The end of the paper ticket...
By jonesy123
@jonesy123 (3948)
United States
May 29, 2008 12:06pm CST
Starting June 1, 2008, electronic ticketing will be the norm for airline travel. Travel agencies will not be able to issue a paper ticket anymore, worldwide.
It's easier that way, but I found it interesting that an IATA (International Air Transport Association) spokesperson said that they would save 50,000 trees per year. I have done electronic ticketing for several years now and in the travel agency they still print out a sheet of paper for you with all the booking information. I do the same when I book online. It's basically the same information that was on the regular paper ticket. I don't think that will be stopped because travelers prefer to have something tangible in their hands. Although even a regular paper ticket was never a guarantee that one would actually be allowed to board the plane. And it's doubtful their chronic overbooking techniques will stop just because everybody is forced to use an e-ticket, lol.
2 responses
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
29 May 08
Interesting! so it's goodbye to the little IATA ticket booklet..I've been used to e-ticketing with Budget Airlines here in the UK (Easyjet,Ryanair) for years now,and made my first transatlantic e-ticket flight last year (Continental)..I suppose having that all important reference code Number as a message on your cellphone or PDA works just as well,but there's still bumf associated with it..Your travel insurance info,Your itinerary,You probably want a hard copy of the ticket reference in case something happens the phone,You may want an envelope or folder to keep it all together,and they're not getting rid of passports anytime soon..so the future's A4 shaped!
The only thing is,those in the know could read their booklet restrictions and ticket coding..now,it's down to the ticket desk computer!
Thanks for the Best Response!
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
29 May 08
Even if you have to print out 1 piece of paper, that is much better than the 5 page booklet they would give you plus any additional confirmation paperwork that was printed out with it.
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
29 May 08
No, that's just it, I still get pretty much the same amount of paperwork if I go through a travel agency. I never got a 5 page booklet anyway, when I still bought regular tickets. But what I got was a ticket per flight, now I get a regular sheet of paper per flight. It's folded and put into the ticket envelope. Then I get additional paperwork and such. Maybe the ticket envelope stuff will stop once they don't issue tickets anymore. There may be some trees spared but I just simply don't see the big tree saving that guy predicted;)
