Airline ups paper ticket charge

Friday, May 2, 2003 | 9:58 a.m.

DALLAS -- Stiff fees by American Airlines Inc. for passengers using paper tickets are designed to eliminate what has become a costly system in favor of electronic ticketing, officials say.

The cash-strapped airline will charge $50 for a paper ticket starting immediately, up from $25. Officials say the higher fee is designed to "increase the incentive" to use e-tickets.

"Eliminating paper transactions is a fundamental part of our efforts to enhance the customer experience with technology that makes air travel simple and hassle-free," Andrew Watson, American vice president of e-business, said Thursday.

"With the elimination of paper tickets comes even greater cost savings and productivity for the airline," Watson said.

The world's largest air carrier, which averted bankruptcy late last month when key unions agreed to economic givebacks, said Thursday it will issue only electronic ticket versions for domestic travel and soon will do the same for international flights.

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