Amadeus Queue Commands: QE, QER, and QES Guide for Agents

A complete guide to the QE, QER, and QES commands in Amadeus — how to place PNRs and messages on queues and manage their position during queue processing.

Key Takeaways

QE places a PNR or message on a queue — either the current one or by record locator.
QER adds the PNR to another queue while keeping it on the current queue.
QES ends the transaction and moves the PNR to the bottom of the queue.
Use the QT command to verify that a PNR was placed on the correct queue.
Each command serves a distinct purpose — choose the right one for the workflow.

In Amadeus, queue management is one of the most important daily skills for travel agents. Queues are used to route PNRs and messages to the right person or department — whether that is ticketing, refunds, schedule changes, or customer service follow-ups. The three commands at the heart of this workflow are QE, QER, and QES. Each one handles a different part of the queue process: placing an item on a queue, adding it to a second queue while keeping the first, and saving the transaction while moving the PNR to the bottom of the queue. This guide explains each command, shows working examples, and clarifies exactly when to use each one.

Overview of QE, QER, and QES

QE, QER, and QES are Amadeus GDS commands used to place PNRs or messages on queues and manage their position during queue processing.

Category: Queue Management.

QE — Place a PNR or Message on Queue

The QE command places the current PNR or message on a specific queue and category.

QE8C1

This places the current PNR or message on Queue 8, Category 1.

You can also place a specific PNR on a queue using its record locator, without opening it first:

QE8C1-GTD5BJ

This places the PNR with record locator GTD5BJ on Queue 8, Category 1.

QER — Place PNR on Another Queue and Retain the Current Queue

The QER command adds the PNR to another queue while keeping it on the current queue. This is useful when a PNR needs to be handled by more than one department at the same time.

QER3

This places the PNR on another queue while retaining it on the current queue.

QES — End Transaction and Move the PNR

The QES command ends the transaction and moves the PNR to the bottom of the queue. This is typically used when you have finished working on a queued PNR but want to keep it in the queue for later follow-up.

QES

The transaction is saved and the PNR is moved to the bottom of the current queue.

QE vs QER vs QES — Comparison Table

Command	Purpose	Saves Changes?	Keeps Current Queue?	Moves to Bottom?	Best Use Case
QE8C1	Place PNR on queue	N/A	No (creates new placement)	No	Route PNR to a department
QE8C1-GTD5BJ	Place PNR by record locator	N/A	No	No	Bulk placement without retrieval
QER3	Add PNR to another queue	N/A	Yes (retains current)	No	Multi-department handling
QES	End transaction, move to bottom	Yes	Yes (stays in same queue)	Yes	Save work, requeue for later

✅ Pro Tip: Verify Queue Placement with QT

After using QE, QER, or QES, always verify that the placement was accepted and appears in the correct queue. The fastest way is the QT command, which displays queue information for the current PNR.

How to verify:

QT — displays the queue(s) containing the current PNR, with queue number, category, and placement date.
RTQ — an alternative that lists all queues containing the PNR in the current office.
QU — after starting the queue with QS, use QU to confirm the message has been placed correctly.

Verifying with QT immediately after QE/QER/QES prevents “missing PNR” issues and confirms the routing worked as intended.

When to Use Each Command

QE → Place a PNR or message on a queue.
QER → Add the PNR to another queue while keeping it on the current queue.
QES → Save the transaction and move the PNR to the bottom of the current queue.

Troubleshooting Common Queueing Errors

If QE, QER, or QES returns an error, work through these common causes:

No PNR Retrieved

The QE, QER, and QES commands operate on the current PNR. If no PNR is retrieved, the entry fails.

👉 Retrieve the PNR first with RT or REC, then retry the queue command.

Invalid Queue Number or Category

If you enter a queue number or category that does not exist in your office, the placement will be rejected.

👉 Confirm the correct queue number with your supervisor or check QC to see which queues are active in your office.

PNR Has Errors Preventing Placement

PNRs with unresolved errors, missing mandatory elements, or active change flags may be rejected from queue placement.

👉 Fix PNR errors first. Check with ET or ER to see pending issues.

Record Locator Not Found

When using QE8C1-GTD5BJ, if the record locator is wrong or belongs to another office, the entry fails.

👉 Double-check the record locator and confirm the PNR exists in your office database before retrying.

Queue Not Accessed / Not in Queue Mode

Some queue commands only work while actively processing a queue (started with QS).

👉 Start the queue with QS8C1 before attempting queue-specific operations.

Quick Reference Checklist

Identify the queue number and category you need.
To place the current PNR: use QE8C1.
To place a specific PNR by record locator: use QE8C1-GTD5BJ.
To keep the PNR on the current queue while adding another: use QER3.
To save and move the PNR to the bottom of the queue: use QES.
Verify placement with QT or RTQ.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does QE8C1 mean?

It places the current PNR or message on Queue 8, Category 1.

What is the difference between QE and QER?

QE places the PNR on a queue. QER adds the PNR to another queue while retaining it on the current one.

What does QES do?

It ends the transaction and moves the PNR to the bottom of the current queue, keeping it available for later follow-up.

How do I verify a queue placement?

Use QT or RTQ to confirm the PNR is on the expected queue with the correct category and placement date.

Related Amadeus Queue Command Guides

Explore the related Amadeus queue commands to build a complete queue management workflow:

Amadeus Command

QS — Queue Start

Begin processing a queue.

Amadeus Command

QN / QNF — Next & Exit

Move to the next item or exit queue mode.

Amadeus Command

QF / QFR — Exit Queue

Save and exit queue mode.

Amadeus Command

QI / QIR — Ignore & Exit

Ignore the PNR and leave the queue.

Amadeus Command

RTQ — Queue Placements

View all queues containing a PNR.

Amadeus Command

QU — Redisplay Message

Bring the queue message back on screen.

Amadeus Command

QD / QDF — Defer & Delay

Postpone a queued PNR.

Amadeus Command

QR — Remove All Queue Items

Clear the entire queue (use with caution).

For the bigger picture, see our complete guides on Amadeus Queues — How to Use Them Efficiently and How to Create a PNR in Amadeus. If you work across GDS systems, you may also find our guides on Galileo Queues and Sabre Queues useful.

Conclusion

Mastering QE, QER, and QES is essential for efficient queue management in Amadeus. QE places a PNR or message on a queue — either the current one or a specific PNR by record locator. QER keeps the PNR on the current queue while adding it to another, which is useful when two departments need to work on the same booking. QES closes the transaction and moves the PNR to the bottom of the queue for later follow-up. Knowing which command to use in each situation keeps your workflow organised, prevents PNRs from being lost between departments, and ensures every queued item is handled on time. Always verify placements with QT or RTQ to confirm the routing worked correctly.

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Master the Complete Amadeus Queue Toolkit

QE, QER, and QES are just the start. Explore the full queue command family — from starting and processing to deferring and clearing — with our step-by-step GDS guides.

QS — Queue Start RTQ — Queue Placements QF / QFR — Exit Queue Amadeus Queues — Full Guide

Bookmark this page — it’s your quick reference for QE, QER, QES, and every related queue command.