Tue Oct 14 15:50:00 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**Delta Airlines Accused of Stranding Passengers Over Credit Card Policy**
Delta Airlines is facing criticism after reports surfaced of travelers being stranded and forced to purchase expensive new tickets due to a strict enforcement of a credit card verification policy. The airline claims the policy is designed to protect against fraud, but affected passengers argue they were given no prior warning and were left with few options, often costing them thousands of dollars.
The issue came to light after consumer advocate Herb Weisbaum detailed his experience in Consumers’ Checkbook. Weisbaum and his wife were unable to check in for their return flight from London’s Heathrow Airport because they didn’t have the credit card used to book the tickets. Despite offering alternative forms of identification, Delta staff insisted on seeing the original card, citing a fraud prevention policy. The couple was presented with options including remaining in London, purchasing new tickets at triple the original price, or finding a way to provide a photo of the card.
Weisbaum ultimately resorted to calling a neighbor in the middle of the night and asking him to break into their house to photograph the credit card. Similar stories have emerged on social media, with one user reporting their parents and child being told they would need to spend $4,000 for new flights to return home without the original credit card.
Other major U.S. airlines, including Alaska, American, Southwest, and United, do not appear to have similar policies. When Weisbaum contacted Delta for clarification, a spokesperson directed him to the airline’s “Booking a Flight” webpage, which mentions the potential need to present the card for verification.
Critics argue that Delta should proactively notify passengers about the policy during the booking process. The airline’s current approach of surprising travelers at the airport and then offering expensive replacement tickets is seen as poor customer service and raises questions about the true beneficiaries of the policy.
First Piper 