What is a Flight Itinerary?: All You Need to Know
A flight itinerary is a proposed route for your flight and includes details like the airports, dates and times.
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Key takeaways
- A flight itinerary is a document detailing your flight route, including departure and arrival airports, dates, times, flight numbers, and other travel details like meal preferences and confirmation numbers.
- An itinerary is not a ticket. It provides an overview of your trip, but you need to check in and receive a boarding pass to actually board the flight.
- Your airline usually emails you the itinerary, or you can find it on the airline’s website by logging into "Manage Booking" or similar sections, or by contacting the airline directly.
- With Going membership plans, you can get real-time alerts as soon as prices drop for domestic and international flights. That way, you know you're getting some of the cheapest flights every time.
Whenever you book a flight, you immediately get multiple emails with a receipt and itinerary, and—once your flight is confirmed—your ticket. It can be a little confusing to figure out what’s what, so let’s look at the difference between a flight itinerary and a ticket.
What is a flight itinerary?
A flight itinerary is a proposed route for your flight. It includes the departure and arrival airports, connecting airports (if any), dates and times of the flights, flight numbers, passenger name, any meal preferences (if applicable), and your confirmation number.
Most of the time, you get an itinerary after you book your flight, but you can also get a proposed itinerary by “reserving” your flight if you need it to apply for a visa. Many airlines will allow you to place a hold on a flight and lock in the price for a certain amount of time (often 24 hours) either free or for a fee, so you can come back and book it later. Others will keep your itinerary saved for up to 72 hours (though the price is not guaranteed).
Is a flight itinerary the same thing as a ticket?
The itinerary can be a proposed route or a confirmation of your travel plans, but you’ll still need to check-in and get a ticket to board the plane.
Itineraries are great for an overview of your trip and for sharing your travel plans with friends, families, or co-workers. If you need proof of onward travel (for a tourist visa, for example), your best bet is to have proof of a plane ticket out of the country. Some countries are stricter than others, and a plane ticket is unquestionable.
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Where do I find my flight itinerary?
In most cases, your airline will email you a copy of your itinerary. If not, you can go to the airline website and find it under your trips (many airlines have a section, often called “manage booking” or “my trips” or something similar, where you can pull up your itinerary by inputting your name and confirmation number). You can also call the airline or ask your travel agent for your trip itinerary.
What are the different types of flight itineraries?
Depending on what you are booking, your itinerary may include one of several options: a one-way flight, roundtrip flight, or a multi-city flight.
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Is a flight itinerary the same as boarding pass?
No, a flight itinerary and a boarding pass are not the same. A flight itinerary is a document that outlines the details of your flight, including the flight number, departure and arrival times, airport information, and sometimes the booking reference. It’s usually provided when you book a flight. A boarding pass, on the other hand, is a document you receive when checking in for a flight, and it grants you permission to board the aircraft. It contains specific flight details such as your seat assignment, gate number, and boarding time.
What is the difference between a flight reservation and a flight itinerary?
A flight reservation is the initial booking or holding of a seat on a flight, where you secure a spot but may not have received the complete details of the journey yet. It may or may not include all the final details of the flight (like the exact timings or the seat number). A flight itinerary, however, is a more detailed document showing the full plan for your journey, including your flight’s schedule, times, and sometimes additional travel information. An itinerary is typically issued once your reservation has been confirmed and the details are finalized.
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Last updated Mar 28, 2025