Sabre Queue Guide: Numbers, Categories & Commands for Travel Agents
If you work with Sabre GDS, you have probably seen queue numbers showing up all over the place. These queues are not random lists โ they are actually very important tools that help travel agents manage bookings efficiently without missing any important updates.
Whether you are a new agent learning the Sabre system or an experienced consultant looking for a quick reference, this guide explains what each queue number means and the exact commands you need to work through them.
What Are Sabre Queues?
Sabre queues are lists of Passenger Name Records (PNRs) that need attention. Instead of checking every booking by hand, the system puts these records into specific queues based on what needs to be done, what has been updated, or what problems there are.
In simple terms, queues are like a smart list of things to do for agents. They organise all the PNRs that require action into dedicated buckets, so nothing gets overlooked.
Why Are Queues Important?
Queues help agents do a lot of things. They help agents:
- Keep track of bookings that are urgent and not urgent
- See when airlines change their schedules โ critical for proactively rebooking passengers
- Remember when tickets need to be issued โ avoiding costly ADMs
- Manage lists of people waiting for seats and confirmations
- Catch mistakes before they become problems โ quality control on every booking
Without queues, it would be very hard and time-consuming to manage all the bookings every day. Queues automate the triage process so you can focus on the PNRs that actually need your attention.
Common Sabre Queue Numbers
Here are the most commonly used Sabre queue numbers and their functions. Each queue has a specific job that helps agents get things done quickly.
| Queue | Category | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Urgent | Basic PNR and SSR updates โ departure within 24 to 72 hours |
| 1 | General | Basic PNR and SSR updates โ non-urgent |
| 2 | Confirmations | Car, hotel and tour confirmation numbers |
| 3 | Urgent | Urgent requests requiring immediate attention |
| 5 | Schedule Change | Airline schedule changes within 72 hours (urgent) |
| 6 | Schedule Change | Airline schedule changes beyond 72 hours (non-urgent) |
| 7 | Status Change | HX status code received โ segment cancellation |
| 9 | Ticketing | Tickets to print (TAW) โ future ticketing dates |
| 10 | Ticketing | Current ticket date (TAU) โ urgent ticketing |
| 11 | Updates | Airline updates and wireless changes |
| 17 | Waitlist | Waitlist confirmations โ urgent (departure within 72 hours) |
| 18 | Waitlist | Waitlist confirmations โ non-urgent |
| 20 | Quality Control | Dube Booking PNR โ checking quality of bookings |
| 24 | Seat Confirmation | Pre-reserved seat confirmations (OK status) |
| 25 | Seat Confirmation | Pre-reserved seat unable to confirm (UC status) |
Essential Queue Commands
To work with queues, Sabre has some simple commands that make the process straightforward.
Open a Queue
Ignore a PNR and Move to the Next
Remove a PNR from the Queue
Update and Refile a PNR
Exit the Queue
Quick Reference Table
Bookmark this table for quick access during your daily queue work.
| Function | Command | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open a queue | Q/[number] | Sign into a specific queue (e.g., Q/5) |
| Ignore and move next | I | Discard changes and move to the next PNR |
| Remove from queue | QR | Remove the PNR from the queue and move next |
| Update and refile | EWR | Save changes and return the PNR to the queue |
| Exit and ignore | QXI | Ignore the current PNR and exit the queue |
| Exit and save | QXE | End transaction on the PNR and exit the queue |
| Queue count | QC/ | Display the number of PNRs in all queues |
| Specific queue count | QC/[number] | Display the number of PNRs in a specific queue |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Sabre queues?
What does Queue 0 mean in Sabre?
What is Queue 9 used for in Sabre?
What is the difference between QR and QXI in Sabre?
QR removes the booking from the queue and displays the next PNR on the queue. QXI ignores the current PNR (discarding any changes) and exits the queue completely.What does EWR do in Sabre queues?
EWR updates the PNR (end transaction with rebook) and then redisplay it. It is used when you have made changes to the booking and want to save them before moving on.How many queues does Sabre have?
What is Queue 5 used for in Sabre?
What is Queue 18 used for in Sabre?
Practise Sabre Queue Management in a Safe Simulator
Create a free GDS HUB account and practise queue commands Q/, QR, QXI, EWR and I in a simulated Sabre environment โ no live data, no risk.
Start Practising Free โ
