Bought airline E-ticket from cheapoair, but what do I bring to airport? [Archive]

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kasianman

Mar 21st, 2012, 01:44 PM

Anyone have experience with cheapoair or other travel agencies?

Cheapoair gave me United Airline E-ticket number and confirmation number, but no actual airline tickets to print out.
Do I need to somehow obtain the airline tickets to print out or go to the airport (which is at Buffalo International Airport) and show them my e-ticket number?

Sorry if I'm such a noob at this because I haven't flown much.
Thank you in advanced.

FunSave22

Mar 21st, 2012, 02:09 PM

Just print out the e-ticket number and confirmation number and you'll be fine. If Buffalo airport has kiosks, you may have the option to swipe the credit card you used instead. All you'll get from them is your boarding pass. The tickets are just a record in the system.

And even if you forget all that, you'll still be able to fly. They'll just need to check your name and address against their system, although this may take a bit longer.

sexyj

Mar 21st, 2012, 02:19 PM

You just need your passport and go up to the counter

revlis

Mar 22nd, 2012, 02:16 PM

You just need your passport and go up to the counter

correct.

kasianman

Mar 22nd, 2012, 03:49 PM

Thanks guys!

kasianman

Mar 25th, 2012, 07:29 PM

cwb27

Mar 25th, 2012, 08:58 PM

Update:

The border almost denied our entry to US (to get to Buffalo Airport) because we didn't have a plane boarding pass with us even though we had the e-tickets and confirmation number for the flights.

Didn't know we had to have a boarding ticket prior to going to Buffalo Airport.

A confirmation email/website screenshot showing your name, departure information will most likely prevent this happening in the future.

4flava

Mar 25th, 2012, 09:13 PM

Update:

The border almost denied our entry to US (to get to Buffalo Airport) because we didn't have a plane boarding pass with us even though we had the e-tickets and confirmation number for the flights.

Didn't know we had to have a boarding ticket prior to going to Buffalo Airport.

LOL noob! They're supposed to print your boarding passes when you go to the counter and check-in. You can also print your boarding passes from one of those kiosks or you could have checked-in online and print your boarding passes urself. :razz:

You don't get your boarding passes until you check-in.

rotjong

Mar 25th, 2012, 10:43 PM

You just need your passport and go up to the counter

x2 or you go to these self serve kiosks where you stick your passport in it (follow the instructions) and it spits out boarding pass, very simple and quick.

ShopperfiendTO

Mar 26th, 2012, 11:18 AM

Update:

The border almost denied our entry to US (to get to Buffalo Airport) because we didn't have a plane boarding pass with us even though we had the e-tickets and confirmation number for the flights.

Didn't know we had to have a boarding ticket prior to going to Buffalo Airport.

How did you get through then?

Not sure why US would deny entry if you didn't have airline tickets anyway because theoretically you're just entering the US (for travel/vacation). You still have to clear US customs one way or the other, you're just doing it at the land border rather than at the airport.

kasianman

Mar 26th, 2012, 11:50 AM

cwb27

Mar 26th, 2012, 02:00 PM

How did you get through then?

Not sure why US would deny entry if you didn't have airline tickets anyway because theoretically you're just entering the US (for travel/vacation). You still have to clear US customs one way or the other, you're just doing it at the land border rather than at the airport.

You're missing the point, USCBP wants to verify and confirm why you're going to the US, what you're doing and if you intend to leave their country. The onus is on the traveller to prove this and provide answers. When someone pulls up and says "Yes, I'm flying from the US airport to another US airport, oh but I don't have any way to prove that to you, so please take my word for it...." that's a problem for any border officer.

The CBSA works the same way.

psyko514

Mar 26th, 2012, 03:07 PM

LOL noob! They're supposed to print your boarding passes when you go to the counter and check-in. You can also print your boarding passes from one of those kiosks or you could have checked-in online and print your boarding passes urself. :razz:

You don't get your boarding passes until you check-in.

LOL noob! Learn to read. This happened at the land border on the way to the airport. How is he supposed to check-in at the counter prior to entering the country the counter is located in? :razz:

MikeGWRX

Mar 26th, 2012, 07:17 PM

The Buffalo border officers are known to be a little rough around the edges. In my opinion he was just trying to rattle you to see if anything in your story changed. Happened to me there before (different situation though).

