Buying A Plane Ticket Online

[goodgoalie]

All being well, I'm about to buy online a return plane ticket (Flybe to Scotland), but it's so long since I've flown, I'm not sure how it works. Do I follow the instructions on the website and print my own ticket, or do I get a reference number which I present on check-in? Do I print my own boarding pass?

Any advice from recent flyers very welcome. Thanks

[Sam1960]

Pick your flight gg, pay for it, and you will be told when you can download your boarding pass. Think its usually about 48 hrs before you fly.

[chrissa1]

Once you’ve bought your ticket gg you’ll be given a reference number, (usually six digits, numbers and letters. You can either check in in line and print your boarding card or just use the customer check-in machines at the airport.

This is great if you’re just taking hand luggage, but if you’re taking hold luggage, you have to check in at the desk and drop your bags.

[goodgoalie]

Ta. What about the ticket - do I need one or just the boarding pass?

[chrissa1]

Just the boarding pass. Your reference number proves you have bought the ticket.

[ummmm]

I'm flying tomorrow and Thomas Cook won't let me check in online. There should be a list of options.

[chrissa1]

I’m off down south tomorrow on Flybe because the birth of my twin granddaughters is nigh. Eeeeeek.

[10ClarionSt]

Having flown recently with Easy Jet, they allow you to print your own boarding pass 28 days before departure. Printing your own usually means you don't have to check in. Go straight to the security gate, put your luggage through the scanner, go to the departure lounge and wait for the departure board to tell you to go to the relevant gate number. Don't forget to print your return boarding pass too. Sorry if you already know all of that. Just trying to help. But I've never used Flybe. Can't imagine there's much difference. And I'm assuming you won't have luggage to go in the hold. In which case, you will have to check in.

[ummmm]

Ryanair don't let you check in that far in advance.

[Sam1960]

Nor klm, they all differ, but the procedure is the same. Once you've paid for your ticket gg, you will get emails from flybe telling you what to do, and when you can do it.

[Buenchico]

Flybe allow you to check in from 36 hours prior to departure:
https://flybe.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/419

[10ClarionSt]

I've never flown with RuinAir. Never would. I believe one advantage of printing your own boarding pass is that you are less likely to get "bumped off" the flight. I don't know how true that is.

[ummmm]

I have absolutely no complaints with Ryanair.

[10ClarionSt]

Yes. I know lots of people who use them regularly. But not for me. Don't trust 'em! *** Air!

[10ClarionSt]

I can't believe that word has been censored! It rhymes with spikey.

[10ClarionSt]

Without the "S".

[goodgoalie]

Thanks for all your answers. To be honest, I think I'd rather present myself with a ref number at the check-in desk nice and early, just in case there's any problems. Don't fancy the idea of waiting for the flight to be called without having spoken to someone first - flying itself doesn't make me nervous, but getting to the airport, check-in etc does!

[Toorak]

I would check in and print off the boarding passes 36 hrs before you fly - also save the boarding passes for proof if you need to acess them. But I am a luddite :-)

[sanmac]

10ClarionSt, is that the airline that could still maybe be using the Gypsy Moth airplane?

[chrissa1]

Make sure you have photo ID. Driving Licence/ Passport too.

[goodgoalie]

Yes, ta chrissa - I know you need ID even though it's within UK