Stupid question, can I buy flights for someone else?

The Mrs has relatives in Germany. For her and her daughter’s birthday I want to surprise them with flights to see them.

Silly question, I have their passport details, can I just book them flights and it’s done? There will be no problems at the airport that paid for them and I’m not on the traveler list to go?

Thank you

When 'er indoors was still in gainfull employment I was expected to book, pay and check 'er in for 'er flights out and back Stansted/Faro. All she wanted was a printed boarding pass.

I got my own back, though, booked 'er on Ryanair!

ISTR that on occasion the airline check-in desks want to see the credit card that was used to make the booking. If it was your card, and you aren’t there, it is problematic…

We're in the UK

Son is in SA.

Wants to fly home. To buy a flight in SA is double the price of buying same flight in the UK.

The flight is "bought" in the UK by us - It's an E ticket, as they are.

Son goes to airport, checks in, boards flight and returns home.

It's no problem.

I used to get booked flights by whatever company I was working for so that would have been a pain.

All they ever gave me was the booking reference.