Last Updated on July 28, 2026 by Daniel Globe
A DTS record locator is the short code tied to your reservation in the Defense Travel System. DTS labels it the DTS/TMC Confirmation ID, while a Travel Management Company (TMC) commonly calls it the PNR locator. Knowing both terms makes it much easier to find your reservation and communicate with your TMC.
Quick Answer
A DTS record locator is the six-character alphanumeric DTS/TMC Confirmation ID tied to a Passenger Name Record (PNR). In DTS, open your authorization, select Reservations, and look under Review Reservation Selections > Trip Details. You can also find the PNR on the Review Trip Authorization page and, for some TMCs, on the itinerary or invoice.
Key Takeaways
- DTS calls the code the DTS/TMC Confirmation ID; TMC agents generally call it the PNR locator or PNR.
- The locator is normally a six-character alphanumeric code.
- Find it under Review Reservation Selections > Trip Details or on the Review Trip Authorization page.
- You may have more than one locator when different carriers maintain separate reservation records.
- For reservation or ticketing changes, contact your TMC according to local procedures; TAC cannot make, change, or ticket reservations.
At a Glance
| Time Required | About 1–3 minutes if you can access the authorization |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Tools Needed | DTS access and your authorization, or your TMC itinerary/invoice |
| Cost | No cost to view in DTS; direct TMC agent assistance may involve a fee depending on your contract and local procedures |
What Is the DTS Record Locator Number?
The DTS record locator is the code used to identify the Passenger Name Record associated with your travel reservations. In DTS, the official screen label is DTS/TMC Confirmation ID. The June 2026 DTS Reservation Process Guide explains that the corresponding TMC term is PNR Locator.
The DTS/TMC Confirmation ID is the locator for the Passenger Name Record that DTS and the servicing TMC use during the reservation process.
The underlying PNR contains information related to your reservation requests and booked travel, such as air or rail, lodging, rental cars, itinerary details, payment information, and other reservation data. The PNR resides in the TMC’s Global Distribution System (GDS), while DTS accesses and updates reservation information through that process.
Note: When speaking with your TMC, call the code the PNR locator or simply the PNR. DTMO specifically recommends using the TMC’s terminology so the agent understands which reservation identifier you mean.
When Is the DTS Record Locator Created?
The PNR is created when you select your first reservation in the DTS Reservations module. According to DTMO, that first selection immediately creates the PNR and places the selected reservation on hold. The PNR then updates as you add, change, or cancel reservation items.
This happens before airline tickets are issued. After you complete and sign an authorization containing reservations, the request goes to the TMC for processing. After the authorization is approved, the TMC later issues applicable air tickets according to the ticketing schedule and fare rules.
Pro Tip: A PNR locator does not mean your flight has already been ticketed. For air travel, check the TMC itinerary/invoice for the ticket number and ticketing status before departure.
Where to Find Your Record Locator
The current DTS Guide 2: Authorizations identifies the DTS/TMC Confirmation ID in the Trip Details area of the Review Reservation Selections screen.
- Log into DTS and open the authorization for your trip.
- On the progress bar, select Reservations.
- The Review Reservation Selections screen opens.
- Look in Trip Details for the DTS/TMC Confirmation ID. That is your PNR locator.
- You can also find the PNR or PNRs on the Review Trip Authorization page.
- If CWTSatoTravel services your trip, its documentation says the record locator also appears at the top of its itinerary or invoice. Other TMC layouts may differ.
Warning: Do not use instructions for another government booking system as though they were DTS instructions. For example, CWTSatoTravel’s older reference document shows a Confirmation Number field on an authorization’s Reservation page for E2 Solutions, not DTS.
How Many Characters Does a Record Locator Use?
A DTS PNR locator is a six-character alphanumeric code. DTMO’s terminology table calls the DTS/TMC Confirmation ID an alphanumeric code, and the current Reservation Process Guide shows a six-character example containing both a number and letters.
Note: The June 2026 DTMO guide uses the phrase “six-digit number” in one passage even though the same guide defines the locator as alphanumeric and illustrates a code containing letters. In practical terms, six-character alphanumeric code is the clearest description.
Always copy the locator exactly as DTS displays it rather than trying to reconstruct it from memory. A single incorrect character can point to the wrong record or prevent the TMC from locating the PNR.
What’s the Difference Between a Record Locator and a PNR?
The terms are closely related, but they do not describe exactly the same thing:
- DTS/TMC Confirmation ID or PNR locator: the six-character code used to identify the reservation record.
- Passenger Name Record (PNR): the underlying electronic record in the TMC’s GDS containing the reservation information.
- Carrier-specific confirmation: an airline or other travel supplier may maintain its own record or confirmation information. Do not automatically assume every carrier confirmation you see is identical to the DTS/TMC Confirmation ID.
- Multiple PNRs: DTS may display two DTS/TMC Confirmation IDs when different carriers maintain separate reservation records. DTMO gives the example of an outbound flight on one carrier and a return flight on another.
Pro Tip: If your Trip Details show two DTS/TMC Confirmation IDs, save both. DTMO advises providing both PNR locators to the TMC when you need help with that trip.
DTS Record Locator vs. E-Ticket Number
A record locator and an airline ticket number are also different. The locator identifies the reservation record; the ticket number shows that an electronic airline ticket has actually been issued.
