E-Ticket Numbers By Airline: Everything You Need to Know

Last Updated on July 2, 2026 by Daniel Globe

An e-ticket number is your airline ticket’s 13-digit ID, and you’ll use it to manage booking changes, check in, and verify travel details. You can usually find it in your confirmation email, e-ticket receipt, or boarding pass, often labeled “eTkt” or “ticket number.” It’s different from your PNR and flight number. It also shows fare and baggage details, and knowing where to find it helps you avoid check-in problems and confusion later on.

What Is an E-Ticket Number?

An e-ticket number is a unique 13-digit code that identifies your specific airline ticket, combining an airline code, form number, and serial number for easy tracking and verification.

You use it to manage your booking, handle fare changes, and support refund requests. Unlike a flight number, which points to a specific route or departure, this number belongs to your individual purchase. That’s part of why it works as an IATA-standardized identifier designed to prevent fraud and protect your travel rights.

It also pairs naturally with online check-in and mobile access, so you don’t need to carry a paper copy.

When you check in online, enter the number exactly as shown, usually by separating the first three digits from the remaining ten. This precision keeps the process moving smoothly.

Where to Find Your E-Ticket Number

You can usually find your e-ticket number on your booking confirmation email, e-ticket receipt, or boarding pass.

Look for labels like “eTkt” or “ETICKET,” often shown with a hyphen after the first three digits for easy reading.

If you still can’t spot it, your airline’s customer service can pull it up from your name and travel date.

Ticket Number Locations

Start with your e-ticket receipt, booking confirmation email, or boarding pass — the 13-digit number is usually printed near a label like “electronic ticket” or “eTkt,” which confirms you’ve found the right code.

On mobile boarding passes, tap the info icon if the number isn’t visible right away; most airline apps tuck it a layer deeper than the flight details.

Share the number only when needed — with the airline or an authorized agent — since it can be used to verify or, in rare cases, alter a booking. If your documents show different digits across your receipt and boarding pass, that’s worth flagging with the airline before you fly.

E-Ticket Receipt Details

On your e-ticket receipt specifically, the ticket number sits in a field usually labeled “electronic ticket” or “ticket number” — the same 13-digit code repeated on your confirmation email and boarding pass.

The receipt is also the most reliable place to double-check the number, since it’s generated directly by the airline’s system rather than a third-party booking tool. Some receipts add hyphens for readability (e.g., 001-2345678901), which helps when you’re typing it into an online check-in form.

If a receipt only shows a booking reference and not the ticket number, contact customer service — some low-cost carriers issue the ticket number separately after ticketing is confirmed.

Boarding Pass Indicators

Your boarding pass lists the e-ticket number in a “ticket number” field, appearing as the same 13-digit code, sometimes with a hyphen for readability.

You’ll find this on both printed and mobile passes. The field ties your number directly to your itinerary, which is why gate agents can pull up your full booking from it in seconds.

Even on boarding passes that skip a paper stub — standard on most airlines outside a few markets like India — this number still appears digitally.

E-Ticket Number vs. PNR vs. Flight Number

Your e-ticket number is a 13-digit ticket ID, often marked “eTkt” or “ETICKET,” used for online check-in and boarding.

Your PNR is a separate 6-character alphanumeric booking code that helps airlines manage your reservation and answer service questions.

Your flight number is different again: it identifies the specific flight itself, not your ticket or booking.

E-Ticket Number Basics

An e-ticket number is your ticket’s unique 13-digit ID, while a PNR is the shorter alphanumeric booking reference that tracks your itinerary, and a flight number identifies the flight you’re taking.

The e-ticket number embeds the airline code, form number, and serial number, which lets you verify a purchase quickly and confirm you’re looking at the right booking — the core of e-ticket security.

Airlines store this record digitally, so you don’t need paper to manage your trip, though you’ll still need a boarding pass to board.

PNR And Booking Codes

Once you’ve confirmed the 13-digit e-ticket number, the next code to know is the PNR, or Passenger Name Record. This six-character alphanumeric code (letters and digits, like ABC123) holds your itinerary in the airline’s reservation system.

