PNR & GDS Knowledge Hub

A PNR (Passenger Name Record) is a digital booking record stored in a GDS or airline reservation system. Think of it as the master file for a trip. It contains the passenger's complete itinerary, personal details, ticketing information and booking history.

Every PNR is identified by a unique 6-character alphanumeric code called a record locator (for example, ABCDEF). This is the code passengers see on their booking confirmation.

A complete PNR contains five mandatory elements (the "PNR skeleton"):

• Name — passenger name(s)
• Itinerary — flight segments with airline, flight number, date, time and cities
• Contact — phone or email
• Ticketing — ticket number or ticketing time limit
• Received from — who made the booking

It may also include booking class, seat assignments, meal preferences, frequent flyer numbers, and special service requests (SSRs).

A record locator (also called a booking reference or confirmation code) is the unique 6-character code that identifies a specific PNR. Each GDS and airline generates its own locator, so a single trip booked through a travel agent may have both a GDS locator and a separate airline locator.

PNRs were designed in the 1960s for text terminals with limited screen space and slow connections. Every character had to carry maximum meaning, so airlines developed a dense shorthand of codes for cities, airlines, dates and status. A line like 3 EK 810 15JUL 2 LHRDXB HK1 1120 2215 packs a full flight into a single line. A PNR converter translates this shorthand back into readable text.

An active PNR remains in the GDS until the travel is completed, after which it is typically archived. Most GDS platforms keep the active record accessible for the duration of the trip plus a short period afterward (often around 3 days post-travel), then move it to history where it can still be retrieved for a limited time.

A GDS (Global Distribution System) is a computerized network that lets travel agents search, book and manage flights, hotels and car rentals across many airlines and providers from a single platform. It acts as the middleman between travel agents and travel suppliers.

The four major GDS platforms are Amadeus, Sabre, Galileo (Travelport) and Worldspan (also Travelport).

There are three main GDS companies operating four platforms:

• Amadeus — largest globally, strong in Europe, Middle East and Asia
• Sabre — dominant in North America
• Galileo & Worldspan — both operated by Travelport

All three are GDS platforms that do similar core jobs, but they differ in geography, command syntax and interface:

• Amadeus uses cryptic commands and dominates Europe/Middle East/Asia. Its PNR display header starts with RP/.
• Sabre leads North America and uses its own command structure and the Sabre Red interface.
• Galileo (Travelport) uses different entry commands and is common with agencies in various regions.

The underlying flight data is similar, but each formats its PNR differently — which is why a converter that supports all formats is useful.

NDC (New Distribution Capability) is an airline industry standard developed by IATA that lets airlines distribute richer content — like branded fares, ancillaries and personalized offers — directly through a modern XML-based standard, rather than only through traditional GDS channels. For agents, NDC means access to more fare options and ancillaries, but also new workflows as the industry transitions.

Travel agents typically get GDS access by signing up with a GDS provider directly or through a host agency. Requirements usually include a registered travel business, and in some markets an IATA/IATAN or ARC accreditation. Host agencies are a popular route for new agents because they provide GDS access under their existing accreditation.

A PNR converter is a tool that transforms cryptic GDS booking text into a clean, human-readable flight itinerary. Instead of manually decoding each line, you paste the PNR and the converter instantly displays airlines, flight numbers, cities, times, dates and layovers in a professional format ready to share with clients.

The process takes seconds:

• Copy the raw PNR text from your GDS terminal
• Paste it into the converter box
• Select the GDS format (or use Auto-detect)
• Click Convert

You'll instantly get a formatted itinerary you can copy, email, or download as PDF. Try it now →

After converting your PNR, click the PDF button. The itinerary downloads instantly as a clean, professional PDF with no watermark — ready to email to your client or print. PNRGenius also offers PNG image download and one-click email.

Yes. PNRGenius is completely free with no signup, no limits and no watermarks. You can convert unlimited PNRs from any GDS, download PDFs, and translate into 25+ languages at no cost.

Yes. With PNRGenius, every flight segment has an Edit button. You can adjust departure and arrival times, flight numbers, dates, layover times, airline names, cabin class, duration and city names — useful for fixing parsing issues or customizing before sending to a client.

HK = Holding Confirmed. It means the flight segment is confirmed and holding a seat for the passenger. When you see HK1, the "1" indicates the number of seats confirmed. This is the status you want to see for a confirmed booking.

