What constitutes a valid e-ticket?

[JohnK]

What is a valid e-ticket?

E-tickets come in various shapes and sizes. Is there any general rule on what it must look like, what information it must contain.

Some of the e-tickets I have received from travel agents recently are shocking to say the least. The ones received from QF or AY are very thorough. QF's e-ticket is pretty as well.

Can the itinerary from CheckMyTrip be used as an e-ticket? It has all the relevant information on it. Carrier(s), flight codes and times, routing, e-ticket number, FF number, agent that issued e-ticket etc.

 

[oz_mark]

To my knowledge, valid means that the booking exists in the airlines host systems. Doesn't matter what a piece of paper looks like.

 

[GDSman]

Hi JohnK. There is an IATA standard for etickets that all issuing airlines and GDS (from their hosted systems) comply with. TAs either provide a true eticket receipt (as printed from the GDS directly) or have been known to print a document with lots of good information on it (but technically not an eticket) from their back office system or document generator. Most online itinerary systems (like checkmytrip - although I don't know that one specifically) will have an itinerary printout and an eticket and/or e-invoice print. etickets should include coupon information etc. However, I have successfully entered several countries that require an onward confirmation (an eticket or paper ticket) by showing immigration my vitually there (or other) itinerary on my PDA...so I suppose it depends on whether your question is one borne of curiosity or necessity.

 

[JohnK]

...so I suppose it depends on whether your question is one borne of curiosity or necessity.

Necessity.

My bookings are in the system, I have an e-ticket number, an airline reservation code but the e-ticket I received from travel agent was in notepad and everything is all over the place.

CheckMyTrip is a website where you can view Amadeus bookings and print an itinerary that includes all the information of what I think makes up a valid ticket! But is this format generally accepted?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I presume you mean for immigration purposes since the airlines concerned see the e-ticket in their system (no need to show them any paper).

Most places don't ask to see a ticket. Of the few occassions I have been asked to show it, they have accepted print out of ticket OR itinerary from airline TA or other. They probably won't accept an itinerary you've typed out yourself.

 

[meloz]

Necessity.

My bookings are in the system, I have an e-ticket number, an airline reservation code but the e-ticket I received from travel agent was in notepad and everything is all over the place.

CheckMyTrip is a webite where you can view Amadeus bookings and print an itinerary that includes all the information of what I think makes up a valid ticket! But is this format generally accepted?

I understand your concerns but agree with Kiwi, you should be fine.

Amazing how much cred a piece of A4 has nowadays.

Meloz

 

[serfty]

From posted experiences of others it seem the most important thing to be able to do is to supply the Ticket Number.

For QF this starts with 081-; there are various other codes for other entities.

 

[NM]

An E-Ticket is an Electronic Ticket, and as such its not something you can actually hold and carry. Its a record in a computer system.

What the TA or airline sends you via email or in the snail mail is an E-Ticket receipt. This is your record of the existence of a ticket in the reservation systems.

The main component required on the e-ticket receipt is the ticket number. The ticket number is the one thing that is consistent across all the different res systems that may hold your reservation details. There is no point in providing a QF check-in agent with your Sabre booking reference, but providing them the ticket number will ensure they can find you booking.

It is most common for the e-ticket receipt to also include the itinerary details so you have it for your reference and so you can check that it is correct. It may also show other details that may be found on a paper ticket (but not always) including baggage allowance, carrier restrictions, tax calculations, fare construction etc. All of these details are included in the computer record for the ticket (the actual e-ticket) but may or may not be included on the e-ticket receipt provided to you. Personally I prefer an e-ticket receipt with all the details included and my TA does provide most it on their e-ticket receipt.

VirtuallyThere.com has an option to print a duplicate e-ticket receipt online.

So for check-in purposes or any requirement to prove your travel rights to an airline, the ticket number is what is required. From the ticket number they can see all the details through their computer systems.

For immigration purposes, a copy of the itinerary is generally required. That may be included on the e-ticket receipt, may be provided by the TA or printed from an on-line viewer such as CheckMyTrip.com, VirtuallyThere.com etc. The immigration agents are generally looking to see that you have a departing flight booked. They also know that even if someone has a flight booked, it possible for them to cancel that booking later. So they are generally happy with any reasonable indication that you have a valid departure booking.

 

[JohnK]

From posted experiences of others it seem the most important thing to be able to do is to supply the Ticket Number.

For QF this starts with 081-; there are various other codes for other entities.

The main component required on the e-ticket receipt is the ticket number. The ticket number is the one thing that is consistent across all the different res systems that may hold your reservation details. There is no point in providing a QF check-in agent with your Sabre booking reference, but providing them the ticket number will ensure they can find you booking.

Thanks. That basically answers my question. I have e-ticket number and itinerary printed with CheckMyTrip and this should be proof enough for airlines and immigration.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Thanks. That basically answers my question. I have e-ticket number and itinerary printed with CheckMyTrip and this should be proof enough for airlines and immigration.

