Dummy Air Ticket

A dummy air ticket is a reservation, not a purchase. The seat is genuinely held with the airline and the document carries the airline's own PNR — so it can be verified — but the fare has not been paid.

That is exactly what most visa applications are asking for when they say "confirmed flight booking": evidence of an intended itinerary, not proof that you have already spent the money.

On the document

  • The airline, flight number, route and dates
  • Passenger names as printed in the passport
  • The airline's PNR
  • The date the hold expires

You get it as a PDF by email, usually within minutes of paying the reservation fee. The fee is for the reservation service — the airfare itself is never charged.

If your plans change, you do nothing: an unpaid hold simply lapses on its expiry date.

Related

Dummy flight ticket — how it worksWhat it costsCheck the PNRHow long it lastsBy airlineWhat a dummy flight is

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a dummy air ticket different from a real ticket?
A real ticket is paid for and issues a ticket number. A dummy air ticket is the reservation stage before that — a held seat with a PNR, and no fare paid.
Will it show on the airline website?
Yes. The PNR is the airline's own, so it can be looked up in the airline's Manage Booking page while the hold is live.
What does a dummy air ticket cost?
A small reservation fee, far below the airfare. The exact figure is shown before you pay.