What Is a PNR in Air Travel? A Beginner's Guide to Passenger Name Records
If you have ever booked a flight, you may have seen a PNR number on your booking confirmation. But what is PNR and why is it important when booking a flight?
PNR (Passenger Name Record) It is an electronic record created when a passenger books a flight. It contains important booking-related information like passenger details, flight itinerary, contact details and reservation status.
Also, Understanding PNRs is an important part of learning air ticketing and airline booking. As a student trying to understand the mechanics of flight bookings, you will come across some terms such as PNR, Global Distribution System (GDS), fare rules, ticketing and itinerary management.
A PNR is a Passenger Name Record used in air travel. This is a beginner’s guide to what a PNR is, the information it contains and how it is used.
What is a PNR in the airline industry?
A Passenger Name Record (PNR) is an electronic record of a passenger’s flight reservation.
When you purchase a flight from an airline, travel agent, online booking site or reservation system, a record of that booking is made. This record is usually referred to by a unique booking reference, commonly known as a PNR number.
A PNR allows airlines, travel professionals and passengers to retrieve and manage information about a reservation.
Depending on the reservation, a PNR may contain:
- Passenger name
- Flight details
- Date of journey
- Flight schedule and route details
- Booking status
- Contact details
- Special service requests, if applicable
- Ticketing information related to the reservation
The specific information included may vary depending on the airline, the booking system and the type of booking.
What is a PNR?
A Passenger Name Record (PNR) is the reservation record, while the short alphanumeric code is commonly called the booking reference/PNR locator.
A PNR is usually identified by a short alphanumeric booking reference.
For example, a passenger might be given a reference such as AB12CD after booking.
Please use this reference to book with the airline/booking provider.
Remember that a PNR number and ticket number are not the same thing. PNR is mainly used to identify the reservation record. The ticket number corresponds to the ticket issued for the trip.
What Data Is in a PNR?
A PNR can contain various information about a flight reservation.
Information for passengers
The PNR may contain the passenger name and other information necessary to create and manage the reservation.
Flight & Itinerary Details
This can include flight numbers, travel dates, departure and arrival points and the different flight segments that make up the journey.
It may also contain contact details so that the airline, travel agent or booking provider can contact you with important information about your booking.
Booking Status
The status of the reservation may differ depending on the circumstances of the booking. The PNR can show if a flight segment is confirmed, waitlisted, canceled, etc.
Special Requests
Special service requests and other booking-related information, if applicable, may also be attached to the reservation.
This allows travel professionals to know and manage a customer’s booking.
How Is a PNR Created During Flight Booking?
The simplified steps to book and reserve air tickets could be
Search flights > Choose itinerary > Add passenger details > Make reservation > Generate PNR > Ticketing/payment.
A travel professional might use a Global Distribution System (GDS) like Amadeus, Sabre or Galileo to check flights available.
Once you choose a suitable flight and provide the required passenger information, the reservation record is created. Then that reservation is attached to a PNR or booking reference.
Specific processes may vary depending on the airline, reservation platform and condition of the booking.
Is the PNR number the same as the flight ticket?
No. A PNR is not a ticket.
A PNR is a record of a reservation and its booking information. The process of issuing a ticket when the required conditions for booking and payment have been met is called the process of ticketing.
For example, a PNR can exist for a reservation prior to the issuance of a ticket.
Reservation: Once the ticketing process is complete, the ticketing information is appended to the reservation.
In air ticketing, it is important to know the difference between reservation and ticketing. They are related but different steps.
Why is PNR important in air ticketing?
PNR plays an important role in the air ticketing and airline reservation system, as it links various pieces of information about a flight booking.
A passenger can use the PNR to access their booking and confirm the travel details with the airline or booking provider.
PNR knowledge is useful for travel professionals to manage tasks such as
- Booking and managing flights
- Checking passenger booking details
- Changing or modifying flight segments
- Handling permitted booking changes
- Supporting ticketing operations
- Assisting customers with reservations
- Confirming itinerary details
Students, when learning air ticketing, will understand the basics of PNR and then they can learn the more advanced processes of reservation and ticketing.
What Is a PNR in a GDS?
A Global Distribution System (GDS) is a technology platform that travel professionals use to access travel information, availability, fares and reservation services.
Amadeus, Sabre and Galileo are GDS systems in the travel industry.
In the reservation process a travel professional makes a flight reservation through a GDS and a PNR is created or modified.
This means that students learning GDS often need to know how to work with:
- Passenger information
- Flight segments
- Reservation records
- Reservation status
- Itinerary and ticket details
Thus, learning PNR helps beginners to learn about the relationship between various parts of the airline reservation and air ticketing process.
Importance of PNR in Air Ticketing for Students?
PNR is one of the fundamental concepts to learn for students interested in air ticketing, airline reservations, travel and tourism.
A learner might think the process:
Availability of flights → Booking → PNR → Ticketing → Itinerary management
Once students grasp this basic process, they can learn related areas such as
- Calculating fares
- Understanding fare rules
- Processing ticket reissues
- Handling cancelations
- Understanding the refund process
- Performing Global Distribution System (GDS) operations
- Providing customer support
The hands-on training allows students to see the application of these concepts to real travel and reservation workflows.
SAACH Academy is an IATA-authorized training center located in Andheri East, Mumbai. It offers students training in travel and tourism, airline reservations, air ticketing and GDS systems such as Amadeus, Sabre and Galileo.
A PNR number is a reference number that is attached to a passenger’s flight booking. It provides the booking supplier or airline access to the reservation and related information.
Your PNR or booking reference is usually found in your flight booking confirmation or itinerary. Where it is may differ based on the airline or booking site you use.
No, a PNR is the reservation record and a ticket number is the issued ticket.
Yes. Depending on the way the booking was created, a booking may contain information for more than one passenger.
Sometimes you can change your booking information if the airline allows and the fare conditions permit. It is contingent upon the airline, reservation system and booking type.
PNR helps in connecting vital information related to flight reservations. So, it is useful to know about PNR for the people who are learning airline reservation and air ticketing.
Category:
Share:
