E-tickets, checking in - stupid question?

Forgive me if this is a really dumb question but...

What actual paperwork do I need when checking in...

Out of habit, I generally print the first 2 or 3 pages of the email e-ticket and take that along to the airport.

In reality, do I really only need the booking reference?

If I just turned up next time with a postit with the 6 character reference and my passports, would this suffice?

Thanks in advance for any replies and for not thinking I'm a complete idiot for asking...

Al

Sometimes you are asked for your eticket so I would print it out and take it with you.

You can even get away with just your passport as they can then find your booking for you but if you have no documentation with you, both for any problems at this end and immigration at the other end it can cause a load of problems.
You are supposed to have your booking ref, ticket number, issuing agent and issued date with you as the bar minimum but that is hardly ever adhered to.
Ed

I have been asked a couple of times on entry into the US and Canada for details of my return journey so the printed e-ticket is useful as proof of my departure plans.

Am not sure handing over a yellow post-it with 6 random letters on it would cut it.

[Neil]

Last time we checked in at LHR the agent asked to see our return eticket. Never asked this before but we always have it with us just in case, and to save any hassle I guess it really isn't worth not having it on you.

I never normally take the e-ticket paperwork with me just the booking ref. Last trip however we were asked for it at check in? Which suprised me as the return details will show in the booking.

The agent printed a copy off for us there and then and gave it to us in case we needed it when we arrived in the US.

That said I always get asked how long I am staying for but never been asked to produce the e-ticket. (doesnt' having a paper copy of the e-ticket make a mockery of it being electronic to save having a printed ticket )

doesnt' having a paper copy of the e-ticket make a mockery of it being electronic to save having a printed ticket

Cynical old me has always thought that e-tickets were more to do with transferring the costs of printing from the issuer to the recipient...

Cynical old me has always thought that e-tickets were more to do with transferring the costs of printing from the issuer to the recipient...

Completely!

Do you remember when a plane ticket was a whole booklet printed on carbon paper?

I only ever traveled with my reference number (usually on my phone) and my passport. On the last trip but one to the States the check in desk printed my e-ticket off for me as the USA like to see it.

Do you remember when a plane ticket was a whole booklet printed on carbon paper?

The first time I went to the US, I had a carbon paper copy with all 4 flights on it (LHR-LAX-LAS-EWR-LHR).

I always print the e-ticket off but it doesn't always get seen, depending the airline, they just want to see the passport.

We got a carbon paper ticket in the office the other day, great fun that was!
One of the problems with the old paper tickets was that if you had a reval "revalidation" sticker you could make any date changes you wanted on it and then just show up for the flight you wanted to be on and if there was space they would let you on. Was open to a LOT of abuse!

I personally don't ask to see e-tickets at work, only the passport unless there's a problem such as I can't find the booking etc. As long as you have a copy of the booking reference and the outbound and inbound flight dates (which should have the flight numbers next to it) you shouldn't need anything else.

When flying VS, I've always been asked for my eticket, however, on BA just my passport has always been enough.

Jonathan

Thanks everyone.

Message I get is the wish not to use paper/ink to print the e-ticket out is far outweighed by the potential hastle of not having it with you - particularly, when traveling to the US.

Oh, and totally agree re transferring printing costs!!

Al

[Darren Wheeler]

!

Do you remember when a plane ticket was a whole booklet printed on carbon paper?

Oh yes. And wasn't it much more exciting than getting an email.

Having your e-ticket printed out was pretty much a requirement in the days following 9/11. It hasn't been for some time, but some jobsworth may have a bad day and your screwed!
Plus if I've got the printout - the airline can't lose my reservation right?
Lastly a number of internal US flights out of SFO allow you to have the boarding card on your smartphone, rather than printing it out during OLCI, that really takes things in a different direction, where hopefully nothing will need to be printed.