How to verify a PNR (booking reference) with the airline

What a PNR is

A PNR (Passenger Name Record) is the record of a booking in an airline or travel-agency reservation system. Its booking reference - usually six letters and digits, like K7QX4M - is what you use to look it up. Read more in what is a PNR.

Check it on the airline's website

1. Find the operating airline - the one named next to the flight number on your itinerary.
2. Open its website or app and choose Manage booking (sometimes "My trips" or "Retrieve booking").
3. Enter the booking reference and the passenger surname exactly as printed (no titles).
4. The flight, date and passenger name should appear, typically as confirmed or on hold.

If the itinerary shows a separate airline reference next to the booking reference, try that one on the airline's site.

Other ways to check

• CheckMyTrip and similar viewers can display bookings made through major reservation systems.
• Our own verification page confirms whether a GetOnwardNow document is active, using the order number and surname.

If it doesn't show

• Re-enter the surname exactly as printed - hyphens and spaces matter.
• Try the airline reference instead of the booking reference.
• Some airlines only show bookings close to departure or require the ticket number for full details.
• Check the validity date: a reservation that has expired is released and won't appear.

If a GetOnwardNow reservation can't be found while it's valid, contact us right away - our money-back guarantee applies if we can't fix it.

For officers and embassy staff

The booking reference and surname are all you need. Reservations are held bookings: they show as confirmed or on hold, but not ticketed, until the traveler buys a ticket.

Checking a booking on your phone

Most airline apps have the same Manage booking option as the website. If you're at a check-in counter and the agent wants to see it on the airline's own system, they can also search the reference directly - usually faster than you finding it in an app.