How to read an e-ticket: PNR booking code, 13-digit ticket number, booking class

After buying a ticket, you usually receive an email or PDF “e-ticket itinerary” full of confusing strings of letters and numbers. Knowing how to read the three key items, the booking code (PNR), the ticket number and the booking class, helps you check in, verify and talk to the airline or ticket seller faster. This article uses general industry knowledge; specific ticket conditions are always set by each airline.

What is a PNR booking code?

A PNR (Passenger Name Record) is a booking record created by the reservation system. The record stores the passenger names, flight segments, contact details and special requests (meals, wheelchair assistance…). The string of characters used to look up this record is called the booking code (record locator), usually about six letters or digits.

A few things to remember:

• The booking code stays the same through changes to the record, unless a record with several people is split.
• An airline may have its own code; if the airline and the agent share a system the two codes are identical, otherwise you may see two different codes. When checking in on the airline's website, try the code supplied by the airline.
• Having a booking does not necessarily mean having a ticket: the record needs a ticket number or a ticketing time limit. If payment is not made on time, the seat may be cancelled.

13-digit e-ticket number

Each passenger has a separate ticket, and the ticket number usually has 13 digits:

Flight segments have their own status, usually called a “coupon”, for example OPEN FOR USE (valid), CHECKED IN, USED (flown), EXCHANGED, REFUNDED or VOID (cancelled). When a ticket needs to be changed or refunded, the person handling it relies on the ticket number and this status. In addition, a long journey may be issued as several consecutive tickets.

Some budget airlines do not issue tickets to the IATA standard; changes and refunds are then tracked by booking code. So read each airline's confirmation email carefully.

Booking class

On the itinerary there is usually a capital letter next to the flight number, for example Y, M, K, Q. That is the booking class, usually the first letter of the fare basis. Airlines use it to control the number of seats sold at each price level.

• Y is usually full-fare economy; J is usually full-fare business class; W is usually premium economy; F is usually first class.
• Other letters such as K, M, Q, T… correspond to different price levels and vary by airline: the same letter may carry different conditions at another airline.
• The fare basis is about 3–8 characters long and contains extra information such as ticket type, maximum stay, child ticket (CH) or infant (IN).

Important: a booking class is not entirely the same as a cabin class. The cabin class (economy, business…) and accompanying conditions such as baggage, changes, refunds and mileage accrual are determined by the airline's fare conditions. Read the ticket conditions section in your email or ask where you bought the ticket.

Other items to check

1. Passenger name: must match the ID/passport used for travel.
2. Date, time, airport, terminal: check the time zone (local time).
3. Baggage: stated by airline and fare class, for example “20kg” or “2PC” (two pieces). Confirm with the airline before the trip.

Update 2026: Paper tickets have not been issued for a long time (IATA member airlines stopped issuing paper tickets from 1/6/2008). Today many airlines show the booking code in their app and allow online check-in; the PNR and ticket number structure described above is still essentially used.

If you need help checking your itinerary or booking a ticket, you can contact the HVSC flight ticket team.

FAQ

What is the difference between a booking code and a ticket number?

A booking code (PNR) identifies the whole booking record, which may include several passengers. A ticket number is a separate document for each passenger, usually 13 digits.

What if I have a booking code but no ticket number yet?

In that case the ticket may not have been issued yet. The record needs a ticket number or a ticketing time limit; if the deadline passes without payment, the seat may be cancelled.

Does the booking class letter tell me whether the fare is cheap or expensive?

Only partly. Each airline assigns letters its own way, so the same letter may carry different conditions. Check the airline's actual ticket conditions.

Reference sources

• LOT Polish Airlines — Electronic flight ticket: how to read the information: https://www.lot.com/be/en/explore/inspirations/blog/electronic-ticket
• Wikipedia — Airline ticket: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airline_ticket
• Wikipedia — Passenger name record: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passenger_name_record
• Wikipedia — Fare basis code: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fare_basis_code