SIA - Reasonable Request?

[Plavt]

I also booked flights to NYC in Sept but this requirement to bring the credit card is not there.

The link I supplied ozchick seems to be applicable to all flights so I find this a little puzzling. I would also add that statement was there the last time I flew with SIA which was now four years ago (don't know if the site local to Singapore says something different since I always get a url with UK in it even if I change the location).

[BigSis]

I have to admit, I don't know much about credit card fraud but I do know that if I was trying to fraudulently use someone's credit card, I definitely wouldn't be so daft to book a flight which leaves in a few months time!

Maybe SIA should change their policy so that they only require the credit card used to make the purchase if the person is flying within the next few days or something like that.

[x9200]

It looks rather like a bit of paranoia over security issues so basically additional measure to reconfirm the identity. With credit cards frauds you typically still have the credit card in your hands even if it is cancelled so likely you would be allowed to get onboard.

[x9200]

And why does the SIA online booking system allow this transaction with no warning? |

Not quite true ozzie;

E-Tickets can be purchased using a credit card or debit card, and will be issued to the payment card holder only. The payment cardholder may purchase an E-Ticket for another person if both passengers travel together. However, if the payment cardholder is not one of the travelling party, bring the credit/debit card to the nearest Singapore Airlines ticketing office to have it verified before travelling.

See; https://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/ ... 927460338&

Am I missing something or there is nothing here about the necessity of having the card with you at the time of checking in? It only says there should be the one who paid present so the statement should be good enough.

[Saint]

And why does the SIA online booking system allow this transaction with no warning? |

Not quite true ozzie;

E-Tickets can be purchased using a credit card or debit card, and will be issued to the payment card holder only. The payment cardholder may purchase an E-Ticket for another person if both passengers travel together. However, if the payment cardholder is not one of the travelling party, bring the credit/debit card to the nearest Singapore Airlines ticketing office to have it verified before travelling.

See; https://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/ ... 927460338&

Am I missing something or there is nothing here about the necessity of having the card with you at the time of checking in? It only says there should be the one who paid present so the statement should be good enough.

Mrs S recently went to HK on SQ which I paid for on my credit card, just ticked the box that said credit card holder not on flight. Mr S wasn't questioned at check in nor was I asked to go to SQ office to verify.

[Plavt]

Mrs S recently went to HK on SQ which I paid for on my credit card, just ticked the box that said credit card holder not on flight. Mr S wasn't questioned at check in nor was I asked to go to SQ office to verify.

I haven't seen that box you mention so possibly it is something I have either ignored or forgotten about by now (haven't used the booking facility much and probably wouldn't get that far if I did - unless actually flying of course).

X9200: You have a point - at the times I flew albeit sometime ago now I was never once asked to present the credit card at the time of check in and my total number of flights were 26!

[Saint]

The person paying is travelling on this booking: Yes No
The credit card holder will be required to:
a) Present the Credit/Debit Card used for this booking for verification and
b) Personally submit a Letter of Indemnity at the nearest Singapore Airlines Ticket Office before departure.
However if you pay with a Visa or MasterCard registered under the Verified by Visa or MasterCard SecureCode programmes or Direct Debit then you may not need to present your card for verification nor submit a Letter of Indemnity, except for the list of following countries, please click here to view.

I've registered under the verification programme so that's the reason

[FlyingScotsman]

I bought my daughter a ticket online and just took the credit card along to the SIA office (Paragon, at the time) I simply filled in the form and verified with them. It was not a problem. I may have had to pass her a number to quote or something, I can't quite recall now.
On another visit, she realised, at midnight, that her flight was at 1 am and she should have been at the airport NOW (one of those early morning flights she had meant to book for the NEXT night) I called the airport. On the third call, her ticket was transferred for 24 hour later (the next flight was offered for which I was grateful enough, but I explained the timing was bad on landing and would leave her stranded overnight, the girl did not hesitate but to give us the timing we preffered)
I have every confidence that SIA will see their customers are treated correctly, but they have to ensure we are who we say we are and that gives me even MORE confidence in them.

[ozchick]

And why does the SIA online booking system allow this transaction with no warning? |

Not quite true ozzie;

E-Tickets can be purchased using a credit card or debit card, and will be issued to the payment card holder only. The payment cardholder may purchase an E-Ticket for another person if both passengers travel together. However, if the payment cardholder is not one of the travelling party, bring the credit/debit card to the nearest Singapore Airlines ticketing office to have it verified before travelling.



