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PNR: Passenger Name Record
What is a PNR?
A Passenger Name Record (PNR) is a crucial element in the travel industry, appearing on boarding passes or travel itineraries as a short code of letters and numbers, also known as a reservation code or record locator. This unique identifier is used by travel providers and travel agents to manage personal and booking information for a single trip.
For those working in the travel industry, understanding the importance of a PNR is essential. It simplifies the process of managing travel bookings and ensures that all relevant details, such as flight segments, hotel reservations, car rentals, and special requests, are accurately recorded and easily accessible. This not only enhances the travel experience for passengers but also streamlines operations for airlines, hotels, tour operators, and other service providers.
In summary, a PNR is an indispensable tool for coordinating and managing travel bookings, making it easier for both travelers and the companies serving them to ensure a smooth and efficient journey.
What is the relationship between a PNR and a traveler's itinerary?
In the travel industry, an itinerary is broken down into segments, with each part of the journey—such as a flight, hotel stay, or car rental—considered a separate segment.
The relationship between a PNR and an itinerary, along with its segments, can vary based on several factors. These include the number of airlines involved, interline or codeshare agreements, and the booking system used. For instance, if a round-trip or connecting flight is booked with the same airline, the same PNR might be used for different flights.
However, if the connecting flight involves two airlines without an agreement, there may be different PNRs for each segment of the trip.Understanding these nuances is crucial for effectively managing travel bookings and ensuring a smooth experience for travelers.
How is a PNR created?
The process of creating a PNR varies depending on how the booking is made, but all PNRs must be created on a Computer Reservation System (CRS). This is a specialized booking software that airlines use to store flight inventory and manage transactions.
If a traveler books a flight directly on the airline's website, the PNR is created directly within the airline's CRS. However, when reservations are made through travel agents or online booking sites, the process can involve a Global Distribution System (GDS) like Amadeus. A GDS allows travel agencies, websites, and other companies to access and make bookings on an airline's CRS.
Understanding these systems is crucial for anyone new to the travel industry, as they play a key role in managing and coordinating travel bookings efficiently.
What’s the difference between a PNR and a ticket?
In the travel industry, it's important to understand the difference between a PNR and a ticket (or e-ticket). A PNR is the internal record of the booking, while a ticket is the document that confirms a traveler's seat on the flight. Essentially, the ticket seals the contract between the airline and the passenger.
For someone booking a flight on a booking site or online travel agency (OTA), the process of booking, payment, and ticket issuance might seem like a single, unified step. However, from a travel agent's perspective, it involves several distinct steps.
First, a PNR is created with basic information about the traveler and their itinerary. Next, the itinerary is priced, meaning an attractive fare is found, and taxes and fees are added. This pricing information is stored in a separate record called a transitional stored ticket (TST), which contains the details that will later appear on the flight ticket.
Once the itinerary is priced, the traveler makes the payment. A form of payment element is added to the PNR, and then the ticket is issued. The ticket number is added to the PNR, completing the process and allowing the traveler to proceed with their journey.
Understanding these steps is crucial for anyone new to the travel industry, as it highlights the behind-the-scenes work that ensures a smooth booking experience for travelers.
Where is the PNR located?
For industry professionals, it's important to guide travelers on how to locate their PNR. The easiest way for travelers to find their PNR is by checking the booking confirmation email. These emails often contain several codes, so it's crucial to distinguish between them. The PNR is a 6-character code that can be referred to by various names such as booking code, confirmation code, record locator, and other similar terms.
It's essential to understand that the PNR is different from the ticket number (or e-ticket number), which is the unique identifier for the traveler's ticket. Additionally, many online booking sites may provide their own reference codes to help locate the purchase on their platform. These distinctions are important for ensuring accurate communication and efficient management of travel bookings.
What will PNRs be like in the future?
The future of PNR systems holds immense potential for transforming the travel industry. As technology advances, these systems are poised to revolutionize the travel experience with several key innovations.
The first of which are biometric integrations that link PNRs to biometric data, check-ins, and security procedures to streamline and enable a more seamless and contactless travel journey.
Better cross-border coordination will facilitate smoother international travel by enhancing synchronization across different jurisdictions. This improvement will help businesses manage travel logistics more effectively, ensuring compliance with varying regulations and reducing potential disruptions.
Enhanced privacy protections will increase data security and strengthen measures to protect passenger information while complying with stringent global travel regulations.
The ability to provide real-time updates on flight schedules, itinerary changes, and service modifications will ensure that business travelers have access to the most accurate and up-to-date information in order to maintain flexibility and responsiveness in dynamic travel environments.
And finally, advanced passenger analytics will allow PNR systems to unlock actionable insights that can enhance personalization, predict travel demand, and optimize routes.
Businesses can use these insights to tailor travel experiences to individual preferences and improve overall travel efficiency. These innovations in PNR systems will significantly enhance the travel experience for business clients, offering greater convenience, security, and efficiency.
What information is in a PNR?
In general, a PNR contains details about the passenger and the booked itinerary. This information is broken down into a series of component parts called elements. PNRs vary in exactly how they look and the elements they contain, but their fundamental role in the travel industry means that there are a few elements that they all must have:
5 mandatory elements of a PNR:
When booking a flight, it is essential to provide the passenger's first name, surname, and title (e.g., Mr, Mrs, etc.). This information is crucial for accurate identification and processing. In a business-to-business context, understanding why this data is required can enhance the efficiency of travel arrangements. If multiple passengers are traveling together under the same reservation, their details will be consolidated within the same Passenger Name Record (PNR), streamlining the booking and management process.
A PNR should include details for at least one segment of the trip. For flights, this encompasses critical information such as the airline name, departure date, cabin class, and the cities or airports of arrival and departure. Additionally, if the trip was arranged through a travel agent and includes supplementary services like hotel accommodations, airport transfers, rental cars, or other amenities, these details can also be incorporated into the PNR. This comprehensive approach ensures seamless travel management and coordination for business travelers.
The passenger's phone number and email address, or alternatively, the contact details of the agent who made the booking on the passenger's behalf. This ensures efficient communication and coordination throughout the travel process, facilitating seamless service and support.
The issuance of a flight ticket may not occur immediately, depending on the booking method. This element provides crucial information regarding the status and conditions of the ticket, ensuring that all parties are aware of any pending actions or requirements for finalizing the booking.
This section includes details about the individual or organization responsible for creating the PNR and handling any subsequent modifications after the booking has been made. This ensures accountability and clarity in managing travel arrangements and updates.
Optional PNR elements
In addition to the mandatory elements, PNRs can also contain a wide variety of additional information like special services (requests for wheelchairs, bassinets or special meals during the flight), information about handling procedures of special passengers like unaccompanied minors, frequent flyer information or even personal remarks and reminders for the travel agent responsible for managing the reservations.
One of the most important additional elements is form of payment which, as you'll see in the next section, is necessary to issue a flight ticket and complete the booking.
Benefits
What are the benefits of using PNRs in the travel industry
A PNR provides several benefits for travelers, including easy access to manage their booking details, online check‑in or itinerary changes, and it allows authorities to screen passengers for security purposes, all leading to a smoother travel experience.
Easy itinerary management
A PNR allows for convenience, allowing access to your complete itinerary with online check‑in to save time at the airport, and flexibility to modify flight dates, seats, or add‑on services.
Enhanced security
Border authorities can pre‑screen passengers via their PNR information to potentially expedite the airport process.
Loyalty rewards
PNRs can be linked to your frequent flyer program, allowing for easier tracking of miles and benefits.
