OT - Airline ticketing

[Al[_1_]]

My son in law purchased a ticket for my daughter on United Airlines
using a credit card. The purchase was made on line. When my daughter showed
up for the flight, she was refused boarding because she didn't have the
credit card in her possession. The ticket agent, in Eugene Or., said "We
have to see the actual card, after all, it could be stolen". The agent did
say, that my son in law, a Marine, could go down to his local United counter
and show the card there, and the agent there would mark the box in United's
computer, so boarding could occur. The trouble was, United doesn't have a
counter in Al Asad, Iraq. The kid is coming home from a tour of duty in
Iraq, and the plan was for my daughter to get to MCAS Miramar to meet him.
After some very tearful "discussion", and I believe, a direct threat of
bodily harm from my wife, the agent allowed my daughter to board.
Has anyone here ever heard of this crap before? Aren't E-Tickets usable?
What was going on here?

Al G

[Steve Foley[_1_]]

"Al" > wrote in message
...
> My son in law purchased a ticket for my daughter on United Airlines
> using a credit card.

At some point I was told that I would have to show the cc when I showed up
for the flight. I don't really remember the circumstances, as I had the card
in my pocket, but I know it happens.

[Rich Badaracco]

Al wrote:

> Has anyone here ever heard of this crap before? Aren't E-Tickets usable?
> What was going on here?
>
> Al G
>
>
>

I book tickets for my wife all the time using a credit card she doesn't
have. She has never been asked to produce the card prior to boarding.
This may be a United policy.

[Jim Logajan]

"Steve Foley" > wrote:
> "Al" > wrote in message
> ...
>> My son in law purchased a ticket for my daughter on United
>> Airlines
>> using a credit card.
>
> At some point I was told that I would have to show the cc when I
> showed up for the flight. I don't really remember the circumstances,
> as I had the card in my pocket, but I know it happens.

It's a self-defeating requirement when you consider that some businesses
pay for their employee's tickets. The employee is unlikely to have the CC
that was used to pay for the ticket.

The only place I could find on United's web site that mentions you may
need to show _a_ credit card is here:

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,51133,00.html

"For domestic flights – all passengers 18 and older are required to
present valid and unexpired government-issued photo identification.
(federal, state or local). For example: driver’s license or passport.
All customers must carry government-issued identification with them at
all times and may be asked to show identification during boarding.

In the absence of government-issued photo identification, two forms of
identification are required. One must be government issued. Example:
Social security card and credit card.

Customers without proper identification may be subject to additional
security screening procedures."

So if the daughter had a proper ID, the need to present _the_ credit card
that was used to purchase the ticket does not appear to be on United's
web site. So even if the credit card company is asking the merchant (in
this case United) to require presentation of the credit card before
boarding (to limit CC fraud) the merchant seems to be inconsistent in its
application and is not mentioning the possibility to its customers where
one would expect to find it.

So yeah, United seems to have treated Al's daughter pretty unfairly.

[Al[_1_]]

She had ID. An Oregon drivers license, and a Marine dependant ID. Both with
photos.

Al G


"Jim Logajan" > wrote in message
...
> "Steve Foley" > wrote:
>> "Al" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> My son in law purchased a ticket for my daughter on United
>>> Airlines
>>> using a credit card.
>>
>> At some point I was told that I would have to show the cc when I
>> showed up for the flight. I don't really remember the circumstances,
>> as I had the card in my pocket, but I know it happens.
>
> It's a self-defeating requirement when you consider that some businesses
> pay for their employee's tickets. The employee is unlikely to have the CC
> that was used to pay for the ticket.
>
> The only place I could find on United's web site that mentions you may
> need to show _a_ credit card is here:
>
> http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,51133,00.html
>
> "For domestic flights – all passengers 18 and older are required to
> present valid and unexpired government-issued photo identification.
> (federal, state or local). For example: driver’s license or passport.
> All customers must carry government-issued identification with them at
> all times and may be asked to show identification during boarding.
>
> In the absence of government-issued photo identification, two forms of
> identification are required. One must be government issued. Example:
> Social security card and credit card.
>
> Customers without proper identification may be subject to additional
> security screening procedures."
>
> So if the daughter had a proper ID, the need to present _the_ credit card
> that was used to purchase the ticket does not appear to be on United's
> web site. So even if the credit card company is asking the merchant (in
> this case United) to require presentation of the credit card before
> boarding (to limit CC fraud) the merchant seems to be inconsistent in its
> application and is not mentioning the possibility to its customers where
> one would expect to find it.
>
> So yeah, United seems to have treated Al's daughter pretty unfairly.

