SQ - 'may be required' to present credit card

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Fruitcake

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My wife is flying out on SQ next week to join me on a trip. I will have flown out a couple of days earlier.

Something today stirred in my memory the story of a large group denied boarding on SQ at SYD a few months back because they couldn't present the credit card used to make the booking:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ilgrims-stranded-ta-paying-airline-44168.html

Today I checked the conditions on my wife's eticket and it does indeed state "If payment is made via credit and/or debit card(s), you may be required to present the credit and/or debit card(s) used for verification prior to your departure."

I paid for my wife's ticket, booked via the SQ website, using a credit card issued in my name. Obviously I won't be able to accompany her to checkin at SYD, given I'll be in Tokyo.

Does anyone else here have experience travelling SQ out of SYD on a ticket booked in a card they don't physically have on them? I'm going to guess that leaving my card with my wife and having her present a card with someone else's name on it won't help much.

If I proactively contact SQ will they have a 'process?'
 
Not out of SYD but at MEL - I was travelling with a friend on SQ on separate bookings. I showed my card as requested no problem. The agent then asked for my friend's card however she'd cancelled the account she used to book the ticket prior to the trip (and had destroyed the card). However she was able to present an old statement with her name and the card number, and was able to talk the agent into not denying her boarding.
 
FC over last few years and dozens flts only 1 request for CC verification from memory - but it is requirement of T & C's so maybe will be required.

Sorry cannot be more help - call them - SQ very accommodating. Will pm you contact in SQ SIN office if you require - but really any call centre rep will sort this for you.
 
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My wife is flying out on SQ next week to join me on a trip. I will have flown out a couple of days earlier.

Something today stirred in my memory the story of a large group denied boarding on SQ at SYD a few months back because they couldn't present the credit card used to make the booking:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ilgrims-stranded-ta-paying-airline-44168.html

Today I checked the conditions on my wife's eticket and it does indeed state "If payment is made via credit and/or debit card(s), you may be required to present the credit and/or debit card(s) used for verification prior to your departure."

I paid for my wife's ticket, booked via the SQ website, using a credit card issued in my name. Obviously I won't be able to accompany her to checkin at SYD, given I'll be in Tokyo.

Does anyone else here have experience travelling SQ out of SYD on a ticket booked in a card they don't physically have on them? I'm going to guess that leaving my card with my wife and having her present a card with someone else's name on it won't help much.

If I proactively contact SQ will they have a 'process?'

I booked a ticket for my parents using my credit card - travel was Asia-Australia. I had to take the credit card into the MEL office where they produced some waiver document and entered a note into the booking to say the card had been sighted and verified. i was given a copy of the waiver document which I gave to my folks in case they needed it but they weren't asked.

So yes - you do need to go to an SQ office (can be anywhere in the world) and yes they have an established and simple, fast process for verifying. And yes it all works well.
 
Thanks all - for both the scary anecdotes (I shudder to think of what would have happened had this issue not popped up in my mind before I left) and the practical info on getting around the problem.

So yes - you do need to go to an SQ office (can be anywhere in the world) and yes they have an established and simple, fast process for verifying. And yes it all works well.

Fortunately I work in the Sydney CBD (and I don't fly out until the weekend) so this will be easy. Do I just turn up with an e-ticket and the offending credit card, or should I call ahead?
 
Thanks all - for both the scary anecdotes (I shudder to think of what would have happened had this issue not popped up in my mind before I left) and the practical info on getting around the problem.



Fortunately I work in the Sydney CBD (and I don't fly out until the weekend) so this will be easy. Do I just turn up with an e-ticket and the offending credit card, or should I call ahead?

just turn up! All I had was a print out of the confirmation page, so e-ticket will be equally good. They can see when they access the booking that you paid for it so there is no privacy issue to be concerned about. All up it took about 5 minutes. I also had to wait in line about 5 minutes.

