What Does SEQ Mean on a Boarding Pass? Check-In Order
SEQ is short for sequence number, the check-in sequence number. It records the order in which passengers checked in for that flight: a low number means you checked in early. It does not set your seat. Whether it affects boarding order or who is removed from an oversold flight depends on the airline.
What is the SEQ number exactly?
The check-in sequence number is a standard field in the IATA bar coded boarding pass (BCBP) format, the layout used by the barcode on most airline boarding passes. In that format it is a five-character field stored once per flight leg, and it is usually a zero-padded number such as 0031. Many airlines print it on the pass as SEQ followed by the number. Layouts differ by airline.
It counts passengers in the order they were checked in, so a number like 0012 means you were one of the first. Some airlines issue the number differently, so treat the exact meaning as airline-specific.
Does a low SEQ number get me anything?
- Your seat. No. If your seat is assigned (the SEAT field on the pass), the sequence number does not change it.
- Your boarding group. Usually no. Groups and zones normally come from your fare, status or seat, not from SEQ. Airlines that board strictly in check-in order are the exception, and some use open seating for which check-in time matters.
- Oversold flights. It can matter. When a flight is oversold and not enough passengers volunteer to give up their seats, airlines apply their own rules to choose who is not taken. Check-in time is one factor some airlines use, alongside fare class, status and other factors. SEQ shows you where you were in line, and the policy is the airline's own.
- Perks and upgrades. No. A very low number does not bring special treatment.
For the real rules on a given flight, read the airline's conditions of carriage and its denied-boarding policy. Travel articles often overstate what SEQ does.
How do I get a lower SEQ number?
- Check in as soon as check-in opens. The opening time varies by airline and route, and it is stated in your booking.
- Check in online or in the airline's app rather than at the airport desk when the airline allows it.
How is SEQ different from other codes on the pass?
| Code | What it is |
|---|---|
| SEQ | Order in which you checked in for this flight. |
| PNR | The booking reference of your reservation. See what is a PNR. |
| Seat | Your assigned seat, or a placeholder such as GATE or STBY when none is assigned. |
| Group or zone | The boarding order the airline assigns, usually by fare, status or seat. |
| SSSS | A flag for extra security screening on flights to, from or within the US. See what SSSS means. |
For a code-by-code reading of a whole pass, see boarding pass codes decoded.
How to do it with FlightLog
If you keep your boarding passes, FlightLog can read them for you. Scan a paper or digital pass with the camera, or add a photo or screenshot. It reads the barcode and the printed text, and creates the flight with its route, date and seat. Boarding passes and tickets (passenger name, booking reference) stay on your phone and are never synced to the server. See how to scan a boarding pass and the boarding pass import guide.
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