Can I pass my customer's frequent flyer number to the airline when I book a flight through the API?

Yes, in most cases you can send a frequent flyer number with the passenger details when you book a flight through the API. The booking request normally has a space for the airline programme code and the membership number for each traveller, so your staff or your customer can enter it on the passenger page and it travels to the airline with the rest of the booking.

How reliably it lands depends on the supplier and the airline. Full service airlines usually accept the number without trouble. Some low cost carriers do not take membership numbers through a booking request at all, and a few only accept their own programme and quietly ignore partner cards. The passenger name also has to match the name on the membership account, otherwise the airline may just drop the number instead of telling you anything is wrong.

It helps to be clear with your customers about what this actually does. Passing the number asks the airline to credit the journey and to recognise the traveller's status for things like seat choice and baggage, but the airline alone decides whether miles are awarded and when they show up. No booking system can confirm that, so a confirmed booking with the number attached is not a promise that points have been added.

If the number does not get through, your customer can usually claim the miles from the airline after travel using the ticket details, so ask your team to keep ticket numbers on file and check with our support which of your enabled suppliers accept membership numbers at the time of booking.