Airline tix: Paper vs Electronic
 

I have paper airline tix for USAir for domestic travel early May. There has been a slight rate decrease. My question is: should I turn in paper tix for electronic (and get $50 refund) or should I forget the refund and keep paper tix. Due to possibility of airline(s) strike(s), are paper tickets more 'valuable' as a passenger? <BR>Thanks to all who reply.

i have traveled both ways, but always try to get the paper tix whenever possible...just more secure, that's for sure.

just trying to help

I travel about once a month. I've been using e-tickets because they are easier. I book online through www.biztravel.com Having them as a fallback if there is a problem is great, but I've had no problems.

You should be ok on US Air. It's the airlines that continually have labor/contract problems you need to watch. If I were flying on American, United or Delta, I would definitely get a paper ticket...

Your question makes it sound like you will only get a $50 fare refund if you agree to take e-tickets? Never heard of that one, although I guess they are claiming paper tickets cost more to process so they won't do it for fare differences? Etickets are a little more trouble if your flight gets cancelled and you need to change planes, that's all; if you have real tickets, I guess you can go directly to another airline's counter; if you have e-tickets, you have to first get them written into paper tickets by USAir and then go to another airline. Or so I've heard, so you save a little time with real tickets. It depends on how much $50 is worth to you vs. that possible increase in time IF such an event occurred? I would rather have the $50 myself, and I'm no pennypincher.

Christina, <BR> <BR>Our airfare has decreased (slightly). To get the lower fare, we must take our paper tickets to a USAir rep (at our local airport). Our paper tickets would be replaced with e-tickets and our credit card would reflect the reduction in price. We have a conference we must attend early <BR>May. While I would prefer to get credit card refund (for the lower fare), I'm concerned about the possibility of airline strike(s). I am under the impression that having a paper ticket vs e-ticket would be preferable IF USAir does strike. Thus, easier to board another carrier. Am attempting to establish if having 'paper' would even make a difference (i.e., a strike).

In the event of a strike you will want to have paper tickets. However, this should not stop you from getting the fare difference. Get the electronic ticket, wait a week or so or whatever, then call USAir and ask that they issue paper tickets. They should mail them to you. A few years back I had a similar situation with Northwest. I had an e-ticket, with a pending strike. NW sent me the paper tickets - since the paper ticket makes it easier to change airlines or flights. (I don't know why it makes it easier, but this seems to be how the airlines function.) <BR> <BR>I also have a trip with NW in May and have a e-ticket. I am waiting until April or so then calling to get a paper ticket 'just in case.' I hope this helps.

Dear Scigirl, <BR> <BR>I'll be happy to tell you why paper tickets are helpful during a strike. Last year we used mileage-plus, e-tickets to get to LA to catch an EXPENSIVE Air Tahiti flight that only flew three days a week. Unfortunately, the day we tried to fly to LA, United cancelled ALL of its flights to California. We tried to get on a Frontier flight in desperation. While Frontier was sympathetic, they could do nothing with our "no-rev" free mileage tickets because they were just e-tickets. The lines at United had literally hunderds of people waiting for help. It was 7:00 am and we had 6 hours to get to LA and catch our 1:00 pm flight to Tahiti. Sounds hopeless - we thought so. By miracle, a new line opened up. The kind United worker took pity on us as she told that there was no way we would make it to LA that day - "But to make you feel better, I will go ahead and issue you a paper ticket. There are NO seats going anywhere near LA but at least you won't have to wait in line again for a paper ticket!" We took our hopeless tickets and ran to Frontier and begged on to the flight that they at first claimed was hopelessly overbooked! Lucky for us, United's cancellations had made it difficult for people in other airports to make it to Denver - We were able to claim the last two seats to LA and our trip was wonderful. Despite this learning experience, we have traveled several times since then on e-tickets - they are just so easy to book and change. I just requested and received two $150 refunds on two Hawaii tickets I had purchased a while ago - and then the fare went down. With e-tickets it was a no hassle deal - Now just as long as we get to go when the time comes. . . . wish us luck!

Scigirl, <BR> <BR>After reading your reply, I phoned USAir and rather than reissue e-tickets, they will print out paper tickets. Many thanks!