Should you carry E-ticket Printout(s) at Checkin?

[serfty]

... One should never attempt to fly anywhere without an "e-ticket" hard copy of their booking or equivalent. (This is a printout of the booking clearly showing the ticket number (or booking reference for 'ticketless carriers').

...

 

[Alanslegal]

Re: Platinum "anytime" lounge Access ceases from 1 February 2011

Bad idea! One should never attempt to fly anywhere without a "e-ticket" hard copy of their booking. (This is a printout of the booking clearly showing the ticket number).

Of course, there's nothing to force you to show this when endeavouring to access the Domestic JL.

I always carry a print out when I travel ... but I'll make an exception just this once, when I visit the J Lounge in the morning I'll definitely have a copy by the time I check in at 3pm though.

 

[dk4]

Re: Platinum "anytime" lounge Access ceases from 1 February 2011

This is a printout of the booking clearly showing the ticket number.

This is simply not possible with Jetstar, they do not issue customers with a ticket number, merely a booking reference. (i.e. a booking printout has NO ticket number clearly visible.)

It is only bureaucratic, old fashioned, legacy airlines that issue a "ticket number" and a PNR. Modern airlines are "ticketless" and the reservation reference is all that is provided!

 

[serfty]

This is simply not possible with Jetstar, they do not issue customers with a ticket number, merely a booking reference. (i.e. a booking printout has NO ticket number clearly visible.) ...

You are correct - I would have a printed copy of the equivalent available.

 

[samiam]

One should never attempt to fly anywhere without an "e-ticket" hard copy of their booking or equivalent.

Also do you think it lacks some credibility for a platinum to not have a print out of the booking?

I actually can't remember the last time I carried a hard copy of an e-ticket - for a domestic flight, at least. I usually have my booking reference loaded into an appointment in my electronic diary.

Isn't that the purpose of an e-ticket?

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Re: Platinum "anytime" lounge Access ceases from 1 February 2011

I actually can't remember the last time I carried a hard copy of an e-ticket - for a domestic flight, at least. I usually have my booking reference loaded into an appointment in my electronic diary.

Isn't that the purpose of an e-ticket?

Domestically there's no issue.

Internationally I've been pulled up on every trip since last August to provide an eticket/intinary at check in. Once they wouldn't check me in without a copy and sent me to ticketing to get a copy.

Narita also was close to denying entry as I couldn't prove when I was leaving the country (was overnighting in transit). $20 in data charges later, they accepted sighting of the booking on qantas.com on my mobile.

Before mid last year it was never a problem to not carry any proof, but now I don't leave without it.

 

[JohnK]

Re: Platinum "anytime" lounge Access ceases from 1 February 2011

If i saw a WP holding up the line being rejected/taking grief, I would immediately offer to guest them inside.

We're a team here!

That's the spirit.

Internationally I've been pulled up on every trip since last August to provide an eticket/intinary at check in. Once they wouldn't check me in without a copy and sent me to ticketing to get a copy.

Been there as well. Now I just carry a copy of the itinerary if they need to see it.

The best look from the CSA is when they see my return flight is not on the same itinerary as the outbound flight.

 

[dfcatch]

Domestically there's no issue.

Internationally I've been pulled up on every trip since last August to provide an eticket/intinary at check in. Once they wouldn't check me in without a copy and sent me to ticketing to get a copy.

Narita also was close to denying entry as I couldn't prove when I was leaving the country (was overnighting in transit). $20 in data charges later, they accepted sighting of the booking on qantas.com on my mobile.

Before mid last year it was never a problem to not carry any proof, but now I don't leave without it.

Yes, on my most recent departure from Oz on 1 Feb I was made to pull out my e-ticket itinerary at CNS. I expressed surprise at being asked (seeing as it's all on one booking). Was told it should have always been asked for.

That said - in 2010, 4 international departures from CNS and was never asked.

8 entries to the US and 7 to Canada in the last year and got asked for the itinerary once. And that was the first time in 11 years.

