An Unexpected But Easily Avoidable Rule Could Leave You Stranded At The Airport

Airports can either be the most pleasant experience or the absolute worst. You might zip your way through TSA without any issues, or if you're unlucky, deal with people who have rude luggage behavior (yes, that's a thing) — there really is no in between. One couple experienced a nightmare situation where they were almost stuck at Heathrow Airport. Upon check-in for their Delta flight, they needed to show a credit card that was used for the booking in order to retrieve their tickets — one that they kept in their home ... in America (reported by ABC 6 Action News). They were left with two options: obtain a picture of the credit card or purchase new tickets. Thankfully, they had a neighbor who was able to get into their home and send them a photo of their card, but not everyone is this fortunate.

Travel expert, Rick Steves, says that the credit card requirement is typically for European flights, and on his community forum, many commented that this is not only not uncommon, but it is usually in the fine print on airlines' websites. According to a Reddit thread, a Delta employee commented that "this is a thing to prevent fraud." However, this safeguard has cost some people thousands of dollars just to get to where they're going, so it's always a good rule of thumb to have the physical card with you.

Having to re-book your ticket is something you should only have to face for a canceled flight, not when you already have one booked, ready to go with no issues. However, some airlines will require extra documentation before you can get your ticket to go through the gates. Not to worry, we compiled a list of things you should have handy, just in case you become a victim of the infamous "re-book."

First, as mentioned, the physical credit card used when you booked your ticket is a must. While you might think Apple Pay or photos are good enough, it would be a shame if the particular agent you were dealing with didn't accept this transaction. When traveling out of the country, your passport and government-issued ID are necessary. Consider bringing a copy of your passport photo page and carrying it in a document folder, along with contacts, like your airline, accommodations, and your bank. You may want to bring cash, as you never know when an ATM may not be working — especially for currency exchanges. These items will ensure a smoother experience at the airport without getting stuck!

Want more smooth tricks? Here's what frequent flyers are doing to skip airport security lines (and they're completely free).