That’s right. Your pass is activated the first time it is scanned when you use it.

The pass isn't activated until the first time you use it (and it gets scanned). It's active for 48 hours after that. So it wouldn't matter what dates you enter. (I'm not sure why it asks you to enter dates in the first place. It must just be the third-party seller on this site.)

Hi, suziluce. There are a couple things you can do. (1) Get a map of the Paris metro (either a physical one or download it online). Looking at that should enable you to work out the closest stop to your destination and how to get there from where you are (including any stops at which you might need to transfer to another line). The easiest way to make a mistake is to get on the right line but going the wrong way. To avoid this, pay attention to the last stop on that line in the direction you want to head. (For example, getting on line 12 toward Mairie d'Issay will take you one direction, while line 12 toward Front Populaire will take you the other.) When in doubt, don't hesitate to ask questions of the people working in the ticketing booths. We found them to be generally friendly and helpful when figuring things out. (2) The easiest way to navigate all this is to remember that the internet is your best friend. We paid $10/day to our phone provider to be able to use the data plan on our phone internationally while traveling. That let us use Google Maps and Apple Maps on our phone to navigate (as well as look up reviews for restaurants and other things). This was one of the best decisions we made. It made getting around very easy and was definitely worth the relatively small amount of money. (Wouldn't you pay $10/day to make your trip much more enjoyable?) In the map apps, you can select what mode of transportation you want the directions to include: walking, driving, or public transportation. The directions for public transportation were very detailed. They would direct us to the right metro station, tell us which line to get on in which direction, tell us what stop to get off at, and which exit to take out of the metro (when there were multiple options)--all in real time! That's the simplest way to go. Happy travels!

You cannot scan your phone because the pass is dated. Though no one looked at the date on the pass it is activated with your first scan. At least that’s what I was told. Really you should just buy the pass at the first information center such is at the airport or your hotel. do not pre-order it’s not worth it

Yes!

No it does not- the entire list of inclusions is on the site that sells the pass

I'm not sure why the system requires you to put in a date. The pass isn't activated until it gets scanned the first time you use it. So, my best guess is that the date would be the pickup date. Of course, they are available at multiple locations in the airports and train stations. So you could just pick one up when you arrive (probably cheaper).

The pass begins with whatever date you write on the pass

I picked mine up at the Gallieries La Fayette (Department Store). It is located at it's own Metro Stop "La Fayette" It's very easy to find.in central Paris