[URL]http://www.aa.com/content/productsGifts/giftCard.jhtml;jsessionid=EWR4Z0FGXNALHEAJJMVU1DUQBFFS4VMD?anchorEvent=false[/URL]
It's true one could probably use a prepaid credit card to buy airline tickets. And I can't recall if you need to provide important personal info for those (such as SSN and such).
But I saw these American Airline gift cards at a local pharmacy (CVS) and wondered just how safe they were. I mean, the webpage implies that you can just use the gift cards or use them along with credit cards.
I'm not very familiar with what is required to purchase airline tickets. Can they be bought with cash (like any other transport ticket such as a bus line ticket) or does it require something with other information, such as a credit card?
I just have to wonder if this is just another way for anonymous travel for... well, ok, I'll say it... terrorists.
I mean, if one can buy tickets with cash, that's true anonymity. But if not, would gift cards like this make it easy to circumvent issues of identity when it comes to air travel?
As I say, I've never traveled by plane. So I'm not familiar with the process.
It was a really strange find too. I've seen gift cards for phone airtime, shopping, resturants, and even for online gaming. But this is the first travel related gift card I've ever seen. It's not something I would have expected to see in the current environment of terrorism. I mean, it's an interesting idea, but still...