Last Updated on July 9, 2026 by Daniel Globe
The DTS record locator isn’t a number alone; it’s a short alphanumeric code that identifies your reservation inside the Defense Travel System. Unlike a commercial airline booking, DTS routes your reservation through a Travel Management Company (TMC), so the code is often called a “PNR locator” or “Confirmation ID” rather than a typical airline confirmation number. Here’s exactly what it is, how many characters it uses, and where to actually find it.
Quick Answer
A DTS record locator is the code that identifies your reservation in the Defense Travel System. You’ll find it on the Review Reservation Selections page under Trip Details, or in the Confirmation Number field on your authorization’s Reservation page. DTS and its Travel Management Company (TMC) may also call it a “PNR locator.”
What Is the DTS Record Locator Number?
The DTS record locator is the code that identifies your travel reservation inside the Defense Travel System. It connects your booking to DTS functionality so you can manage your trip with precision.
A DTS record locator connects your reservation to Defense Travel System and TMC functionality, letting you and your Travel Management Company both reference the same booking.
This code links your flight, lodging, and other arrangements into one itinerary. It’s generated automatically when a reservation is made, and it appears on the Review Reservation Selections page under Trip Details, as well as in the Confirmation Number field on your authorization’s Reservation page.
Note: When you contact your TMC about a reservation, refer to this code as the “PNR locator” or simply the “PNR” — that’s the terminology TMC agents expect, and it prevents mix-ups with your DTS document number.
Where to Find Your Record Locator
Because DTS reservations are booked through a TMC rather than directly with an airline, the fastest way to find your record locator is inside DTS itself, not in an airline confirmation email.
- Log into DTS and open your authorization.
- Go to the Review Reservation Selections page and check the Trip Details section.
- Alternatively, check the Confirmation Number field on the Reservation page of your authorization.
- If your itinerary was booked with CWTSatoTravel or another TMC, the locator also appears at the top of your emailed itinerary or invoice.
If you still can’t locate it, your Defense Travel Administrator (DTA) or local Help Desk can pull it up using your name and travel dates.
How Many Characters Does a Record Locator Use?
Record locators generated through Global Distribution Systems (the reservation networks TMCs use to book DTS travel) are typically a short alphanumeric code. As a general GDS convention, systems often avoid characters like 1, I, L, 0, and O, since those can look alike in plain text — though the exact format depends on which GDS your TMC uses to process the booking.
Warning: Don’t assume your DTS record locator will always be a clean six-character code — always confirm the exact code shown on your Trip Details page rather than guessing at its format.
What’s the Difference Between a Record Locator and a PNR?
In DTS, these terms are largely interchangeable, but the context matters:
- Record locator / Confirmation Number: the short code shown in DTS on the Trip Details or Reservation page.
- PNR: the full reservation record the TMC and airline hold in the GDS behind that code. When you call the TMC, use the term “PNR locator” so the agent knows exactly what you mean.
- Multiple locators: if your trip mixes carriers — for example an outbound flight on one airline and a return on another — DTS may show two separate DTS/TMC Confirmation ID numbers on the Trip Details page. Both are valid; give the TMC both numbers if you need changes made.
Pro Tip: If your itinerary shows two confirmation codes, note both before contacting the TMC — providing only one can delay a change to a mixed-carrier trip.
What to Do If You Lose Your Record Locator?
If you can’t find your DTS record locator, don’t worry — there are several ways to get back to your reservation.
| Option | What you do |
|---|---|
| DTS Trip Details | Log into DTS, open your authorization, check Review Reservation Selections |
| Reservation page | Check the Confirmation Number field on your authorization |
| TMC itinerary/invoice | Look at the top of your CWTSatoTravel (or equivalent TMC) email |
| Defense Travel Administrator (DTA) | Contact your DTA or local Help Desk to verify identity and retrieve it |
| Travel Assistance Center (TAC) | Escalate if your DTA and Help Desk can’t resolve it (check local policy first) |
If none of these work, contact the TMC or your DTA directly with your travel dates and name; they can retrieve the record without requiring you to remember the code yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is My Record Locator Number?
It’s the code DTS and your TMC use to identify your specific reservation. You’ll find it on the Review Reservation Selections page under Trip Details, or in the Confirmation Number field on your Reservation page.
Where Do I Find My Record Locator Number?
Inside DTS, on the Trip Details section of the Review Reservation Selections page, or in the Confirmation Number field on your Reservation page. It may also appear at the top of a TMC-issued itinerary or invoice.
What Is the Meaning of Record Locator Number?
It’s the reference code that lets DTS, your TMC, and the airline pull up the same reservation. TMCs typically call it a “PNR locator.”
Is Locator Number the Same as Confirmation Number?
Yes — in DTS, the field is literally labeled “Confirmation Number” on the Reservation page, and it refers to the same code as the record locator or PNR locator.
Conclusion
Your DTS record locator is the key that opens your trip details, so it’s worth knowing exactly where DTS puts it: the Review Reservation Selections page and the Reservation page’s Confirmation Number field, not an airline confirmation email. If you lose it, your TMC itinerary, DTA, or the Travel Assistance Center can all get you back into your reservation. Knowing where to look — and what to call it when you contact your TMC — saves time and avoids confusion.
Sources
- Defense Human Resources Activity — Defense Travel System (DTS) — official overview of DTS
- DTS Reservation Process Guide, travel.dod.mil — confirms PNR locator terminology and dual-locator scenarios
- CWTSatoTravel — Where to Find Itinerary Numbers — confirms Trip Details and Confirmation Number field locations
- DTS Background Information Paper, travel.dod.mil — DTS system overview and support escalation path