Problem - How to "sight" a credit card in Bangkok QF office?

[Archphoto]

Their website states they can perform spot checks - I've been checked 2x over my past 5 flights, (but not on the previous 8 prior),which is no big deal.

What I really love, is the simple fact you can just book the flight online and show up at the airport and just show your CC upon request. Having to trek into BKK CBD at the best of times is a huge PITA, and as I stated earlier, their office hours don't really make it easy if you have to book a flight whilst outside the country and arrive home well after closing hours.

QF & BA seem to be the only airlines that I've needed to do this for, here in BKK, - others are happy to have you front up with the card. Interesting how different airlines approach the same scenario. . . . . .

 

[travelislife]

Yep it is a crock, at least train the agents to have the proper information so it isn't made up on the spot. Thai airways just have it that you have to present the card at check-in, and in my experience they do ask to see it. Even if the card you have is not the same one (as has happened, same name on card but different number), they refund the payment and then do it again on the new card then and there.

 

[og]

.....and that JQ has no such problems (or CX/KA/RJ you name it). ...

RJ do indeed make an issue of "must present CC at check-in or buy another ticket..." for a BKK origin flight. The check-in agent specifically looks for the card then promptly gives it back - no scanning or anything other than a quick look.

 

[ozmille]

Their website states they can perform spot checks - I've been checked 2x over my past 5 flights, (but not on the previous 8 prior),which is no big deal.

What I really love, is the simple fact you can just book the flight online and show up at the airport and just show your CC upon request. Having to trek into BKK CBD at the best of times is a huge PITA, and as I stated earlier, their office hours don't really make it easy if you have to book a flight whilst outside the country and arrive home well after closing hours.

QF & BA seem to be the only airlines that I've needed to do this for, here in BKK, - others are happy to have you front up with the card. Interesting how different airlines approach the same scenario. . . . . .

If it is just the name they are worried about why don't they just do a check on the website when making the booking to match credit card name with traveler name? Or am I simplifying too much?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If it is just the name they are worried about why don't they just do a check on the website when making the booking to match credit card name with traveler name? Or am I simplifying too much?

You could be buying a ticket for someone else. But that doesn't get around FFers buying their own tickets where the name matches the credit card. Exceptions should be put in place for that (the risk is so small that QF should just offer to wear it in the unlikely event it should ever happen)

 

[Archphoto]

If it is just the name they are worried about why don't they just do a check on the website when making the booking to match credit card name with traveler name? Or am I simplifying too much?

I'll be honest - I don't actually remember if they're checking my name or checking the numbers - either way, the card I use online, is the card I show. (I do however, remember flying CX, and the guy I was flying with showed his card for our flights, but they refused it - they wanted to see his PA's card (same surname, different first name); luckily she had joined us, so that wasn't a problem.)

 

[Archphoto]

You could be buying a ticket for someone else. But that doesn't get around FFers buying their own tickets where the name matches the credit card. Exceptions should be put in place for that (the risk is so small that QF should just offer to wear it in the unlikely event it should ever happen)

Been there and done that - as long as the card shown, matches the booking they can fly without you. CX were great in the past - I had to fly to a meeting but my PA fell ill and had to take same flight next day. Showed my card when I checked in, explained the situation and they said it would all be fine - my card had been sighted for the (full) booking and that was all they needed to see. She boarded the following day - no questions asked.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Been there and done that - as long as the card shown, matches the booking they can fly without you. CX were great in the past - I had to fly to a meeting but my PA fell ill and had to take same flight next day. Showed my card when I checked in, explained the situation and they said it would all be fine - my card had been sighted for the (full) booking and that was all they needed to see. She boarded the following day - no questions asked.

Sorry - if you turn up at the airport with a credit card in the name of another person then you should be prohibited from flying!!

We were talking about on line transactions. I am saying that these should be allowed (without a visit to any office) if the card is in your name, for your personal travel.

 

[Archphoto]

Bangkok Airways has this information included in your confirmation email (in red as shown):

Credit Card Restriction
In an attempt to minimize credit card frauds, Bangkok Airways employs a third party credit card fraud prevention system to audit all purchased transactions. We highly recommend that the cardholder is one of the travelers on the itinerary.
At the airport during your check-in formality, Bangkok Airways may perform a random check on card used for online payment. Failure to present the card or proof of payment, passengers may be required to make a new payment for your entire journey. Passenger will be denied on board if found traveling with fraudulent card.



Nothing in quite the same vein with the CX confirmation email though, (guess they expect you to remember the information from when you booked your flight):


AT CHECK-IN, PLEASE SHOW A PICTURE IDENTIFICATION AND THE DOCUMENT YOU GAVE FOR REFERENCE AT RESERVATION TIME
Either way, it sure beats needing to front up to the office in the BKK CBD to confirm I'm me and the CC is mine . . . . . . :mrgreen:

 

[Archphoto]

Sorry - if you turn up at the airport with a credit card in the name of another person then you should be prohibited from flying!!

We were talking about on line transactions. I am saying that these should be allowed (without a visit to any office) if the card is in your name, for your personal travel.

I agree totally - I was just indicating that you *can* book a flight with your CC for another person (in response to your original post) and not be flying, as long as *you* present the card at check-in. I've done it for my PA on several occasions, and it all went very smoothly.

In the cases I cited, there was no need to visit an office, because the airlines in question were happy to sight your card at the airport after you'd booked online.

And the guy I was travelling with - he was under the impression his PA had used his card, not hers (which would have been the smart thing to do, right?), which was why they didn't match. She didn't bother to read the information CX provides regarding CC payments, and it was lucky she was with us - normally she's back in AU whilst we're schlepping through numerous airports. Could have got sticky, not to mention *very* interesting. . . . . . . .