[Robert M. Gary]

In every company I've worked for they've booked flights using my
corporate credit card, which I am required to carry on business trips
(they don't want me getting rewards from using my personal credit card
;) )
If a company used a credit card you didn't have access to or did not
issue you a corporate card with your name on it, what would you do if
you needed to make changes to the reservation which required an
increase in fare?

-Robert


Jim Logajan wrote:
> It's a self-defeating requirement when you consider that some businesses
> pay for their employee's tickets. The employee is unlikely to have the CC
> that was used to pay for the ticket.

[Jim Logajan]

"Robert M. Gary" > wrote:
> If a company used a credit card you didn't have access to or did not
> issue you a corporate card with your name on it, what would you do if
> you needed to make changes to the reservation which required an
> increase in fare?

Well then I would have to use a personal CC and request an expense
reimbursement from the company later. But yeah, many companies do require
the employee pay for everything (either on a personal CC or a company
issued CC) and they reimburse the employees later.

Anyway, it was meant as an example situation, not one that I suspect
happens very often anymore. No point defending a weak example. ;-)

[Al[_1_]]

"Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> In every company I've worked for they've booked flights using my
> corporate credit card, which I am required to carry on business trips
> (they don't want me getting rewards from using my personal credit card
> ;) )
> If a company used a credit card you didn't have access to or did not
> issue you a corporate card with your name on it, what would you do if
> you needed to make changes to the reservation which required an
> increase in fare?
>
> -Robert
>
I guess you'd have to find a way to pay for the changes, cash, check,
american express. She had her own cards. In any case, I've sent my kids
plane tickets to come home from Grandma's. I thought that was what E-Tickets
were all about.

On the other hand, this guy was either incredibly foolish, or had balls
the size of the great outdoors. To go up against a Marine Wife enroute to
meet the "returning from combat" husband; would not be easy. When advised
that she will be supported by indirect fire from an Ex Navy Wife/Mother in
law, it's downright foolish. He's lucky someone didn't call in an airstrike.
I would have had the local TV news team down there in minutes.
I think pretty highly of our troops. Surveys say I am not alone. To
deny a tear jerking homecoming for a combat verteran would play very well to
the local TV ratings. To do it in front of the United desk would not help
their image.
It worked out. He is on the ground at MCAS Miramar as I speak. My
daughter was there, on time.

Al G

[planenuts]

That is really strange. I always buy tickets for my girlfriend (She is
from Dallas and I am in Pittsburgh) through internet using my credit
card. I have been doing this for more than a year through several
airlines including United Airlines. I never had a problem like your
daughter and son in law. It must be either a new policy for UA or full
of crap.

Toks Desalu
PP-ASEL
Dyin' to Soar


Al wrote:
> My son in law purchased a ticket for my daughter on United Airlines
> using a credit card. The purchase was made on line. When my daughter showed
> up for the flight, she was refused boarding because she didn't have the
> credit card in her possession. The ticket agent, in Eugene Or., said "We
> have to see the actual card, after all, it could be stolen". The agent did
> say, that my son in law, a Marine, could go down to his local United counter
> and show the card there, and the agent there would mark the box in United's
> computer, so boarding could occur. The trouble was, United doesn't have a
> counter in Al Asad, Iraq. The kid is coming home from a tour of duty in
> Iraq, and the plan was for my daughter to get to MCAS Miramar to meet him.
> After some very tearful "discussion", and I believe, a direct threat of
> bodily harm from my wife, the agent allowed my daughter to board.
> Has anyone here ever heard of this crap before? Aren't E-Tickets usable?
> What was going on here?
>
> Al G

