I saw a couple of posts from folks who could not get the Italian airport staff to accept e-tickets. Those folks were required to "re-buy" their tickets in order to fly! What a horror story.

Does anyone have further info to offer? Is it one or two certain airlines? Is it only when the airline issuing the e-ticket uses another airline for the Italian out-bound flight?

We leave a week from tomorrow & would like to avoid the problem, if possible - obviously! I know we can buy a paper ticket (for $50 each!), but hate to do so, if not necessary.

We are flying U.S. Air. I called them. They said we will only be on U.S. Air flights, no other airline. We will check in at the Rome airport at the U.S. Air counter - same company, same rules - no problem (we hope!).

Would like some feedback, please.

Thanks, Julie

Hi Julie,
I've flown on US Airways on e-tickets a couple of times with no problems. The most recent time was last month. Just make sure you print everything and bring it with you neatly folded. I kept mine in a zip-loc bag in my purse. I had no problems, and of course the airline issued me the standard boarding pass when I presented the e-ticket print-out both here and at Fiumincino.

Buon Viaggio,
BC

This happened to me, but it was my own stupid fault. 'Some' airlines in Italy don't actually issue e-tickets, still preferring the paper ticket through the post option. I flew with Air One, which is part of Lufthanza, and this is how it happened to me.

Upon booking online, I was sent an email confirmation of the booking. Being so used to using e-tickets, I took this to be my ticket, failing to read the small print about a paper ticket being in the post.

In the meantime, an envelope arrived in the post one day whilst I was out, and my partner kindly tucked it away in that notorious 'safe place' we all have.

So here I am, the organiser, completely oblivious to the fact that we have been sent, or can even expect to receive, a paper ticket.

Sure enough, we had to rebuy our tickets at the airport. The flight was full, but happily there were 2 seats suddenly available. Grrrr.

However, many airlines flying into and out of Italy DO use e-tickets (Ryanair for one, who I fly with regularly). The lesson here is just make sure you read the small print!

Julie, I fly once a month to Europe and within Europe and I have never had the problem. Most times I don't even have the printed e-ticket with me - I just present my passport and tell them the flight number. Where did you read about this problem?

However, there ARE some airlines that still use paper tickets; for example, I usually have to have a paper ticket for SAS flights, so if I book connecting fligts, my Air Canada ticket will be e-tickets and the SAS paper.

But, if you are only flying with US air, then I can't forsee any problem at all.

The problem seems to occur when you are flying on more than one airline for different legs of the trip that are not airline partners. Flying the same airline or its codeshares for more than one leg should not be a problem with an eticket.

Julie,

I just flew from Rome to Philadelphia with US Airways a little over a week ago on an e-ticket and had no trouble at all. You should be fine.

Don't pack any liquids in your carry on though. They asked me about what was in my carry on when entering the security area, then it went through the x-ray process, then they hand searched my bag at the gate. I did have liquid medication, but I had the prescription so I got through OK, but they really looked at it.

As far as the e-ticket, no problem on US Airways.

It sounds like there isn't a problem with them not accepting etickets but them not accepting "no" tickets (or throwing away your paper ticket when it is mailed).

I am flying US Air from Philly to Milan, and then Alitalia from Milan to Naples next month. I was required to pay $20 for paper tickets. I purchased my tickets at Orbitz.com, they had the best price. I am also flying Air One from Naples to Palermo, they issued me only e-tickets, no mention of paper tickets at all, no paper tickets have arrived and I've already seen the charge on my credit card statement. Hope we are ok??!!

scully, regarding your RX. were you required to present a written, dr. signed prescription for your liquid RX or was the pharmacy sticker on the bottle adequate?

Thanks to everyone for the great replies. Now I feel safe that our e tickets will be OK.

Julie

Julie,

The sticker was adequate. Actually, the sticker is on the box that the bottles come in so I had to take the box with the sticker and put the bottle in it.

When I got to Philadelphia for my connecting flight, I had to have the medication taken out of my carry on before I went through security or they said they would confiscate it. They were really strict in Philadelphia, but they looked at it, wrote something on my boarding pass and I got through ok.