Every flight reservation has a shelf life. It is a seat held in an airline's system without payment, and airlines do not hold unpaid seats for ever. Our own policy is simple to state: a reservation from us stays valid for up to 2 weeks, and the airline decides the exact period. This guide explains what sits behind that sentence, why the airline has the final say, and how to time your booking so the reference is still live on the day your file is looked at. Every outside rule quoted below links to the airline, GDS or government page it comes from.
Dummy ticket validity: key facts
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| How long does our reservation stay valid? | Up to 2 weeks. The airline decides the exact period for each booking.[1] |
| Can it end sooner than that? | Yes. Our terms say we are not responsible if the airline cancels earlier than expected under its own policies.[1] |
| Why does it expire at all? | Airlines attach a ticketing time limit to unpaid bookings and cancel the seats when it passes.[3][4] |
| What does an expired booking look like? | The airline cancels the flight segments; in agency systems they show status HX.[3][5] |
| When should I book for a visa appointment? | Our terms recommend no more than 24 hours before the appointment.[1] |
| Is an expired reservation refunded? | No. Our refund policy excludes cancellations after the validity period and bookings made too early.[2] |
How long is a dummy ticket valid?
Up to two weeks, with the airline setting the precise cut-off. That is the wording in our terms and conditions, and it is repeated in our cancellation and refund policy.[1][2] We deliberately do not promise a fixed number of days, because we do not control the number.
Think of it this way. We create the booking, but the seat belongs to the airline's inventory. The airline's system decides how long an unpaid seat may sit there. On one route that may be close to the two-week ceiling. On another, perhaps a busy holiday flight or one departing soon, the airline may release it much sooner. Both outcomes fit the same policy.
So when someone asks us "exactly how many days will mine last?", the honest reply is that nobody outside the airline knows in advance. What you can control is when you book, and that matters far more.
Why do airlines cancel unpaid reservations?
Because an unpaid seat is a seat they cannot sell. Airlines protect their inventory with a rule called the ticketing time limit, often shortened to TTL. It is a deadline written into the booking. If no ticket is issued by then, the reservation goes.
Cathay Pacific's guidance for travel agents spells the logic out clearly. It publishes a ticket time limit on all of its bookings, and if the agent fails to issue a ticket before that date and time, the Cathay Pacific segments are cancelled "to ensure better inventory control". The same document explains that the point is to reserve seats for genuine demand and avoid seats being blocked.[3]
The big reservation systems build this in. Travelport, one of the global distribution systems (GDS) that travel agents use, documents a status for exactly this event: TLCXL "indicates that the TTL time expired for the PNR, and the system automatically canceled the air segments".[4] Delta's agency policy says the same thing in its own words: a booking not ticketed within the allotted limit is cancelled, and the HX status code appears on the flight segments.[5] Virgin Atlantic tells agents that if tickets are not issued in line with the ticketing time limit, its sectors "will be cancelled".[6]
In plain terms: expiry is not a fault in the reservation. It is the airline doing what it does with every unpaid booking, whether a travel agent, a corporate desk or we made it.
What decides the exact period for your booking?
The airline's own rules, applied to your particular flights. The published guidance points to several factors.
- When the booking was created. Cathay Pacific says its limit is calculated from the PNR creation date and may change if the booking is adjusted.[3]
- Region and booking class. Delta states its limits vary by region and class; for one example it gives US domestic economy a limit one day after booking.[5]
- How close departure is. Cathay notes that bookings made close to departure can require same-day ticketing, within a few hours.[3]
- Market conditions. Cathay also says that in critical periods, with limited schedules and capacity, some flights need early ticketing.[3]
- Every confirmed flight in the booking. Where segments differ, Cathay applies the most restrictive limit across all confirmed segments.[3]
- The calendar. If Cathay's deadline lands on a weekend, it is moved to the previous working day, not the next one.[3]
Those are one airline's published rules, and others differ in detail. The pattern is common though: the limit depends on the flight, the fare and the timing, and it can be tighter than you might guess.
One more thing the airlines are clear about. Repeatedly cancelling and rebooking the same seat to keep it held is called "churning", and Cathay describes it as abusive behaviour that can attract penalties for the agent.[3] That is one reason a reservation cannot simply be kept alive indefinitely by re-holding it.
How do airline fare holds compare with our reservation?