When I went to the counter i just told them i bought a ticket for my parents with my credit card, that I won't be travelling with them, and want to get it verified. SQ seemed perfectly used to the situation.
 
I would call SQ & inform them of the situation, as mentioned they are very accommodating & can put a notation in the system referenced to PNR.
 
+1 to Jetlagger's suggestion. I have had dozens of SQ flights over the past years all booked on corporate credit card that's not in my name and never had a problem, but in your situation it would absolutely worth calling them in advance.

Two more options if you're really worried about it:
- Take your credit card into the local SQ office and get them to put a note in the booking saying it's been verified
- Give your wife a colour photocopy of your credit card so she can present it if needed (may not work but better than nothing)
 
Just flew out of BNE and was asked to present the card used to purchase ticket. Didn't remember which one I used, plus I've cancelled Amex Plat some months ago so could have used that. Anyway they ddidn't really need to see the card, theY just needed the last 4 digits fmthe card to enter not computer as verification. Mi gave them all the last 4 digits of what cards I remember and got a hit on one.

seems it's not discretionary, without the verification entered into the system, they can't actually print me the boarding pass.

Hope the info helps in some way or form.
 
I had to present my card to SQ office in the city for my son who was travelling without me. That was a few years ago. Emirates have the same warning on their booking system.
 
After chatting to a phone operator, it turns out that in Sydney the "ticketing office" is at the airport, and the office in the CBD is admin / travel industry functions only. So it would seem a train ride out to T1 is in order!
 
After chatting to a phone operator, it turns out that in Sydney the "ticketing office" is at the airport, and the office in the CBD is admin / travel industry functions only. So it would seem a train ride out to T1 is in order!


Not sure if that's correct - the CBD office on Castlereagh St should suffice.

I went in there just before Christmas to do the third party auth. Afterwards, the staff advised that as our tickets were done through an agent, showing the card wasn't required. If ever there was an issue with chargeback, SQ goes after the agent.

They said that it was only required for website bookings and only if the website expressly gave a warning during the booking process that the card would need to be presented at the local office.
 
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Not sure if that's correct - the CBD office on Castlereagh St should suffice.

Well then I might give Castlereagh Street a go before heading out to the airport. The worst they can do is tell me to go away.

I didn't get an explicit warning when booking but given I will be in Tokyo at the time my wife departs I'd rather make sure it's sorted.
 
So how is this little scenario for muddyting the waters?

I have secured 2 x J Saver redemptions MEL-SIN-BCN/CDG-SIN-MEL for my no 1 man and his wife's vacation in Aug as part of his annual salary package.

My SQ pts / my CC paying taxes and fees. I just got off line to SQ office in SIN and explained I do not want them inconvenienced by check-in staff requesting CC. SQ rep I got through to - damn Crystal not working today - god I love her voice - advised that my CC used to secure these redemptions WILL NOT be required to be cited as it has already been verified in their system - BUT - travelling pax will need to produce ANY OTHER CC if requested at time of check-in for security purposes.

Riddle me that one Batman?

FC I would still just give SQ in SIN a call and speak to a rep - it's only a local call for you - could well save you valuable time which could be better used for developing other skuldugerous plans to secure more cheap flights.
 
Situation resolved - SQ's Castlereagh St office even had a sign on the door advising of the extension to call for credit card verification. A staff member promptly appeared and I was heading back to my office about three minutes later with an assurance that my wife's checkin experience will be CC-free.

Thanks to ftm for encouragement in trying the city office rather than deferring to the phone agent's advice that only the airport office could help.



CruiserElite - I'm going to leave that one to Batman... :!:
 
... travelling pax will need to produce ANY OTHER CC if requested at time of check-in for security purposes.

Riddle me that one Batman?

probably in the event the ticket turn out to be fraudulent that they can bill the CC shown at check-in? Seems like it is a substitute for signing a waiver and protects SQ either way.
 
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