The sight of travelers frantically searching for their tickets has become rare at airports in recent years. That’s because more people are relying on electronic tickets, or e-tickets, when they fly.
E-ticket is now the main method of issuing tickets for the vast majority of airlines. It’s a secure form of ticketing that makes travel plans less cumbersome and more efficient for the traveler. The travel data is all stored electronically in the Global Distribution System (GDS) or the airlines reservation system. Passengers can, at any time, print their e-ticket receipt from the airlines web site. In addition, a passenger with an e-ticket can check in faster by just producing the e-ticket print out and an appropriate ID.
E-tickets issued through the E Gov Travel System are charged to the traveler’s individual government credit card (IBA), or the agency’s centrally billed account (CBA.) This data is stored in the E Gov Travel System thus eliminating the need for travelers to give the Travel Management Center (TMC) their payment information every time they travel.
Travelers may find it easier to make changes to their travel itinerary using an e-ticket, since the TMC only needs to update their database with the requested changes rather than incur the expense of issuing a new paper ticket. Dealing with e-tickets is much less costly which makes it possible for airlines to offer more competitive fares to passengers. The tickets also are booked and processed in a more timely way, saving labor hours and cutting down on traveler frustration.
As travelers navigate through the E Gov Travel System selecting air, hotel, and rental car reservations they are creating a Passenger Name Record (PNR.) Once the traveler electronically signs the travel authorization, this information is submitted to the TMC where the information is confirmed and an electronic itinerary is issued to the traveler via email. Once the tickets are purchased the traveler receives a second email from the TMC containing the E-ticket receipt or invoice. Travelers can print this invoice and take it with them to the airport for check-in. However, if a traveler would forget to take their e-ticket invoice, their e-ticket information is safely stored in the reservation system and can be accessed by the traveler’s last name or the PNR locator.
New technology allows airlines and TMC’s to track down passengers to inform them of itinerary adjustments, cancellations and other last-minute changes. E-ticket passengers can receive everything from gate assignments to cancellation or delays through e-mail and text messaging sent to their home or business computers or to their cell phones and Blackberrys.
To sum things up, e-tickets are convenient, cost efficient, and safer to use than paper tickets for government travelers, TMC’s, and the airlines.
by Carole Byrd
Disclaimer: The contents of this message are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the Government or my agency. Use of this equipment is consistent with the agency’s policy governing limited personal use.