Electronic flight ticket — what does it look like and how to read the information on it?

🕗 12 minutes | June 24, 2024 | Author Karolina Lesicka | Content consultation: Anna Sekita — Expert in Tariffs and Reservations at LOT Polish Airlines.

Welcome to the mysterious world of flight tickets! Whether you're looking at an electronic ticket, a booking confirmation, or a boarding pass, the codes contained there might seem strangely familiar or oddly incomprehensible. Today, we’ll help you decode them all. This way, you'll always be able to read them with ease and know exactly what’s included in your reservation and what your upcoming travel plans are.

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Travelling with an electronic ticket is basic and secure. After completing the purchasing process, you will receive a confirmation email, including your reservation number and all flight details. Then, during online check-in or at the airport, simply provide your reservation number or show the QR code on your phone.

Remember to present the same ID document that was used when booking the ticket during boarding.

An electronic ticket is a digital record in the airline's computer database, which eliminates the need for a traditional paper ticket. It is an individual entry stored in the airline's reservation system and contains all details regarding the flight, the flight route, the travelling passenger, and the payment made.

After purchasing an electronic ticket, the passenger receives an email confirmation. The message includes the flight reservation number (PNR), the ticket number, and the passenger's details.

* The presented graphic is for educational purposes only. The reservation number, ticket number, travel details, and personal information are fictitious.

Above is a graphic illustrating what the confirmation of the purchase and issuance of an electronic flight ticket looks like, which you will receive at the email address you provided upon completing your purchase on lot.com. The email, along with the reservation number and ticket number, is sent within 48 hours after the purchase is completed.

All flight tickets (including your booking and electronic ticket purchase confirmation) contain:

• reservation number,
• passenger details,
• airline name,
• flight number,
• departure time and location,
• arrival time and location,
• information on the allowed baggage allowance,
• ticket price.

You already know what the confirmation you will receive after purchasing an electronic flight ticket looks like. But where can you find specific information about your reservation? Check the departure time? How many pieces of checked baggage can you take on your trip? Have you ordered your favourite meal?

In this section, we will guide you on where to look to find the information you need. In the graphic below, we have highlighted all the important fields.

* The presented graphic is for educational purposes only. The reservation number, ticket number, travel details, and personal information are fictitious.

• 0. PASSENGER — the passenger's surname appears first, followed by the first name, then gender, and a code indicating the age category. ADT — a passenger over the age of 12. CHD — a child aged 2–11 years, INF — an infant aged 0–2 years.
• 1. RESERVATION NUMBER — this is simply the reference code for the passenger's travel plan. In the aviation industry, it is most often referred to as the PNR number. It consists of 6 characters (a combination of digits and letters) in a random configuration assigned by the reservation system.
• 2. ELECTRONIC TICKET NUMBER — it consists of 13 digits in total. The first three digits represent the airline's identification number assigned by IATA (LOT is 080). Then, the reservation system randomly assigns 10 additional digits. Each electronic ticket number is unique and encoded to prevent fraud and abuse.
• 3. ISSUING OFFICE — also known as the validator, this field identifies the office that issued the ticket. For example, it could be the direct service office, Contact Center (as shown in the graphic), lot.com — online reservations, or a travel agency. In case of cancellation or flight delay, it indicates whom to contact for necessary changes to the ticket or travel plans.
• 4. ISSUE DATE — this field contains information about when the electronic ticket was issued.
• 5. BAGGAGE INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE — this field contains information about the free checked baggage allowance for the passenger (to be taken in the airplane’s cargo hold). On LOT flights, the limit is defined by the maximum number of pieces and the allowed maximum weight and dimensions of the suitcase. PC is an abbreviation of the English word pieces. This marking indicates the number of checked baggage pieces allowed to be carried at no extra charge. The example in the graphic shows: 0 PC — which means no checked baggage is included in the ticket price.
• 6. FLIGHT NUMBER, DEPARTURE, AND ARRIVAL DATE AND TIME
  Flight number — preceded by the airline code (LO), which consists of a combination of two characters (either digits or one letter and one digit). It is followed by a three- or four-digit number assigned by the carrier to a specific flight.
  Departure and arrival date and time — the start and end times of the journey are always given in local time and are written using a 24-hour clock format.
  From/To — this is where the passenger's travel plan is written, starting from the departure city to the destination city. City names are written in full. If a city has more than one airport, the three-letter IATA code (for example, LONDON LHR) or the airport name (for example, PARIS DE GAULLE) is added.
• 7. OPERATING AIRLINE — this is the airline that actually operates the flight. The field indicates which airline provides the aircraft, crew, fuel, onboard service, and technical maintenance for the flight.
• 8. RESERVATION STATUS — this field shows the reservation status code at the time the ticket is issued.
  OK — means the reservation is confirmed with the right to occupy a seat according to current availability.
• 9. ADDITIONAL SERVICES RESERVED BY THE PASSENGER — this field indicates what additional services have been purchased with the ticket and added to the reservation. This could include a special meal, extra baggage, sports equipment, assistance services, and many others.

