Is flight number the same as reference number?

No, flight numbers and PNR numbers are different. PNR (Passenger Name Record), also called PNR number or PNR Code or booking reference number, is made up of 6 alphanumeric characters, a mix of both letters and numbers in no specific order.



No, a flight number and a reference number serve entirely different purposes in 2026 air travel. A Flight Number (e.g., AA123 or BA005) identifies the specific route and scheduled service operated by the airline; it is the same for every passenger on that specific plane today and often the same for that flight every day of the week. In contrast, a Reference Number (also known as a PNR or Booking Reference) is a unique 6-character alphanumeric code (e.g., XJ9K2L) assigned specifically to your personal reservation. You use the reference number to check in, manage your seats, or request a refund. In 2026, the reference number is the "key" to your digital identity within the airline's database. If you tell an agent your flight number, they will know where the plane is going; if you tell them your reference number, they will know exactly who you are, where you are sitting, and how much you paid for your ticket. Always keep your reference number private, as it can be used to access your personal contact information.

People Also Ask

A booking reference number is different from an e-Ticket number. A booking reference number is usually labeled as a 'PNR number', otherwise known as a 'Passenger Name Record'. It consists of both numbers and letters. You can have several booking numbers if there are separate bookings or stopovers.

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The ticket number can be found on your: Confirmation email from when you bought your ticket – look in the 'Receipt' section. Credit card statement – the reference number is next to the amount charged. Receipt from Airport / City Ticket Office – at the bottom in the middle of the ticket.

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Call the airline. They should be able to find your reservation by your name and travel dates. Usually your name and specific flight and date are needed. In my experience, the city pair should be sufficient, unless your name is very common.

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Flight code and number There's generally a simple formula for this one: two uppercase letters, followed by a four-digit number. The letters are the airline code, or the numbers universally recognized to represent the name of the airline in shorthand. Some are obvious—AA is American Airlines, for example.

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Where can I find information about my ticket number? The ticket number is a 13-digit number that you will find on your passenger receipt as well as on your boarding pass.

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A booking reference is a unique code specific to an individual reservation. It is also known as a Record/Booking Locator (or RecLoc), PNR Code, confirmation number or reference number. It can be found on your tickets, booking confirmation or travel documentation.

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Flight number conservation Organizations such as IATA, ICAO, ARC, as well as CRS systems and the FAA's ATC systems limit flight numbers to four digits (0001 to 9999).

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TUI Airways Flight Tracker (BY / TOM) - Plane Finder.

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Each line on an FIDS indicates a different flight number accompanied by:
  1. the airline name/logo and/or its IATA or ICAO airline designator (can also include names/logos of interlining/codesharing airlines or partner airlines, e.g. HX252/BR2898.)
  2. the city of origin or destination, and any intermediate points.


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The P indicates a positioning flight.

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You can use your flight PNR to check air ticket confirmation, the origin and destination information, travellers' names, flight number, and the aircraft's departure and arrival timings. You can also look up the status of your flight using the PNR. Knowing the status can help you plan your travel.

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Although 'flight number' is the term used colloquially, the official term as defined in the Standard Schedules Information Manual (SSIM) published annually by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Schedules Information Standards Committee (SISC), is flight designator.

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Your ticket number is a 13-digit number that uniquely identifies the airline ticket that was issued to you. The quickest and easiest way to locate your ticket number is through your boarding pass or your eTicket receipt.

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Each flight has a unique flight number. There will never be 2 flights from the same airline with the same number in the air at one time. Some numbers are used more than once during the day though, but rarely on the same city pair as that can cause confusion.

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Codeshare. In a codeshare, airlines share their aircraft with others, resulting in the flight having more than one flight number on the same sector, and either the same or different flight numbers on joined sectors.

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As a result, there has been a surge in demand for flight numbers, and scheduling two flights with the same number is one way an airline can "conserve" them. Short regional flights from a hub, for example, might use the same number on the outbound and the return.

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