[Gig 601XL Builder]

"Al" > wrote in message
...
> My son in law purchased a ticket for my daughter on United Airlines
> using a credit card. The purchase was made on line. When my daughter
> showed up for the flight, she was refused boarding because she didn't have
> the credit card in her possession. The ticket agent, in Eugene Or., said
> "We have to see the actual card, after all, it could be stolen". The agent
> did say, that my son in law, a Marine, could go down to his local United
> counter and show the card there, and the agent there would mark the box in
> United's computer, so boarding could occur. The trouble was, United
> doesn't have a counter in Al Asad, Iraq. The kid is coming home from a
> tour of duty in Iraq, and the plan was for my daughter to get to MCAS
> Miramar to meet him.
> After some very tearful "discussion", and I believe, a direct threat of
> bodily harm from my wife, the agent allowed my daughter to board.
> Has anyone here ever heard of this crap before? Aren't E-Tickets
> usable? What was going on here?
>
> Al G
>
>
>

I've traveled using e-tickets on 3 different airlines in the last 6 months.
None of which were UA. I've been asked for Photo ID but not for the credit
card.

Was the ticket purchased on the UA website or a 3rd party. I'm betting UA's
on site.

[Al[_1_]]

"Gig 601XL Builder" <wrDOTgiaconaATcox.net> wrote in message
...
>
> "Al" > wrote in message
> ...
>> My son in law purchased a ticket for my daughter on United Airlines
>> using a credit card. The purchase was made on line. When my daughter
>> showed up for the flight, she was refused boarding because she didn't
>> have the credit card in her possession. The ticket agent, in Eugene Or.,
>> said "We have to see the actual card, after all, it could be stolen". The
>> agent did say, that my son in law, a Marine, could go down to his local
>> United counter and show the card there, and the agent there would mark
>> the box in United's computer, so boarding could occur. The trouble was,
>> United doesn't have a counter in Al Asad, Iraq. The kid is coming home
>> from a tour of duty in Iraq, and the plan was for my daughter to get to
>> MCAS Miramar to meet him.
>> After some very tearful "discussion", and I believe, a direct threat
>> of bodily harm from my wife, the agent allowed my daughter to board.
>> Has anyone here ever heard of this crap before? Aren't E-Tickets
>> usable? What was going on here?
>>
>> Al G
>>
>>
>>
>
> I've traveled using e-tickets on 3 different airlines in the last 6
> months. None of which were UA. I've been asked for Photo ID but not for
> the credit card.
>
> Was the ticket purchased on the UA website or a 3rd party. I'm betting
> UA's on site.
I don't know Gig.

Al G

[.Blueskies.]

"Al" > wrote in message ...
: My son in law purchased a ticket for my daughter on United Airlines
: using a credit card. The purchase was made on line. When my daughter showed
: up for the flight, she was refused boarding because she didn't have the
: credit card in her possession. The ticket agent, in Eugene Or., said "We
: have to see the actual card, after all, it could be stolen". The agent did
: say, that my son in law, a Marine, could go down to his local United counter
: and show the card there, and the agent there would mark the box in United's
: computer, so boarding could occur. The trouble was, United doesn't have a
: counter in Al Asad, Iraq. The kid is coming home from a tour of duty in
: Iraq, and the plan was for my daughter to get to MCAS Miramar to meet him.
: After some very tearful "discussion", and I believe, a direct threat of
: bodily harm from my wife, the agent allowed my daughter to board.
: Has anyone here ever heard of this crap before? Aren't E-Tickets usable?
: What was going on here?
:
: Al G
:
:

Just another example of how the 'big' airlines just don't get it. They are in the customer service business. They need
to relearn that or they will go away...

[Peter Duniho]

".Blueskies." > wrote in message
...
> Just another example of how the 'big' airlines just don't get it. They are
> in the customer service business. They need to relearn that or they will
> go away...

