Drawbacks of e-tickets?
 

My cousin needs to book a flight from New York to Chicago or Milwaukee at the end of the month. The best fare is with Southwest, but it's only valid using 'ticketless travel' (e-ticket). I've heard that with an e-ticket it is harder to get rebooked if your plans change or if your flight is canceled. Is this true? Does anyone know the skinny on these electronic tickets?

In the case you cited, if it were me I would probably go with the lower fare and the electronic ticket. Southwest has an extremely good track record of treating their customers well, and if his flight is cancelled or delayed and they do put him on another carrier, I think that the worst that could happen would be that he would spend a few minutes in line waiting for a paper ticket. Just my 2 cents worth.



[This message has been edited by dogcanyon (edited 09-17-2001).]

I hate E-tickets on most any other carrier, but on Southwest it doesn't help you in the slightest to have a paper ticket.

Southwest does not have a ticketing agreement with any other airline. If you encounter delays, canceled flights, etc., Southwest's only obligation to you is to reroute you on one of their own flights, not on anyone else's.

I wouldn't be concerned about this limitation though. Southwest is dependable and was the first back in the air with almost a full schedule since the attacks.

Many like the e-ticket for similar reasons. If any changes are needed, Physically being at the counter/airport is not required (actual ticket exchange).

For changes to the same carrier
1-800 number, or any "quicker" way than standing in line with, possiblly many others, is not a necessity. Or standing in line, while on hold to see which is quicker.

We REALLY like e-tickets.

Fare drops, Cancellations etc..
And just show up at the airport. Trouble free (hopefully).

As posted before, the big disadvantage to e-tickets is that your stuck with the original carrier (and their line-ups). This is a problem during strikes and other irregular operations. Fare restrictions aside, it is possible to take a ticket from one carrier and use it on another (without endorsement).

Another disadvantage is in regards to international travel. Some countries/INS inspectors are skeptical that an e-ticket proves your intention to leave the country. This problem is decreasing over the last two years, however.