Natalia

I just purchased my ticket from LAX to Rome connecting in Munich and learned that I have been issued e tickets. Do I have to learn how to activate these tickets in a machine while I am between flights?

Help!

rjw_lgb_ca

I thought that "e-ticket" simply meant that you weren't issued flight coupons; the printout of your itinerary as e-mailed to you by the airline is sufficient to get you boarding passes at the ticket counter (with proper photo ID such as a passport and often the credit card used to purchase the ticket) for each leg of your trip. At least that's how it works for American Airlines. What do you understand "e-ticket" to mean?

Natalia

A friend flew the same route with e tickets last year and said she had to
insert them into machines at the airport in order to get boarding passes. I will be short on time between flights and I am worried that I will miss the connecting flight if I had to fool with that.
I think e tickets are like you said, but have to be exchanged to boarding passes. I don't know.

mjz

Natalia - Assuming you're flying the same airline or even a codeshare from LAX to MUC and MUC to FCO, you won't have to deal with your concern. When you arrive at LAX simply request assistance from an agent if you don't want to deal with electronic check in. Show them your itinerary and passport and they will check you through all the way to FCO. If you're flying on different (non codeshare, non affiliated) airlines, then it's a different story. Goodluck!

Natalia

Whew, thanks, I was having eticket stress.
Yes, it is Luft. all the way, so I can just show my voucher and passport at checkin like a normal ticket and then not have to worry when in Munich?
Thanks! (sorry I am so ignorant on this)

rjw_lgb_ca

mjz correctly describes what will happen at LAX (and, for that matter, in Rome on your return trip): Each time, simply get into the checkin line and have the agent check you through to the final destination with the e-ticket confirmation. The luggage gets checked through, and you'll get two boarding passes, one for each leg. It saves the airline money to not issue (and mail to you) a paper flight coupon.

NOTE: If Lufthansa makes any changes to your itinerary, you still use the original e-ticket confirmation. However, it's a good idea to check with them a week before you go to make sure flight numbers/times haven't changed.

Natalia

Thanks, what a relief! I have heard so much about Munich Terminal 2 being such a mad house, that if I had to do too many steps I might miss the flight.

I am booked on a AIRBUS INDUSTRIE - what the heck is that? I called Luft. and was told it was partly a cargo plane, what the......?

mrwunrfl

Natalia, that is probably an Airbus A340-300 passenger plane (that is what the LAX to MUC Lufthansa flight 453 uses on the 26th, anyway). Airbus Industries is the European airliner manufacturing consortium.

Natalia

Thanks to all for sharing your knowledge, now I can relax....

molker

The new Lufthansa Terminal in Munich is very user friendly and makes transfer very easy.
I have been on international flights on several occasions.
Just follow the signs.
All flights fromthe USA will arrive on the top floor(H)
You deplane and look for a passenger agent or screen to confirm your gate for the connecting flight. This gate number may already be on your boarding pass, but it is still good to check.
Proceed to the Passport Control that is in the central area.Signs again guide you.
Then proceed down to the next level(G) where your gate for the flight to Rome will board.
The usual transfer time should only take 20 minutes depending on Gate location.
If you are short on time look for the "Fast Track" gate at passport control to shortenyour wait.

isplumm

Hi ....

I think you missing the point here ... the whole point of an e-ticket is that you DON't have to queue !!

When you get LAX, find the self-service ticket machine (for your airline), put your credit card in (the one you booked ticket with), it should have your booking reference (the e-ticket reference no), if not it will ask you for it, it will then ask you which seats you want & then book you all the way to Rome. It will tell you to take your luggage to the fast bag drop.

Over the last six months I have been a regular flyer with BA, flying between London & Europe. I have used this on a number of occassions & it is very easy. No queues, no fuss. Normally there is a member of the airline hanging around the self service desk.

Of course this all depends on whether your airline has a self service checkin desk at LAX. You could ring them & ask. I also assuming that you are able to book more than 1 leg of your flight via a self service desk

Hope that helps.

Mark

rjw_lgb_ca

Actually, the point of an e-ticket is to save the AIRLINE money-- and to expedite the delivery of the ticket. By not having to put a physical ticket and receipt in the mail, the airline saves money on paper and postage. The customer will get the e-ticket in their e-mail within 24 hours, a considerable savings in time.

The self-service kiosks are indeed time savers, but their availability varies from airline to airline. And they were developed subsequent to e-tickets.