PNR vs ticket number on Indian flights: what each one actually is and when you need which one
By Aarav Sharma (Aarav Sharma covers Indian airline operations, airport infrastructure and route economics. He writes about Tier-1 and Tier-2 airport developments, IndiGo and Air India fleet strategy, and the unsung Indian aviation hubs travellers should know about.) · Published · 8 min read
A PNR is a 6-character reservation locator in the airline’s system. An e-ticket number is the 13-digit document number that is your actual contract of carriage. The OTA booking ID is just the platform’s internal reference. The three are not interchangeable — using the wrong one at the wrong moment causes confusion at web check-in, the airport counter, and refund claims.
TL;DR — the short answer
A PNR (Passenger Name Record) is typically a 6-character alphanumeric code that identifies your reservation in the airline’s central reservation system. An e-ticket number is a 13-digit numeric code (the first three digits are the airline’s IATA code) that represents the actual travel document — the contract between you and the carrier. Your OTA booking ID (the reference from MakeMyTrip, Cleartrip, EaseMyTrip, or another platform) is the third thing, and it’s entirely separate from both. Here’s when you need each one.
What is a PNR? (And why is it sometimes 6 digits, sometimes 10?)
PNR stands for Passenger Name Record. It’s a unique identifier for a booking held in a CRS (Central Reservation System) or GDS (Global Distribution System) — systems like Amadeus, Sabre, or Navitaire that airlines use to manage reservations.
In the global aviation world, a PNR is typically a 6-character alphanumeric code (letters and numbers, like ‘X7K2QA’). This is what most airlines and GDS systems use. However, some Indian carriers have their own booking systems that generate different-length PNRs — IndiGo’s PNR on their own system is 6 characters, while some OTA-generated booking references look like 10-digit numbers. These 10-digit codes you sometimes see on a booking confirmation are often the OTA’s own booking reference, not the airline PNR — look for the 6-character airline PNR separately on your e-ticket or airline confirmation email.
The PNR is a reservation record. It tells the system who is booked, on which flight, in which class, with which add-ons. But it is not the document of carriage — that’s the e-ticket.
What is an e-ticket number?
An electronic ticket (e-ticket) number is a 13-digit numeric code. The format matters: the first three digits are the airline’s IATA-assigned accounting code (098 for Air India, 526 for IndiGo, and so on), followed by 10 digits that identify the specific ticket document.
The e-ticket is the actual contract of carriage between you and the airline. It specifies the fare paid, the fare rules (refundability, change conditions), the route, and the passenger. Legally, it’s closer to a ‘receipt’ for the service you’ve purchased than the PNR is — the PNR is more like a booking slot, while the e-ticket is the paid document.
Where you’ll find it: on your booking confirmation email, look for a line that says ‘e-ticket number’ or ‘ticket number’ — it will be a 13-digit number. On MakeMyTrip and other OTAs, it’s usually in the PDF e-ticket attached to the confirmation email, not the main booking summary page.
You’ll need the e-ticket number (not just the PNR) when filing a refund claim directly with the airline, particularly for involuntary changes (flight cancellations, significant delays). The airline’s refund portal usually asks for the e-ticket number because it links to the fare paid and the rules governing that fare.
What is an OTA booking ID and when does it matter?
When you book through MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip, Cleartrip, Yatra, or any other OTA — or even through FlightGPT’s booking links — the OTA assigns its own internal booking reference number. This is the OTA booking ID. It exists solely in the OTA’s system.
You need the OTA booking ID when:
- Contacting the OTA’s customer support about your booking
- Logging into the OTA’s ‘My Bookings’ section
- Requesting an OTA-level cancellation or refund (where the OTA processes the refund, not the airline directly)
You do not need the OTA booking ID when:
- Doing web check-in on the airline’s website or app — use the airline PNR there
- At the airport check-in counter — again, airline PNR
- Claiming compensation from the airline for a delayed or cancelled flight — use the airline PNR and e-ticket number
The OTA booking ID is invisible to the airline’s own systems. If you call Air India or IndiGo’s helpline and give them an OTA booking reference, they will not find your booking in their system. Give them the 6-character airline PNR instead.
Web check-in: which code do you use?
For web check-in on any Indian airline’s website or app, you need the airline’s PNR and your last name. Not the OTA booking ID, not the e-ticket number — the 6-character PNR.
IndiGo’s web check-in page asks for ‘PNR/Booking Reference’ and surname. Air India’s does the same. If you try entering your MakeMyTrip booking ID here, it won’t work. Find the airline PNR on your booking confirmation — it’s usually labelled ‘Airline PNR’ or just ‘PNR’ separately from the OTA’s booking reference number.
