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 or reservation number and the e-ticket number.

Electronic tickets are introduced in road, urban or rail public transport too. For example, in February 2007 the Czech bus reservation system AMSBUS introduced the product e-jízdenka for several bus routes. Since November 2007 it has been possible to buy an SMS-ticket (SMS jízdenka) for use on Prague's urban transport.

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, which may be proven by a passport or the matching credit card. After confirming the reservation, the passenger checks-in his/her luggage and is given a boarding pass.

Self-service and electronic check-in

Having an e-ticket also allows any passenger without luggage to check to completely skip the check-in counters and proceed directly to security. The option to check-in online is available on some airlines. A passenger enters their confirmation number at the airline's website, and the passenger prints the boarding pass on their home printer. Online check-in is typically permitted up to twenty-four hours before the flight's scheduled departure time, though this may vary by airline. On airlines without assigned seating such as Southwest, it typically guarantees a passenger early boarding and a better seat. Besides identification, the boarding pass that has been printed is all that needs to be presented upon arriving at the airport. On airlines without online check-in, the check in may take place at a self-service kiosk in the airport, or at the check-in counter.

A boarding pass is required to board an aircraft; in some countries, such as the United States, it is also needed to pass through airport security checkpoints.

E-tickets are very popular because they allow extra services like:

• online/telephone/self-service kiosk check-in
• early check-in
• printing boarding passes at airport kiosks and at locations other than an airport
• automated refunds and exchanges online, by telephone and at kiosks

Several web sites exist to help people holding e-tickets accomplish online check-ins in advance of the twenty-four-hour airline restriction. These sites store a passenger's flight information and then when the airline opens up for online check-in the data is transferred to the airline and the boarding pass is emailed back to the customer.

E-ticket limitations

E-tickets are sometimes not available for some flights from an airline which usually offers them. This can be due to a number of reasons, the most common being software incompatibility. If an airline issues tickets for a codeshare flight with another company, and there is no e-ticket interlining agreement, the operating carrier would not be able to see the issuing carrier's ticket. Therefore, the carrier who books the flight needs to provide hard copy versions of the tickets so the ticket can be processed. Similarly, if the destination airport does not have access to the airline who booked the flight, a paper ticket needs to be issued.