Learn how to create a flight reservation and issue a ticket step by step in the Sabre GDS system. This complete tutorial covers building a PNR, entering passenger details, adding contact information, pricing the itinerary, and issuing the ticket professionally — perfect for travel agents and beginners who want to master Sabre.
Watch: Create a PNR in Sabre GDS
Follow along with the video tutorial below to see every command in action — from availability to ticket issuance.
In this video, you will learn how to create a flight reservation and issue a ticket step by step in the Sabre GDS system. The tutorial covers how to build a PNR, enter passenger details, add contact information, price the itinerary, and issue the ticket professionally. This guide is perfect for travel agents and beginners who want to improve their Sabre GDS skills and understand the full booking process from start to finish. If you are learning airline reservation systems or working in the travel industry, this video will help you gain practical experience using Sabre.
What Is a PNR in Sabre GDS?
A PNR (Passenger Name Record) is the reservation record that stores all information connected with a passenger’s booking. In Sabre GDS, a complete PNR brings together several essential elements.
Passenger Name
Full legal name of the passenger, including title and passenger type (adult, child, infant).
Flight Segments
Origin, destination, flight number, date, booking class and departure/arrival times.
Contact Details
Agency phone number, email address and destination contact information for the passenger.
Ticketing Information
Ticketing deadline, form of payment and fare calculation for the itinerary.
Special Services
Meal requests, wheelchair assistance, extra baggage and any OSI remarks.
Received From
The RFM element confirms who provided the booking request — required before ending the transaction.
8 Steps to Create a PNR in Sabre GDS
Follow this exact sequence to build a complete, ticketed PNR in Sabre. Each step shows the command and a practical example.
Check Flight Availability
Start by searching for available flights on the requested route and date. Review flight numbers, departure/arrival times, booking classes and available seats before choosing a flight.
A20OCTDELSIN
Sell the Flight Segment
Sell the chosen flight using the sell command. The format is 0 + number of passengers + booking class + line number from the availability display.
01Y1
Add Passenger Name
Enter the passenger’s full name using the dash command. The number after the dash indicates the passenger count. Include the surname, first name and title.
-1SMITH/JOHN MR
Add Contact Details
Insert the agency contact information using the 9 command. Include the phone number and email address. This is required before ending the transaction.
9 0101010101010 - AGENCY NAME
Add Ticketing Information
Add the ticketing arrangement using the 7TAW/ command to set the ticketing deadline and form of payment. This tells the system when the ticket must be issued.
7TAW/
Price the Itinerary
Run the pricing command to calculate the fare, taxes and total amount. Use WP for the best available fare or WPNCB for the lowest fare across all booking classes.
WPNCB
Issue the Ticket
Once the fare is confirmed and the ticketing arrangement is in place, issue the ticket using the W command. The system produces the ticket record.
W
End and Retrieve the PNR
Finalise the booking with ER (End and Retrieve). This saves the PNR and redisplays it with the record locator, confirming the booking is complete.
ER
Sabre PNR Command Reference
Quick reference for the most important Sabre commands used when creating and managing a PNR.
| Command | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A | Flight availability | A20OCTDELSIN |
| 0 | Sell segment | 01Y1 |
| – | Passenger name | -1SMITH/JOHN MR |
| 9 | Contact details | 9 0101010101010 |
| 7TAW/ | Ticketing arrangement | 7TAW/ |
| WP / WPNCB | Pricing | WPNCB |
| W | Ticket issuance | W |
| ER | End and retrieve | ER |
| RFM | Add Received From element | RFM |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a PNR in Sabre GDS?
What is the command to create a PNR in Sabre?
What is the dash command in Sabre?
What does 9 mean in Sabre?
What is 7TAW/ in Sabre?
What is the difference between E and ER in Sabre?
Can I create a PNR in Sabre without prior experience?
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