Comments on: Watch out for these clever paper ticket scams http://www.elliott.org/blog/watch-out-for-these-clever-paper-ticket-scams/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ben Traveler http://www.elliott.org/blog/watch-out-for-these-clever-paper-ticket-scams/comment-page-1/#comment-62884 Ben Traveler Sun, 06 Feb 2011 10:04:05 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/watch-out-for-these-clever-paper-ticket-scams/#comment-62884 When I saw the title to this article, I thought of a paper ticket scam that happened to me. A few years ago, I cashed in my frequent flyer miles for a trip to Guatemala on Contenental Airlines. On the day of departure, I checked my luggage at National Airport and got a boarding pass. At the gate, the agent took my ticket and I was half-way down the gangway when the same agent came running after me. I was brought back to the desk and told that I had to produce a paper ticket! I told them I had an e-ticket but she would not accept any explanation or verification. I HAD to produce a paper ticket on the spot or pay for the empty seat I left vacant... for $750!! My luggage was on the plane and my fiance was already down there (with no cell phone or way to contact), so I felt I had to pay for the ticket right there and then. I complained extensively when I got back but all I could get out of them was a redeposit of my original miles. I used those miles on Northwest (while they were still partners) and have not flown on cursed Continental since!!! Watch out, people! When I saw the title to this article, I thought of a paper ticket scam that happened to me. A few years ago, I cashed in my frequent flyer miles for a trip to Guatemala on Contenental Airlines. On the day of departure, I checked my luggage at National Airport and got a boarding pass. At the gate, the agent took my ticket and I was half-way down the gangway when the same agent came running after me. I was brought back to the desk and told that I had to produce a paper ticket! I told them I had an e-ticket but she would not accept any explanation or verification. I HAD to produce a paper ticket on the spot or pay for the empty seat I left vacant… for $750!! My luggage was on the plane and my fiance was already down there (with no cell phone or way to contact), so I felt I had to pay for the ticket right there and then. I complained extensively when I got back but all I could get out of them was a redeposit of my original miles. I used those miles on Northwest (while they were still partners) and have not flown on cursed Continental since!!! Watch out, people!

]]> By: Kathie in Mexico http://www.elliott.org/blog/watch-out-for-these-clever-paper-ticket-scams/comment-page-1/#comment-31365 Kathie in Mexico Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:41:05 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/watch-out-for-these-clever-paper-ticket-scams/#comment-31365 Beware the paper ticket scam on European trains, too. My friend and I are traveling to Florence, Italy in March for a business meeting. We were able to book tickets from Guadalajara (where we live) thru to Bologna. All these tickets are electronic. We would take the train to Florence (about an hour +/- a couple of minutes.) I went to the Italian trains website. I carefully caluculated times of departure, times of arrival and COST. Before I pushed the 'buy' button, however, I discovered that the only European train that offers E tickets is a specific French train. The Italians would charge me $33 to send (via FedEx) these tickets. And in teeny, tiny print was a long song and dance about purchasing insurance. Especially good for strikes. Strikes are a way of life on the Italian railways. What could they do? Take us by bus? A hot air balloon? A car? Finally, at the end of the paragraph was a check box allowing us to opt out of the insurance. I decided we would deplane in Bologna, take a taxi to the train station and purchase our tickets there from one of the little kiosks, strikes be damned. And after bitter experience we (my husband and I) will never, ever book those damn train tickets all over Europe. Next time we'll drive. Beware the paper ticket scam on European trains, too.
My friend and I are traveling to Florence, Italy in March for a business meeting. We were able to book tickets from Guadalajara (where we live) thru to Bologna. All these tickets are electronic. We would take the train to Florence (about an hour +/- a couple of minutes.) I went to the Italian trains website. I carefully caluculated times of departure, times of arrival and COST. Before I pushed the ‘buy’ button, however, I discovered that the only European train that offers E tickets is a specific French train. The Italians would charge me $33 to send (via FedEx) these tickets. And in teeny, tiny print was a long song and dance about purchasing insurance. Especially good for strikes. Strikes are a way of life on the Italian railways. What could they do? Take us by bus? A hot air balloon? A car? Finally, at the end of the paragraph was a check box allowing us to opt out of the insurance. I decided we would deplane in Bologna, take a taxi to the train station and purchase our tickets there from one of the little kiosks, strikes be damned.
And after bitter experience we (my husband and I) will never, ever book those damn train tickets all over Europe. Next time we’ll drive.

]]> By: John http://www.elliott.org/blog/watch-out-for-these-clever-paper-ticket-scams/comment-page-1/#comment-2445 John Tue, 14 Aug 2007 14:24:07 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/watch-out-for-these-clever-paper-ticket-scams/#comment-2445 The agency may NOT be making as much as you think. The airlines are charging agencies for paper tickets--typically $25. And with a paper ticket, it is now a negotiable document, hence the need for sending via some way to guarantee a signature. The rates vary for the country, so so say a flat $15 or $10 to overnight a ticket is reasonable. Sure, they may make a bit on it but I don't think it is as much as you think. Now if the ticket could have been electronic and they forced the paper--that is another issue. A lot of times the lowest fares out there are on a combination of airlines with connections. Sometimes, one of the airlines might not have an e-ticketing agreement with the other. In this case, you need a paper ticket. If an infant is traveling and not occupying a seat, there is no electronic way to pay the taxes due--they issue a paper ticket for the taxes. So there are plenty of other reasons... Just food for thought! The agency may NOT be making as much as you think. The airlines are charging agencies for paper tickets–typically $25. And with a paper ticket, it is now a negotiable document, hence the need for sending via some way to guarantee a signature. The rates vary for the country, so so say a flat $15 or $10 to overnight a ticket is reasonable. Sure, they may make a bit on it but I don’t think it is as much as you think.

Now if the ticket could have been electronic and they forced the paper–that is another issue.

A lot of times the lowest fares out there are on a combination of airlines with connections. Sometimes, one of the airlines might not have an e-ticketing agreement with the other. In this case, you need a paper ticket.

If an infant is traveling and not occupying a seat, there is no electronic way to pay the taxes due–they issue a paper ticket for the taxes.

So there are plenty of other reasons…

Just food for thought!

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