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ETKT: MAXIMUM NUMBER OF FLIGHTS/PASSENGERS/TICKETS EXCEEDED

A practical guide for travel agents on fixing the ticketing limit error in Amadeus — covering flight limits, group PNR limits, ticket stock limits, and IATA BSP balance issues.

A ticketing limit error in Amadeus is frustrating because it does not always point to a single cause. The system blocks issuance whenever one of several limits has been reached — the itinerary has too many flights, the Group PNR exceeds the maximum passenger count, the airline’s ticket stock limit is exhausted, or your IATA BSP balance has run out. Because the same error can come from four different sources, agents often apply the wrong fix. This article breaks down each possible cause, explains the 16-flight and 2-ARNK rules, and gives you the correct solution for each scenario so you can issue tickets without delay.

Possible Causes of the Ticketing Limit Error

1. The itinerary exceeds the maximum number of flights allowed by the airline system.

The e-ticketing system allows a maximum of 16 flights and 2 Surface (ARNK) segments per ticket.

2. The number of passengers in the Group PNR exceeds the maximum allowed by the airline system.

Some airlines set their own limits on group size, and exceeding them blocks ticketing.

3. The limit for the number of tickets allowed by the airline has been reached.

Airlines issue ticket stock in limited quantities, and when the allocation is exhausted, new tickets cannot be issued until stock is renewed.

4. IATA BSP balance may be depleted — insufficient credit or funds.

If your BSP account does not have enough balance to cover the ticket value, issuance is blocked.

First Check: Is the BSP Balance Fine?

If the BSP balance is fine, contact the airline directly to request a new ticket stock. This is the fastest path when the airline’s ticket allocation has been exhausted.

If the BSP balance is depleted, top it up first — no other fix will work until funds are available.

Check the Flight and ARNK Count in the TST

Display the TST and check the number of flights and ARNK (Surface) segments.

The e-ticketing system allows a maximum of 16 flights and 2 Surface (ARNK) segments.

If the Number of Segments Exceeds 16

Issue tickets one passenger at a time. Enter:

TTP/P1/RT

The RT option keeps the PNR open after issuance.

Then use IR (Ignore) and continue with the next passenger:

TTP/P2/RT

Repeat the same process for each passenger until all tickets are issued.

If this does not solve the issue:

Reprice the flights to create two separate TSTs, then issue the tickets. Splitting the itinerary reduces the number of segments per ticket and clears the limit.

If the Number of Segments Is 16 or Less

The issue may be due to the ticket limit for the airline being reached, or your IATA BSP balance may be exhausted.

Check your IATA BSP balance — if it is empty or insufficient, top it up first before retrying ticketing.

Quick Fix Checklist

Check your IATA BSP balance first and top it up if needed.
Display the TST and count the number of flights and ARNK segments.
If segments exceed 16, issue tickets one passenger at a time with TTP/P1/RT.
Use IR to ignore and move to the next passenger.
If the problem persists, reprice into two separate TSTs and reissue.
If segments are 16 or fewer, check the airline ticket stock limit.
Contact the airline directly to request new ticket stock if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum number of flights per ticket?

The e-ticketing system allows a maximum of 16 flights and 2 Surface (ARNK) segments per ticket.

How do I issue tickets when the itinerary has more than 16 segments?

Issue one passenger at a time using TTP/P1/RT, then IR, then TTP/P2/RT, and so on. If that fails, split the itinerary into two TSTs.

What if the segment count is fine but the error persists?

Check your IATA BSP balance and the airline’s ticket stock allocation. Contact the airline directly to request new ticket stock if needed.

Conclusion

A ticketing limit error can come from four different sources, so the fastest approach is to work through them in order. Start by checking your IATA BSP balance and confirming it is not depleted. Then display the TST and count the flights and ARNK segments against the 16-flight and 2-ARNK limits. If the itinerary is too long, issue tickets one passenger at a time with TTP/P1/RT, or reprice into two separate TSTs. If the segment count is fine, the cause is likely the airline’s ticket stock limit — in that case, contact the airline directly to request new ticket stock. Working through these steps systematically clears the error and gets your tickets issued.

🏷 Tags: amadeus Amadeus errors