IATA bids farewell to paper tickets

http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/27082007/325...r-tickets.html

GENEVA (Reuters) - The global airlines body IATA said on Monday it
had placed its last order for paper tickets, clearing the way for air
travel to be based entirely on electronic ticketing from June 1 next
year.

"In just 278 more days, the paper ticket will become a collector's
item," said Giovanni Bisignani, director general of the International
Air Transport Association.

The changeover from paper would not only cut airlines' costs by $9 for
every traveller but would also mean the industry -- criticised by
environmentalists for its part in global warming -- would save 50,000
mature trees a year, he added.

Bisignani did not say whether the $9 in cost savings would or should
be passed on to passengers.

Based in Geneva, IATA represents more than 240 airlines which operate
94 percent of scheduled international flights.

Non-IATA airlines, mainly low-cost carriers like the Irish Ryanair and
the British Easyjet, already have a paper-free ticket system where
travellers are registered in computers and present only an identity
document at check-in.

IATA launched its drive for so-called "e-ticketing" just over three
years ago and now 84 percent of travellers on IATA carriers fly
without paper tickets.

The airlines body says China, one of the fastest-growing markets for
air travel and host to next year's Olympic Games, is heading to be the
first country in the world to operate an entirely paper-free ticketing
system by the end of this year.

Alain Quai schrieb:
http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/27082007/325...r-tickets.html

GENEVA (Reuters) - The global airlines body IATA said on Monday it
had placed its last order for paper tickets, clearing the way for air
travel to be based entirely on electronic ticketing from June 1 next
year.

"In just 278 more days, the paper ticket will become a collector's
item," said Giovanni Bisignani, director general of the International
Air Transport Association.

Does this mean the end of air travel for someone who doesn't have a
credit card and a PC?

T.

In article ,
Tom Peel wrote:


"In just 278 more days, the paper ticket will become a collector's
item," said Giovanni Bisignani, director general of the International
Air Transport Association.

Does this mean the end of air travel for someone who doesn't have a
credit card and a PC?

Travel agent (to make bookings and print the bar code document) and
driver's license or passport (for ID at the airport) are likely to be an
acceptable alternative.

"Tom Peel" wrote in message
...
Alain Quai schrieb:
http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/27082007/325...r-tickets.html

GENEVA (Reuters) - The global airlines body IATA said on Monday it
had placed its last order for paper tickets, clearing the way for air
travel to be based entirely on electronic ticketing from June 1 next
year.

"In just 278 more days, the paper ticket will become a collector's
item," said Giovanni Bisignani, director general of the International
Air Transport Association.

Does this mean the end of air travel for someone who doesn't have a
credit card and a PC?

T.

No. It does not. The "E Ticket" that you print at home has nothing to do
with getting on the plane. I never show my e ticket at check in. It DOES
have some relevance for immigration occasionally if the officer asks you to
prove you will be leaving his country. Then you show the ET as proof.

While airlines are moving to having passengers print their boarding passes
at home they are still providing means to obtain them at the airport.

The credit card issue is more interesting. Given the move to self service
at the airport I fear that some form of plastic will be required to check in
at self service devices but that could be a credit/debit/ATB/frequent flyer
card or machine readable document such as a passport. Some airlines do
provide a keyboard to allow you to type date into their check in devices.
And, as for buying the ticket, travel agencies are not quite dead yet.

Graham Harrison wrote:

at home they are still providing means to obtain them at the airport.

The credit card issue is more interesting. Given the move to self service
at the airport I fear that some form of plastic will be required to check in
at self service devices but that could be a credit/debit/ATB/frequent flyer
card or machine readable document such as a passport. Some airlines do
provide a keyboard to allow you to type date into their check in devices.
And, as for buying the ticket, travel agencies are not quite dead yet.


AA now lets you book online and pay via Western Union.

I don't know if this applies over the phone.

In message Tom Peel
wrote:

Does this mean the end of air travel for someone who doesn't have a
credit card and a PC?

No, why would it? You can buy an e-ticket over the phone, and pay via
Western Union on AA already (and quite possibly others, I've never
tried. But then I have a credit card, printer, and whatever other
goodies I need)

People need to get over the concept that the piece of paper in their
hand has some meaning. It doesn't. It hasn't for a long time now.

--
You can get more with a kind word and a 2x4 than just a kind word.

Tom Peel wrote:

Alain Quai schrieb:

http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/27082007/325...r-tickets.html


GENEVA (Reuters) - The global airlines body IATA said on Monday it
had placed its last order for paper tickets, clearing the way for air
travel to be based entirely on electronic ticketing from June 1 next
year.

"In just 278 more days, the paper ticket will become a collector's
item," said Giovanni Bisignani, director general of the International
Air Transport Association.

Does this mean the end of air travel for someone who doesn't have a
credit card and a PC?

T.

Why? You can book etickets by phone, at the airport, and through TA's.

"Magda" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 27 Aug 2007 20:56:56 +0200, in rec.travel.europe, Tom Peel

arranged some electrons, so they looked like this:

... Alain Quai schrieb:
[...]
... Does this mean the end of air travel for someone who doesn't have a
... credit card and a PC?
[...]

You'll need a printer, too.

Might be wise, but not necessarily essential. I've travelled a few times
with a passport containing a post-it note bearing an e-ticket booking
reference copied from the PC screen.

Martin.

--
11(F) Group Ops room - the Battle of Britain Bunker
URL: http://www.sylvesternet.freeserve.co.uk/11gpops/
I do not intend to imply that any views expressed above represent the policy
of any organisation, nor do I warrant any information to be accurate.

On Mon, 27 Aug 2007 22:41:25 +0100, "Martin Sylvester"
wrote:


Might be wise, but not necessarily essential. I've travelled a few times
with a passport containing a post-it note bearing an e-ticket booking
reference copied from the PC screen.

Martin.

There have been a number of times when I've printed it out and then
someone at the airport has ignored it and reprinted it.

On Aug 27, 6:23 pm, Brian wrote:
On Mon, 27 Aug 2007 22:41:25 +0100, "Martin Sylvester"

wrote:
Might be wise, but not necessarily essential. I've travelled a few times
with a passport containing a post-it note bearing an e-ticket booking
reference copied from the PC screen.

Martin.

There have been a number of times when I've printed it out and then
someone at the airport has ignored it and reprinted it.

I have been without a printer for some years and previously I would
email my ticket to a friend to have it printed out for me. But for
the last several years, I just go to the airport, swipe my credit card
in the kiosk machine and it prints out my boarding pass. Never had to
show anything like an e-ticket I had printed out to anyone.