Originally Posted by
JohnAx
...
Same goes for ticket numbers, as mentioned above. One time an AA computer glitch left us unticketed on an FCO departure. Everything else about the booking - including seat assignments - seemed so 'complete' I didn't notice until OLCI when the BA computer mentioned a 'slight irregularity that will require airport check-in'. "Fortunately" the glitch dated the booking a year later which thwarted the normal ticketing progression but left the reservation on perma-hold until the humans straightened it out. Good thing we were uncharacteristically early for the flight.
My wife and I were on a joint LONE4 (AA issued). Flying -LAX-xORD-FCO- as part of a this, somehow our booking became split and my ticket number changed.
Before leaving Rome, I noticed a new PNR for me and thought it rather strange. I did not worry too much though, merely making sure I had recorded the new PNR.
Checking in to go to MAD with IB a few mornings later at FCO became problematic as they could not find my ticket number. My wife's booking was fine but mine was nowhere to be 'seen' by their systems. I had no internet access or other method of finding it. It was over an hour later before they were able to find it (the agent called AA in the other terminal [who had just 'opened'] ans was able to obtain the 001- number).
So, yes - PNR's are good, Ticket numbers are
even better. (And again, it was a good thing we arrived at the airport early.)