Copy of credit card and driving license when buying an airline ticket???

[Ryathe]

Hi all,

I'm just curious what you think about it, as for me it's totally new thing:

I booked an airline ticket on one of the cheap-tickets webpage. I filled in everything, together with the credit card info. After finishing this on the webpage I got the confirmation letter with the details of my flight.

A few min later I got a separate letter telling me that because the name of the cardholder (my partner) and person who is going to fly is different I need to send them a copy of the credit card (front and back), copy of driving license and filled in Third Party Authorisation Form .

I felt quite uneasy about providing them with so many private things and decided to reply that I won't send them the copies, only the authorisation form. I had to hurry with my decision as they told me that the price of my ticket is valid only on the day of purchase.

They agreed so my partner filled in the form and I sent it to them.
They answered that they received it and that they'll sent me e-ticket as soon as the ticket is issued.

Now I have second thoughts about starting dealing with this at all. :-[ I mean, in the authorisation form we had to write all details from the credit card anyway (I checked more example of such forms in the Internet and they all ask for it) so if they want to cheat us they can do it anyway....

Or is it just me not used to North American standards? :-\
Have you come across such thing?

 

[Leon]

This has never happened to me. I assume they are just being careful that it is a different person flying than paying. They do not know if it is a stolen card. If you are worried that they will charge your card illegally, just keep a watch on your transactions for the next couple of months so you will see right away if something turns up that should not be on there.

 

[manianz47]

Hi

This is a standard practice. I have faced this in USA also.

 

[karsatjaya]

Even I also faced when I booked a ticket for my wife through travel agent in US. I think this is common and no need to worry.

Thanks

 

[Ryathe]

Thank you all for the answers - I feel much better now.

Now I'm keeping my fingers crossed to receive the e-ticket as soon as possible so that I can call the airlines and confirm everything etc.

And hopefully the flight won't be cancelled... :'(

 

[scylla]

Standard practice. They want to make sure the ticket purchase isn't a fraud.

 

[tanzim]

Thanks Ryathe and others.

I'm also going to do the same and knowing this in advance will give me much comfort.