Two identifiers for two different records
The booking reference opens the passenger reservation: names, contacts and flight segments grouped into one record. Airlines commonly display it as a short combination of letters and numbers.
The e-ticket number belongs to the ticketing record created when a fare is issued. It is usually longer and often begins with a three-digit airline prefix. The Canadian Transportation Agency’s annotated example shows the ticket number and reservation code as separate fields.
Side-by-side comparison
A PNR answers “which reservation record?” An e-ticket number answers “which issued ticket?” That is why an itinerary can be reserved but not ticketed.
- PNR: short record locator used to retrieve a booking
- E-ticket number: longer identifier for an issued ticket
- One PNR: may include several passengers
- Each passenger: normally receives a separate e-ticket number when ticketed
- Temporary reservation: may have a PNR and no e-ticket number
Where to find them
Search the itinerary for labels such as booking reference, reservation code, record locator or PNR. Search the receipt or e-ticket for ticket number or document number. Do not assume that an order number issued by a travel website is either one.
If an airline website asks for a booking reference and surname, use the PNR. If a support agent asks for the ticket number, provide the longer ticket identifier only if the fare was actually issued.