I've had multiple instances where the original reservation has been changed, the ticket number cannot be found, and I've risked missing my flights.

The first time was checking in for a codeshare flight (ICN). Ticketed by expedia, there was no ticket number on the booking confirmation. I had made multiple changes to the flight date, but kept the same PRN. Somehow, upon checkin (for a connecting flight at the transit counter) I'm stranded, unable to board my confirmed, properly ticketed flight. The operating airline had no staff in the country. The ticketing airline had no staff in the country. And my GSM phone is useless in Korea. Airport staff are the handling agents, as is the case in many countries. It sorted out eventually, but this is unacceptable.

The next time it happened on LX. Ticketed by LX, an LX flight number. No agent, no codeshare, but still a wait at check-in, and a phone call to resolve the issue.

For the last few years, I've paid the extra fee for paper tickets. Why? Because I change my dates often. For the 'buy & fly' types who never make changes, this issue doesn't exist. But all travellers aren't the non-refundable, non-changeable type. Now that paper tickets aren't available, we deserve a system that can manage these simple, reasonable tasks.

It's suggested that it's the OPs fault for booking a flight that is ticketed properly? I'm confused.

I regularly book codeshares. For me it drastically affects the price. Firing a TA for booking a codeshare? This confuses me again. When my TA books me on the codeshares, the price of my ticket lowers by THOUSANDS of dollars. :-: I give my TA a bonus when they save me this kind of money (really).

Having the ticket number should solve this problem. But, it appears that even this solution isn't enough.

Airlines have to BUCK-UP. They wanted e-ticketing to save money. They need to make the system bulletproof. Codeshare or not!