Some airlines sell or give away their own short holds. They are designed for people who are about to buy a ticket, not for visa files, but they make a useful comparison.
| Option | How long it holds | Cost | Main limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emirates Hold My Fare | 24 hours | Free on the page we checked | Economy Class only; some departure countries excluded; pay later under Manage[7] |
| Singapore Airlines Secure My Fare | Usually up to 3 days; a promotional fare may get 1 day | About SGD 5–20 per passenger, not refunded and not deducted from the fare | Flights operated by Singapore Airlines, Economy and Premium Economy, no award bookings[8] |
| US 24-hour rule | 24 hours, held without payment or cancelled without penalty | None | Applies to carriers covered by the US rule when booked a week or more before departure[9] |
| Reservation from DummyTicketPrice | Up to 2 weeks; the airline decides the exact period | ₹699 / $9 per passenger | Not a paid ticket; cannot be used to fly[1] |
The airline holds are perfectly good tools if you have nearly decided to buy. For an appointment that is still a week away they run out too soon, and the Singapore Airlines fee is lost if you do not go on to buy. A broader look at the paid-ticket route is in dummy ticket vs refundable ticket.
When should you book a reservation for a visa appointment?
Close to the appointment. Our terms recommend booking no more than 24 hours before it, and that is the advice we give on WhatsApp too.[1] Booking a fortnight early does not make the reservation stronger. It only uses up the hold before anyone has looked at it.
Here is how we would plan it.
- Fix the appointment first. Get the VFS, BLS or embassy slot confirmed before ordering anything.
- Choose flight dates that match your form. The reservation should show the arrival and departure dates you are writing on the application.
- Order the day before. On our booking page, the "Deliver ticket on" field lets you pick "By a specific date (visa appointment)" and add the date. The notes box takes your appointment date as well.
- Open the PNR on the airline site as soon as the email arrives. The steps are in how to verify a dummy ticket before submission.
- Print it and check it once more on the morning. A quick lookup before you leave home costs nothing.
A worked example. Say your Schengen biometrics are booked for a Thursday at 10:30. Place the order on Wednesday afternoon, check the booking that evening and print it. On Thursday morning, open it again before you set out. If anything looks wrong at either check, you still have time to message us.
One timing caution for night owls: our booking page says orders placed between 11pm and 6am IST can take up to 2 hours to arrive, so do not leave a 9am appointment until 2am.
Our separate guide, when to book a dummy ticket before a visa appointment, works through more appointment patterns.
Book it for your appointment date
Choose "by a specific date" at checkout. ₹699 / $9 per passenger, live PNR.
Does the reservation need to stay live until the visa decision?
Nobody can promise that it will, and you should know why. A Schengen consulate normally decides in 15 days and can take up to 45 when it needs a closer look.[10] That is longer than many airline holds last. Consulates also do not publish when, or whether, they look up a flight booking.
What the official checklists do say is reassuring on one point. The Dutch VFS checklist for India tells applicants to make travel reservations they can cancel, in case the visa is refused.[11] In other words, missions know a reservation is a temporary, cancellable thing. The sensible goal is a booking that is genuine and current when you hand it in, described honestly as a reservation.
If a mission later asks you for an updated itinerary, give them a fresh reservation for the same plan. Never alter the old PDF to make it look current. The Schengen guide on our site covers how officers may check, in dummy ticket for Schengen visa.
What happens when the hold ends?
The airline cancels the flights in the booking. Looking it up on the airline website will then usually show the booking as cancelled, or not find it at all. The PDF in your inbox does not change, but it now describes a booking that no longer exists in the airline's system.
Under our refund policy, two related situations are not refundable: the airline cancelling the PNR after its validity period, and a booking made too early that expired before your appointment.[2] That is why we keep repeating the advice to book late rather than early. If you are unsure whether your booking will last to a particular date, ask us on WhatsApp before you order rather than after.
Our policies do not describe extending a hold once it has been issued. If you need cover for a later date, message support and we will tell you what can be done for your booking. For what happens when the airline itself cancels or changes a flight, see dummy ticket flight cancelled.
How long should a reservation last for onward-travel checks?
Only until you have checked in and cleared arrival. For proof of onward travel, the moment that matters is the airport counter on departure day and the immigration desk on arrival, so book a day or two before you fly.
