What is an electronic ticket receipt (ETR)?
An electronic ticket receipt, also called an e-ticket receipt or e-ticket itinerary receipt, is the document that proves a flight ticket was issued to a passenger. It is not the ticket itself, which is a record in the airline's system, but it shows everything about that record.
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People search for this term when they are handed a PDF after buying a flight and are not sure what it is, or when an airport, embassy or employer asks for "the e-ticket". This guide explains what an electronic ticket receipt (ETR) is, what each part of it means and who is allowed to issue one.
Is an e-ticket receipt a ticket?
Strictly, no. With an electronic ticket there is no paper or card to hold. The ticket exists as a record in the airline's database, identified by a thirteen digit ticket number. The receipt is a printout or PDF of that record, produced for the traveller and for their own files.
In daily speech people say "my e-ticket" and mean the receipt, and that is fine. What matters is that the record behind it is real: the airline has issued a ticket number to that passenger name for those flights. A document that looks like a receipt but has no real ticket number behind it proves nothing.
You can check a receipt on the airline's website with the booking reference and surname, in "manage my booking". If it does not show the same flights, the receipt is wrong.
What an electronic ticket receipt shows, field by field
| Field | What it means | Example (sample) |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger name | As on the ticket. It must match the passport | AHMADI/KARIM MR |
| Ticket number | Thirteen digits. The first three identify the issuing airline | 057 2401234567 |
| Booking reference (PNR) | Six character code for the booking, used for check-in and changes | X7K2LM |
| Issue date | Day the ticket was issued | 28 Oct 2026 |
| Issuing agent or airline | Who sold it | Sample Travels |
| Flight | Airline and flight number | RQ 4401 |
| Date and times | Local departure and arrival times, with +1 if next day | 30 Oct 0930 to 1240 |
| From and to | Airports, often with terminal | Kabul KBL to Delhi DEL |
| Booking class | A letter chosen by the airline for the fare. Meaning differs by airline | Y |
| Status | OK means confirmed for that flight | OK |
| Baggage | Allowance in kilograms or pieces | 30K |
| Fare and taxes | Base fare plus taxes and carrier charges | Fare 520, taxes 120 |
| Total and currency | What the ticket cost | 640 USD |
| Form of payment | How it was paid | Cash or card, often shortened |
| Fare conditions | Rules for change and refund | Short text or a reference to the airline |
An annotated sample
The sample below uses invented names and numbers. The notes after each line say what to look at.
ELECTRONIC TICKET RECEIPT Passenger: AHMADI/KARIM MR Ticket number: 057 2401234567 Booking reference: X7K2LM Issued: 28OCT26 by Sample Travels RQ 4401 Y 30OCT KBL DEL 0930 1240 OK 30K AI 2487 Y 30OCT DEL BLR 1800 2050 OK 25K Fare USD 520.00 Taxes USD 120.00 Total USD 640.00
- Passenger line. Compare every letter with the passport. Airlines charge to correct a name, and some refuse.
- Ticket number. The first three digits (057 here) are the airline's accounting code, so you can tell who issued the ticket. The remaining digits are unique to this ticket.
- Booking reference. Different from the ticket number. Use it on the airline site for check-in and changes.
- Flight lines. Airline and number, class letter, date as day and month, airport codes, departure then arrival time, status, baggage.
- Status OK. The seat is confirmed. Other codes mean the flight is not confirmed yet, so check before the customer travels.
- Totals. Fare plus taxes should equal the total. If they do not, something was left out.
ETR, ticket number and PNR are three different things
| Item | What it identifies | Who creates it |
|---|---|---|
| PNR (booking reference) | The whole booking: passengers and flights | The reservation system when the booking is made |
| Ticket number | One passenger's paid ticket | The airline or its agent at the moment of issue |
| Electronic ticket receipt | A readable copy of the ticket record | The airline, an online site or the travel agency |
One PNR can hold several passengers, each with their own ticket number, and each ticket number has its own receipt. A reservation that is only held has a PNR but no ticket number yet, so there is no receipt to give. That is why you should never send a customer a "receipt" before payment and issue.
Who issues the receipt?
- The airline, when you buy on its website. The receipt arrives by e-mail.
- An online travel site. It sends its own e-mail or PDF, generally built from the airline's ticket data.
- A travel agency. The agency issues the ticket through an airline system or a consolidator and hands the customer a receipt, often with its own logo and contact details.
An agency may present the same ticket data in its own layout. That is normal and legal as long as the ticket number, flights and passenger details are those of the real ticket. Branding a receipt is fine. Changing flights, names or amounts is not, and can be fraud.
When people ask for your e-ticket
- Airport check-in: usually the passport and booking reference are enough, but some countries ask for proof of onward travel.
- Visa applications: embassies often accept only real, confirmed bookings and check them. Hold the booking you really intend to use.
- Expense claims: employers want the receipt plus the invoice that shows the amount paid.
- Refunds and changes: the ticket number is what the airline or agent needs.
Common problems
- Name mismatch. A missing middle name or swapped surname causes more refusals than any other error.
- Wrong date format. 05/11 can mean 5 November or 11 May. Write the month in letters.
- Receipt sent before issue. The customer thinks they have a ticket and they do not.
- Currency confusion. Show the currency code next to every amount.
- Layout cut off on a phone. Check that the PDF reads well at phone width.
Making receipts in your agency
If you issue tickets for customers, a clean receipt with your branding is part of your service. Parvaz reads a photo of a ticket, fills in the passengers, flights, fare and ticket numbers, and produces the receipt in your agency's design with your logo. You check the data before it is shared, and you can make a change in one place. Details are on the e-ticket receipt generator page and in pricing.
Questions and answers
What does ETR stand for?
ETR stands for electronic ticket receipt. Some airlines and sites call it an e-ticket receipt or an e-ticket itinerary receipt.
Can I fly with only the electronic ticket receipt?
At most airports you need your passport and booking reference. The receipt is your proof of the ticket and is useful if the system cannot find your booking.
Where is the ticket number on the receipt?
It is a thirteen digit number, often written as three digits, a space and ten digits, near the passenger name. The first three digits identify the airline.
Is the PNR the same as the ticket number?
No. The PNR is a six character booking code. The ticket number is a thirteen digit number issued per passenger after payment.