Ticket Number (e-Ticket)

A ticket number is the IATA-standard 13-digit unique identifier for an electronic airline ticket. Format: 3-digit airline prefix + 10-digit ticket sequence + check digit. Examples: "006-1234567890" (Delta), "001-1234567890" (American), "016-1234567890" (United).

The 3-digit prefix is the airline’s IATA Accounting Code: 001 = American, 006 = Delta, 016 = United, 014 = Air Canada, 074 = KLM, etc. Codeshare tickets use the operating airline’s prefix, not the marketing airline.

On itinerary receipts, the ticket number appears alongside the PNR but is functionally different: the ticket number identifies a specific ticket; the PNR identifies the booking record. A booking for 3 passengers has 1 PNR and 3 separate ticket numbers.

For receipt accuracy, generating a properly formatted ticket number for the right airline (006- for Delta, 001- for American, etc.) is critical. The wrong prefix is an instant tell.