United Moves Toward 'Fully Electronic Environment'

United Airlines today said it will convert completely to electronic ticketing worldwide by the end of next year, and paper tickets for domestic flights specifically will be eliminated as of July 2003. Starting Thursday, the carrier will levy a $20 surcharge for paper tickets issued within the United States on itineraries where e-tickets are available. The fee applies only to tickets issued by United and excludes travel agency ticketing.

Furthermore, United said it will continue development of e-ticket interlining, focusing on cooperation with fellow Star Alliance partners. United already interlines e-tickets with Air Canada, American, Continental and Northwest airlines.

"As we continue to deploy technology designed to improve the customer experience at the airport, moving to a fully electronic environment allows our customers to take advantage of our state-of-the-art self-checkin units," said Pete McDonald, United senior vice president of airport operations. United offers self-service kiosks at nine airport locations, including its major hubs, with additional deployments and functionality in the works.

United's e-ticket development schedule closely resembles that of rival American Airlines, which last month upped its paper ticket fee to $20, announced plans to eliminate paper tickets domestically by March and worldwide by the end of 2003 and said it will implement e-ticket interlining with carriers that meet its standards and eliminate interlining with those that do not (BTN, July 15).