Confirmation Number. A flight number is not the same as the confirmation number you receive when booking a reservation. A confirmation number is typically an alphanumeric code used to identify your reservation and expedite the check-in process.

A flight number and a confirmation number serve entirely different purposes in the aviation ecosystem, though both are essential for travel. A flight number (e.g., UA123 or BA005) identifies a specific scheduled trip operated by an airline on a particular route. It is a general identifier used by the airline, air traffic control, and airport displays to track the aircraft's movement; multiple people on the same plane share the same flight number. In contrast, a confirmation number, also known as a Record Locator or Passenger Name Record (PNR), is a unique six-character alphanumeric code (e.g., G8JXW2) assigned specifically to your individual booking. This code is your "digital key" to access your personal reservation, change seats, or check in online. While the flight number tells you where the plane is going, the confirmation number tells the airline who you are and that you have a valid seat on that plane. You will find the flight number on the departure boards at the airport, but you must keep your confirmation number private, as it contains your sensitive personal and payment data.