Starting Apr1 KLM will offer the possibility of e-tickets.

At the moment they can only be booked via klm.nl and are only possible between AMS and 40 destinations.

They announce that e-ticketing will be opened step by step to more destinations.

Restrictions:
- no gate- or lounge checkin with e-tickets
- no free trainticket included

I think this is a (very late) step in the right direction. I hope this will soon be good also for award-tix!

As far as I understand you need a printout of the booking number and an ID.

No mentioning of booking the e-ticket onto you FD card...

I used Easyjet to AMS rather than KLMuk this weekend and with them you don't even need your print out or booking number - you just show your passport and they find you on the list.

Couldn't have been simpler.

Stephen

Well, not quite :

"KLM TO PHASE IN ELECTRONIC TICKETS

AMSTELVEEN, March 25, 2002 - KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will begin phasing in electronic tickets (e.tickets) on April 3, 2002. Travelers will initially be able to purchase e.tickets for flights from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to 37 destinations served by KLM and partners. E.tickets will be available via the normal booking channels, including travel agents, KLM ticket offices, KLM Reservations, and the KLM website www.klm.nl. E.tickets will not be available for special offers via the KLM website until later this year. KLM will gradually extend its range of e-ticket destinations, as well as the number of countries where KLM customers can purchase e.tickets. If all goes according to plan, e.tickets will be available for flights to all destinations on the KLM-Northwest Airlines network by the end of 2003. The introduction of e.tickets was preceded by a successful pilot project involving corporate clients such as Philips, and the travel agency Rosenbluth International.

Quicker and easier

Passengers traveling on e.tickets do not receive a paper ticket. Proof of reservation is not required, because the traveler�s personal and flight data are electronically stored in KLM�s reservations system. At check-in, e.ticket passengers simply present their passport to the desk employee, who then prints a boarding pass at the press of a button. Passengers who are able to present their ticket number will pass through check-in even more quickly. A further advantage of e.tickets is that they cannot be lost or stolen. If they wish, passengers can request a printout of their itinerary and ticket data when booking their flight or at the check-in desk, KLM ticket office, or e.service centers at the airport.

E.ticket passengers traveling with carry-on baggage only can use KLM�s e.service centers for self-service check in (e.check-in). Naturally, e.ticket passengers are subject to the same security measures as passengers with paper tickets and must present proper documentation at passport control.

Free travel with Dutch train operator NS (for Dutch market only)

Since October 1, 2000, passengers flying with KLM and partner airlines can travel to and from their flight at Amsterdam Schiphol airport on trains operated by NS free of charge, provided they can show a paper KLM ticket. This is of course impossible for passengers traveling with an e.ticket. KLM and NS have meanwhile found a solution for this problem in the form of a special voucher, due to be introduced before this summer. Meanwhile, paper tickets will continue to be required for free train travel to and from Schiphol, as will all other air-rail services offered by KLM.

In the United States, around 65% percent of all tickets sold are e.tickets. In Europe, the percentage of e.tickets is also on the increase. Some 60% of all European passengers are expected to travel on an e-ticket in three years� time."

( http://about.klm.com/news/newsitems/...0325163600.asp )

johan