Buying Airline Tickets Online

MikeyFingers · #1 08-08-2010, 11:37 PM

I have a very very stupid question here. I bought a plane ticket last week. This was the first time I bought an airline ticket online by myself (I'm a big kid now!

) and I'm just trying to make sure I understand the whole procedure.
I checked my online bank statement, so I know I was charged for the ticket. That's fine. But (and here's the dumb question), when/how do I get the ticket itself? I received my itinerary in an email, and...now what? Do I just bring that to the airport check-in desk? They give me the boarding pass when I get there, right?
Do I need anything else?

sloasdaylight · #2 08-08-2010, 11:43 PM

You should have gotten a confirmation email from whoever you bought the tickets from with instructions on how to get your boarding pass. For me, I had to prove my ID to some one at the boarding desk, I didn't even need to bring my email or receipt or whatever, but it's a good idea to do so.

MJ5150 · #3 08-08-2010, 11:54 PM

Go to the airline website, and enter the confirmation number. That will pull up your itinerary. I print my boarding passes at home, but you can also get them at the airports at the ticketing counter. Some airports are now letting you use the electronic boarding pass you can send to your smart phone. I know Denver does, and that rocks.

Bring a valid photo ID and a credit card.

-Mike

Munjibunga · #4 08-09-2010, 12:50 AM

You don't even need an e-ticket. Just show your ID at the check-in desk, and they'll print out your boarding pass. Southwest lets you print your boarding passes at home by entering your confirmation code any time within 24 hours of the flight.

tplyons · #5 08-09-2010, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Go to the airline website, and enter the confirmation number. That will pull up your itinerary. I print my boarding passes at home, but you can also get them at the airports at the ticketing counter. Some airports are now letting you use the electronic boarding pass you can send to your smart phone. I know Denver does, and that rocks.

Bring a valid photo ID and a credit card.

-Mike

This... I only travel for work these days but our travel agent does the booking, I have to do the rest.

I haven't tried the smartphone boarding pass though, I didn't hear about it until my return flight last week.

6jase5 · #6 08-09-2010, 04:50 PM

If you have a seat assignment, you only need your I.D. at the terminal, but if it's Southwest be sure to check in at the 24 prior mark to get a better boarding pass number (A group 1-60, B 1-60, C (middle seats usually).

I always use my confirmation code in the website and print my own boarding pass. If you aren't checking luggage, you can bypass the long checkin/kiosk lines and go directly to security. Your printed boarding pass from home gets you on the plane.

bmc · #7 08-09-2010, 08:09 PM

Paper tickets left the airline industry in 2008. All airlines enable you to purchase online, print your ticket and check in online. It's always good to print up your emailed ticket and bring it to the airport with you in case something goes sideways, which of course never happens with airlines.

Airports also have common use self serf modules at airports for check in. You can either scan your passport, insert the credit card you purchased a ticket with, or insert your frequent flyer card for ID.

JimB52 · #8 08-09-2010, 08:22 PM

Pick your seat now if you can, or you'll be stuck in the middle for sure. Also, print out your boarding pass 24 hours before the flight.

CrashClint · #9 08-09-2010, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

You don't even need an e-ticket. Just show your ID at the check-in desk, and they'll print out your boarding pass. Southwest lets you print your boarding passes at home by entering your confirmation code any time within 24 hours of the flight.

I fly Southwest quite a bit and it is this easy.

bmc · #10 08-09-2010, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeyFingers

I have a very very stupid question here. I bought a plane ticket last week. This was the first time I bought an airline ticket online by myself (I'm a big kid now!

) and I'm just trying to make sure I understand the whole procedure.
I checked my online bank statement, so I know I was charged for the ticket. That's fine. But (and here's the dumb question), when/how do I get the ticket itself? I received my itinerary in an email, and...now what? Do I just bring that to the airport check-in desk? They give me the boarding pass when I get there, right?
Do I need anything else?

There'll be two codes on your email. One is a record locator, which is six digit alpha numeric code and the other is your ticket number. The record locator will enable the agent to pull up your file immediately. It doesn't hurt to have a print out of the email with you. You must bring valid ID.

As for online check in, you can only do it 24 hours prior to departure. If you go that route, you will need to print your boarding pass to bring to the airport. Some airlines will send it to your cell phone with a highly scrambled bar code that you wave under a reader at the airport. Not sure if that exists in the states or not. The technology has been around for 5-6 years, although not sure of the adoption rate.