Why is the first price we see when choosing the route and travel class different from the final price we have to pay when completing the ticket purchase? In this section, we will explain the second part of the booking confirmation and the fields related to the ticket price to help you understand.

* The presented graphic is for educational purposes only. The reservation number, ticket number, travel details, and personal information are fictitious.

1. FARE DETAILS — this field includes the breakdown of what makes up the total price of the ticket. Here are its components:

• Carrier Fare (Fare) — this is the net price of the ticket and the charge for the passenger's flight with a particular airline. The fare chosen by the passenger during the booking process determines, among other things, the flight standard, rules for changes, or ticket refunds. This is the base price that you will see in the comparison tool once you start the booking process.
• Taxes (Taxes) — this includes government taxes applicable to airlines flying into a particular country or city. The name of the country for which the corresponding tax is levied is displayed as a two-letter abbreviation following the currency and tax amount. Additional charges include fuel surcharges and airport fees (paid to the authorities of the relevant airport for using its facilities, equipment, or services related to the handling of the aircraft and passengers).
• Other Additional Fees (Fee) — for example, these may include:
  • fees for changing the ticket or cancelling the journey, according to the conditions of the fare;
  • transaction fees related to booking and issuing the ticket. The fee may vary depending on the sales channel, ticket issuer (Contact Center, airport office, travel agency).
• Total (total) — the sum of all the above components.

2. FARE BASIS CODE — this is an individual fare code set by the airline.

It determines the type of ticket purchased, the travel class, and the services the passenger is entitled to (the type of fare determines the flexibility for making changes and modifications to the booking). For example, each fare has different conditions, including minimum and maximum stay, rules for changing the booking, or ticket refunds in case of cancellation, and so on.

3. PAYMENT DETAILS

• Fare Calculation — this field presents the system data for financial settlements between the airlines that participate in the passenger's transport.
• Form of Payment — information about the method used to pay for the ticket. The ticket purchaser can pay by cash or credit card. If paid by credit card, the card number is masked to keep it hidden from third parties and to protect sensitive personal data.
• Restrictions/Endorsements (Pole Endorsement) — this field may contain brief entries informing about restrictions regarding the possibility of making changes or receiving a refund for the ticket.

Why are electronic tickets safe and widely used by airlines?

• No risk of losing the ticket: electronic tickets cannot be lost or damaged, unlike traditional paper tickets.
• Data security: storing tickets in digital systems allows the use of advanced encryption methods that protect your personal data.
• Identity verification: electronic tickets are linked in the database to the passenger's identity documents, making unauthorized use by third parties more difficult.
• Easy access and management: passengers can easily access their tickets through email, mobile apps, or the airline's website, allowing them to track travel details and make any necessary changes.
• Automatic notifications: reservation systems send automatic notifications about flight changes, allowing passengers to quickly update their travel plans.
• Reduced risk of forgery: electronic tickets contain unique codes and are impossible to counterfeit, unlike the previously used paper tickets.
• Better control by airlines: airlines have full control over ticket distribution and verification, which increases the overall security of the booking and check-in process.
• Integration with other services: electronic tickets can be integrated with other services, such as online check-in or loyalty programs, further enhancing the comfort and security of your journey.
• Environmental protection: electronic tickets eliminate the need to print paper versions, which has a positive impact on the environment by reducing paper consumption.

No. At LOT, we do not require printing the reservation confirmation or electronic ticket purchase*. During traditional check-in at the airport, simply show the confirmation on your mobile device or provide the reservation number. This will be enough to prepare your boarding pass with your assigned seat on the plane.

To avoid standing in line, you can also check in yourself through the website or mobile app.

* The exception applies to flights from India. The applicable legal regulations require passengers to have printed flight documents.

A boarding pass is a document issued to passengers after completing the check-in process, granting them access to board the airplane. It can be issued in paper form or electronically, available on mobile devices. The boarding pass contains key information related to the journey, such as:

• Passenger's full name: identification of the person authorized to board the plane.
• Flight number: a unique number assigned to the specific flight.
• Departure date and time: detailed information about the travel schedule.
• Seat number: the assigned seat on the plane.
• Gate number: information about the boarding gate location.
• Barcode or QR code: allows quick scanning and verification of the boarding pass during check-in and at the boarding gate.

Note: Obtaining the boarding pass is essential for passing through security control and boarding the airplane.