How E-Tickets Work

When you buy a ticket online, you're usually buying an e-ticket. Airline and travel agency sites will walk you through the purchase process -- after you've selected your flight online, you'll be prompted to pay with a credit or debit card. The screen will then present you with your payment confirmation receipt, your ticket number and your itinerary. Print these out and you have your e-ticket, which is also stored in the airline's database.

The e-ticket may also be emailed to you with an itinerary confirmation which you can print out, especially if you've gone through a travel agency, or you may be mailed an e-ticket confirmation and a link to the airline's website, where you can view and print the e-ticket itself and itinerary.

Print these out and keep them with your travel documents. If you lose the e-ticket print-out, head for the nearest internet cafe and find the email confirmation to go through the steps and print the e-ticket again. (Learn why you should email yourself travel documents now, too.)

How E-tickets Work At the Airport

What to Bring to the Airport

Bring the printed copies of your payment receipt and itinerary and, as always, your legitimate photo identification and passport and/or visa to the airport. I've been asked for the debit card or credit card with which I made the e-ticket purchase; make sure you have it at check-in, just in case. You may not need to show these to anyone if you check in with a self service check in kiosk -- many airlines have these at airports. And you may be able to check in online -- your e-ticket confirmation will alert you if that's the case and walk you through the online check in process.

What Happens at Check-In

With most airlines, you still need a boarding pass. At check-in, the airline's agent will compare your e-ticket against the airline database and issue you a boarding pass when everything checks out. You may also be able to plug your data into a self service check-in computer or kiosk and print your own boarding pass; look around after you've secured a place in line at your airline's check-in counter.

Learn more about baggage check in and how to avoid lost luggage

Well prepared travelers should, of course, be prepared for everything not to check out, so be sure you arrive with plenty of time to spare in case of problems like computer glitches.

Those kinds of hassles are increasingly rare with e-tickets, though. It can be a little nerve wracking to use an e-ticket for the first time, but take the leap and you'll see how easy, convenient and simple it is. And above all, you'll learn how practical e-tickets are for students traveling internationally.

What to Keep with Your E-ticket

Keep a copy of your air itinerary and your lodging itinerary with your e-ticket. Your lodging may take you through the same online process and allow you to print lodging confirmation. Keep copies of lodging and air itineraries in your checked baggage in case of lost luggage, and keep a copy in your carry on with all your travel documents.