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I agree totally - I was just indicating that you *can* book a flight with your CC for another person (in response to your original post) and not be flying, as long as *you* present the card at check-in. I've done it for my PA on several occasions, and it all went very smoothly.

Ah ok! I see what you mean now

 

[rowdy]

Thai Air issue the ticket immediately but want to sight the card that the booking was made on at checkin. They check the card number. Once I was checking in and they asked to see the card the booking was made on and for some reason I hadn't used my normal card. I ended up giving the check in lady all my cards so she could find the right one.

Thai also allow you to fax through a declaration and copy of the card the booking was made on if you are not part of the travelling party, they will usually issue the ticket the day after receiving this.

SIA are a PITA similar to described for QAN if the card owner isn't part of the travelling party, the card and card owner have to be presented at a SIA office (at least it's any office in their case) before the booking will be ticketed. Defeats the purpose of on line booking.

I can't believe there is a huge amount of fraud for international travel bookings (domestic maybe) because the tickets issued should be easily traceable through name and passport details used for the travel.

 

[IainF]

Thanks to Red Roo for looking into this.
I had booked a Jasa, and as I could not take the risk of QF BKK cancelling my booking, had to pay an an extra $120 & 25,000 qf points to book form Australia.
Thats correct... 25,000 qf points extra.
I understand the fraud problem with credit cards, however, would this have been easy to solve if I was able to walk into a Qantas office here in Australia and show my passport/Drivers License and my credit card.
Certainly being a longtime QF FF member and holding this particular credit card for over 10 years would be an indicator I am not fraudulently booking a ticket.

 

[melaus]

Quite obviously something that needs urgent attention, as quite obviously a large number of us book and need to book whilst out of "The Land Of Smiles"

Nice to see Red Roo earlier in the thread, would be really nice to have a response as to the possible outcome from his investigations.
I would respectfully suggest that the thrust of any solution, needs to come from the Australian end, hopefully from someone high up in the Airline.

Be assured though, any solution will need to originate from here.

Nothing will happen from the Thai end of things, as far as an outcome. Once locked into a mindset of a matter.................That's it!
I can reliably predict that after travelling the country and having connections there for near on 40 years.

One solution in the interim would be for the ticket to be priced and transacted at the applicable exchange rate here as some have done, but not with the absolute insult of a fee.

Status as some have suggested is also an insult, it's 2012. I.T. systems and reasonable management are more important than that.

Only a common "Bronze" here, but also with CX and SQ and have been since their schemes became common-place, so let's be Australian here and look for a 'Fair Go'

The wallets' a bit weathered like the owner, but still using it.

 

[mannej]

I had the issues with 2 Classic's booked HKG-PER recently.
The travel agent did get it sorted from AU, however not everyone at QF may be willing to do so. She did try and contact the HKG office, however there was no response from them.
It did cause worry up until we had checked in, however no problems.

I did pass comment onto QF, it seems that AJ is aware of this problem, but it seems not very high on the to-do list.

I do know they state credit card fraud etc etc, however I don't feel the current system works like that. Good luck, especially if you do need to cancel your credit card between booking and flying.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I had the issues with 2 Classic's booked HKG-PER recently.
The travel agent did get it sorted from AU, however not everyone at QF may be willing to do so. She did try and contact the HKG office, however there was no response from them.
It did cause worry up until we had checked in, however no problems.

I did pass comment onto QF, it seems that AJ is aware of this problem, but it seems not very high on the to-do list.

I do know they state credit card fraud etc etc, however I don't feel the current system works like that. Good luck, especially if you do need to cancel your credit card between booking and flying.

Worth noting though that if the passenger is travelling, then there is no requirement to see the credit card exHKG until at the check-in counter, or transfer counter (unlike Thailand or China). However if you are not travelling then the issue remains.

 

[mannej]

Worth noting though that if the passenger is travelling, then there is no requirement to see the credit card exHKG until at the check-in counter, or transfer counter (unlike Thailand or China). However if you are not travelling then the issue remains.

Problematic if you no longer have the card, or it was booked using another card (Business etc)

 

[nonpop]

Digging up an old thread ... Wondering if anyone has booked a QF xASA from BKK to Australia and been able to get around needing to present the CC ? I just did a dummy booking and QF still present the message about showing up to the BKK QF office. Wondering if calling the AU after making the booking I the way to go. I want to ensure when the ticket is booked it is a JASA vs Classic.

 

[Archphoto]

Maybe a phone call could help you out - asking if you can send through your CC via fax, (and sign the actual fax, so that you can see your signature does match the CC.) I actually haven't tried this out yet - maybe on my next flight ex BKK I'll ask if that is possible. (Have done this with car rentals previously. . . . )

A few words of advice - don't call between 12pm and 2pm BKK time - they're out to lunch and the phone will just settle into a loop of "You're number xx_ in the queue, please hold for the first available operator."

Getting plundered by QF AU for the booking is *very* rich - not at all customer friendly; I did politely argue with them when I needed to change a booking's return date, that fronting up to BKK when I was in AU was impossible, and expecting me to pay another $150 (from memory) on top of the ticket fee was pretty poor. It was waived, but next time I may not be so lucky.

 

[nonpop]

Update for anyone interested. We did ring and was told we'd need to physically present the card. No card = no ticket.
It all became too difficult and I gave up, so we've booked (paid J seats) via an alternative carrier who just needs us to present the CC used for the booking at time of check in.
So no revenue for QF this time.