Sadly, that's not precisely true.

I think that there is a viable niche for a true "customer service" airline,
but the vast majority of travelers *only* care about price. The main thing
that will kill the major airlines is their inability to adapt to the future
of airline travel (mainly, the limitations of the hub system they currently
use), and that only because it undermines their bottom line.

As long as the airline customer puts up with whatever inconveniences the
airlines subject them to, in the name of getting the lowest price from Point
A to Point B, lack of decent customer service will never be a big problem
for airlines, and certainly isn't going to make them disappear.

Pete

[Bob Noel]

In article >, "Al" >
wrote:

> It worked out. He is on the ground at MCAS Miramar as I speak. My
> daughter was there, on time.

outstanding!

--
Bob Noel
Looking for a sig the
lawyers will hate

[Emily[_1_]]

Al wrote:
> My son in law purchased a ticket for my daughter on United Airlines
> using a credit card. The purchase was made on line. When my daughter showed
> up for the flight, she was refused boarding because she didn't have the
> credit card in her possession. The ticket agent, in Eugene Or., said "We
> have to see the actual card, after all, it could be stolen". The agent did
> say, that my son in law, a Marine, could go down to his local United counter
> and show the card there, and the agent there would mark the box in United's
> computer, so boarding could occur. The trouble was, United doesn't have a
> counter in Al Asad, Iraq. The kid is coming home from a tour of duty in
> Iraq, and the plan was for my daughter to get to MCAS Miramar to meet him.
> After some very tearful "discussion", and I believe, a direct threat of
> bodily harm from my wife, the agent allowed my daughter to board.
> Has anyone here ever heard of this crap before? Aren't E-Tickets usable?
> What was going on here?
>
> Al G

The agent was an idiot, but your daughter needs to learn that only
idiots use the ticket counters. Smart people avoid the idiotic ticket
agents and use the automatic kiosks or check in online. I've had people
buy tickets for me and obviously I don't have the credit card....all you
need is a credit card with your name on it to swipe at the kiosk. You
do NOT need the credit card that made the purchase, you only need a
credit card that has your name so it can match you with the ticket. And
yes, I've done that on United.

So in short, DON'T use the agents. If you need an agent because you are
checking bags, either a) learn to travel with a carryon or b) check in
at a kiosk that allows bag checking.

[Emily[_1_]]

Rich Badaracco wrote:
> Al wrote:
>
>> Has anyone here ever heard of this crap before? Aren't E-Tickets
>> usable? What was going on here?
>>
>> Al G
>>
>>
>>
>
> I book tickets for my wife all the time using a credit card she doesn't
> have. She has never been asked to produce the card prior to boarding.
> This may be a United policy.

United does not require a passenger to produce the credit card that was
used to buy the ticket.

[Emily[_1_]]

..Blueskies. wrote:
<snip>
> :
> :
>
> Just another example of how the 'big' airlines just don't get it. They are in the customer service business. They need
> to relearn that or they will go away...

Sorry, got to disagree with you on this one. This wasn't an airline who
didn't get it (I deal with United most every day, and they're pretty
good), it was a ticket agent who didn't get it.

[Judah]

I pay for employees' flights on multiple airlines using my corporate card
all the time.

Only once can I think of a time when they called me because they were
asked to show a credit card.

I think it was when I purchased it through a third party. IIRC it was a
"package" that included airfare, hotel, and car, and I think it did
actually say that the credit card would be required.

I don't think it was an E-Ticket. He had to go to the ticket counter and
that's why they needed the CC...


