Do airline websites need my passport details?
 

Do airline websites need my passport details?

A friend is purchasing an e-ticket for me (from New York to Central America). He says he needs my passport number, expiry to buy the electronic ticket. He is not a very good friend and I'm suspicious why he's asking for it. In my experience buying electronic tickets, only credit card information is required. Have any of you submitted passport details on websites like AirAsia or other budjet airlines to buy e-tickets? Or is this guy trying to mislead me?

Continental did ask me for our family passport info once while booking tickets online for a trip to the Caribbean. I honestly can't remember whether it was required or voluntarily.

I don't recall an airline ever asking for my passport until you check-in at the airport.

Cathay Pacific asked for all of our passport numbers when I booked our families (2 adult - 2 children) tickets to HK and Beijing. I don't know why they asked, but I couldnt book the tickets with out giving the info, so I just gave it. Try calling the airlines to find out why.

I just looked on Continental's web site. Giving the passport info is optional.

<i>&quot;He is not a very good friend and I'm suspicious why he's asking for it.&quot;</i>

I would worry more about giving him your credit card info!!!

Can't you book/buy the ticket yourself??

some airlines require the passport number, some only ask for the travelers' names exactly as printed in the passport.

IIRC, British Airways required the passport numbers for online checkin for our flight in Feb. Certainly not to purchase the ticket.