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Why did they send me paper tickets?

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Old May 21st, 2005, 07:32 PM
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Why did they send me paper tickets?

I just purchased my airfares ticket for Europe through Northwest airlines last week, and I received paper tickets in the mail today! I haven't used paper tickets in ages so I was a bit surprise simply because I dont like the burden of having to carry these two pieces of paper around ... anyone has any experience on this?
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Old May 21st, 2005, 07:37 PM
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Have you used etickets domestically AND for international travel? I think paper tickets are required now for international travel.

Do me a favor. Look at the ticket and see if it says anything about passport expiration. If so, what country are you flying in to?

It's not a random question. It stems from a thread from this week. Thanks!
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Old May 21st, 2005, 07:43 PM
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I did receive paper tickets when I travelled to Asia in Dec 2003. But I went to Europe last summer, and I don't remember carrying a paper ticket. I remember standing at the lobby in Schipol Airport only with my passport on my hand. This was just a question out of curiousity.
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Old May 21st, 2005, 07:43 PM
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How odd. I flew NWA on my last trip, six legs of flying. I actually wanted paper tickets, and they told me it would cost $50 per leg to issue paper. Needless to say, the printed out email was plenty of paper for me. I hope they're not going to charge you like that.
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Old May 21st, 2005, 07:45 PM
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I actually have only travelled with e-tickets in all of my domestic flights including my most recent trip to NYC and Jamaica (I guess this one is international). I usually just arrive at the airport, drop off my luggage and print a boarding pass.
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Old May 21st, 2005, 07:47 PM
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We are traveling on American Airlines to Europe this summer and were also issued a book (literally) of paper tickets. We were not given the option of getting etickets.
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Old May 21st, 2005, 07:49 PM
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Sometimes if your trip involves different carriers, it may not be possible for Northwest to issue an e-ticket.
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Old May 21st, 2005, 07:51 PM
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Just traveled to Italy connecting through Germany on a ticket issued by USAirways, flying on Lufthansa (outbound) and United (return). Had paper tickets and was not offered the ticketless option.
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Old May 21st, 2005, 07:58 PM
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Well I only have 2 connections each way, so I guess I didn't see a reason why they needed to issue me paper tickets. But I also wasnt given the e-tickets option.
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Old May 21st, 2005, 08:00 PM
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When I was flying to St. Lucia via Jamaica, Jamaica required documentation (tickets) of flights in and out of the country.

That leads me to believe that some countries have similar requirements.

H2babe, does the ticket say anything about travel needs to complete with x days of passport expiration?
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Old May 21st, 2005, 08:03 PM
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Recently I was given paper tickets because one leg of the flights was on Lufthansa. I was told they do not have etickets.
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Old May 21st, 2005, 08:07 PM
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My ticket is at home, and I am at work right now So I will find out about the passport expiration date that you asked me about.

I booked my trip to Jamaica through Appletour, because I went for a friend's wedding, and she had everyone book from the same agency. This was probably why I didnt have any paper tickets, I just had a coupon from the tour company that states that I had a reservation for the whole package (airfares, all inclusive resort, and airport transfer).
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Old May 21st, 2005, 08:08 PM
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h2babe, Northwest Airlines flights that are on Northwest metal are numbered 1-1999. Any flight numbers that don't fall between those numbers involve other carriers. E-tickets would be issued if it was just a matter of Northwest Airlink flights such as those operated by Mesaba or Pinnacle, but sometimes even with KLM segments I've seen paper tickets.
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Old May 21st, 2005, 08:14 PM
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Flyboy, I just checked my flight information, and I will be flying on KLM cityhopper from Amsterdam to Berlin (my destination), and on MALEV Hungarian Airlines from Budapest (my final destination) to Amsterdam on my way back. This is probably why I didnt get an eticket option.
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Old May 21st, 2005, 08:15 PM
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Exactly.
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Old May 21st, 2005, 09:07 PM
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You should be happy you have paper tickets. Here's a short tale: Friends came to Paris recently. John, a World War II veteran, fell in his rental apartment and fractured a hip. After surgery, he was to be flown home. Question: Could his wife take their passsports, tickets and baggage, and check in without John needing to wheel-chaired to the check-in counter. Answer from Air France: No, he had to be present at the counter because they had electronic tickets! If they had been paper, there would have been no problem.
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Old May 21st, 2005, 09:59 PM
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Prior to this upcoming trip I've always received paper tickets. This time I have an e-ticket. I don't really feel like I'm going to Paris unless I have them in hand!
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Old May 21st, 2005, 11:05 PM
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Starville, my ticket doesn't say anything about my travel that needs to complete with x days of passport expiration. It is non refundable though. But, why would I want it to be refundable anyways?
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Old May 22nd, 2005, 01:40 AM
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"But, why would I want it to be refundable anyways?"....in case your plans had to change and you couldn't go, that's why!

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Old May 22nd, 2005, 04:24 AM
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Thanks for checking, h2babe. We had a post earlier about traveling with a passport that was about to expire and in the varied responses one poster had a warning about expired passport printed right on the tickt. I didn't remember that from my ticket last year. I guess there are so many varibles - airline, country, etc. - there are no absolutes.

Have a wonderful trip!
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