What is the code used to book airline tickets?

PNR, PNR number, or PNR code is an electronic detail consisting of numbers and letters given after booking a flight. PNR is the abbreviation of “Passenger Name Record” and it is also used as a booking number on the sectoral basis.



The primary code used to identify and manage airline bookings is the PNR (Passenger Name Record), also commonly known as a Record Locator or Confirmation Number. This is a unique 6-character alphanumeric string (e.g., ZY8K4L) that acts as a digital certificate for your entire itinerary. A PNR contains all essential travel information, including your name, contact details, flight segments, seat assignments, and even special meal requests. It is generated by a Global Distribution System (GDS)—such as Amadeus, Sabre, or Travelport—which connects airlines with travel agents and booking platforms worldwide. While you might also see an 13-digit "e-ticket number" on your receipt, the 6-character PNR is what you use for online check-in, managing your booking via an airline app, or verifying your flight status. If your journey involves multiple airlines that do not have an interline agreement, you might actually have several different PNR codes—one for each carrier—so it is important to keep track of the specific record locator for each segment of your trip.

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The booking number is an important code that you receive when you book a flight. This code, also known as a filekey, booking code, or booking reference, is used to identify and track your booking. You can always check your booking number with the airline you booked with.

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To the left of a flight number is a two-character code identifying the airline. All commercial airlines have a unique identifier code assigned to them by the International Air Transport Association. For most airlines, the code serves as a short abbreviation for the company's full name.

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There are three types of simple itineraries:
  • One-way (OW) You are flying from somewhere (your origin) to somewhere else (your destination).
  • Return or Round trip (RT) You are flying from your origin to your destination (which for return fares is also called the point of turnaround) then back to your origin. ...
  • Open jaw (OJ)


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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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IATA Codes are an integral part of the travel industry and essential for the identification of an airline, its destinations and its traffic documents.

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O = Premium Economy. E, N = Premium Economy (lowest) Y, B = Latitude. M, U, H, Q, V, W, G = Flex.

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Fare class Z is a business fare tier on many airlines. F or J is the top tier (F means/meant First Class; most airlines don't use this class name any longer.) Z is a discounted business class fare tier. Still pricey, but less than paying F or J fares.

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