I've been literally all over the world using e-tix, primarily on UA. Have only run into one problem, and that was last month in London.

If you take the Heathrow Express from Paddington Station to LHR you can check your bags at Paddington. If you're in BC or FC you can also get an expedited pass to speed you through security. Well, when I went to check my bags at Paddington I was asked for my ticket. I didn't have the physical ticket, as it was an e-ticket and the flight had been changed from LHR-IAD-SFO to the LHR-SFO non stop.

I think you can guess the rest. Without the ticket they wouldn't check me in, even though the agent (a LH employee) could look up on the res system, see my seat assignment on the flight, and see that it was an e-ticket. It all matched, but she was 'determined' not to take my luggage.

After some 'negotiations', the agent finally agreed to call United, who told her to take my bags and issue my pass for security.

None the less, would I do e-tickets again? Most definitely. In fact, I just finished 9 domestic flight segments in 8 days, all on e-tix and all on UA.

Some benefits.....

I was on the red eye SFO-IAD on Saturday evening, and between the check in counter and the RCC had a senior moment and lost my boarding pass. Simply asked for a new boarding pass at the RCC, and got one, no problem. Had it been a paper ticket with the coupon attached I would have had to file a lost ticket claim and buy a new ticket.

I'm forever changing itineraries mid trip. One fax back to the fantastic ladies at my local CTO and my itinerary is changed, without the need to reissue a ticket. Simply show my ID at my departing airport and I'm on my way. Don't even need the printed itinerary.

I for one love e-tix, and only get paper tickets under extreme duress when there is no other choice.

Robert Johnson

[This message has been edited by danville 1K (edited 09-17-1999).]