For the record - I always carry my itinerary when traveling internationally.

 

[DTM1]

Re: Platinum "anytime" lounge Access ceases from 1 February 2011

I actually can't remember the last time I carried a hard copy of an e-ticket - for a domestic flight, at least. I usually have my booking reference loaded into an appointment in my electronic diary.

Isn't that the purpose of an e-ticket?

In theory. Just make sure you don't make that assumption if flying out of Delhi, where they will not let you into the terminal without a hrad copy of either your e-ticket or your intinerary. I learnt the hard way.....:evil:

 

[Ewing]

Re: Platinum "anytime" lounge Access ceases from 1 February 2011

For the record - I always carry my itinerary when traveling internationally.

Ditto. I've never carried one domestically (domestic segments from international like JQ35 excluded).

Internationally I always do, but that's mainly because most of my international itineraries involve me walking up to check in counter, laying down three separate itineraries and asking to be checked through.

That's only posed a problem once - where the last flight was > 24 hours from the first flight and check in hadn't opened. A manual override was required

 

[simongr]

Re: Platinum "anytime" lounge Access ceases from 1 February 2011

I probably would have pushed the issue personally. The rules say 'guest' not 'must know'.

Ditto. I've never carried one domestically (domestic segments from international like JQ35 excluded).

Internationally I always do, but that's mainly because most of my international itineraries involve me walking up to check in counter, laying down three separate itineraries and asking to be checked through.

Same here - when I have a multi stop international trip I print off the itinerary (well my PA does) and all of my hotel/other confirmations, key dinner reservations and put them into a folder with plastic wallets (one for each item). Then I remove them from the folder as they become irrelevant. Yes I think I do suffer from OCD

 

[medhead]

Platinum "anytime" lounge Access ceases from 1 February 2011

I actually can't remember the last time I carried a hard copy of an e-ticket - for a domestic flight, at least. I usually have my booking reference loaded into an appointment in my electronic diary.

Isn't that the purpose of an e-ticket?

I always have a copy of itinerary including booking reference and ticket number.

Without getting too deeply into semantics. I would say an e-ticket is something stored in a computer somewhere not a print out of the itinerary. Being "e" I'm not sure how you can have a hardcopy of the ticket.

 

[tuapekastar]

Re: Platinum "anytime" lounge Access ceases from 1 February 2011

I may have forgotten once, but that aside I always carry a hardcopy of my e-ticket receipt, both domestically (though OLCI and printing your own BP has by and large eliminated this need lately) and internationally.

It is an ever-present (and yes, mildly paranoid ) fear of mine that I will walk up to a checkin counter for a booked flight, only to have 'them' say, "we have no record of your being booked on this flight Mr tuapekastar". I do not seriously expect anything to go wrong, but it does not hurt me to take paper copies of e-ticket receipts (and hotel bookings etc.) when I travel.

Same deal for QC or SG or WP cards - I sometimes read (with a certain amount of open-mouthed disbelief) about people who do not bother carrying them when travelling - how much of an impost is it to do so?

At the gate at SIN last year for an LHR flight, I had been points upgraded J to F, and had been issued a BP for this flight (on JL 'stock') by JL at NRT earlier that day. There was a problem, and after a few minutes of keyboard tapping, the chap asked for my ticket number. It was a relief for me that I had a print of the DONE4 itinerary, complete with ticket number on it. A few more minutes tapping and phoning and the problem (whatever it was, I have no idea) was sorted.

I was actually a little concerned when the problem emerged, as I knew the flight was chockers - all fare buckets showing zero - and figured my seat may now be someone else's. :shock: Anyway, all ended well, but a good reminder to me that carrying hardcopy docs does not hurt, and indeed can help!

 

[Ewing]

Re: Platinum "anytime" lounge Access ceases from 1 February 2011

It is an ever-present (and yes, mildly paranoid ) fear of mine that I will walk up to a checkin counter for a booked flight, only to have 'them' say, "we have no record of your being booked on this flight Mr tuapekastar".

