<p>I’d first like to thank you for the taking the time to explain some of this to me. I have never purchased plane tickets online, but I will be making a college visit very soon and it is important that I take a plane–as opposed to driving–because it would take nearly 5 to 6 hours by car. Anyway, here is the situation:</p>
<p>I’m looking through Expedia.com looking for cheap, yet convenient ticket prices (I’ve found this website to be easy to use). I’m going from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh for an overnight visit at Carnegie Mellon, and I’ve found several departure/arrival times that fit well, but I’m pretty much set on one. I noticed the following disclaimer: </p>
<p>“The prices shown below are for the flight only; they are e-ticket prices and include all flight taxes and fees. If your itinerary requires paper tickets there will be an additional charge. These results cover a metro area with several airports. Review your choices carefully.”</p>
<p>I’m not exactly sure how an e-ticket would work. Does that mean I don’t have to have a physical ticket, instead it will be in the computer network at the airport (and I’ll show ID)? Also, how would I know whether I would need paper tickets or not?</p>
<p>Again, thank you for any advice at all. My parents do not travel much, and I really do not know where to turn for clear answers. Thanks!</p>
<p>Sometimes you can get great deals through Priceline.com. You just need to make sure you understand and can live with their policies. Biddingfortravel.com is a very helpful site for learning more about using Priceline effectively. Strategies are explained there that I would never have figured out on my own. Hope it all works out well for you.</p>
<p>I can’t think of any reason you would need a paper ticket. I’ve found e-tickets to be very efficient and convenient.</p>
<p>You should not need a paper ticket. With an e-ticket, you print out the information that you’ll be e-mailed after you buy your ticket. You bring that info to the airport with you.</p>
<p>You may not even need that info as long as you bring the credit card that you bought the ticket with or as long as you bring your frequent flyer card. At some ticket counters, you can pop either card into their automatic ticket vendor that’s like an ATM for tickets. You pop your card in and out comes your boarding pass.</p>
<p>Some if not all airlines also let you print out your boarding pass at home. Typically you can do this starting about 24 hours before your trip. Just remember to bring the pass with you to the airport along with a picture ID.</p>
<p>While someone suggested using Priceline, I think that you have to be 21 to do that. It also can cause problems in that Priceline, not you, picks your arrival and departure times, and you’re locked into those times because you plug in the dates you want to travel, then you give your credit card # and the price you’re willing to pay. If Priceline finds flights at your price, your credit card is immediately charged, and afterward you learn your departure times. </p>
<p>Thanks for the timely response, logosprincipal & Northstarmom!</p>
<p>Basically, all I would need after purchasing an e-ticket would be: a passport and the receipt from the e-ticket? Expedia.com suggests bringing one of the following:</p>
<p>[ul][<em>]An Expedia.com e-ticket receipt (including ticket number)
[</em>]An Expedia.com itinerary (including ticket number)
[li]A boarding pass[/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>I only get the boarding pass when I am at the actual airport? The round-trip tickets from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh (on Expedia.com) were almost $190, tax included, and I found these prices reasonable. I’m afraid to explore too much into finding even cheaper deals, because I don’t feel comfortable with this process yet. Would you say $190 is a reasonable price? Thanks again!</p>
<p>e-ticket – everything is in the computer - you show them your id when you check in and they pull up your reservation and give you your boarding pass. (some airlines even let you print your own boarding pass on-line).</p>
<p>i was once told re buying tickets on line – if you go to look at prices and end up not buying - clear the cookies from that site before going back to the site – i have heard (can’t say for sure if its true) that if the cookies are set, the site may tell you a higher rate the next time you go back to the site. (again, i’ve heard this, but i don’t know for sure which, if any, sites really do this).</p>
<p>From Expedia: (you will have the choice of opting out if there is the paper ticket charge)
Have you visited any airline website? I believe Phila is the hub for United Airlines (<a href=“http://www.ted.com)%5B/url%5D”>www.ted.com)</a>, and you will find Phila-Pitts tickets for $135 including taxes.</p>
<p>take a look at southwest.com - they fly between philly and pittsburgh - because they are a discount airline, services like expedia generally don’t carry their flights - you may be able to do better buying directly from them – just make sure you know the fare restrictions for the different rates</p>
