If it was a provisional flight reservation
A dummy ticket used for a visa application is commonly a held or provisional reservation, not a fully issued airline ticket.
Held reservations have ticketing deadlines. If the ticket is not issued before that deadline, the airline or reservation system can release the booking automatically.
Travelport explains that held bookings are confirmed but unticketed and will expire if ticketing does not take place within the applicable time limit.
See the official Travelport booking guide.
Usually subject to a ticketing deadline and may expire automatically if no ticket is issued.
Must be handled according to the airline's cancellation, refund and fare rules.
If you bought an actual airline ticket
If an e-ticket was issued and you paid the airline fare, do not simply wait for the booking to disappear.
Go to the airline or travel agent that issued the ticket and check the fare conditions.
Depending on the ticket, it may be:
- Fully refundable.
- Refundable after a cancellation fee.
- Eligible for travel credit.
- Changeable instead of refundable.
- Non-refundable.
What should I do after the visa is approved?
If the reservation was only created to document your proposed trip, you can now move on to arranging the journey you will actually take.
- Check the dates and conditions of the visa that was issued.
- Confirm the trip you now intend to make.
- Book the actual airline ticket needed for travel.
- Check any transit visa requirements.
- Keep the final booking confirmation for your journey.
What about a Flightika reservation?
Flightika provides provisional flight itineraries for situations where a genuine reservation is appropriate.
Because a provisional reservation is different from a fully issued airline ticket, do not treat it as though you purchased the underlying airfare.
If you specifically need assistance with an existing reservation rather than simply allowing the underlying temporary booking to reach its normal ticketing deadline, contact Flightika support with your booking details.
For more about temporary reservations, read How Long Does a Dummy Ticket Stay Valid?.
You can also read How Dummy Flight Tickets Work.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to cancel my dummy ticket after getting the visa?
Often no manual action is necessary. If it is an unticketed temporary reservation, it may expire automatically after its ticketing deadline.
Does an expired reservation affect my approved visa?
A temporary reservation can naturally expire after the visa process. Once your visa has been issued, follow the visa's conditions and arrange the actual travel you intend to make. If the issuing authority gave you specific itinerary conditions, follow those instructions.
Can I travel with the dummy ticket I used for my visa?
Not as though it were an issued airline ticket. A provisional reservation does not replace the actual ticket required to board the flight.
What if I bought a refundable ticket instead?
Cancel it through the airline or issuing travel agent and follow the fare's refund conditions. Refund eligibility and fees depend on the ticket rules.