Printed copies
Apr 3, 2017 | 10:54 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 677
Printed copies
So everything is electronic these days - virtually all airlines that I have used in the past decade just ask for passport during checkin and if you have already checked in then you get a boarding pass during bag drop anyway and if only carry on there is always the electronic boarding pass, for hotels the same nobody asks for any printout - only passport or ID from which they find the reservation.
Do you travelers still bother printing out all copies of your reservations just in case?
Do you travelers still bother printing out all copies of your reservations just in case?
Apr 3, 2017 | 11:15 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,437
Apr 3, 2017 | 12:41 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NYC
Posts: 434
Yes, I print everything and keep them in the order I'm going to need them. It's easier to pull the next piece of paper than to fumble for a booking e-mail from 3 months ago or remember whether this hotel was on booking.com or hotels.com or the hotel site. I want to have it ready when I approach the counter in case I need it, and if the receptionist needs to see a confirmation, I want to hand over a piece of paper instead of my phone.
Seth
Seth
Apr 3, 2017 | 12:50 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 418
Sometimes people will specifically request a hard copy of an itinerary - be it immigration or airline staff. Usually you can get away with an electronic copy but it's easy enough to print a few pages for all your plans, so why risk it?
That being said, on the average, it's simply a passport and a smile
That being said, on the average, it's simply a passport and a smile
Apr 3, 2017 | 12:55 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA, Mucci!
Posts: 16,586
There are some airports where you have to show a printed copy of your reservation just to enter the airport.
Also, having had my phone die in the middle of more than one trip, I've learned not to rely solely on electronic storage of travel documents.
Also, having had my phone die in the middle of more than one trip, I've learned not to rely solely on electronic storage of travel documents.
Apr 3, 2017 | 1:24 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 20,271
I had a phone brick on me. Lock screen loop. Nothing on the phone was accessible, and was only eventually retrievable (if uploaded to my cloud backup), once I got another device.
I print all the trip-required items I am carrying on the phone. Tickets, bookings, itineraries.
It's a few sheets of paper. I think there's some kind of "reverse Luddism" at work for those friends of mine who say why should they "revert to obsolete outmoded technology."
I print all the trip-required items I am carrying on the phone. Tickets, bookings, itineraries.
It's a few sheets of paper. I think there's some kind of "reverse Luddism" at work for those friends of mine who say why should they "revert to obsolete outmoded technology."
Apr 3, 2017 | 1:33 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LAX/BUR, RDU
Programs: DL SM, AAdvantage, SPG
Posts: 1,364
At the very least, I'll keep a printed copy of an itinerary or reservation, if "proof of onward travel is required."
Otherwise, I only print out reservations for transportation (ferry, plane, train) because those carry the biggest risk if there is a screw-up with the validity of my reservation.
Otherwise, I only print out reservations for transportation (ferry, plane, train) because those carry the biggest risk if there is a screw-up with the validity of my reservation.
Apr 3, 2017 | 3:49 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: PBI/MIA
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum Pro, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Gold, Skymiles, Mileage Plus
Posts: 402
Typical stays in the U.S., no. I pretty much always stay at Marriotts or Hiltons and have had no issues.
Going to Europe, yes, especially when I'm not staying in a chain place. Never had a problem, but don't want to either.
Going to Europe, yes, especially when I'm not staying in a chain place. Never had a problem, but don't want to either.
Apr 3, 2017 | 6:33 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Programs: AS Plat, UA MM, AA MM, IC Plat, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,167
Easy answer for me: I carry printouts of all my confirmations all the time.
I need to show my printed confirmations less than 5 percent of the time, but I can never predict which 5 percent, so everything gets printed. I'm definitely in the "better safe than sorry" camp.
I need to show my printed confirmations less than 5 percent of the time, but I can never predict which 5 percent, so everything gets printed. I'm definitely in the "better safe than sorry" camp.
Apr 4, 2017 | 12:06 am
#13
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: AGH
Posts: 6,798
Strange... seems lot of people carry print outs...
for years (actually ever since my first Smart Phone and cloud storage - which would allow to compensate for a broken/lost/out-of-juice phone) I stopped brining paper printouts for hotel, rental car or flight itineraries.
The only thing I bring is something like the ESTA approval as often enough (even though not required) airline agents want to see it.
Never, not once, in my last 10 years of extensive travel I had trouble with a hotel or rental car agency which have lost/messed up my reservation. So, having a printout would have achieved exact nothing.
for years (actually ever since my first Smart Phone and cloud storage - which would allow to compensate for a broken/lost/out-of-juice phone) I stopped brining paper printouts for hotel, rental car or flight itineraries.
The only thing I bring is something like the ESTA approval as often enough (even though not required) airline agents want to see it.
Never, not once, in my last 10 years of extensive travel I had trouble with a hotel or rental car agency which have lost/messed up my reservation. So, having a printout would have achieved exact nothing.
Apr 4, 2017 | 12:42 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: AGH
Posts: 6,798
Never understood the 'show a itinerary with the fight back' question. Nobody can prevent you from just recooking that flight after entering the country. Also a slip of paper with some flight numbers which can be easily fabricated says exactly nothing as the immigration agent has no easy way of validating the ticket.
and actually I haven't encountered that for a long time. Worst was: 'when do you (intent to) fly back?' And just saying end of month/week/whatever worked, no proof required anywhere.
and actually I haven't encountered that for a long time. Worst was: 'when do you (intent to) fly back?' And just saying end of month/week/whatever worked, no proof required anywhere.