Unless the computers are down, you wont need any proof for the airline(s). They only need your name, passport details and if relevant FF #.

 

[gaia]

Unless the computers are down, you wont need any proof for the airline(s). They only need your name, passport details and if relevant FF #.

I've been to Manila twice recently and entry to the airport requires a ticket - eTicket or paper. The first time I only had the email on my PC and the guard let me thru, but at the CX counter they wanted to see the ticket. So I fired up my PC at checkin and after sighting the email with the eTicket they processed me for the flight, which they weren't going to let me on without sighting the ticket.

The second time I went to Manila I took a printout with me which satisifed the guard and the CX checkin.

Every other airport I've been to this year the checkin desk accepts my QF (for Oneworld) or Air NZ (for *A) FF card for the booking.

 

[meloz]

I've been to Manila twice recently and entry to the airport requires a ticket - eTicket or paper. The first time I only had the email on my PC and the guard let me thru, but at the CX counter they wanted to see the ticket. So I fired up my PC at checkin and after sighting the email with the eTicket they processed me for the flight, which they weren't going to let me on without sighting the ticket.

The second time I went to Manila I took a printout with me which satisifed the guard and the CX checkin.

Every other airport I've been to this year the checkin desk accepts my QF (for Oneworld) or Air NZ (for *A) FF card for the booking.

Good thinking, I wish I had of thought of that on my first visit. I had the laptop handy with all the details but did not even consider it. Instead I had to make my way thru the zoo of a terminal to the QF office and have an iten printed out.

Meloz

 

[NM]

I've been to Manila twice recently and entry to the airport requires a ticket - eTicket or paper. The first time I only had the email on my PC and the guard let me thru, but at the CX counter they wanted to see the ticket. So I fired up my PC at checkin and after sighting the email with the eTicket they processed me for the flight, which they weren't going to let me on without sighting the ticket.

The second time I went to Manila I took a printout with me which satisifed the guard and the CX checkin.

Every other airport I've been to this year the checkin desk accepts my QF (for Oneworld) or Air NZ (for *A) FF card for the booking.

You cannot carry nor show an e-ticket to anyone. An e-ticket is a record in a computer system. All you can carry and show is an e-ticket receipt. Any time you are travelling on an e-ticket itinerary, you should carry a copy of the e-ticket receipt and your itinerary (may be the same document depending on the details included on your e-ticket receipt).

 

[dajop]

Any time you are travelling on an e-ticket itinerary, you should carry a copy of the e-ticket receipt and your itinerary

... should carry .... I'd say it's amost a must for international flight. But domestically, I don't bother. I always carry a copy of receipt/itinerary with me on international flights (not so sure for trans tasman though), but it's been a long long time since I've carried a copy of the receipt for domestic flights.

 

[NM]

... should carry .... I'd say it's amost a must for international flight. But domestically, I don't bother. I always carry a copy of receipt/itinerary with me on international flights (not so sure for trans tasman though), but it's been a long long time since I've carried a copy of the receipt for domestic flights.

Quite true. For QF domestic fligthts I generally just use my FF card. I have had several e-ticketed ATW itineraries and although I always carry a copy of the e-ticket receipt, I can only think of 1 occasions when I have needed to show it anyone (AA pre-check-in screening at FRA). But I would hate to get to a check-in desk and have the agent tell me they cannot see my reservation. That is when the e-ticket number is going to be essential.

 

[Mal]

I always carry a copy of receipt/itinerary with me on international flights (not so sure for trans tasman though), but it's been a long long time since I've carried a copy of the receipt for domestic flights.

Trust me, you need it even for Trans Tasman. Was asked for it once (didn't have it as it was packed away), but was still asked for it. Not being able to produce it may have caused some of the further questioning I was given...

 

[GDSman]

Agree - NZ immigration are extremely keen on sighting 'proof of onward journey'...I think I've been asked for it without exception.

One thing I have found is that QF premium check-in (ex-SYD) always ask me if I have a copy of my e-ticket receipt and run off and print me one when I mumble about having forgotten it. I think that's a pretty good piece of service.

 

[dajop]

Agree - NZ immigration are extremely keen on sighting 'proof of onward journey'...I think I've been asked for it without exception.

Under an Australian passport or one from elsewhere? If the former - I thought they encourage those of us from "Aussie" to stay a bit longer - gotta counterbalance the flow in the other direction

 

[GDSman]

Good point - yes I have been traveling on a UK one to fill it up before I get a new Aussie one. They're keen to ensure we don't try to enter without somewhere else to go....it's made worse by the fact that the Aus re-entry visa is electronic and invisible to foreign immigration.

 

[bfmi]

I carry my PDA/phone which has all of my calendar events. In the calendar event I detail the flight number, departure/arrival and booking reference and ticket type = eticket.

Never had an issue or delay and have done this on multiple round worlds and many other destinations including China, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan etc.

My PDA/phone is sync'd with email server and laptop so backup is available if I were to loose or break the phone.