Your e-ticket identifies the ticket you bought; your PNR helps the airline find and update the reservation. Booking references and PNRs often look similar, and people use the terms interchangeably, but they don’t do the same job.

• PNR = reservation tracking
• E-ticket number = ticket verification
• Booking code = lookup tool
• Clear codes = faster service

Keep both handy when you check details, contact support, or spot a discrepancy between the two.

Flight Number Differences

Although these codes can appear side by side, your e-ticket number, PNR, and flight number each do a different job.

Your e-ticket number is a unique 13-digit ticket identifier used for verification and refunds. Your PNR is a 6-character alphanumeric record that tracks your itinerary and helps airlines manage changes.

Your flight number identifies the actual journey, usually as an airline code plus up to four digits. Matching it correctly against your boarding pass helps you avoid confusion at the gate, especially on codeshare flights where the marketing and operating flight numbers differ.

You’ll often see the e-ticket number and PNR together in confirmation emails, while the flight number appears prominently on your boarding pass and airport screens.

How E-Ticket Numbers Are Formatted

E-ticket numbers run 13 digits long: the first three digits show the airline’s accounting code, assigned by IATA, and the remaining 10 identify the form and serial number tied to your specific ticket.

• 13 digits is the standard length.
• The first 3 digits identify the airline (e.g., 001 = American Airlines, 006 = Delta Air Lines, 027 = Alaska Airlines, 016 = United Airlines).
• The last 10 digits combine the form and serial number.
• You can usually find it on your receipt, boarding pass, or confirmation email.

If your itinerary spans multiple flights on the same airline or its partners under one booking, that single ticket number typically covers every segment — you don’t get a new number per leg. Check every digit before entering it online; one wrong digit can block check-in or return a “record not found” error.

What Information Is on an E-Ticket?

Your e-ticket shows booking and passenger details, including your name, age category, and the 13-digit ticket number that helps verify your trip.

It also lists your flight information — airline, flight number, departure time, and arrival time — so you can track your itinerary at a glance.

You’ll usually see fare details too, including baggage allowance, ticket price, taxes, and fees.

Booking And Passenger Details

When you open an e-ticket, you’ll see the 13-digit ticket number that identifies the booking, along with your name and age category for accurate check-in and boarding.

• Ticket number: the airline’s coded reference
• Passenger name: matches your ID
• Age category: confirms your fare type
• Booking number (PNR): helps manage your itinerary

Confirm these details before departure. If anything looks wrong — a misspelled name, a mismatched age category — fix it with the airline ahead of time rather than at the counter.

Flight, Fare, And Fees

Beyond the booking reference and passenger details, your e-ticket lays out the trip itself: the airline name, flight number, departure and arrival times, and your name and age category.

The price shown isn’t just the base fare — it includes taxes, government levies, and any change or cancellation fees baked into the fare rules.

Check the fare basis code too: it signals the ticket type, cabin, and rules for refunds or changes. Most e-tickets also list baggage allowance, so you know how many bags and kilos are included before you pack.

How to Read Your Ticket Details

Start with the 13-digit ticket number: the first three digits show the airline code, and the rest identify your booking.

You’ll also see the passenger name, flight number, departure and arrival times, and baggage allowance. Read each line carefully, since ticket verification depends on these details matching exactly.

Check your e-ticket receipt, booking confirmation email, or boarding pass, where the ticket number is usually labeled plainly as “ticket number.” Don’t confuse it with the PNR or confirmation number, which manages your itinerary but isn’t the ticket itself.

• Verify your name spelling
• Match flight numbers and times
• Confirm baggage allowance
• Save the receipt for reference

Review your ticket the moment you receive it. Catching errors early is far easier than fixing them at the airport.

When You Need Your E-Ticket Number

You’ll need your e-ticket number whenever you check in online or at the airport, since it lets you access your booking and get your boarding pass.

You’ll need your e-ticket number to check in online or at the airport and access your boarding pass.

Keep it handy when you want to verify ticket details — this code confirms you’re working with the right reservation. If plans shift, you’ll also use it with customer service to request changes, refunds, or cancellations.