<p>You can select your seats when you book online, and then print the boarding card when it is 23:59 hrs. before the flight usually. Even if you cannot, print out the confirmation e-mail and bring it to the airlines counter along with a driver’s license (Passport not necessary)</p>
<p>I’ve looked at several airline prices for PHL to PITT and they all seem to be about $188 as a round-trip ticket, but I’m assuming this is a reasonable price. So, if I purchase this ticket, I will receive an e-mail, and I can just print the e-mail, bring an ID, and talk to an employee at the counter on departure day?</p>
<p>chocoholic–if I’m able to print the boarding card, would it be with the e-mail?</p>
<p>Thank you for all the great responses! I’m feeling less and less bewildered about the process!</p>
<p>About the Southwest Airlines prices: I looked at their prices, and one flight was $91, but I’m under the impression it was only one-way. I’ve tried to search this a few times, but I keep getting the $91 price and I can’t determine whether it is round trip or not, but I’m assuming it is only one-way?</p>
<p>Many of the discount ticket places (cheaptickets. com, cheapseats,com, sidestep.com, kayak.com and, for those of you who are students DON’T FORGET studentuniverse.com-my son loves that one)-- anyway, many of the discount airlines wont be on these sites, so yes, do, do DO go directly to the discounter websites. Also, if you find a good fare on the travel sites, DONT buy it there-- go the the airline you are travelling on and buy it through their website. Almost always will get a better price-- you’ll avoid at least one junk fee, and iof you have to make any change, you are dealing directly with the airlines, not with a cyber travel agency. The only exceptions are cheaptickets.com, who will often route you on a different airline coming and going in order to get the best price, and studentuniverse, who offers their discounts through their site. I happen to be a BIG fan of airtran, but they don’t have the routes you are looking at, I don’t believe. </p>
<p>And as northstarmom said, etickets and boarding passes are printed at your computer. Very easy. I do thid for my dad, and then mail him the printout. For the seats/ boarding pass, I can usually get his seat on line,but he checks in at the counter. With the eticket you can use the kiosks at the airport and avoid all the lines (even if you have luggage to check, which you wont). What a pleasure!!</p>
<p>KRabble - Welcome to the “New World” of air travel. Fasten that seat belt tight!</p>
<p>For your first experience, I’d say you’re doing OK. Virtually all flights between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are non-stop and there are lots of flights so you can pretty much go when you want. These are good things. Northstarmom has it right, e-tickets work great so long as you have the ticket number with you and photo ID (and the name on the photo ID matches the name on the e-ticket). Printing out your boarding pass at home a day or so before the flight gets you a better seat and saves time at the airport too, so I’d recommend that.</p>
<p>As for the fare, you can do better but $190 R/T isn’t outrageous. For example Southwest flies for less (<a href=“http://www.iflyswa.com%5B/url%5D”>www.iflyswa.com</a>) and they’re non-stop. Beware offers that don’t tell you when you’re leaving or how many stops you’ll have. Philadelphia to Pittsburgh by way of Miami is no fun at all.</p>
<p>After your purchase you should receive a confirmation e-mail as well as a receipt you can print out. It is not necessary to have a boarding card printed out at home, and not every airline may enable you to do that. But I like to have my seat assignment done in advance; the boarding card cannot be printed out more than 24 hours prior to departure. You would have to go to the airline website to do that.</p>
<p>You are right KRabble, $91 is one way on Southwest. Go to <a href=“http://www.ted.com%5B/url%5D”>www.ted.com</a> and get the United ticket for $135</p>
<p>Philly is not the hub for United. But Pittsburgh is a hub for USAir so you might try them. I always use Orbitz.com to buy my tickets.</p>
<p>Don’t worry - if you can’t figure the e-ticket machine out just ask someone and tell them you’re going on your first college visit and you’ve never used e-tickets. I’m sure all they’ll do is smile and help :)</p>
<p>Will there be directions in the e-mail telling me how I can print my boarding card (if I am able to)?</p>
<p>I tried looking through <a href=“http://www.ted.com%5B/url%5D”>www.ted.com</a>, but I can’t find any information about flights. In fact, it says “Technology Entertainment Design”, and I’m not sure what’s going on here.</p>
<p>Again, I thank everyone for all the helpful information!</p>
<p>When you are ready to print the boarding card, go back to the United website, click on the “Easy Check-In” tab, and pull up your reservation by either an e-mail address or reservation number or credit card number.</p>