[jimworcs]

This seems to be an ongoing problem with Etihad. It is reasonable for the airline to ask for the card holder to bring the card with them, when they have made a booking over the phone. This is a measure to protect against credit card fraud and is common in many industries, including collecting train and theatre tickets for example.

However, Etihad appear to be completely rigid in their implementation of this rule, which is designed to ensure that the cardholder is the person who made the booking. There are other ways they could ensure this, but they choose not to do so. As the OP pointed out, they had multiple means of ID. They could also contact the card issuer.

In another Etihad case outlined here, Etihad denied boarding to a person who bought the ticket and his card was subsequently reissued by his bank. As a result, it was impossible for the card holder to produce the card, as it no longer existed. Not only did Etihad refuse boarding, they made the cardholder buy another ticket. This is getting close to fraud...the airline is taking funds and refusing service, even where they know the identity of the passenger.

It is sad to see this happening at Etihad...as they have had a reputation as a customer focussed airline. They appear to be losing their way.