It’s also the reference number most airlines and travel insurers ask for when processing a claim, and the one frequent flyer programs use if miles don’t post automatically after a flight.

Save it somewhere easy to reach, and enter it carefully — one wrong digit can slow down a change request or trigger a mismatch error.

E-Ticket Numbers for Check-In and Boarding

At check-in, your e-ticket number is the piece of information that ties your reservation to your flight. You’ll see a 13-digit code, with the first three digits showing the airline and the rest identifying your ticket.

• Enter both parts of the number in online check-in fields.
• Find it on your e-ticket or boarding pass before you leave for the airport.
• Bring it with you in case an agent needs to look up your record manually.
• Show it to airline staff if you need quick help resolving an issue.

Because the ticket number links directly to your booking, it helps the airline confirm your seat and speed up boarding, especially during irregular operations like delays or rebookings.

Common E-Ticket Number Problems

Most e-ticket number problems start with a simple entry mistake or a missing digit, since the 13-digit code needs to be entered exactly right. Getting the first three digits (the airline code) or the remaining ten mixed up will trigger errors at check-in or when verifying your trip.

If you can’t find the number, check your confirmation email, e-ticket, or boarding pass first — it’s almost always printed clearly in one of those three places.

If the number still doesn’t line up, compare it against your original booking details, especially after an itinerary change, reissue, or cancellation, since those can generate a new ticket number even when your PNR stays the same. When the record still seems off, contact customer service and ask them to confirm the ticket number tied to your booking.

How to Keep Ticket Info Safe

Once you’ve confirmed your e-ticket number is correct, the next step is protecting it. Use secure storage, like a trusted password manager, so your booking reference and ticket details stay out of reach from unauthorized access.

Strong password habits and two-factor authentication on your airline account add real protection on top of the ticket number itself.

Watch your email for strange messages, unexpected itinerary changes, or booking alerts you didn’t request, and report anything suspicious to the airline right away.

• Save ticket info in a password manager.
• Turn on two-factor authentication.
• Check email for suspicious booking activity.
• Keep a printed copy in a secure place for trips where connectivity is unreliable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the format of an e-ticket number?

It’s 13 digits total: the first 3 show the airline’s accounting code, and the last 10 are the ticket’s form and serial number. Enter it exactly, since even one wrong digit can cause a lookup error during online check-in.

What is the 13-digit e-ticket number?

It’s your unique flight ticket ID — three airline-code digits plus ten ticket digits. You’ll use it to verify bookings, manage changes, and request refunds. It’s different from your 6-character PNR and your flight number.

How do I read an e-ticket?

Check the 13-digit ticket number, passenger name, itinerary, fare, taxes, and fees, and confirm each matches your booking. Keep the receipt or confirmation email as your backup record in case anything needs correcting before departure.

What do J, N, I, C, R, Y, B, and H class fares mean?

These are single-letter fare basis codes that signal your booking class within a cabin. As common (not universal) patterns: J/C often mean business class, I/R sometimes indicate first or premium fares, Y/B/H are typically standard economy, and N usually points to a discounted or basic economy fare. Airlines set their own exact rules, so the same letter can mean something different depending on the carrier — always check that airline’s specific fare chart.

Conclusion

In the end, your e-ticket number is more than a string of digits — it’s your trip’s key, your check-in backup, and your proof that your seat is secured. Keep it handy, double-check it against your booking, and store it safely so you’re never left scrambling at the airport. When travel gets hectic, a little prep goes a long way. With the right ticket info in hand, you can move from booking to boarding with confidence.

Sources

1. LOT Polish Airlines — Airline Electronic Ticket Explained — confirms the 13-digit ticket number structure and 6-character PNR format
2. AltexSoft — IATA Numbers and Codes Explained — backs the airline accounting code examples and 13-digit ticket structure
3. Travelport — Electronic Ticket Support Documentation — confirms GDS-level ticket number lookup and formatting
4. Wikipedia — Fare Basis Code — supports the fare class letter caveats in the FAQ