Cash-strapped airline to issue only e-tickets for domestic travel

boston.com ^ | 5/2/2003 | Associated Press

[freepatriot32]

DALLAS (AP) Stiff fees by American Airlines Inc. for passengers using paper tickets are designed to eliminate what has become a costly system in favor of electronic ticketing, officials say.

The cash-strapped airline will charge $50 for a paper ticket starting immediately, up from $25. Officials say the higher fee is designed to ''increase the incentive'' to use e-tickets.

[goldstategop]

When I fly, I go e-ticket. Its cheaper and I don't have the hassle of forgetting I left my paper ticket at home before the flight. Oops! Now that can really ruin your flying day.

[Rodney King]

The problem with paperless ticketing is that you just have to have faith in the moron who booked your flight to have done it properly.

[sinkspur]

All major reservation systems (Sabre, Covea, Worldspan) run on TPF, a transaction-based IBM operating system.

There's no reason why they can't honor each other's e-tickets, and they appear to be doing just that.

Paper tickets are history.

[sinkspur]

The problem with paperless ticketing is that you just have to have faith in the moron who booked your flight to have done it properly.

Do it yourself, on the Internet, and everything will be fine.

Right?

[Rodney King]

Yeah, that's what I do. It's not really a problem for me, but it is for people like my mother who aren't into the internet.

[Rodney King]

By the way, I don't think it's a big deal either way, I was just commenting as to why a lot of people don't want e-tickets.

[Timesink]

By the way, I don't think it's a big deal either way, I was just commenting as to why a lot of people don't want e-tickets.

Two words: Rule 240. Without a paper ticket, you can't be transferred to another airline when your airline screws up. It thus saves the airlines a hell of a lot more than the cost of printing, and screws the customer to the wall.

[goldstategop]

I've always been accomodated. Once I had a flight canceled due to bad weather and they put me on another one at no extra charge.

[Timesink]

240 doesn't apply to weather-related delays.

[goldstategop]

That was at the stop over, not the final destination.

[supercat]

Do it yourself, on the Internet, and everything will be fine. Right?

I booked an ATA flight through (IIRC) travelocity.com and requested an e-ticket. What a got was not just a paper ticket, but a HANDWRITTEN paper ticket. Hadn't seen one of those in YEARS.

[LasVegasMac]

Paper tickets are history.

As it should be. Another step towards the "paperless" business environment.

LVM

[sinkspur]

Without a paper ticket, you can't be transferred to another airline when your airline screws up. It thus saves the airlines a hell of a lot more than the cost of printing, and screws the customer to the wall.

Rule 240 was written before airlines could look into each other's reservations systems. Now that they can (and they CAN), e-tickets are just as good as paper tickets.

[goldstategop]

Hmmm.... I get a virtual receipt from Priceline.com and I print it out and present it at the airport check-in counter with my ID. I am issued boarding passes then and there. Couldn't be simpler.

[sinkspur]

Speaking of ATA, my company has been pushing me to take ATA when I go to corporate in Cincinnati (fly into Dayton). I've avoided it because, frankly, I don't know anything about the level of service, frequent flyer, etc.

Can you give me a thumbnail on ATA?

[supercat]

Can you give me a thumbnail on ATA?

Not really, since I haven't flown them much. I was denied boarding once when I presented myself to the agent 21 minutes before flight time (flight was at 9:10; despite getting lost on the way to the airport, then getting stuck in traffic, and having to navigate Midway's "new improved" parking, I presented myself to the agent at 8:49 per the airport digital clocks; this was well before 9/11 btw). I ended up getting a walk-up fare on Southwest.

Still, the three flights I've had on ATA seemed okay. Nothing exceptional, but other than the missed flight I don't recall any problems.

[Always Right]

Speaking of ATA, my company has been pushing me to take ATA when I go to corporate in Cincinnati (fly into Dayton). I've avoided it because, frankly, I don't know anything about the level of service, frequent flyer, etc.

Well they are an economy airline, so don't expect a meal and there is no first class. Mostly they cater to the vacationer than the business traveler, but they do have newer jets and they are usually clean and well maintained. Frequent flyer program is not like a typical airline in that I don't think you colllect miles. Right now what they have is if you fly 3 flights, you get one free, which is probably better than miles.

[cynicom]

We have too few passengers, we are going bankrupt. Dustup the riders we do have, teach them a lesson.