Electronic plane ticket (e-ticket) help!

Mulder · 8 Feb 2006 at 12:40

I've just bought some plane tickets to Nairobi and instead of receiving them in the post I just got an e-mail that is apparently my "e-ticket." Thing is, it doesn't look like a ticket at all. It's just an itinerary with a couple of 6 digit numbers on it!

Will this be accepted at the airport? Anyone else bought e-tickets?

Overload · 8 Feb 2006 at 12:47

When you go to check-in you tell them you have an e-ticket and then they ask for your number/details and ID (usally your passport) and possibly your credit/debit card (can't remember though).

I had a BA e-ticket and I just printed off the e-mail/comfirmation page on thier website to show the BA staff. Then they ask for ID. This was at Heatrow in last September.

chimaera · 8 Feb 2006 at 12:50

Yup, just print it off and take it with you. Last time i went with AA they didn't even ask for it, just walk up, scan passport, print off ticket...done.

Freefaller · 8 Feb 2006 at 12:51

You'll be (you should be) recorded on their ticket system. You just need to turn up with your passport (maybe also a reference number like Easyjet) and you'll be checked in. I haven't had a paper ticket for my travels on a dozen different airlines for the past couple of years. That's the joy of an e-ticket, you can't loose the piece of paper with your ticket - it's all on their system.

Mulder · 8 Feb 2006 at 12:51

Ok great. Cheers for the re-assurance.

Feek · 8 Feb 2006 at 13:10

Easyjet don't even ask for the booking reference now, they just do it straight from ones ID. It quite surprised me last week when I flew with them. I gave over the paper with the booking reference printed on and the friendly doris said 'I don't need that, can I see your identification please'. Not having my passport with me, I handed over my FAC which raised a few eyebrows!

K.

chimaera · 8 Feb 2006 at 13:23

Feek said:
Not having my passport with me, I handed over my FAC which raised a few eyebrows![/font]

??? or am i being thick

Burbleflop · 8 Feb 2006 at 13:28

Feek said:
Not having my passport with me, I handed over my FAC which raised a few eyebrows!

I didn't realise they accepted Firearms Certificates as proof of ID, but it makes sense really, I usually present my driving license when going on a domestic flight.

Kaed · 8 Feb 2006 at 13:32

chimaera said:
??? or am i being thick

Fire Arms Certificate ?

But yes, to echo everyone else when I flew to Atlanta March last year with BA, I walked up to some ATM style machine, put my credit card in, it spat the ticket out

Then when I flew to Vegas last year November with Virgin, just swiped my passport through some barcode reader and printed off my ticket. Skipped the long queue for checking in.

Celestial Caravan · 8 Feb 2006 at 13:35

Mulder said:
I've just bought some plane tickets to Nairobi and instead of receiving them in the post I just got an e-mail that is apparently my "e-ticket." Thing is, it doesn't look like a ticket at all. It's just an itinerary with a couple of 6 digit numbers on it!

Will this be accepted at the airport? Anyone else bought e-tickets?

There's at least one airline, I think it may be BA, and possibly others that also require to see the credit card used for the booking.

Yas786 · 8 Feb 2006 at 13:40

Usually because i fly with BA a lot i just book my ticket through the website then go to the airport and get my ticket from one of their self serve kiosks, where i just put the card i paid by in there and it prints off the boarding pass etc...which ultimately means i dont have to que to check in and secondly i just drop my bags off at the fast trak baggage counter...jobs a good 'un

.
Also i check in about 24 hrs before my flight is about to leave via the net thru the BA website and from there i can choose which seat i want etc.

E-Tickets are soo much easier than the old paper tickets tbh.

Visage · 8 Feb 2006 at 13:47

Spawn said:
Usually because i fly with BA a lot i just book my ticket through the website then go to the airport and get my ticket from one of their self serve kiosks, where i just put the card i paid by in there and it prints off the boarding pass etc...which ultimately means i dont have to que to check in and secondly i just drop my bags off at the fast trak baggage counter...jobs a good 'un.
Also i check in about 24 hrs before my flight is about to leave via the net thru the BA website and from there i can choose which seat i want etc.

E-Tickets are soo much easier than the old paper tickets tbh.

I used to work maintaining the software for those kiosks. Bloody nightmare.

Mulder · 8 Feb 2006 at 15:14

Celestial Caravan said:
There's at least one airline, I think it may be BA, and possibly others that also require to see the credit card used for the booking.

That may be a problem, my Mum paid for it.

Feek · 8 Feb 2006 at 15:27

Never ever been asked to produce a credit card when checking in.

And yes, FAC=Firearms Certificate. It's actually better ID than a passport because it's a lot harder to get, the police have to come visit you and verify who you are rather than a faceless johnny in the passport office looking at a photograph.

K.