About E-Tickets
Electronic Ticketing, or eTicket for short, provides the fastest and easiest way to your flight. By now, e-tickets are a common feature of the air traveler's experience. Almost every online transaction results in an e-ticket, and airline and travel agents are almost certain to ask if you prefer an e-ticket. Still, if you don't know all there is to know about e-tickets, here's a quick primer:

It's a fairly simple concept: instead of receiving a paper ticket in the mail or from a ticket office, you simply get a confirmation number that guarantees your seat on the plane. Even with e-tickets, some airlines still send out a paper itinerary, but the ticket itself is just a number stored in the airline reservations system.

Be aware that the FAA has introduced new regulations which only allow ticketed passengers beyond security checkpoints. So if you have one, be sure to bring your printed receipt with you, along with any ticket documentation the airline has provided such as boarding passes or reservation confirmations. It is also extremely important that you bring various forms of identification. Make sure that one of them is a government-issued ID. If you have an international flight, be sure to have your passport handy. It's also a good idea to bring along the credit card you used to purchase the e-ticket for extra reassurance. You might end up needing this credit card to utilize e-ticket kiosks for check-in.

Although the majority of airlines require the same type of information from e-ticketed passengers, please keep in mind that certain airlines might have varying guidelines. Hence, always remember to pick up the phone before you hop in that shuttle or catch that cab. It could make the difference on whether you'll be allowed to fly or not. eTickets provide great benefits, such as:

Are E-tickets safe?
Well, we are trusting ourselves to computers and agents. It is you (the air traveler), however, who now plays the most vital role. It is very important that you print your confirmation out after purchasing your ticket online. That little slip of paper, along with various forms of proper identification, are typically the only permissible way through airport security.

Another very significant factor is being on time. Due to increased security measures, the earlier you are, the better! E-ticket holders should arrive at least two hours before domestic flights, and three hours before international flights. It helps to be on time - if you have no paper ticket, and you arrive at the airport late, if someone botches your reservation, you could be in for a rough time.

Further, if you're forced to change airlines, or there is some extraordinary event such as an airline strike or closing, competing airlines might not be able to confirm that you do indeed have a ticket. Here again is another incentive to make sure you have that printed confirmation and proper ID.

Why would I want an E-Ticket?
When you're in a rush, if you buy your tickets very close to your travel date, you might do very well to purchase an e-ticket. If you're the type who doesn't feel secure without the physical evidence of a regular paper ticket in-hand or are nervous regarding the new strict security measures, then e-tickets might not be for you.

E-Tickets are Here To Stay
E-tickets have certain advantages that are to the airlines' liking. First of all, it facilitates the trend toward direct-to-customer sales, such as online ticket sales. But there's another bottom line beyond the circumvention of travel agent fees: airlines save in the $6-7 dollar range for every ticket they don't have to print and mail to customers.

The Upside
E-Tickets are convenient. Late bookings are easy; make a phone call, get your confirmation faxed to you or print it out from online, and it's over. No worrying about the ticket arriving in the mail. You can easily purchase tickets for other people in disparate locations, just make sure you get them the official confirmation printout. For late purchases, there's absolutely minimum hassle; no scurry to the local ticket office. Online booking can be even more convenient, as addressed below.

E-Ticket Kiosks
Another advantage to getting an e-ticket is being able to use new self-service kiosks provided at many airports. Rather than waiting in line at check-in, you can insert your credit card and get your boarding pass from these new automated machines. You will be given a receipt, which you should carry with you; but you will still need to show valid identification before boarding the plane.

If you want to find out which airlines and airports offer kiosks, contact your airline directly. 

Bonus Miles and Other Incentives
Many airlines are offering bonus miles, upgrades, and more to travelers who opt for e-tickets, especially those who book directly on the airline's web site. Next time you book a flight, be sure to check on any applicable incentives.

Downside
The Fine Print
One of the advantages of paper tickets is that most of the "fine print," which can cover baggage liability, cancellation and change restrictions, can be found right on your ticket. An e-ticket offers no such handy reference; you have to request one from the airline.

When buying an e-ticket, inquire of all restrictions at the time of purchase. Also, if you are holding an e-ticket and need to cancel or change your reservations, be sure to inquire of time restrictions on using any earned credits.

If You Miss A Flight or a Flight Leg
While a growing majority of travelers now prefer e-tickets, it's not yet a perfect system, and convenience can sometimes come with a price. Some travelers have warned that an e-ticket can create problems if you miss a flight, and AOL member Jerry444 offers this warning: "A big drawback of e-tickets is what might happen if you don't take the first or second part of the trip. You now have no ticket and no reservation, and if the airline loses the reservation (which has happened a few times), you might be in for a royal battle."

E-tickets can be an added hassle for travelers due to all the additional security measures now in place. The convenience of e-tickets is a thing of the past. You can no longer head straight to the gate if you have no bags to check. You also must have sufficient documentation in order to proceed through security checkpoints. Gone are the days of scribbled confirmation numbers.

International E-Tickets
Not all airlines offer e-tickets on international routes, or may do so only on certain routes. Further, if you have a paper ticket on an international leg, and an e-ticket on a domestic leg, some airlines might have trouble booking your luggage all the way to your destination.

Obtaining Passports in a Hurry
If you need to get a passport in a hurry, you need a ticket in-hand. If you have an e-ticket, you'll need the airline to fax the itinerary, possibly even the confirmation, to you, or to the passport agency. (Of course, if you take care of your passport on time, you have no problem.)

Strikes, Airline Closings
During the 1998 Northwest strike, e-ticket holders were required to get their e-tickets reissued as paper tickets before other airlines would honor the Northwest reservations. If a strike occurs, or an airline goes out of business, move quickly to convert e-tickets to paper tickets.

No Receipt
It used to be the case that e-tickets didn't always come with receipts, which caused problems for many people who needed to submit an expense report or file taxes. This shouldn't be as prevalent a problem as before as long as you hang on to that printed confirmation. Check with your employer's policies on e-tickets. You can use your credit card statement as a receipt for tax purposes if you should happen to lose your printed receipt.

Online Booking
The best thing about online booking, as opposed to purchasing an e-ticket over the phone, is that most major reservations services permit you to save or print out your itinerary and confirmation number at the close of your transaction. With phone or agent purchases, you'll need to write down all the information, and make sure that they fax you an actual copy of the confirmation.

On the other hand, sometimes a reservations or travel agent can see things your computer can't, though this seems to improve almost daily. And some people are still queasy about online transactions, or about having nothing but a printed receipt in hand when they leave for the airport. It's a matter of personal comfort level, but the frequency of online purchases is on the rise, and some travelers even prefer it in most cases.

E-Tickets Tips
- You must present a government-issued picture ID, your passport if traveling internationally, and your printed receipt or confirmation at check-in.

- With some e-tickets bought directly from the airline, you need to present the credit card with which you bought the ticket. This varies according to each airline. Be sure to inquire at the time of reservation.

- Problems and flight or airline changes will be greatly facilitated if you just remember to bring a copy of your reservation with you; this may be faxed or mailed to you by the airline, travel agent, or online booking company, or printed out from your online itinerary.

- It is recommended that you respect check-in times, and arrive at check-in at least two hours prior to departure.