Amadeus RPD Command: How to Search and Display Purged PNRs

A complete guide to the RPD command in Amadeus — how to search and display purged PNRs by airline, flight, date range, passenger name, ticket number, or record locator.

PNRs do not stay in the live system forever. After a certain period — determined by the airline and the office profile — bookings are purged from the active database and moved to a historical archive. This creates a problem when a customer calls weeks or months later asking about an old trip: the PNR cannot be retrieved with a standard retrieval command because it no longer exists in the live system. The RPD command solves this by searching the purged PNR archive using criteria such as airline, flight, date range, passenger name, ticket number, or record locator. This guide explains what RPD does, the syntax for each variation, and when it should be used.

What Does the RPD Command Do?

RPD is the Amadeus GDS command used to search and display purged PNRs using different criteria such as airline, flight, date range, passenger name, ticket number, or record locator.

Category: PNR Retrieval.

It allows you to retrieve and display purged PNR records, especially when you need to search using a date range or detailed booking information.

Unlike RT, which retrieves live PNRs from the active database, RPD searches the archived records. It is the only way to access booking information once the PNR has been purged.

Search by Airline, Date Range & Passenger Name

Search for a purged PNR using the airline, date range, boarding point, and passenger name:

RPD/LH/02JUL04-03JUL04/BPAR-HART/JOHN*T(TEXT)

This searches the purged archive using the airline code LH, the date range 02 July to 03 July 2004, the boarding point PAR, and the passenger HART/JOHN. The *T(TEXT) indicator is appended to return the results in text format.

Search by Flight & Date Range

Search by flight number, date range, boarding point, off-point, and passenger name:

RPD/AF2140/14JUL04-16JUL04/BPAR/OAMS-HART/JOHN*T(TEXT)

This searches by flight AF2140, the date range 14 July to 16 July 2004, boarding point PAR, off-point AMS, and passenger HART/JOHN. Use this when the customer knows the flight they took but not the record locator.

Search by Auxiliary Segment

Search by an auxiliary segment, date range, route, and passenger name:

RPD/CRUPLC/14JUL04-15JUL04/BMIA/OMIA-HART/JOHN*T(TEXT)

This searches using the auxiliary segment CRUPLC — for example a cruise or land arrangement — along with the date range, boarding point, off-point, and passenger name. It is useful when the original booking was tied to a non-air segment.

Search by Record Locator

Search for a purged PNR using the record locator and PNR validity date:

RPD/RLC-A1B2C3/03JUL04*T(TEXT)

The RLC option specifies that the search is by record locator. This is the simplest RPD search when you already know the locator and the approximate date the PNR was valid.

Search by Ticket Number

Search for a purged PNR using the ticket number:

RPD/TKT-0060077000072*T(TEXT)

This searches by ticket number. It is especially useful when a customer presents their ticket but does not know the record locator — the ticket number alone can find the archived PNR.

When to Use RPD

Use RPD when you need to search and display a purged PNR, especially when searching by a date range or detailed booking criteria. Typical scenarios include:

A customer requesting information about a trip taken months or years ago.
Verifying a past booking for refund, reissue, or dispute resolution.
Auditing historical sales and booking data for reporting.
Finding a PNR when only the ticket number is available.
Retrieving a booking for which the record locator is unknown.
Locating a PNR created by another office using the office ID and date range.
Searching by frequent flyer number or customer profile reference.

How RPD Fits Into Your PNR Retrieval Workflow

A typical purged PNR search using RPD might look like this:

Confirm with the customer that the PNR is no longer retrievable with RT.
Collect the search criteria — airline, flight, date range, passenger name, ticket number, or record locator.
Enter the appropriate RPD entry with the correct syntax.
Review the search results — RPD may return multiple matching records.
Select the correct purged PNR to display its contents.
Use the retrieved data for refunds, reissues, or customer responses.

How RPD Relates to Other Retrieval Commands

RPD → searches and displays purged PNRs from the archive.
RT → retrieves live PNRs from the active database.
RH → displays the history of a retrieved PNR.
RO → claims a PNR created by another airline or office.
RLD → checks office request lists and results.

The distinction matters: RT retrieves live PNRs; RPD is the only way to access records that have been purged from the active database.

Important: RPD searches the purged archive only. If the PNR is still active, use RT instead — RPD will not find it. Confirm the PNR has been purged before attempting an RPD search.

Purged PNR data is retained for a limited period determined by the airline and office policy. Once the retention period expires, the record may no longer be retrievable by any command.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does RPD do in Amadeus?

RPD searches and displays purged PNRs using criteria such as airline, flight, date range, passenger name, ticket number, or record locator.

How is RPD different from RT?

RT retrieves live PNRs. RPD searches the purged archive for records that no longer exist in the active database.

How do I search a purged PNR by ticket number?

Use RPD/TKT-0060077000072*T(TEXT), replacing the number with your ticket.

Can I search by date range and airline?

Yes. Use RPD/LH/02JUL04-03JUL04/BPAR-HART/JOHN*T(TEXT) — replace the airline, dates, boarding point, and passenger name.

What is the *T(TEXT) at the end of an RPD entry?

It tells the system to return the search results in text format rather than the default display.

Conclusion

The RPD command is the retrieval tool for purged PNRs in Amadeus. Use RPD/LH/02JUL04-03JUL04/BPAR-HART/JOHN*T(TEXT) to search by airline, date range, and passenger name, RPD/AF2140/14JUL04-16JUL04/BPAR/OAMS-HART/JOHN*T(TEXT) by flight, RPD/RLC-A1B2C3/03JUL04*T(TEXT) by record locator, RPD/TKT-0060077000072*T(TEXT) by ticket number, and RPD/PTA-, RPD/INS-, RPD/FFN-, and RPD/CUS- for other references. It is the only way to access bookings once they have been purged, and it is essential for refunds, reissues, disputes, audits, and customer queries about old trips. Remember that RPD searches only the archive — if the PNR is still live, use RT instead. Paired with RH, RO, and RLD, the RPD command completes your PNR retrieval toolkit and ensures no booking is ever truly lost.