This Sneaky Credit Card Policy May Stop You From Taking Your Next Flight — What To Know

Travelers need to be aware that some airlines may ask them to provide the credit card used to purchase their airfare in order to check in for their next flight.

Although the sneaky credit card policy isn’t often a problem for travelers, it can present itself when you least expect it – and it could even prevent you from boarding the flight that you’ve already paid for.

For example, a writer for the local ratings and reviews website Consumers’ Checkbook recently shared how the credit card policy almost left him and his wife stuck at London’s Heathrow Airport. Herb Weisbaum told ABC 6 Action News Troubleshooters that when he and his spouse arrived at a Delta check-in kiosk, before continuing with the process, they were prompted to insert the credit card used to purchase their airfare.

According to Weisbaum, a Delta supervisor told him and his wife they wouldn’t be issued boarding passes unless they could present the credit card, which they didn’t have with them at the time. The airline employee allegedly told the couple that their options were to remain in London, purchase new tickets (for around $6,000), or have someone send over a snapshot of the credit card that the couple used. The Weisbaums also could have asked someone back home to bring the credit card to Delta’s airport counter in Seattle for verification.

“It was totally insane,” recalled Weisbaum, who ultimately had a neighbor enter his home and send a photo of the credit card. “My wife was shaking. She was afraid. She thought we’d get trapped in London. The really big gripe I have with Delta is if this is required, why not clearly disclose it and let me know?”

What Should I Know About Airline Credit Card Policies Regarding Presentation At Check-In?

Delta has a notice on its “Booking a Flight Online” web page about its pesky credit card policy, though many travelers may not have had a clue about it.

“To safeguard against credit/debit card fraud, the purchaser may have to show us the credit/debit card along with a valid photo ID. The time varies based on the billing address of the credit/debit card or the country of travel. If the purchaser is not traveling, they can show us their credit/debit card and ID at an airport ticket counter or another ticket office location, whichever is most convenient,” says the airline under the “Credit/Debit Card Presentation” section.

Moreover, Delta issued a comment to Troubleshooters. It said, “Most customers in most instances will not have to show the card used to purchase their booking,” and “The time varies based on the billing address of the credit or debit card, or the country of travel.”

In a KOMO News piece, Weisbaum stated that the Delta supervisor noted the carrier had a credit card policy in place at check-in to protect its customers from fraud. If you’re wondering what other airlines have a similar credit card policy, it’s always best to check with the specific carrier you’ll be traveling with before heading to the airport. Other carriers that may request verification of your identity and credit card after booking include Emirates, All Nippon Airways (ANA), SriLankan Airlines, EVA Air, and Turkish Airlines.

How Can You Avoid A Similar Incident?

The simplest way is to always travel to the airport with the credit card you used to book your airfare. If that’s not possible, be sure to have photos of both the front and back of the card, in addition to carrying a form of ID that matches your booking information.

In worst-case scenarios, such as the one the Weisbaums were in, it’s ideal to have someone trusted nearby your home base. That way, should there be an emergency, they can dash inside and send over proof of your specific banking and/or identification.

Review the credit card policies of certain airlines below so you won’t be caught off guard if verification is required.

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