SIA Credit Card Bookings

[mark62]

Made a phone booking yesterday with SIA only to discover at the end of the process that I had to abort the process. The issue is that I was charging the flight to our corporate Amex card which is used for all biz travel bookings, but which is in the name of our accountant. Apparently she needed to go to Syd airport in person to verify the card, which is just not possible. I ended up making the same booking at the same price using the same card via travel agent, except that SIA have now presumably got to pay a commission.

What bemuses me is that I have regularly booked flights directly on the SIA web-site using this card with no problem, as I have with many other airlines, hotels, etc

What is the reason for this seemingly odd policy? If someone makes a fraudulent flight on SIA (i.e. using an unauthorised card) then that loss is borne by the CC provider not the trader right? Moreover why allow the card to be used for internet bookings but not phone ones?

 

[DeKa]

If a chargeback is done by the cardholder, the merchant wears the cost, not the bank/Amex. That is why SIA would be being careful.

What your company does is actually against the T&C's of the card, unless the accountant makes the bookings on your behalf. Every employee should have their own corporate card.

 

[mark62]

But even if the accountant had made the booking herself for me, she would still have needed to go to verify the card. I am still not sure why the card is accepted for internet bookings and not for telephone ones, and why many other travel providers allow bookings to be made using a CC that is not in the name of the cardholder

 

[opusman]

When I booked a J flight LHR-SIN on SQ last year during the QF grounding I had to show credit card on checkin.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Made a phone booking yesterday with SIA only to discover at the end of the process that I had to abort the process. The issue is that I was charging the flight to our corporate Amex card which is used for all biz travel bookings, but which is in the name of our accountant. Apparently she needed to go to Syd airport in person to verify the card, which is just not possible. I ended up making the same booking at the same price using the same card via travel agent, except that SIA have now presumably got to pay a commission.

What bemuses me is that I have regularly booked flights directly on the SIA web-site using this card with no problem, as I have with many other airlines, hotels, etc

What is the reason for this seemingly odd policy? If someone makes a fraudulent flight on SIA (i.e. using an unauthorised card) then that loss is borne by the CC provider not the trader right? Moreover why allow the card to be used for internet bookings but not phone ones?

The standard procedure for SQ flights is that if the credit card holder is not travelling then the card must be verified in their system. You can do this at any SQ office (airport is not necessary). They record they have seen the card and note the PNR accordingly. The cardholder is given a copy of the authorisation form, but they do not have to give this to the traveller (although I guess it is prudent to do so in case of any problems).

This procedure applied even for internet bookings, I did one late last year.

 

[mannej]

This is not limited to SQ. QF bookings made from certain points (BKK, HKG) and RJ spring to mind.