An electronic ticket or e-ticket is used to represent the purchase of a seat on a passenger airline, usually through a website or by telephone. This form of airline ticket is rapidly replacing the old paper tickets.

Once a reservation is made, an e-ticket exists only as a digital record in the airline computers. Customers usually print out a copy of their receipt which contains the record locator (e.g. TCV2KD) or reservation number and the e-ticket number. (e.g. 706 2480112024)

Checking in with an e-ticket

To check in with an e-ticket, the passenger usually comes to the check-in counter and presents the confirmation or reservation code. In some airlines it's not even necessary to present the code, as the reservation is confirmed solely on the basis of the passenger's identity. After confirming the reservation, the passenger checks-in his/her luggage and is given a boarding pass.