Paper plane tickets are long gone — instead of the old booklet, the airline keeps your ticket in its own system and sends you an itinerary receipt. Let's sort out how it differs from a boarding pass and whether you need to print it at all.
The e-ticket itself lives in the airline's system; what you hold is an itinerary receipt with the booking reference (PNR), ticket number and flight details. It arrives by e-mail after payment and is always available in your account. Printing isn't required — showing it on your phone is usually enough — but keeping a copy is wise. To board you'll also need a boarding pass, issued after check-in.
01 / What it isWhat an e-ticket actually is
An e-ticket is a record in the airline's reservation system confirming that your seat is paid for and reserved. The record has no physical form — it lives on the carrier's servers and is tied to your name and booking reference.
What lands in your inbox and sits in your account is the itinerary receipt. Think of it as a statement: it confirms the ticket exists and lists every detail of the trip, but technically it isn't the ticket itself. For the airline, what matters are the booking reference and the ticket number, not the file.
02 / Where to get itWhere to find your receipt
As soon as your payment goes through, the itinerary receipt is generated automatically and sent to the e-mail on the order. It's also saved in your account — the most reliable place to look if the e-mail goes missing or lands in spam.
Open My bookings
Sign in and go to /account/bookings.
Find the flight
Orders are sorted by date — open the booking with the flight you need.
Download the receipt
Tap “Itinerary receipt” to open the PDF, then save it to your phone or print it.
03 / PrintingDo you need to print it
Printing the itinerary receipt is not required. For check-in and security, showing it on your phone screen is usually enough — airlines and airports have long accepted electronic documents. Even so, keeping a copy handy is wise: your battery could die, the signal could drop, or an agent at the desk could ask for a printout.
- Save the PDF to your phone for offline access in case there's no internet.
- Jot down the booking reference (PNR) separately — you'll need it for online check-in and support calls.
- To enter some countries, border control may ask for a printed receipt showing your return flight — check the requirements ahead of time.
04 / What's insideWhat the receipt contains
The itinerary receipt has everything you might need on the trip or when contacting support. Check the key fields as soon as you receive it — especially the Latin spelling of your name, which must match your passport.
- Passenger names in Latin letters, exactly as in the passport.
- Booking reference (PNR) — the six-character code used for check-in.
- Ticket number — the airline's long numeric code.
- Flights, dates, times, airports and terminals.
- Fare, baggage allowance and payment status.
05 / FAQFrequently asked
Is the itinerary receipt the ticket itself?
Formally, no. The ticket itself lives in the airline's system, while the receipt is a confirming statement with the ticket number and PNR. In practice, it's enough for check-in and security.
Can I fly with just my phone, no printout?
Usually yes — showing the receipt or boarding pass on screen is normally enough. But to enter certain countries, border control may ask for a paper copy, so it's worth checking in advance.
Where do I get the boarding pass?
It comes after you check in — online in the airline's app or website, or at the airport desk. It's a separate document from the itinerary receipt.
I lost the e-mail with the receipt — what now?
Open /account/bookings and download it again. If you can't get into your account, message @sales_travel_bot or call 8 800 1000-646.