What is a PNR in travel?

A PNR, or Passenger Name Record, is a six-character code that serves as a unique identifier for travelers in the airline industry. It is crucial for linking travelers to their digital profiles and is prominently displayed on booking confirmations and boarding passes. The PNR contains essential information about the traveler, including their name, contact details, and itinerary. This system helps airlines manage reservations and enhances the overall travel experience by allowing for personalized services. The PNR is generated through sophisticated Computer Reservation Systems (CRS) or Global Distribution Systems (GDS), ensuring that each code is unique to prevent any mix-ups or security issues.

How long is PNR data kept?

PNR data is retained by security authorities for a total of five years after travel. Initially, the data is depersonalized after six months, meaning that personal identifiers are removed to protect traveler privacy. However, the information is archived for an additional ten years, which allows authorities to access it if necessary for security purposes. This retention policy is designed to balance the need for security and the protection of individual privacy, ensuring that while data is available for potential investigations, it is also handled in a way that respects travelers' rights.

What information is in a PNR?

A PNR contains both mandatory and optional data related to a traveler's journey. Mandatory information typically includes the traveler's full name, contact details, and itinerary, which are essential for the airline to manage bookings effectively. Optional data may encompass payment methods, meal preferences, and other personal requests that enhance the travel experience. This comprehensive data collection allows airlines to provide tailored services and improve customer satisfaction, as they can cater to individual needs and preferences based on the information stored in the PNR.

What is Secure Flight Passenger Data?

Secure Flight Passenger Data (SFPD) refers to the specific information that airlines are required to send to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) 72 hours before a flight. This data includes the traveler's full name, birth date, and gender, which are used to assess whether additional screening is necessary for security purposes. The implementation of SFPD is part of a broader effort to enhance aviation security by ensuring that all passengers are properly vetted before boarding. This process helps to identify potential security risks and contributes to the overall safety of air travel.

How are PNRs generated?

PNRs are generated through advanced Computer Reservation Systems (CRS) or Global Distribution Systems (GDS), which utilize algorithms to create unique six-character codes for each booking. This system is designed to avoid confusion and prevent unsafe combinations of codes, ensuring that each traveler has a distinct identifier. The generation of PNRs is a critical component of the travel booking process, as it links travelers to their digital profiles and facilitates the management of their reservations. The technology behind PNR generation is continually evolving to improve efficiency and security in the travel industry.

Passenger Name Record (PNR): Meaning, Purpose, and Future

Name: Passenger Name Record (PNR): Meaning, Purpose, and Future
Uploaded: 2025-01-17T01:29:29.150Z
Description: A Passenger Name Record (PNR) is a six-character code that links travelers to their profiles and stores essential data for airline services, while secure flight data is shared with the TSA to assess screening needs. The travel industry is advancing towards a unified identifier system, which may eventually replace traditional PNRs for better document and service management.

AltexSoft・1 minute read

A Passenger Name Record (PNR) is a six-character code that links travelers to their profiles and stores essential data for airline services, while secure flight data is shared with the TSA to assess screening needs. The travel industry is advancing towards a unified identifier system, which may eventually replace traditional PNRs for better document and service management.

Insights

The Passenger Name Record (PNR) is a crucial six-character code that links travelers to their digital profiles, containing essential information such as names and itineraries, while also allowing airlines to enhance their services with optional data like meal preferences.
The travel industry is moving toward a new distribution capability program that may replace traditional PNRs with a single identifier for all travel-related documents, marking a significant shift in how traveler information is managed and accessed.

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Recent questions

What is a PNR in travel?
A PNR, or Passenger Name Record, is a six-character code that serves as a unique identifier for travelers in the airline industry. It is crucial for linking travelers to their digital profiles and is prominently displayed on booking confirmations and boarding passes. The PNR contains essential information about the traveler, including their name, contact details, and itinerary. This system helps airlines manage reservations and enhances the overall travel experience by allowing for personalized services. The PNR is generated through sophisticated Computer Reservation Systems (CRS) or Global Distribution Systems (GDS), ensuring that each code is unique to prevent any mix-ups or security issues.
How long is PNR data kept?
PNR data is retained by security authorities for a total of five years after travel. Initially, the data is depersonalized after six months, meaning that personal identifiers are removed to protect traveler privacy. However, the information is archived for an additional ten years, which allows authorities to access it if necessary for security purposes. This retention policy is designed to balance the need for security and the protection of individual privacy, ensuring that while data is available for potential investigations, it is also handled in a way that respects travelers' rights.
What information is in a PNR?
A PNR contains both mandatory and optional data related to a traveler's journey. Mandatory information typically includes the traveler's full name, contact details, and itinerary, which are essential for the airline to manage bookings effectively. Optional data may encompass payment methods, meal preferences, and other personal requests that enhance the travel experience. This comprehensive data collection allows airlines to provide tailored services and improve customer satisfaction, as they can cater to individual needs and preferences based on the information stored in the PNR.
What is Secure Flight Passenger Data?
Secure Flight Passenger Data (SFPD) refers to the specific information that airlines are required to send to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) 72 hours before a flight. This data includes the traveler's full name, birth date, and gender, which are used to assess whether additional screening is necessary for security purposes. The implementation of SFPD is part of a broader effort to enhance aviation security by ensuring that all passengers are properly vetted before boarding. This process helps to identify potential security risks and contributes to the overall safety of air travel.
How are PNRs generated?
PNRs are generated through advanced Computer Reservation Systems (CRS) or Global Distribution Systems (GDS), which utilize algorithms to create unique six-character codes for each booking. This system is designed to avoid confusion and prevent unsafe combinations of codes, ensuring that each traveler has a distinct identifier. The generation of PNRs is a critical component of the travel booking process, as it links travelers to their digital profiles and facilitates the management of their reservations. The technology behind PNR generation is continually evolving to improve efficiency and security in the travel industry.

Summary

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Understanding Passenger Name Records in Travel

A six-character code, known as a PNR (Passenger Name Record), is essential for travel, appearing on booking confirmations and boarding passes, linking travelers to their digital profiles.
PNR files store mandatory data like traveler names, contact details, and itinerary, while optional data may include payment methods and meal preferences, enhancing airline services.
Secure Flight Passenger Data (SFPD) is sent to the TSA 72 hours before flights, including full names, birth dates, and genders, to determine additional screening needs.
PNRs are generated through Computer Reservation Systems (CRS) or Global Distribution Systems (GDS), with algorithms ensuring unique six-character codes to avoid confusion and unsafe combinations.
After travel, PNR data is retained for five years by security authorities, depersonalized after six months, and archived for an additional ten years for security purposes.
The travel industry is evolving towards a new distribution capability program, potentially replacing PNRs with a single identifier for all travel-related documents and services.