The Defense Travel Management Office’s Commercial Air Program says that after ticketing, the TMC emails the traveler an itinerary and invoice containing ticket numbers, costs, and TMC contact information. For air travel, the presence of the ticket number confirms that the e-ticket was issued.
What to Do If You Lose Your Record Locator?
If you cannot find your DTS record locator, start with the DTS authorization and then work outward to the appropriate support resource.
| Option | What to Do |
|---|---|
| DTS Trip Details | Open the authorization, select Reservations, and check Review Reservation Selections > Trip Details for the DTS/TMC Confirmation ID. |
| Review Trip Authorization | Review the Trip Details on the authorization; DTMO identifies this as another place where the PNR can appear. |
| TMC itinerary/invoice | Check the reservation emails from your servicing TMC. CWTSatoTravel states that its itineraries and invoices show the record locator at the top. |
| DTA or local help desk | Use local support when you cannot access the authorization, cannot find the expected reservation information, or need help with a DTS document. |
| Travel Management Company | Contact the servicing TMC according to your organization’s local procedures for reservation, ticketing, on-travel change, cancellation, or refund issues. |
| Travel Assistance Center (TAC) | Use TAC for DTS issues that remain unresolved at the local level. TAC does not make, change, or ticket reservations. |
Why Your DTS Record Locator May Be Missing
A missing locator does not always mean something is broken. Check these possibilities:
- No reservation has been selected yet: DTMO says the PNR is created when the first reservation is selected in the Reservations module.
- The reservation was made outside DTS: the current Reservation Process Guide explains that a reservation created directly with the TMC outside DTS can be a non-DTS PNR, which is not available to view in DTS.
- You are looking in the wrong part of DTS: use the DTS/TMC Confirmation ID in Trip Details rather than an E2-specific “Confirmation Number” instruction found in older cross-system documentation.
- The trip has multiple PNRs: different carriers can produce more than one confirmation ID, so check for a second locator.
Warning: Follow your organization’s local procedures before contacting the TMC directly. DTMO notes that some organizations require local support personnel to contact the TMC on a traveler’s behalf, and direct agent contact may involve a higher processing fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is My DTS Record Locator Number?
It is the six-character alphanumeric DTS/TMC Confirmation ID used to identify the Passenger Name Record for your reservation. TMC agents generally call it the PNR locator or PNR.
Where Do I Find My DTS Record Locator?
Open your DTS authorization, select Reservations, and check the Trip Details on the Review Reservation Selections screen for the DTS/TMC Confirmation ID. DTMO also says the PNR can appear on the Review Trip Authorization page.
What Is the Meaning of Record Locator Number?
The record locator is the short identifier for the Passenger Name Record containing your reservation information. DTS labels it the DTS/TMC Confirmation ID, while the TMC generally calls it the PNR locator.
Is the DTS Locator the Same as a Confirmation Number?
It can be described generally as a reservation confirmation code, but the current DTS screen label is DTS/TMC Confirmation ID. Do not confuse DTS with older E2 Solutions instructions that specifically refer to a Confirmation Number field on an authorization’s Reservation page.
How Many Characters Are in a DTS Record Locator?
A DTS PNR locator is six characters and can contain letters and numbers. DTMO describes the DTS/TMC Confirmation ID as an alphanumeric code.
Why Does My DTS Trip Show Two PNR Locators?
Different carriers may maintain separate reservation records. DTMO says this can result in two DTS/TMC Confirmation IDs. Both can be valid, so provide both to the TMC when requesting help with the trip.
Is a DTS Record Locator the Same as an Airline Ticket Number?
No. The record locator identifies the reservation record. An airline ticket number shows that an electronic ticket has been issued for air travel. Your TMC itinerary or invoice should contain the ticket information after ticketing.
Why Is There No PNR Locator in DTS?
A PNR may not exist yet if you have not selected your first reservation. A reservation created directly outside DTS can also be a non-DTS PNR that does not appear in DTS. If you expect a locator but cannot find it, contact your DTA or local help desk for DTS support.
Can the Travel Assistance Center Change My Reservation?
No. DTMO states that TAC cannot make, change, or ticket reservations. Use your servicing TMC for reservation action according to local procedures. TAC is intended for DTS and travel-system problems that remain unresolved through local support.
Conclusion
Your DTS record locator is the six-character DTS/TMC Confirmation ID associated with your Passenger Name Record. The most reliable place to find it is under Review Reservation Selections > Trip Details, with the Review Trip Authorization page and your TMC itinerary providing additional places to check.
If the locator is missing, first confirm that a reservation has actually been selected and that the booking was created through DTS. Use your DTA or local help desk for DTS access and document problems, the TMC for reservation or ticketing action, and TAC for unresolved DTS support issues. Using the term PNR locator when speaking with the TMC also helps avoid confusion.
Sources
- Defense Travel Management Office — DTS Reservation Process Guide, June 2026 — PNR terminology, creation, six-character locator guidance, GDS process, multiple PNRs, and support procedures
- Defense Travel Management Office — DTS Guide 2: Authorizations, June 2026 — current Review Reservation Selections screen and DTS/TMC Confirmation ID location
- Defense Travel Management Office — Travel Assistance Center — TAC responsibilities, escalation, and limits on reservation and ticketing actions
- Defense Travel Management Office — Travel Management Company Services — TMC reservation, ticketing, itinerary, and invoice process
- CWTSatoTravel — Where to Find Itinerary Numbers — CWTSatoTravel itinerary locator placement and the distinction between its DTS and E2 Solutions instructions