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When did airlines stop paper tickets?

In 2008, IATA announced 100% of ticketing was electronic, which meant that airlines no longer needed to produce physical tickets. Starting in the late 1990s, passengers could check themselves in online and print out a boarding pass at home.



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Although not every airline worldwide is subject to IATA's rules, the vast majority are, and paper tickets are now virtually obsolete.

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Electronic ticketing paves the way for online check-in The first e-ticket was issued in 1994, and by 1997 IATA had adopted global standards for e-ticketing. In 2008, IATA announced 100% of ticketing was electronic, which meant that airlines no longer needed to produce physical tickets.

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Boarding passes are always required to board a flight. Often, airlines accept either paper or electronic boarding passes (on phone or tablet).

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Traditional travel companies, such as airlines or travel agencies, can assist travelers with obtaining e-tickets. But improving Internet technology also allows passengers to book their flights on their own.

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After purchasing your ticket online, download the file and print your ticket. Passengers can find their e-ticket files in the email sent to them. For domestic flights, passengers do not have to show their e-tickets at the security checkpoints.

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There was no Internet to buy tickets If you wanted to book a flight, you either had to call the airline, go to their office, or call a travel agent.

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In the olden days you would book your air travel through a travel agent. There was no online purchase, or advance seat assignment. You got a piece of paper which was your “ticket”. Check in at the airport was far more important than it is today - because then, and only then are you assigned your seats.

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You can also go to the airline's website and print out from there. You will need to enter the last name of the passenger traveling and confirmation number. The confirmation number for an airline is a 6 character code comprising of letters and numbers.

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You can also choose to have a link to your boarding pass emailed to your mobile device. Just display your boarding pass barcode on the screen of your device at the security checkpoint and when boarding your flight, and you're on your way. Check-in is available starting 24 hours before your scheduled departure.

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In some cases, you'll have to print out your eTicket to show to the staff at check-in (along with, of course, your passport and visa, if required). You may not need to show these to anyone if you check in with a self-service check-in kiosk. You'll also be able to check in online if that makes it easier for you.

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Can I use my mobile boarding pass to go through the security checkpoint and board my flight? Yes, simply show your mobile boarding pass on a mobile phone, iPad, or Apple Watch and a valid form of identification to the TSA Agent at security to proceed.

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E-ticketing charges extra for the online services. Your personal information is shared on the website and is vulnerable in a scenario of a data breach in that website or company.

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A printed boarding pass is also a good place for an agent to stick your checked bag receipt — if you're using a mobile pass, you'll have to hang onto the receipt separately. There's nothing wrong with a mobile boarding pass, of course, and there are times when it might be more practical to use them.

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