Electronic tickets

[john23tc]

When I booked my flight on USAIR through RCI travel I was given electronic tickets. I haven't flown in years and have never used these tickets. I was told I don't have to go to the ticket counter at the airport. Just go to the gate. Is this true? How do I check the luggage if I go right to the gate? Don't I have to show photo ID at the counter? What about a boarding pass? Is your ticket the boarding pass too? If someone could explain the whole process I would appreciate it very much. Thank you.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

You can wait in line at the counter to check your baggage and get your boarding pass, or, you can curb it with a sky cap and he/she can check you in at the curb and give you your boarding pass.
You will need a photo id. You can also, if you are within the size limits, go to the gate, get your boarding pass and carry on your luggage (perish this thought!!!!!).
Your eticket is not your boarding pass and you do need to check in, either (as stated) at the curb, counter or gate.

 

[Beverly Lynn]

no usair only has a few select airports with the skycaps giving boarding passes. they can check thier bags in with them and then proceed to the gate to check in with the agent there!they are hoping to be able to use the skycaps for check in but it won't be happening any time soon!

 

[hulabird]

Ask for a paper ticket anyway if you have time to have them sent before
you leave, its always best to have a paper ticket in hand in case of delays or
cancellations, having that paper ticket in your hand will get you to where u
are going faster in case of delays etc...because you will already have the ticket
in hand, they won't have to look u up and print your tickets, while others are
in line waiting to get their tickets, you will already have the actual one and then they
can get you the next available flight alot faster because u already have all the info
right on your paper ticket. This was a tip I got from a travel expert on Oprah and it actually
ended up being true, it happened to my parents and because they had their paper
ticket, they were able to go to a different, shorter line and were able to get on another flight
that was leaving sooner than if they had to wait in the long line of eticket holders.
I always get paper tickets sent now.

http://www.disneyclipart.com/images23/Parks/DisneyWorld/Resorts/carib01a.gif


Hulabird

 

[CarolA]

I am not a fan of paper tickets simply because if you lose a paper ticket it is a HUGE hassle! Depending on the airline you can be charged a $70 reticking fee or you can have to pay for a full fare ticket! (If you have to pay for the full fare ticket then you will eventually get a refund, but it takes a while. The airline has to assure itself that your lost ticket was not used!)

I hear a lot about all the great reasons to get a paper ticket, but I have acutally never seen one. On my trip to Disney last Friday my flight from Atlanta to Orlando was cancelled. I had an electronic ticket. I walked up to Delta and was re-booked on the next flight in just a few minutes. On Sunday I saw lots of flights being cancelled due to weather in the Northeast and they did NOT have a seperate line depending on your ticket type. Everyone was standing in the same lines.

Contrary to popular myth unless you have a FULL FARE ticket, you cannot just carry your paper ticket from USAir over to Delta and get on! You must stand in line and be re-booked by USAir who has to agree to pay Delta, AA or someone else to get you to your destination.

 

[vwrose14]

I booked with southwest and I don't have anything but a code am I supposed to have something

 

[CarolA]

No,
The code is all you need. Southwest can look you up with the code.

 

[hulabird]

Carol,
u must have read my post incorrectly...after u make an
online air ressie, u CAN request a paper ticket sent
to u as well,,,no u can't just walk on over to another airline, the
airline u are using will make a ressie for u on the next available
flight on whatever airline has the NEXT available flight, having
the backup paper ticket does not mean that if u happen to LOSE
the ticket u are out the ticket, u still have the original ressie, but
having the paper ticket is a backup to save time in case of a long
delay or problem. I bought online tickets and for free the travel agent
sent me a paper ticket as well.

Hulabird

 

[carrieann]

Carol A - if you booked your flight online - all you need to do at the airport is go to the Southwest ticket counter and they will ask you for your name and I.D. and issue you your E-tickets. These serve as your boarding pass as well - usually you don't even need to check in at the gate with an E-ticket. You can also check any luggage at the ticket counter.

 

[carrieann]

Woops! That post was meant for VWrose14!!!

 

[vwrose14]

tahnks having nothing in my hand makes me nervous