Been there once.

Last October I moved a J flight (in the J fare class) to the next day (long story short I missed my flight and changed it while enroute to the airport knowing I wasn't going to make it). When I turned up the next morning I tried using the Quickcheck but it couldn't find a booking.

I went to the desk to ask what was up. It turns out the agent moved me off the original flight as requested but I was never ticketed on the new flight.

It was lucky as the flight was J0 Y0 with me getting the last seat.

I later checked my email and no eticket confirmation either. I suppose if I printed them off I would have noticed that it didn't turn up (they get filtered).

 

[oz_mark]

Re: Platinum "anytime" lounge Access ceases from 1 February 2011

I always have a copy of itinerary including booking reference and ticket number.

Without getting too deeply into semantics. I would say an e-ticket is something stored in a computer somewhere not a print out of the itinerary. Being "e" I'm not sure how you can have a hardcopy of the ticket.

You don't. That's why the document you get sent is called an 'eTicket Itinerary and Receipt'.

 

[medhead]

Platinum "anytime" lounge Access ceases from 1 February 2011

You don't. That's why the document you get sent is called an 'eTicket Itinerary and Receipt'.

Thank you for repeating my point much more succinctly.

 

[Cynicor]

PER-SIN I often don't print out my e-ticket but on my last trip to NRT they asked to see it so I wonder if new orders from up high have made more the check-in staff more vigilant. It's a bit weird that a paper copy is needed if it's all on their computer.

 

[Awesom Andy]

I usually carry mine, although sometimes, it can be difficult. A few months ago, I bought a ticket on the phone a few hours before departure. On that occasion, I only had my passport, FF card, and a small piece of paper with the PRN scribbled on it. They didn't ask for the itinerary or the credit card used for payment, but put a "business" tag on my luggague that I wasn't entitled too. So I wa like... :shock:, then , then .

 

[Archphoto]

I carry them regardless of where I'm flying. Would rather have all info on me in case of a problem than have to try and fix because they insist on seeing it for real.

Had this happen once when we missed a flight from PER-ADL due to our Garuda flight being changed due to mechanical problems. Christmas, Test match, all hotels full - only flight available was PER-SYD-ADL on Virgin on *the* most expensive economy ticket. (Not even supplied a blanket!:evil::shock

As our agent had booked at the last minute, we weren't showing up - thank God for WP anytime access!! Fronted up at the QP desk, flashed the card and got to print out our e-tickets, allowing us to prove we were booked on the flight and all was well.

I'd rather cut any problems off at the pass, rather than tempt fate and miss an important flight, simply because I didn't print out an e-ticket; it's not so hard and gives me and my team peace of mind. :mrgreen:

 

[anat0l]

Definitely I carry a copy of my e-tickets. Perhaps domestic I don't, but international flying I do.

I also now make a point of noting all the addresses of where I am staying (hotel or friends'/relatives' residences), as well as hotel confirmation printouts.

I've been pulled up on a number of occasions where having e-tix copies was required:

• Checking in for a long routing at BNE I with QF, the lady made me show e-tix for ongoing flight plus ask a question as to where I was going after my final destination on the itinerary.
• Travelling back to LON from MUC I was stopped in the airbridge and asked for my passport. They then asked me to show where I was going after LON, with e-tix as proof. Actually, the e-tix copy I had with me was for the wrong dates (it was my original dated booking which I had later changed to an earlier date). But when I explained it seem to pass mustard.
• To enter MNL airport (i.e. to actually step through the entrance doors to the building), you need to show proof that you have a booking.
• Philippine passport control have asked me before if I have a continuing / return journey ticket, to which I replied yes and then they asked me for proof.

List goes on a bit, but enough to convince me that I need to carry copies of my tickets.

I know some people get away with showing electronic copies or TripIt details, but in some cases this may not be possible (no connection, use of devices is against the rules, not good enough proof, etc.)