See; https://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/ ... 927460338&

Oh yeah! Just looked at this now........and yeah I have seen this before...but on the E-ticket that I printed and posted to my mother, there is no mention of this at all, even though SIA knows that this E-ticket was paid for by someone other then the traveller.....it should be on that page too. And did I read somewhere that Krisflyers members may not have to sign the indemnity form? Anyway, I'll check on this all when I go in there tomorrow. I only hope that getting the indemnity form signed WILL remove possible dramas at the Melbourne end......I still feel I'm being treated like a criminal.....sigh....
I was in Ireland last year when my Australian credit card authority refused to honour a bill I was trying to pay because they didn't know I was out of Australia and they thought that a thief had the card. This had happened a couple of times before. It's embarrassing and distressing. And I'd been living in Sg for 2 years at that stage anyway....it's just too much sometimes. I had to email them and tell them that I had no intention of informing them of my travel plans everytime I left whatever country I'm in.....they now leave me in peace.

[durain]

it's Friday PM now. hope girl_next_door got on the flight. give us an update when you can.

[Splatted]

And why does the SIA online booking system allow this transaction with no warning? |

Not quite true ozzie;

E-Tickets can be purchased using a credit card or debit card, and will be issued to the payment card holder only. The payment cardholder may purchase an E-Ticket for another person if both passengers travel together. However, if the payment cardholder is not one of the travelling party, bring the credit/debit card to the nearest Singapore Airlines ticketing office to have it verified before travelling.

See; https://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/ ... 927460338&

Problem is, they don't always bother checking. I've flown a few times without being asked for my card.

[ozchick]

And why does the SIA online booking system allow this transaction with no warning? |

Not quite true ozzie;

E-Tickets can be purchased using a credit card or debit card, and will be issued to the payment card holder only. The payment cardholder may purchase an E-Ticket for another person if both passengers travel together. However, if the payment cardholder is not one of the travelling party, bring the credit/debit card to the nearest Singapore Airlines ticketing office to have it verified before travelling.

See; https://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/ ... 927460338&

Problem is, they don't always bother checking. I've flown a few times without being asked for my card.

Yeah I imagine that would often be the case. Mm....anyway, I went to SIA in ION today and had to wait in a queue albeit a sit-down queue for 20 minutes and then they checked my credit-card and passport and sent me on my way and said that all would be fine for mum in Mlebourne on Wednesday. BUT they gave me no receipt nor number to quote no anything, so I'm just hoping they don't stuff it up at the Melbourne end. They also said that I can't have an ongoing 'indemnity' created re purchasing e-tickets for my Mum. But they did say that I should check that as a Silverkris customer I should check next time I book for a 'pop-up' card verifying option. But I can't test it now. Just have to wait for next purchase time. Ho hum.......

[missis]

I find this really weird. So even if you have your passport - which let's face it, kind of eclipses other "IDs" like credit cards! - you can't check in or board? This clause (present your credit card) is on the terms for flights booked in Japan yet I have never had to present my credit card there. I just handed over the passport and ticket or on-line documentation and there was never a problem. This was with SIA, Northwest Airlines, Thai and others.

[Girl_Next_Door]

OK I flew and I am back!

Here are the updates!

The SQ girl at the airport simply let me sign a form that states that I do not have the original credit card with me and in the event that they faces problems in claiming the money back from the credit card company (due to the lost credit card), they will bill me on the new credit card. Of course, the above issue wont happen because I bought the tickets in March, and credit card companies are generally quite prompt in "billing" me (and everyone else, I assume).

BTW, the "customer services" (the call center guy in India) made several attempts to call me, on Thursday (in the middle of the night) and Friday dawn. The guy probably assume that the best time to call client is always in the middle of the night instead of during the day. Whenever I picked up the phone, I hear his voice (and by then, I can recognize his voice!) and the line got dropped. He called between 5-6 times, each time the line got cut off after "Hello". At some point, I just stopped picking up his phone, especially when I have already cleared the immigration gate and am on the plane.

And of course, even when I am in HK, he is still calling me.

[ozchick]

OK I flew and I am back!

Here are the updates!

The SQ girl at the airport simply let me sign a form that states that I do not have the original credit card with me and in the event that they faces problems in claiming the money back from the credit card company (due to the lost credit card), they will bill me on the new credit card. Of course, the above issue wont happen because I bought the tickets in March, and credit card companies are generally quite prompt in "billing" me (and everyone else, I assume).

BTW, the "customer services" (the call center guy in India) made several attempts to call me, on Thursday (in the middle of the night) and Friday dawn. The guy probably assume that the best time to call client is always in the middle of the night instead of during the day. Whenever I picked up the phone, I hear his voice (and by then, I can recognize his voice!) and the line got dropped. He called between 5-6 times, each time the line got cut off after "Hello". At some point, I just stopped picking up his phone, especially when I have already cleared the immigration gate and am on the plane.

And of course, even when I am in HK, he is still calling me.

Glad you had no big dramas at airport. If the ticket is for oneself, then I believe the hassles aren't so bad. But purchasing for others? SIA told me that had I not signed their indemnity form, my mother would not have been allowed to board the plane. Your post prompted me to action so thanks G.N.D.!