A standard airline e-ticket contains twelve to fifteen fields. Most of them matter at some point during your journey. Here is what each one tells you.
The PNR (Passenger Name Record) is a six-character alphanumeric code. Examples: K7X2NP or ABW5L3. This is your primary identifier with the airline.
You use the PNR to:
Write the PNR down separately from your phone. If your phone dies at the airport, the PNR lets any airline staff retrieve your full booking.
The ticket number is a 13-digit number separate from the PNR. It starts with a 3-digit airline code. British Airways tickets start with 125. Singapore Airlines starts with 618. American Airlines starts with 001.
The ticket number is the unique identifier for your specific ticket purchase. The PNR connects all passengers on a booking. The ticket number identifies one individual ticket within that booking.
This 4 to 8 character code defines your exact fare class and the rules that apply to your ticket. Examples: YLOWUS, KSAVER or HXOWUS.
The first letter indicates the fare class. Common first letters:
| Letter | Fare Class |
|---|---|
| F | First class |
| C or J | Business class |
| Y | Full economy |
| B, H, K, M | Discounted economy |
| L, V, Q, W | Deep discount economy |
| T, X | Basic economy |
The subsequent letters encode the rules: refundability, change fees, mileage accrual rate and advance purchase requirements. Your travel agent or the airline's fare rules page shows the full breakdown for any specific code.
A flight number includes the airline code and a number. BA298 means British Airways flight 298. On codeshare flights, your ticket shows one carrier's flight number but a different airline operates the aircraft.
Example: You book American Airlines AA6784 from London to New York. The physical aircraft is British Airways BA182. You board the BA aircraft with your AA ticket. Your seat, meal and checked baggage are processed under AA's systems.
Check the operating carrier on your ticket. This matters for lounge access (you need the operating carrier's status or ticket), checked baggage rules (the operating carrier's rules apply) and if the flight is delayed (the operating carrier handles compensation).
Enter your question about fare basis codes, booking references, ticket numbers or any other field on your airline ticket. The Ticket Info Bot gives you a clear, specific answer based on current airline policies.
Ask Ticket Info BotPlan My JourneyYour seat number is confirmed at booking (if you paid for seat selection) or at check-in (if you did not select in advance). The number indicates the row. The letter indicates the position: A is window left, B is middle left, C is aisle left on a 3-3 layout. D is aisle right, E is middle right, F is window right.
On widebody aircraft with 2-4-2 layouts, the letters run A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K. Note that I is skipped to avoid confusion with the number 1.
Your ticket shows either a weight allowance (23kg or 32kg per bag) or a piece allowance (1PC or 2PC). These are not interchangeable. Weight allowance means your bags total that weight. Piece allowance means you get that many bags of up to the specified weight each.
Budget airlines often show PC: 0, meaning no checked bag is included. You pay per bag at booking or at the check-in counter. Counter prices are always higher than pre-booked prices.
Large airports operate multiple terminals, and different airlines operate from different terminals at the same airport. JFK has eight terminals. Heathrow has five. Using the wrong terminal adds 20 to 60 minutes of travel time.
Your ticket specifies the departure terminal. Always confirm before arriving at the airport, especially if you are travelling a route operated by a codeshare partner whose usual terminal differs from the booking airline.
The status field on your ticket shows one of three states:
On multi-leg itineraries, each segment has its own status. The first segment shows Used after you board; the return segment still shows Open. If any segment unexpectedly shows Refunded or Voided, contact the airline immediately.
These dates define the window during which your ticket is valid for travel. On most flexible tickets, the Not Valid Before date is the same as your outbound date and the Not Valid After date is one year from ticket issue.
On non-changeable tickets, these dates are fixed to your booked travel dates. Attempting to travel on a different date produces an error at check-in.
The endorsements field contains text restrictions on the ticket. Common endorsements:
Read endorsements before buying. A ticket showing NON REF gives you no cash refund if you cancel, regardless of the reason.