requirement.

When I ticketed an award reservation on delta.com in September, there was a warning that the credit card used for the taxes would need to be produced at check-in. This is the first time I've seen (or noticed) the warning for a booking that's not close to departure. I also was asked to produce the credit card used for purchase when checking in on Delta in August (but never before or since).

Just to clarify these are 2 separate reservations. I haven't flown the one ticketed in Sep yet.
And I don't recall any warning when originally ticketing or subsequently reissuing the Aug flight.

Yesterday I flew from Phuket to Bangkok and once again they asked to see the credit card that I used when I made the reservation. I showed them and said, May I ask why? They said security reasons. They want to make sure that the person who booked the flight is the person flying.

On most and maybe all U.S. flights, purchases made during flight need to be made with a credit card--not cash. This includes sandwiches and beer and wine.

Rental car companies require a credit card but allow one to pay with cash once the car is returned.

I really believe requiring all airline tickets to be purchased with a valid credit card is a better security method than removing one's underware.

I'm in Seoul, Korea looking at white stuff on the ground. Quite a change from Bangkok. They just announced that we would be subjected to further security screening, which may include removing our shoes. Anyway, I've got my Hugo Boss underware on!

"requiring all airline tickets to be purchased with a valid credit card is a better security method "

The knicker bomber's correct name, passport number and visa details were provided to the US government before the plane was allowed to take off. That government had been warned the bomber was a nutcase weeks beforehand. Not by a bumbing spook but by the man who knew the bomber best.

Yet the US gave the plane clearance. What possible differnce would it have made if the bomber had used his father's credit card?

I would never have the credit card used to purchase my ticket on a business flight. I've also never been asked for it.

Seems like no one has been denied boarding. What's the actual protocol? Seems as if there is no written procedure.

Interestingly I just booked a flight on AirTran (I hate that airline, but no other option) for DH and it stated on billing page that for reservations made less than 48 hours in advance they would require presentation of "a credit card" upon check-in.

Still not sure what this means - since he usually does on-line check-in plus it says "a" credit card not "the" credit card. Not a problem in this case, but about 1/3 time he would be in situation of SamH and not have the actual card with him.

As I understand it from Delta the "Security" is "credit card security" not "personal security" Destinations where this occurs are those where they or the CC company have put "fraud alerts" in place.

On Delta you can show them the credit card in advance and get the "security" removed. (I did this for my mother's recent trip to Latin America as she would NOT have my credit card with her, she had no problems)

I remember telling BA that my credit card had charges made to it that were not from me so I had to cancel the card. This story was true and it worked for me. Maybe it will help for you.

If you are traveling back to the US from a foreign country, don't purchase anything from the duty-free stores that includes liquids like alcohol or perfume/cologne. On my last flight it looked like they hired some high school kids to go through one's bags and remove these items before boarding the plane. I'm sure the kids had a nice little hang-over the next morning.

I fly Singapore Airlines frequently, and they always ask me for the credit card I booked the tickets with, regardless of how far in advance I've booked them. They mention this on their website and if the credit card expires before the flight date, a notice comes up in bright red telling you to present the card in person at a SIA office prior to your flight!

On my latest SIA flight, the credit card I'd booked with had to be cancelled prior to the flight due to some fraudulant charges. I no longer had the card, so I took a copy of the credit card statment, just in case they asked at check-in, which they did. I explained the situation and showed them the statement, the clerk checked with a manager and they gave me my boarding pass.

I very recently booked several flights for my brother. I booked his UA flights using my credit card, however, I was careful to use his credit card for the SIA flight, as we're only traveling together one direction. His card will expire before his flight and there's no SIA office in his city, so I've told him to keep the old card to present at check-in...just in case.

I don't understand this policy...SIA takes their money as soon as you book the flight, so it can't be financially motivated. It's just one more thing to worry about when traveling.