E-tickets

E-tickets or electronic tickets have almost completely replaced the old-fashioned paper tickets the airlines once issued.

Today you'll receive a confirmation number when making your reservation; you'll also receive a flight itinerary via email, fax, or mail. Bring this itinerary (and your confirmation number) along with either your proof of identity for a domestic flight (a driver's license or passport) or passport for an international flight (for some countries, you can just bring proof of citizenship.)

When you check in, you'll then receive boarding passes for that day's flights (including connections if you are making more than one flight on the airline.) You won't receive tickets or boarding passes for your return flight home; you'll get those when you check in the day of your return.

The good thing about e-tickets: you don't have to worry about losing them. Paper tickets carry a penalty if they are lost and must be replaced.

Related terms: Passports