The airlines require airport check-in for boarding pass issuance. Many carriers now have roving agents at the airport, with hand-held computers containing passenger information. These rovers can confirm your reservation, check your identification and issue your boarding pass. Many airlines who fly ticketless routes equip the curbside skycaps with passenger records, enabling you to check your luggage without facing lines at the ticket counter. If it's applicable toward another electronic ticket, we'll print a coupon and either hold it or send it to you for future use.
Airline tickets are accountable documents.
This means they are regulated and tracked by document number. An unauthorized person could use an airline ticket if identification is not properly checked. Any attempt to replace an airline document requires alternative proof that the airfare has been paid. Each airline handles lost tickets differently. You may pay the processing fee at the airport, and the airline will issue a new ticket.