paper vs. e-ticket?
 

Hi, im a noobie to this site but your guys all seem to know your stuff.

Basically, i have just booked a LONE5 with BA for the following itn: -

LHR - CDG (BA) // CDG - DXB (RJ) // DXB - BOM (CX) // BOM - DEL (LAND SEC) // DEL - NRT (JL for JO) // NRT - PEK (JAL) // PEK - SIN (LAND SEC) // SIN - PER (QF) // PER - CNS (QF) // CNS - MEL (LAND SEC) // MEL - AKL (QF) // AKL - SCL (QF) // SCL - GRU (LA) // GRU - LIM (LP) // LIM - MIA (LP) // MIA - BOS (AA) // BOS - YYR (LAND SEC) // YYR - LHR (BA)

I have aprroximated my dates and times for all the flight excluding the flights mia - bos and yyr - lhr as flight data not avail. Above comes to 19 sectors i think!

On phoning i was told all sectors were e-ticketable. But one week later when taxes confimed i am told i am now to recieve a paper ticket :td:

Honestly i dont want a paper ticket, so is their any way i can amend my booking so that i can get one? I am willing to knock sectors off if this helps. But if ido what extra costs can i expect?

Or do you think a paper one would be better, i just thought a e-ticket would be easier to get changed etc,and if bags stolent etc.


Sorry last thing am i best to be putting aprox dtes on my tickets or would i be best to get them all open aprat from first couple?

Any advice would be most welcome.

Thanks in advance.

You need to get rid of 2 segments to get an eticket. In most cases etickets are only possible for itineraries with less than 17 segments; you currently have 18 segments.

Also, some airline systems may experience difficulty trying to create etickets for itineraries with open dated segments.

I'm not sure about the rest of your questions but I'm sure one of the gurus will come along to answer them in a sec.

Welcome to FT. :)

Two comments for thought:
1. Yes, etickets may offer more convenience for changes, but sacrificing segments is a big price to pay. If you are reasonably close to a ticketing facility, why such an aversion to paper? Occassionaly the alliance member's computer systems don't talk to each other all that well. More than once I have shown up at the airport to check in with my record nowhere to be found. Having the paper ticket basically saved me, as the reaction was, "if you have a valid ticket, we have to let you on the flite"
2. Open dates work well for many and give greatest flexibility. However there are drawbacks a) if open you will not be protected if routings or schedules change. This may mean reconfiguring the ticket if schedule changes are extreme. If the segment is confirmed, the airline will get you there without the necessity to use additional segments, etc. b) Importantly, if open the appropriate fare bucket must be available for the dates/times you want to fly. Often not a problem, but capacity controls on these flites can be tight on popular routes in season. Thus, some lead time and flexibility would be required, especially if wanting to confirm shortly before departure. Thus, my inclination is to start with something reasonable and confirmed and then change dates as necessary. Obviously others may be more comfortable with the risk and uncertainity inherent in a open ticket.

Just some points to consider. Obviously both choices are possible and common.

Sounds like a great trip.

Rens

Interesting trip!

A couple of questions on the land segments -

1. BOS - YYR (LAND SEC) // YYR - LHR (BA). YYR is Goose Bay, Newfoundland - does BA fly from there? If it's really YVR (Vancouver), a long train trip cross-Canada?

2. CNS - MEL (LAND SEC) - a fairly long drive (1,400 miles as the crow flies, 1,800+ miles if you stick to the coast). Are you planning on driving, taking a train? Depends on where you want to go, what you want to see in between but I'd be inclined to fly at least part of it.

On the paper vs. e-ticket question, you can always e-ticket it with 16 segments and then pay the $125 fee to 'change' the ticket later and add 4 more segments (up to the 20 max). Date and time changes are free but changing the routing - which would include adding segments - incurs the fee each time you make changes. Personally, I would always go for the e-ticket. Making changes to a paper ticket - particularly routing changes - is exponentially more difficult. With an e-ticket, it's just a phone call, with a paper ticket, you've got to go somewhere and find a ticket desk that will physically re-issue the ticket (which takes time). Although there's something nice about having a physical ticket in hand (Who? Sorry, we don't have a reservation in that name...) I would take an e-ticket every time.

I completely agree with the above post... I have taken 8 RTW within the past year and paper tickets are a true pain to deal with. I have had to drive to LAX every time I wanted to change. Cant wait for the eticket next month!

Thanks for all this info & excellent advice :D

It would appear most would advise to try get an e-ticket and pay the $125 to add sections later. But i take RENS note about having something physical to prove u have a flight. However, it is just all the running around i might have to do if i want to change it, not to mention if i lose it, this is my only true aversion to the paper ticket.

I will pop into the BA travel agent get them to knock off a couple sectors, and will bring some dates forward to remove open sectors and hopefully this will allow it to be an e-ticket. Will let you know the outcome.

On one point do any of the carriers i am thinking of using possibly stop this from being a e-ticket?
BA, RJ, CX, JL for JO, JAL, QF, LA, LP, AA

Thanks

Oops typo, it was supposed to be YYZ (Toronto). Actually going to be doing a 12k road trip across USA up to alaska then back east over to Novia scotia then fly back via toronto. Doubt we will make the last flight with in the 12 months! And all depends on how much money we have by that point.

To be honest haven't really thought how we would travel this route, think i still have one free flight so might use one flight but will def going to Brisbane to see relatives.

Now that i think about this itn has one hell of a lot of land sectors to cover, i'd better buy myself one amazing pair of walking boots and a big pillow for my butt.

thanks for the heads up and ticketing advice tt7

Before you do that make sure BA cannot issue a 20 segment eTicket. AA most definitely can't but BA? AFAIK they can.

Will do that, that would be ideal if they could. As for AA by the time i use them i will only have a couple sectors left.

Cheers Viajero

On one point do any of the carriers i am thinking of using possibly stop this from being a e-ticket?
BA, RJ, CX, JL for JO, JAL, QF, LA, LP, AA

Thanks

The person I know at Amadeus insists that all Amadeus carriers are able to create 20 segment etickets but thus far, apart from your BA MAD example, I've not heard of anyone managing a >16 segment eticket with QF or BA.

Didn't I see something in the press recently about paper tix being eliminated completely within a year?

Just booked a AONE4 with 16 segments... To get an e ticket from the AA RTW desk you cannot have any open segments. All segments must have a date and flight number. However it is SO much more convenient for all the inevitable changes that I will have to make. Incidentally taxes were only 498.00 USD for the entire journey... starting at JFK.....