Purchasing XRY - OPO Return for someone else when I am in Australia

[Willie]

Purchasing tickets XRY - OPO return for someone else when I am in Australia

-Hi All,

I am based in Aus and wanting to purchase XRY-OPO return flights for a gift for a family member. Considered driving - no go, train - convoluted, bus unmentionable!

I was about to purchase on Iberia.com and noted in the T's & C's about sighting the credit card used for payment at the beginning of the journey and boarding MAY be denied without sighting the credit card. Problem is that I am not going to be on the flight!

I rang Iberia in Aus and they said that as they don't issue tickets here they are unable to verify my card for me - directing me to Iberia in the UK.

Now I have flown a lot on Iberia in Spain and they are typically very relaxed about many things.... running on schedule one!

So, rang Amex platinum travel and they can issue but add a $55 booking fee and cannot include baggage! The price is a lot more than iberia.com WITH baggage!

Anyone have any great ideas? Checked all the usual suspects expedia, lastminute, etc./..

This was going to be a Christmas gift!

Any help greatly appreciated!

Yuletide Felicitations to all...

Ooh Roo

Willie-

 

[Mattg]

Re: Purchasing tickets XRY - OPO return for someone else when I am in Australia

There doesn't seem to be an obvious solution. Iberia may or may not check the card - personally I doubt they will but I wouldn't personally risk it, and especially not if you are not the person flying. Maybe try searching on Skyscanner for the dates you want, and if you can find an online agent selling the flights for a price you are happy with, click on the link and book to with them. Otherwise, you might just have to send a fake boarding pass or something as a gift, and include an offer to pay for the flights if the person travelling books them him/herself.

 

[greenfish]

Re: Purchasing tickets XRY - OPO return for someone else when I am in Australia

tripsta claim they allow adding baggage to a booking with Iberia. A random date in Jan to your destinations was something like $200 excluding baggage. Not sure how that compares to booking direct.

Use Kayak to compare fares between different agents. American Express is pretty much always more expensive than common online agencies.

 

[support]

Re: Purchasing tickets XRY - OPO return for someone else when I am in Australia

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