ShopperfiendTO

Mar 26th, 2012, 07:51 PM

You're missing the point, USCBP wants to verify and confirm why you're going to the US, what you're doing and if you intend to leave their country. The onus is on the traveller to prove this and provide answers. When someone pulls up and says "Yes, I'm flying from the US airport to another US airport, oh but I don't have any way to prove that to you, so please take my word for it...." that's a problem for any border officer.

The CBSA works the same way.

OP could have also just said "I'm visiting Buffalo" without any airline ticket at all (and USCBP would probably have let OP through as well), so how would USCBP verify and confirm that? Then, when OP's through, go on his or her way merrily to the Buffalo airport to catch his or her flight. You seem to say that USCBP also wants to confirm the intention to leave the country but this is highly difficult (if not impossible) when driving through the border. What do you show, your dentist appointment that you have to attend within the next 90 days?

cwb27

Mar 26th, 2012, 09:59 PM

OP could have also just said "I'm visiting Buffalo" without any airline ticket at all (and USCBP would probably have let OP through as well), so how would USCBP verify and confirm that? Then, when OP's through, go on his or her way merrily to the Buffalo airport to catch his or her flight. You seem to say that USCBP also wants to confirm the intention to leave the country but this is highly difficult (if not impossible) when driving through the border. What do you show, your dentist appointment that you have to attend within the next 90 days?

Ok, so you're visiting Buffalo, where are you staying, how long are you staying for, what are you seeing? All common questions a traveller could asked and expected to have answers for. The way your post is written makes me think of a person who rarely crosses the border and doesn't understand the questions that are asked by CBP. Either that... Or a person who crosses the border all the time and thinks they know everything.

USCBP will often ask for a full itinerary, hotel address, phone number, etc... I've also heard cases where people have been refused entry and told to come back with proof of employment (i.e. pay stub). CBP has a few tools available to use to confirm departure from the US, they're hardly foolproof of course, but they exist.

I used to be a Canadian BSO and let me tell you first hand... Everyone thinks they're good at lying, but a couple questions they haven't prepared for usually blows the lie wide open.

ShopperfiendTO

Mar 27th, 2012, 08:11 AM

Ok, so you're visiting Buffalo, where are you staying, how long are you staying for, what are you seeing? All common questions a traveller could asked and expected to have answers for. The way your post is written makes me think of a person who rarely crosses the border and doesn't understand the questions that are asked by CBP. Either that... Or a person who crosses the border all the time and thinks they know everything.

USCBP will often ask for a full itinerary, hotel address, phone number, etc... I've also heard cases where people have been refused entry and told to come back with proof of employment (i.e. pay stub). CBP has a few tools available to use to confirm departure from the US, they're hardly foolproof of course, but they exist.

Not trying to subvert the USCBP system, but I'm guessing that many Canadians (I'm assuming that the OP is Canadian travelling on a Canadian passport, perhaps that's the source of the problem right there...) can get through the border with just the phrase "day shopping" without any document other than the passport.

cwb27

Mar 27th, 2012, 10:20 AM

Not trying to subvert the USCBP system, but I'm guessing that many Canadians (I'm assuming that the OP is Canadian travelling on a Canadian passport, perhaps that's the source of the problem right there...) can get through the border with just the phrase "day shopping" without any document other than the passport.

Oh forsure, you're right... But hypothetically, let's say the OP would have said 'day shopping' and the CBP officer noticed the luggage and proceeded to ask more questions/search the luggage. The OP could have found themselves in a very bad situation with USCBP.

Rastus

Mar 29th, 2012, 12:47 AM

Oh ya just tell em yer just spending the day shopping. And then when he asks you to pop yer trunk and there's the suitcases, be prepared to either be refused entry or wait in the customs office for a few hours and then be sent back for lying. Just be honest and polite and you'll be on your way in no time, trust me. I have crossed without any ID and only had to wait 20 mins and be told to remember to bring it next time and have a nice day shopping. Mind you they have my record, mug shots and prints on file so they know its really me.