How does the whole credit card consolidation process work?

Will a credit card payment work if I'm not asked for the security code?

• I registered an American Express credit card with Amazon. They asked for credit card number, expiration date, and the card owner's name---but not the four-digit security code I'm usually also asked for. Is this going to work? Should I have appended the security code to the regular credit card number? Because the charge won't be made until later, and I can't try to buy the product again if the charge fails to process, I need to know ahead of time.

• Answer:

  It is very unlikely American Express will let the transaction complete without the security code - it is why it is there.