Al wrote:
My son in law purchased a ticket for my daughter on United Airlines
using a credit card. The purchase was made on line. When my daughter showed
up for the flight, she was refused boarding because she didn't have the
credit card in her possession. The ticket agent, in Eugene Or., said "We
have to see the actual card, after all, it could be stolen". The agent did
say, that my son in law, a Marine, could go down to his local United counter
and show the card there, and the agent there would mark the box in United's
computer, so boarding could occur. The trouble was, United doesn't have a
counter in Al Asad, Iraq. The kid is coming home from a tour of duty in
Iraq, and the plan was for my daughter to get to MCAS Miramar to meet him.
After some very tearful "discussion", and I believe, a direct threat of
bodily harm from my wife, the agent allowed my daughter to board.
Has anyone here ever heard of this crap before? Aren't E-Tickets usable?
What was going on here?

Al G

The agent was an idiot, but your daughter needs to learn that only
idiots use the ticket counters. Smart people avoid the idiotic ticket
agents and use the automatic kiosks or check in online. I've had people
buy tickets for me and obviously I don't have the credit card....all you
need is a credit card with your name on it to swipe at the kiosk. You
do NOT need the credit card that made the purchase, you only need a
credit card that has your name so it can match you with the ticket. And
yes, I've done that on United.

So in short, DON'T use the agents. If you need an agent because you are
checking bags, either a) learn to travel with a carryon or b) check in
at a kiosk that allows bag checking.