"Al" > wrote in :

> My son in law purchased a ticket for my daughter on United Airlines
> using a credit card. The purchase was made on line. When my daughter
> showed up for the flight, she was refused boarding because she didn't
> have the credit card in her possession. The ticket agent, in Eugene Or.,
> said "We have to see the actual card, after all, it could be stolen".
> The agent did say, that my son in law, a Marine, could go down to his
> local United counter and show the card there, and the agent there would
> mark the box in United's computer, so boarding could occur. The trouble
> was, United doesn't have a counter in Al Asad, Iraq. The kid is coming
> home from a tour of duty in Iraq, and the plan was for my daughter to
> get to MCAS Miramar to meet him.
> After some very tearful "discussion", and I believe, a direct threat
> of
> bodily harm from my wife, the agent allowed my daughter to board.
> Has anyone here ever heard of this crap before? Aren't E-Tickets
> usable?
> What was going on here?
>
> Al G
>
>
>

[John Gaquin]

"Al" > wrote in message news:mmKAg.18

> My son in law purchased a ticket .......

Al, I recall hearing of such policies being in place for a while after the
WTC and Pentagon attacks. I was unaware that they were still in place. I
think the basis for the policy was security, not CC fraud. Tickets
purchased remotely by a party not travelling were considered somewhat
suspect.

One factor in your daughter's case that jumped right out at me was that she
was using a remotely purchased third-party ticket, and that ticket was
purchased remotely from a mid-east country. These factors may have combined
to raise a series of red flags in the UAL computers.

In any event, I'm glad it has all worked out. God Bless, and my heartfelt
thanks and kudos to your son-in-law when you next talk to him.

[.Blueskies.]

"Peter Duniho" > wrote in message ...
: ".Blueskies." > wrote in message
: ...
: > Just another example of how the 'big' airlines just don't get it. They are
: > in the customer service business. They need to relearn that or they will
: > go away...
:
: Sadly, that's not precisely true.
:
: I think that there is a viable niche for a true "customer service" airline,
: but the vast majority of travelers *only* care about price. The main thing
: that will kill the major airlines is their inability to adapt to the future
: of airline travel (mainly, the limitations of the hub system they currently
: use), and that only because it undermines their bottom line.
:
: As long as the airline customer puts up with whatever inconveniences the
: airlines subject them to, in the name of getting the lowest price from Point
: A to Point B, lack of decent customer service will never be a big problem
: for airlines, and certainly isn't going to make them disappear.
:
: Pete
:

If price is what the customer is looking for, then customer service requires that they get that price. Many of the
airlines are bleeding money like it is going out of style, and they are treating their front line folks very poorly. The
front line folks can't help but show their frustration. Automated kiosks are fine, but you still have to have a 'credit
card' with a correctly spelled name on it so it will match. Many folks don't have this and they have to deal with a
human. Many of the big guys think they have to do all the airplane maintenance and that sort of thing when the thing
they should be doing is turning the planes around and keeping them in the air, full capital utilization. Some of them
are still living in the regulated world where they used to be paid by the gov't simply to service a little airport. At
least these days many of them are operating with higher load factors...

[Emily[_1_]]

..Blueskies. wrote:
<snip>

>Automated kiosks are fine, but you still have to have a 'credit
> card' with a correctly spelled name on it so it will match. Many folks don't have this and they
have to deal with a
> human.

You can check in online without a credit card.

[John Gaquin]

".Blueskies." > wrote in message
news:231Bg.3117

>...Many of the big guys think they have to do all the airplane maintenance
>and that sort of thing when the thing they should be doing is turning the
>planes around and keeping them in the air, full capital utilization...<

Interesting outlook.

[.Blueskies.]

"John Gaquin" > wrote in message . ..
:
: ".Blueskies." > wrote in message
: news:231Bg.3117
:
: >...Many of the big guys think they have to do all the airplane maintenance
: >and that sort of thing when the thing they should be doing is turning the
: >planes around and keeping them in the air, full capital utilization...<
:
: Interesting outlook.
:
:


Southwest business model...

[Emily[_1_]]

..Blueskies. wrote:
> "John Gaquin" > wrote in message . ..
> :
> : ".Blueskies." > wrote in message
> : news:231Bg.3117
> :
> : >...Many of the big guys think they have to do all the airplane maintenance
> : >and that sort of thing when the thing they should be doing is turning the
> : >planes around and keeping them in the air, full capital utilization...<
> :
> : Interesting outlook.
> :
> :
>
>
> Southwest business model...
>
>
Don't even get me started on Southwest. I can't even get them to return
my calls regarding their maintenance. Personally, I think they need to
worry a little bit more about their maintenance and a little less on
turning them around.