Where OTA bookings sometimes confuse people: MakeMyTrip’s booking confirmation email shows a large reference number prominently (e.g., NF1234567890) — this is MakeMyTrip’s own booking ID. The airline PNR is a smaller piece of text below it, sometimes labelled ‘Airline Confirmation Number.’ Train yourself to find it before you get to the airport at 5am.
Airport counter: what to carry and show
At the airport check-in counter, the agent will typically ask for:
- Your photo ID (Aadhaar, PAN, passport) — this is always the first thing
- Your flight details (airline, flight number, destination) — they’ll pull up your booking
- If they can’t find it easily: your airline PNR
At airports with self-service kiosks (common at T3 Delhi, T2 Mumbai, Bengaluru KIA), the kiosk typically asks for your PNR or e-ticket number and ID. Know both.
The e-ticket number becomes specifically relevant at the airport when you’re dealing with involuntary changes — if a flight is cancelled and the airline is issuing a fresh ticket or a refund, the e-ticket number of the original booking is what they’ll ask for in the paperwork. Keep a screenshot of your 13-digit e-ticket number handy for any disrupted travel day.
If you booked through an OTA and need to make a date change or cancellation at the airport counter: the airline can sometimes do this directly using the PNR, but often they’ll redirect you to the OTA because the booking is held in the OTA’s inventory block. Know who holds the ticket — if you’re unsure, call the airline first.
Bottom line: a cheat-sheet for which code to use when
| Situation | Code to use |
|---|---|
| Web check-in (airline website/app) | Airline PNR (6 characters) + surname |
| Airport check-in counter | Airline PNR or e-ticket number + photo ID |
| Refund claim to the airline | E-ticket number (13 digits) |
| Calling airline customer service | Airline PNR |
| OTA customer support | OTA booking ID (their reference) |
| DGCA AirSewa complaint | Airline PNR + e-ticket number + flight number |
Search for the best fares on FlightGPT, and once you’ve booked, file both codes — the airline PNR and the 13-digit e-ticket number — somewhere you can find them offline (a notes app, a saved screenshot). On a disrupted travel day when you’re on hold with an airline, having both codes instantly accessible is worth more than you’d think.
Also worth reading: our article on what to do when your baggage is delayed or damaged (the e-ticket number is your anchor for that claim) and our guide on senior citizen flight discounts in India.
Frequently asked questions
What is a PNR on an Indian flight?
PNR stands for Passenger Name Record. On Indian flights it’s typically a 6-character alphanumeric code (like ‘X7K2QA’) that identifies your reservation in the airline’s booking system. It’s what you use for web check-in on the airline’s website or app, and when calling the airline’s helpline.
What is the difference between PNR and ticket number?
A PNR is a 6-character reservation locator in the airline’s system. A ticket number (e-ticket number) is a 13-digit code that represents the actual travel document and contract of carriage — the first three digits are the airline’s IATA code (e.g., 098 for Air India, 526 for IndiGo). The PNR is for check-in and reservations; the e-ticket number is for refund claims and compensation.
Why doesn’t my MakeMyTrip booking ID work for IndiGo web check-in?
The MakeMyTrip booking reference (e.g., NF1234567890) is an OTA-internal code that IndiGo’s system doesn’t recognise. For IndiGo web check-in, you need the 6-character airline PNR, which is in the same MakeMyTrip confirmation email but labelled separately as ‘Airline Confirmation Number’ or ‘Airline PNR.’
Where do I find the e-ticket number for an Air India booking?
The 13-digit e-ticket number for Air India starts with 098 (Air India’s IATA accounting code). Find it in the PDF ticket attached to your booking confirmation email or in the ‘e-ticket’ section of the Air India website when you retrieve your booking with the PNR and surname. For OTA bookings, open the attached PDF ticket (not just the booking summary).
Which number do I use to file a refund for a cancelled IndiGo flight?
Use the 13-digit e-ticket number when filing a refund claim on IndiGo’s website or through their customer service. The airline PNR is also useful as a cross-reference. If you booked through an OTA, the refund may need to go through the OTA — use the OTA booking ID for their support team.
Can two passengers on the same booking have different PNRs?
If booked on the same reservation, all passengers share one airline PNR. However, each passenger has their own individual 13-digit e-ticket number. If an OTA split the booking across two transactions (common when a second passenger is added separately), they will have separate PNRs — which can cause seat-assignment problems. Always check that family members on the same trip are on the same PNR.