Be aware that some countries want more than a reservation. Immigration New Zealand says visa-waiver visitors' onward tickets "must be paid for" before travel.[12] In cases like that, a held booking may not satisfy the rule however recently you made it. Our onward ticket page and the guide to countries that require proof of onward travel go through which rules ask for what.
Which timing mistakes cause the most trouble?
- Booking when you first start the file. If the appointment is three weeks out, the hold may be gone before you arrive.
- Booking before the slot is confirmed. Appointment systems reschedule people; your reservation cannot follow automatically.
- Choosing a flight that leaves within days. Airlines often want quicker ticketing close to departure, which can shorten the hold.
- Never opening the booking after delivery. If you never look, you will not know whether it is still there.
- Editing dates on an old PDF. That turns a genuine document into an altered one. Get a new reservation instead.
What does a reservation cost?
The price is per passenger and covers one way or round trip:
Multi-city trips are priced per pair of legs, and hotel bookings per stay, per traveller. The full list is on the dummy ticket price page. You can pay by UPI, card or netbanking through Razorpay, and track the order on find my booking. To see what you will receive, look at our sample reservations.
For the bigger picture of reservations against paid tickets, read flight reservation for visa or start at the home page. If your consulate also wants accommodation, see dummy hotel booking, and the requirements by country table shows what each destination asks for.
Frequently asked questions
01How many days is a dummy ticket valid?
Ours stays valid for up to 2 weeks, and the airline decides the exact period for each booking. It can be shorter, because each airline sets a ticketing time limit on unpaid seats based on the flight, the fare and how soon departure is. Book close to the date the reservation will be seen, ideally within 24 hours of your appointment.
02Why can't you tell me the exact expiry date?
Because the airline's system sets it, not us. Published agent rules from airlines such as Cathay Pacific and Delta show the limit varies by route, booking class and timing, and can change if the booking is adjusted. We state the ceiling honestly and advise booking late so the exact figure matters less.
03What happens if my reservation expires before the appointment?
The airline cancels the flights, and a lookup will show the booking cancelled or missing. Do not submit it or alter it. Order a new reservation close to the appointment. Our refund policy does not cover a booking made too early that expired before the appointment, so timing is worth getting right first time.
04Will the consulate reject my file if the PNR lapses during processing?
We cannot say how any mission will treat it, and none publishes its checking practice. Missions do know reservations are temporary: the Dutch VFS checklist for India asks for reservations you can cancel. Submit a booking that is live on the day, call it a reservation, and supply a new one if asked.
05Can I extend a dummy ticket that is about to expire?
Our policies do not describe an extension service, and airlines discourage repeatedly re-holding the same seat. Message our support on WhatsApp at +91 99864 91066 with your order reference and they will tell you what is possible for your booking. For a new appointment date, a fresh reservation is usually the cleanest answer.
06Is an airline's own fare hold better for a visa file?
Only for a very short gap. Emirates Hold My Fare lasts 24 hours and Singapore Airlines Secure My Fare usually up to 3 days, for a fee that is not returned if you don't buy. Those suit someone about to purchase. For an appointment several days away, they often run out first.
07How early should I book for proof of onward travel?
A day or two before your departure, so the booking is live at check-in and on arrival. Check the destination's own rule first. New Zealand, for example, says onward tickets for visa-waiver visitors must be paid for before travel, and a held reservation may not satisfy a rule like that.
Sources
All sources last checked: October 2026.
- DummyTicketPrice, Terms and conditions: sections 2 (ticket validity) and 3 (user responsibilities).
- DummyTicketPrice, Cancellation and refund policy: section 2 (non-refundable scenarios).
- Cathay Pacific, Ticket Time Limit (ADTK) FAQ for travel agents (PDF, April 2022).
- Travelport, Universal API help: Action Status (TTL and TLCXL).
- Delta Air Lines, Robotic Inventory Recovery (RIR) guidelines: flight firming.
- Virgin Atlantic, Partner hub: ticketing policy.
- Emirates, Hold My Fare.
- Singapore Airlines, FAQ: Secure My Fare.
- US Code of Federal Regulations, 14 CFR 259.5(b)(4), customer service plan (24-hour hold or cancellation), via Cornell Legal Information Institute.
- European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs, Applying for a Schengen visa.
- VFS Global for the Netherlands in India, Checklist for visa application: Tourism (PDF).
- Immigration New Zealand, Visa waiver visitor visa.
Related: flight reservation for visa · dummy ticket price · sample tickets · refund policy.