Where to find records of flights you have already taken

Your airline keeps a record of every flight you booked and flew. You can retrieve that information directly from the airline through your booking confirmation, your frequent flyer account, or by contacting customer service with your name and travel dates. If you booked through a travel website like Expedia, Kayak, or Orbitz, those sites also store your booking history under your account. The fastest route depends on what you remember about the flight and which account you used to book it.

You do not need to contact the airline first. Start by checking your email for the original confirmation, then log into the airline's website or app. Most airlines let you search past bookings by confirmation number, last name, or email address. If you booked years ago, the record may still be there — airlines typically keep booking data for at least seven years for tax and legal reasons.

Key Takeaways

  • Check your email inbox and spam folder for the original booking confirmation, which contains your confirmation number and all flight details.
  • Log into the airline's website or app and search your booking history by confirmation number, last name, or email address.
  • If you booked through a third-party travel site, log into that site's account to view your past bookings and read receipts.
  • Call the airline's customer service line with your name and approximate travel dates if you cannot find the booking online.
  • Airlines keep booking records for seven years or longer, so old flights are usually still retrievable.

Searching your airline account

Every major airline — United, American, Delta, Southwest, JetBlue, Alaska, Spirit, Frontier — has a "Manage My Booking" or "View My Trip" section on its website and mobile app. Go to that section and enter your confirmation number (a six-character code from your booking email) along with your last name. The system will pull up the full itinerary, seat assignments, and any changes you made to the flight.

If you do not have your confirmation number, use the "Search by Name and Email" option instead. Enter the email address you used to book the flight and your last name. The airline's system will show all bookings associated with that email. This works even if you booked the flight years ago, as long as the airline still has the record.

Once you find the booking, you can view the receipt, read a PDF copy, and see whether the flight was on time, delayed, or cancelled. Some airlines also show the gate number, boarding time, and final arrival time in the booking record.

Retrieving information from third-party booking sites

If you booked through Expedia, Kayak, Orbitz, Priceline, or another travel website, log into your account on that site. These platforms store your complete booking history under your profile. Click on "My Trips," "Past Bookings," or "Order History" — the exact label varies by site — and you will see all flights you booked through that platform.

Third-party sites often keep booking records longer than airlines do, sometimes for ten years or more. You can read your receipt and itinerary as a PDF directly from the site. The record will show the confirmation number, flight times, and the price you paid, but may not include real-time delay or cancellation information — for that, you may still need to check the airline's website.

If you booked through a travel agent or corporate travel program, contact that agent or program directly. They have access to your booking history and can send you the confirmation and receipt by email.

Contacting the airline by phone or email

If you cannot find your booking online, call the airline's customer service line. Have ready your full name, the approximate date of travel (month and year is enough), and the city pair (where you flew from and to). The representative will search the airline's database and pull up your booking. This usually takes a few minutes.

You can also email the airline's customer service address, though response times are typically longer — often three to seven business days. Include your name, travel dates, and the cities you flew between. Attach a copy of any boarding pass or receipt you have, even if it is incomplete.

Some airlines charge a fee to retrieve old booking information if the flight was more than a year in the past, though most do not. Ask before the representative spends time searching.

Finding delay and cancellation records

If you need proof that your flight was delayed or cancelled — for example, to claim a refund or to document the delay for tax purposes — the airline's website is the primary source. Log into your booking and look for a "Flight Status" or "Delay Information" section. This shows the scheduled departure time, actual departure time, and reason for the delay if one occurred.

The U.S. Department of Transportation also maintains records of flight delays and cancellations by airline and airport. You can search the DOT's database at transtats.bts.dot.gov by entering the airline, airport, and month. This data is public and updated monthly, though it lags by about two months. The DOT data shows aggregate delay statistics, not individual flight records, so it is useful for understanding patterns but not for proving a specific flight was delayed.

If the airline's website does not show delay information for an old flight, contact customer service directly. They can access the operational record and confirm the delay time, which you may need for a delay compensation claim or insurance claim.

What information airlines keep and for how long

Airlines retain booking records, seat assignments, and payment information for a minimum of seven years. This is a legal requirement for tax and audit purposes. Operational data — departure times, arrival times, delay codes, and cancellation reasons — is kept for at least five years by the airline and the FAA.

Boarding passes and check-in records are typically kept for one to three years. If you need a boarding pass from a flight more than three years old, the airline may not have it in their system, though they can usually confirm you flew on that flight based on the booking record.

Frequent flyer account records are kept indefinitely as long as your account remains active. If your account has been closed for several years, the airline may have archived the history, but customer service can usually retrieve it upon request.

Recovering lost or damaged booking confirmations

If your original booking confirmation email was deleted and you do not remember your confirmation number, start by searching your email trash or spam folder. Gmail, Outlook, and other email providers keep deleted messages for 30 days before permanent deletion. Search for the airline name or the word "confirmation" to narrow the results.

If the email is permanently gone, use the airline's website to regenerate it. Log into your account, find the past booking, and select "Resend Confirmation" or "read Receipt." The system will email you a new copy of the confirmation with the same details and confirmation number.

If you do not remember which email address you used to book the flight, try every email account you owned at the time of travel. If none of them have the confirmation, call the airline with your name and travel dates and ask them to send the confirmation to your current email address.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far back can I search for past flights?

Airlines keep booking records for at least seven years, so you can usually find flights from the past five to seven years without difficulty. Flights older than that may still be in the system, but retrieval may take longer or require a phone call to customer service. Some airlines keep records longer than the legal minimum.

Can I find a flight if I only remember the date and city?

Yes. Call the airline's customer service line with your name, the approximate date of travel, and the cities you flew between. The representative can search the airline's database by these details alone. You do not need a confirmation number, though having one speeds up the search.

What if I booked a flight for someone else?

If you booked the flight under the passenger's name but used your email address, you can find it in your airline account. If you used the passenger's email address, they will need to log into their own account or contact the airline with their name and travel dates. Airlines do not release booking information to third parties without the passenger's permission.

Do I need my boarding pass to prove I took a flight?

No. The airline's booking record and the confirmation number are sufficient proof that you flew. If you need documentation for insurance, tax, or legal purposes, the airline can issue a letter confirming the flight and any delays or cancellations that occurred.

Can I find information about flights I booked but did not take?

Yes. Cancelled bookings remain in the airline's system. Log into your account and search for the booking by confirmation number or name. The record will show that the flight was cancelled, refunded, or credited, depending on what happened to the booking.