Air travel glossary
PNR, flight reservation, onward ticket, return ticket, round-trip ticket, electronic ticket… Find clear definitions for international air travel.
glossary
Prepare my onward travel proof
2026-08-21
boarding-pass
Boarding pass
Boarding card
The boarding pass is the document used to access security checks and board the aircraft. It is usually obtained after check-in.
After checking in online or at the airport counter, you receive your boarding pass to present at the gate.
e-ticket
flight-segment
booking-reference
Booking reference
Confirmation code, record locator
A booking reference is a short code associated with an airline reservation. Depending on the airline and the system used, it may correspond to the PNR or to another reservation identifier.
A 6-character code like ABC123 that you enter on the airline's website to retrieve your booking.
pnr
reservation-confirmation
codeshare
Codeshare
Shared flight
A codeshare allows several airlines to market the same flight under different flight numbers. The airline that actually operates the trip is the operating airline.
You may buy a ticket from Airline A, but the flight is operated by Airline B — both flight numbers appear on your reservation.
operating-airline
flight-segment