HL = Have Listed (Waitlisted) — the passenger is on the waitlist for that segment, not yet confirmed. KK = Confirmed — the airline has confirmed a previously requested segment or change. These action/advice codes tell agents the current state of each segment.

The most common two-letter codes include:

• HK — Holding Confirmed
• HL — Waitlisted
• KK — Confirmed (airline response)
• KL — Confirmed from waitlist
• TK — Schedule change, confirmed
• UN — Unable, segment cancelled
• UC — Unable, waitlist closed
• NO — No action taken

Booking class codes (also called fare class or RBD — Reservation Booking Designator) are single letters that indicate the cabin and fare level. Common ones include F (First), J (Business), Y (full Economy), and W (Premium Economy). Many other letters like B, M, H, Q, V represent discounted economy fares with different rules and prices.

Interlining is an agreement between airlines that lets a passenger travel on multiple carriers under a single ticket, with baggage checked through to the final destination. It's what makes complex multi-airline itineraries possible on one booking.

Copy the full Amadeus PNR from your terminal — including the RP/ header and all segment lines — paste it into PNRGenius, select the Amadeus tab (or leave on Auto), and click Convert. The tool reads Amadeus segment structure and produces a clean itinerary in seconds.

The RP/ line at the top of an Amadeus PNR stands for "Responsible Office / Pseudo City". It identifies the agency office that owns the PNR and the office that created it. It's the standard header that begins most Amadeus PNR displays.

A typical Amadeus segment reads like: 3 EK 810 M 15JUL 2 LHRDXB HK1 1120 2215. Breaking it down: segment number (3), airline (EK Emirates), flight number (810), booking class (M), date (15JUL), day of week (2), route (London to Dubai), status (HK1 confirmed), departure and arrival times.

Paste your Sabre PNR text into PNRGenius, select the Sabre tab, and convert. The tool correctly interprets Sabre's segment format, booking class codes and passenger data to build a clean itinerary you can share or download.

Sabre Red 360 is Sabre's modern agent workspace — a graphical interface that combines the traditional command-line power of Sabre with point-and-click workflows, shopping tools and content. It's the primary desktop application many Sabre agents use today.

Sabre originated as a joint venture between American Airlines and IBM in the 1960s, giving it deep roots in the North American market. Its strong airline relationships, enterprise tooling and PNR control features make it the leading GDS for US-based agencies and corporate travel.

PNRGenius supports both Travelport formats. Paste the PNR, select Galileo or Worldspan (or use Auto-detect), and convert. The tool handles each platform's unique segment structure automatically.

Both are owned by Travelport, but they are separate systems with different command syntax and PNR formats. Galileo has European roots while Worldspan originated in the US. Travelport operates both alongside its newer platforms.

Yes, 100% free. No signup, no credit card, no conversion limits, no watermarks. It's supported by advertising, which keeps it free for travel agents worldwide.

Card format displays each flight as a large visual block with big airport codes — ideal for a polished client itinerary. Table format shows all flights in a compact spreadsheet-style grid — better for a quick overview or printable manifest. Switch between them instantly with the Card/Table toggle.

Yes. PNRGenius supports 25+ languages including Urdu, Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish, Hindi and more. After converting, select your language from the Translate dropdown and the itinerary updates instantly.

Yes. The tool is fully responsive on phones, tablets and desktops. On mobile, a bottom action bar gives quick access to Copy, PNG and PDF after converting.

Your PNR is processed to generate the itinerary and is not stored permanently or sold. No account is required, so no booking data is tied to a profile. For sensitive corporate bookings, you can remove passenger names before pasting.

IATA is the global International Air Transport Association. IATAN is its US network that issues agent ID cards and accreditation. ARC (Airlines Reporting Corporation) handles ticketing settlement between agents and airlines in the US. Agents often need ARC or IATAN accreditation to issue tickets.

Most new agents start by joining a host agency, which provides accreditation, GDS access, supplier relationships and commission structures under its umbrella. This lets you start selling travel without obtaining your own IATA/ARC accreditation first. Training, a business setup, and choosing a niche also help.

Travel agent earnings vary widely by market, specialization and whether they're employed or independent. Income typically comes from commissions, service fees and markups. Corporate and luxury travel specialists generally earn more than leisure generalists. Building a repeat client base is the key driver of long-term income.

Common challenges include the steep learning curve of cryptic commands, keeping up with fare rules and schedule changes, managing multiple GDS platforms, formatting itineraries for clients, and the transition to NDC. Tools like PNR converters help solve the itinerary formatting challenge quickly.