Created: 9/14/2009 6:11:42 PM 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- E-tickets save the airlines money and they save the traveler the hassle of losing a paper ticket. But Nonye Nduka says that was not his experience.
"When I got to the airport, they told me I needed a paper ticket," says Nduka.
Nduka purchased his ticket online at Travelocity.Com for travel from Jacksonville to Houston, TX. He says when he showed his confirmation number to get his boarding pass, the carrier, Air Tran, refused it.
"They told me I needed a paper ticket," says Nduka.
He was told he would have to buy a new ticket at the cost of $422.90 if he wanted to travel.
Nduka says, "I bought the ticket, I wanted to see my relatives."
And before boarding the plane he was told to file a claim for a lost ticket, which only further confused him.
"I had an e-ticket, I've traveled like this before and never had a problem," says Nduka.
He says when he contacted the online travel agency and AirTran, no one could explain what happened.
Joe Frey of Travelocity said, "According to Air Tran records, the ticket was showing as a paper ticket not electronic. They later realized it was an electronic ticket and refunded the passenger $422.90."
The U.S. Department of Transportation says most airline problems do not violate federal rules. And when you buy a ticket that is a contract between you and the airline.
The U.S. DOT advises travelers to try to resolve their issues with the air carrier first, if there is no resolution they can then file a complaint with the U.S.DOT's Airline Consumer Protection Division at 1-202-366-2220.
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