A flight itinerary is a detailed summary of your travel plan, showing all flights in your booking — including flight numbers, dates, departure and arrival airports, times, and booking reference.
It serves as the official record of your intended journey and proof that you had a confirmed reservation with the airline.
Learn More About "Flight Itinerary"Definition
Your itinerary is usually sent by email when you book your ticket, often under the subject “Booking Confirmation Email”, or even “E-Ticket.”
It includes all the information the airline and authorities need to identify your journey — and it’s one of the most important documents to prove eligibility for compensation under EU261/UK261.
A flight itinerary can include:
- Passenger name(s)
- Booking reference (PNR)
- Airline and flight number
- Departure and arrival airports
- Flight times and dates
- Layovers or connecting flights
- Ticket class and baggage allowance
- Contact information and payment details
When does a Flight Itinerary apply?
Your flight itinerary plays a crucial role in many stages of travel:
- Check-in and security: Confirms your reservation and route.
- Visa and border control: Proof of travel dates and destinations.
- Insurance and claims: Evidence of the journey in case of delay, cancellation, or lost baggage.
- EU261/UK261 compensation: Demonstrates that you had a confirmed booking and the final destination affected by a disruption.
If your flight was delayed or cancelled, your itinerary helps AireClaim link all legs of your trip together — especially for connecting flights — and calculate compensation based on your final arrival delay.
Why does it matter?
Your flight itinerary is more than just a schedule — it’s your proof of contract with the airline.Without it, it may be difficult to prove that you had a confirmed reservation, which is a key requirement for compensation under EU261/UK261.
Saving your itinerary (and forwarding it to AireClaim) ensures your case can be verified quickly and accurately.How does AireClaim help with a Flight Itinerary?
When you submit a claim, AireClaim uses your flight itinerary to:
- Verify your booking reference (PNR) and flight details.
- Check the airline’s operating carrier and jurisdiction (EU/UK).
- Identify any connecting flights or rebookings.
- Match your journey to operational and weather data.
You only need to upload your booking confirmation email or PDF — our system extracts the rest automatically.
You only pay a success fee if we win.
- Start here: Check eligibility & start your flight claim
- Read more: Passenger Rights under EU261
FAQs about What is a Flight Itinerary
Not exactly. The itinerary summarises your travel details and confirms your booking, while the ticket is the document authorising carriage. Most modern e-tickets combine both in one email or PDF. Learn more in Flight number.
That’s common on codeshare or connecting flights. Your rights under EU261 depend on the operating carrier — the airline actually running the flight — not necessarily the one you booked through. Learn more in Connecting Flight.
Yes. Most airlines can re-send your booking confirmation or itinerary if you provide your name, email, and travel dates. AireClaim can also recover data using your PNR or boarding pass. Learn more in EU261 Regulation.