Don’t Forget This Item When Flying Abroad

Most travelers know to keep their passport and boarding pass handy at the airport. But there’s another item you may need to get on your flight and forgetting it could leave you stranded.

ABC News recently reported on a warning from Herb Weisbaum, a contributor to Consumers’ Checkbook who calls himself the Consumer Man. After a great trip to London, Weisbaum and his wife nearly couldn’t board their Delta flight home because of an unexpected policy at Heathrow Airport.

“We got to Heathrow Airport the morning of our flight, tried to check in at the kiosk, and the only way to start the process was to put in the credit card with which you had purchased the ticket,” Weisbaum told ABC’s Troubleshooters.

The problem? He didn’t have the card with him. Passport and confirmation number didn’t help, and a Delta supervisor explained that without the original credit card, their tickets couldn’t be issued. The only alternatives were buying new tickets or arranging for someone back home to provide proof of the card. Weisbaum eventually solved the problem thanks to a helpful neighbor who sent a photo of the card, but the experience left him shaken.

Other travelers have reported similar issues, especially when parents purchase tickets for children or when companies book tickets for employees. Some airlines in Asia and the Middle East are known to enforce these rules as well.

Delta pointed to fine print on its website, which states that to prevent fraud, passengers may be required to show the credit or debit card used to purchase their ticket. According to the airline, this doesn’t apply to most travelers, but when it does, it can vary depending on where you live or where you’re flying.

Weisbaum’s frustration is that passengers aren’t clearly warned. “If this is required, why not clearly disclose it and let me know?” he told ABC News.

If you’re traveling internationally, bring the credit card you used to buy your ticket, even if you don’t plan to use it on your trip. This simple step could save you hours of stress at the airport, or even the cost of new tickets.

With the rise of digital payments, I rarely carry credit cards when I shop at home or abroad since I can just tap Apple Pay. I also have so many cards that I don’t usually bring them all on trips. Instead, I’ll pack three or four from different banks in case a restaurant doesn’t take American Express, Visa or Mastercard. But from now on, I’ll make sure to double check that I have the physical card I used to buy my plane tickets.