Someone else is booking international ticket for me using their credit or debit card. Do they need to be present physically at the time of check in?

Some airlines do some silly restrictions, Check this FAQ: Can someone else purchase and pay for my ticket on line?. They do this to fight unauthorized usage of credit cards.

It is silly because you can buy the same airline ticket from other airline tickets website without this credit-card restriction.

I have had this issue a number of times, especially with BA. I send my children to their grandparents in the UK and booking online with a credit-card. On the website it says that the card must be shown when checking-in. This would be ok outbound when I bring them to the airport but problematic on the way back. I rang and asked if the card must be shown which they confirmed. So a number of times I gave the kids the card to take with them.

However, I have NEVER had to show the card when I have traveled and the kids never had to show it either.

I was stopped at Turkish airlines because my ticket was paid for by another person. I could not fly for the first time in my life. And yes, they have this rule on their website. And they send this information with the ticket. But moreover, they have the right to stop you before check-in even if you paid with your card but did not bring it with you.

Since the best answer didn't have EVA airline and I have experienced with that before so I just want to contribute in case someone might have this problem with EVA.

The answer is it does matter which credit card you used to book your tickets with EVA. It's clearly stated on the website that the credit card has to be presented at the counter if purchased by your own credit card and not travel agent. If you have to book a flight for someone else there's an option on the website that you have to choose and credit card verification procedure. http://www.evaair.com/en-global/public/credit-card-non-card-holder.html

So, my experienced was I failed to present the credit card and I had to purchase a new ticket at the counter with the same price and I got refunded again later on. The process was quick and not too painful. I understand why they do this so no mourning.

Turkish Airline has also the policy not to accept third party credit card. The passenger and the card holder should be the same, or at least the card holder should be joining the group of passengers.

In most cases, the one who pays is not necessarily the one who travels, whatever the country of departure is. There may be some exceptions depending on individual airlines.

For instance, an important part of the airlines revenue comes from business travelers. The typical scenario in such cases is that the ticket is paid by the company, using the company credit card. The payment can also come through a travel agency.

The only required ID check is for the traveller, as far as I experienced in Europe and USA. Airlines and governments want to make sure that you are not a security threat such as using the no-fly list for US-bound flights for example, in addition to the usual immigration and customs controls. This is as far as I could experience once again; things can be different in other parts of the globe.