Ok, so my flight is booked, what do i do when i get to the airport?

Do i just show them my receipt?

Do i just hand them my receipt at the desk? Because i did not receive a paper ticket.

First, make sure your in the correct terminal. So, if your flying out of the country, then you probably will have to be in the international terminal. Then, you go to the airline's ticket counter (so if your flying with Dude Air, then you will go to Dude Air's ticket counter) You will check in with them. You will have to show them a photo ID if your in the United States and your flying within the country. If you are flying out of the country, then you have to show them your passport (your passport also has to be valid) along with your ticket. Then you go through security and make sure its the right one and your gate is behind it (there are signs before security, so check those) and finally, you go to your gate.

All you do is go up to the counter and hand them your passport. they'll check you in straight away!
Just be sure to double check the terminal first, so you know what counter to go to!

In general arrive 2 hours earlier. If you have an early AM flight in Chicago, NY, and other major airport hubs for major airlines you may want to arrive earlier than 2 hours because a lot of flights are going out. You will need to wait in line to check your luggage/get your ticket, then wait in line to get through TSA.

If you can do curbside check, that can save you some time, and then you can do an e-ticket in the machines in the airport or at your computer (usually w/in 24 hours of departure.

Get to the airport as early as possible to check in at your flight desk. [You will need to hand over your passport and ticket.] This way you can get rid of your luggage early and not have to queue for too long. This will give you plenty of time to visit shops in the airport and also to get through passport control.

Keep an eye on the monitors as these will inform you which gate you need to go to for your flight.