I suspect this is what the payment requirement is really about. Like, yes they’re getting money, but they’re also getting a credit card transaction at the gate at the date and time of travel.
It’s always possible that someone else purchased your travel ticket for you (for instance I sometimes travel for work which my employer’s travel agency books for me). But if you have to pay at the moment when your ID would be checked, presumably that has to be your personal card that you have on you in the moment.
My understanding is that most airlines will still allow you to pay, in cash, at the customer service desk in the baggage area the day of. But they still require ID and you can be DAMNED sure that about forty different flags went off in a database if you do that.
But yeah. Credit cards are immensely useful. They also go a LONG way towards providing very trackable behaviors for people.
I suspect this is what the payment requirement is really about. Like, yes they’re getting money, but they’re also getting a credit card transaction at the gate at the date and time of travel.
It’s always possible that someone else purchased your travel ticket for you (for instance I sometimes travel for work which my employer’s travel agency books for me). But if you have to pay at the moment when your ID would be checked, presumably that has to be your personal card that you have on you in the moment.
My understanding is that most airlines will still allow you to pay, in cash, at the customer service desk in the baggage area the day of. But they still require ID and you can be DAMNED sure that about forty different flags went off in a database if you do that.
But yeah. Credit cards are immensely useful. They also go a LONG way towards providing very trackable behaviors for people.