[John Gaquin]

".Blueskies." > wrote in message >
>
> Southwest business model...
>
>

Southwest keeps their planes moving *instead* of maintaining them?

[Cub Driver]

On Sat, 05 Aug 2006 09:32:56 -0500, Emily >
wrote:

>You can check in online without a credit card.

That can be difficult for the return trip, however!

Virgin Atlantic (which has "brilliant" customer service!) says that
you need a credit card for automated check-in. But in fact you don't;
you seem to need your passport. It worked a charm when I flew from
Boston to London, but not when I returned: the machine gave me an
incorrect first name, so I had to go through the (slow) line for a
human.

Except for Virgin, and sometimes with Virgin, I've had to go through
humans for every trans-Atlantic flight this year. American is
absolutely the pits: I was actually in line for an hour and 45 minutes
in BOS en route to Cork, whose identifier seems to be ORK. People were
crying in the line.

United always seems to work well for me, though I haven't flown it
internationally.

And why wouldn't you have the credit card with you that you bought
your ticket with, since that information is given to you at the time
of purchase? In one case last year, going to Iceland, I'd changed
cards, but I saved out the expired one for the purpose of checking in.
But in that case also I didn't need it, but Icelandair also requires
one to check in with humans (nice humans, in that case).



-- all the best, Dan Ford

email: usenet AT danford DOT net

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
In Search of Lost Time: www.readingproust.com

[Cub Driver]

On Sat, 05 Aug 2006 20:34:23 GMT, ".Blueskies."
> wrote:

>Southwest business model.

Yet curiously Southwest has the friendliest customer service of any
airline I've flown in recent years, with the possible exception of BMI
(British Midlands), another el cheapo carrier.



-- all the best, Dan Ford

email: usenet AT danford DOT net

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
In Search of Lost Time: www.readingproust.com

[Emily[_1_]]

Cub Driver wrote:
<snip>
>
> And why wouldn't you have the credit card with you that you bought
> your ticket with, since that information is given to you at the time
> of purchase?

The last company I worked for booked tickets through out agent...so I
didn't have the card (now I have a corporate card that I buy tickets
with, so it's not an issue). My parents have bought me several tickets,
too...so again, I don't have the credit card. HOWEVER, it's nevr been
an issue with checking in, even internationally.

[Gig 601XL Builder]

"Emily" > wrote in message
. ..
> Cub Driver wrote:
> <snip>
>>
>> And why wouldn't you have the credit card with you that you bought
>> your ticket with, since that information is given to you at the time
>> of purchase?
>
> The last company I worked for booked tickets through out agent...so I
> didn't have the card (now I have a corporate card that I buy tickets with,
> so it's not an issue). My parents have bought me several tickets,
> too...so again, I don't have the credit card. HOWEVER, it's nevr been an
> issue with checking in, even internationally.

I think the difference is where you buy the tickets. If you buy via a third
party, Expedia or Orbitz, it isn't the airline that is out money if the CC #
is stolen.

[Al[_1_]]

"John Gaquin" > wrote in message
. ..
>
> "Al" > wrote in message news:mmKAg.18
>
>> My son in law purchased a ticket .......
>
> Al, I recall hearing of such policies being in place for a while after the
> WTC and Pentagon attacks. I was unaware that they were still in place. I
> think the basis for the policy was security, not CC fraud. Tickets
> purchased remotely by a party not travelling were considered somewhat
> suspect.
>
> One factor in your daughter's case that jumped right out at me was that
> she was using a remotely purchased third-party ticket, and that ticket was
> purchased remotely from a mid-east country. These factors may have
> combined to raise a series of red flags in the UAL computers.
>
> In any event, I'm glad it has all worked out. God Bless, and my heartfelt
> thanks and kudos to your son-in-law when you next talk to him.
>
Thanks John, he is now so notified. He can't go to a bar around here and Pay
for a drink.

Al G