How To Get A Flight Reservation for Your Visa Without Buying an Actual Ticket

Look, I get it. You're trying to apply for a visa, and they want proof that you're actually planning to travel. But they also won't approve your visa until you submit everything. So you're stuck in this ridiculous catch-22: buy an expensive plane ticket before you know if you'll even get the visa, or somehow prove you're traveling without actually booking anything.

Welcome to the wonderful world of visa applications. Let's fix this.

What Exactly Is a Flight Reservation for a Visa?

A flight reservation (sometimes called a flight itinerary, dummy ticket, or provisional booking) is basically a PDF that shows:

• Your full name

• Your travel dates

• Flight numbers and times

• Airline information

• A booking reference number

It looks like a real booking because it is a real booking—just one that you haven't paid for yet and that will expire. Most embassies and consulates accept these for visa applications, especially for Schengen visa applications, where this is standard practice.

Other names you'll see for the same thing:

• Booked flight itinerary

• Confirmed reservation

• Air ticket booking

• Flight confirmation

• Provisional ticket

• Hold booking

Why Do Embassies Want to See This Anyway?

Embassies aren't trying to make your life difficult (well, not intentionally). They need to verify:

Your actual travel dates: When you're arriving and—more importantly to them—when you're leaving. They want proof you're not planning to overstay.

Your entry and exit points: Where you're flying in and out of, which needs to match your visa type and stated plans.

That you're serious: Anyone can say, "I'm visiting France in July." Showing an actual booking (even a provisional one) proves you've thought this through.

For Schengen visa applications specifically, this is basically mandatory. The Schengen visa process is notoriously documentation-heavy, and they want to see your complete travel plan, including flights.

Why You Shouldn't Just Buy a Ticket (Seriously, Don't)

Here's what happens when you buy a full-price ticket before your visa is approved:

Scenario 1: Your visa gets denied - Now you're out hundreds (sometimes thousands) of dollars on a non-refundable ticket. And visa denial rates are higher than you'd think, especially for first-time applicants.

Scenario 2: Your visa gets delayed - Your visa appointment gets rescheduled. Processing takes longer than expected. Suddenly, your flight dates don't work anymore, and you need to change everything. Cue the change fees.

Scenario 3: Your life changes - Work emergency. Family situation. Health issue. You can't travel on those dates anymore, but you bought the ticket to satisfy the visa requirement.

I've watched friends lose $800+ on tickets they bought pre-approval. Don't be those people.

The "Refundable Ticket" Myth

"But wait," you're thinking, "I'll just buy a refundable ticket!"

Sure. If you want to pay 3-4 times the normal price. Refundable tickets are absurdly expensive, and even then:

• Airlines can take 2+ weeks to process refunds

• Some charge cancellation fees anyway

• You're tying up hundreds of dollars for weeks

• The price difference usually isn't worth it

There are way better options.

How to Actually Get a Reservation Without Paying Full Price

Option 1: Use a Visa Booking Service (The Easy Way)

Services like Get Itinerary exist specifically for this purpose. You pay a small fee (usually $15-30), they create a real booking that's valid up to your departure dates, and you use it for your visa application.

Pros:

• Fast (usually under 5 minutes)

• Legitimate booking with real reservation codes

• Way cheaper than buying an actual ticket

• Can bundle flight and hotel reservations together

• Customer reviews shows positive reviews for established services

Cons:

• Costs money (though minimal compared to alternatives)

• You need to trust the service is legitimate (more on this below)

At Get Itinerary, we process most requests in under 5 minutes. You select your flights, we create the booking, and you download the PDF. No waiting for agents, no extra fees for "express service," and our support team actually responds when you need changes.

Our customer feedback consistently mentions our great service and same-day issue resolution—because we know how stressful visa applications already are without adding communication problems on top.

Option 2: 24-Hour Free Cancellation (The Tricky Way)

Some airlines and booking sites offer 24-hour free cancellation. You book the ticket, download the confirmation, and then cancel within 24 hours.

Pros:

• Technically free

• Real booking from the airline

Cons:

• You still need to pay upfront (even if you'll get refunded)

• 24 hours usually isn't enough time for your visa appointment

• Refunds can take days or weeks to process

• Not all airlines offer this

• Some embassies check if bookings are still active

Budget airlines like AirAsia have options like "Pro TIPA Ticket" that allow cancellation, but the timing rarely works for visa purposes.

Option 3: Local Travel Agency Hold (The Old-School Way)

Some travel agencies can put a hold on a reservation for 3-7 days without payment, depending on their airline contracts.

Pros:

• Can work if you have a visa appointment scheduled soon

• Might include hotel bookings too

• Personal service

Cons:

• Not all agencies offer this anymore

• Usually charge a fee anyway

• Limited to their specific airline partnerships

• Harder to make changes

• Not as fast as online services

Option 4: Non-Refundable Tickets (The Gambling Way)

Only do this if:

• Your visa approval is basically guaranteed

• Your dates are 100% locked in

• You're okay with the risk

Which is basically never. I can't recommend this for visa applications.

What NOT to Do: Fake Ticket Generators

DO NOT use fake generators to create dummy documents. This is fraud. Embassies can verify booking codes, and if they catch you submitting fake documents:

• Instant visa denial

• Potential ban from the country

• Blacklisted for future applications

• Possible legal consequences

Not worth it. Ever. Just pay the $15-20 for a legitimate provisional booking.

How to Get Your Booking in Under 5 Minutes

Since I run Get Itinerary, I'm obviously biased, but here's how it works:

1. Pick your route: Enter departure/arrival cities and dates

2. Select your flights: Choose from actual available flights

3. Add extras if needed: Hotel itinerary, additional travelers

4. Download instantly: Get your electronic itinerary PDF confirmation with valid booking codes

5. Submit with your visa application: Print it out or upload it digitally

No waiting for agents. No "express processing" upcharges. Just straightforward flight bookings that work for visa applications.

If you make a mistake? Our support team fixes it the same day at no extra charge. We're the only service that does free corrections because we know mistakes happen when you're stressed about visa deadlines.

What If I Mess Up My Booking?

With most booking sites or airlines, an error means:

• Starting over completely

• Paying cancellation fees

• Waiting days for refunds

• Buying a new booking

With Get Itinerary, just email us. We fix errors same-day without additional charges. No hoops to jump through, no fighting with automated systems.

One-Way vs. Round-Trip: What Do Embassies Want?

Short answer: Round-trip, always.

Why: A one-way booking looks like you're planning to stay permanently. Embassies—especially for Schengen visas—want to see that you're coming back.

Your itinerary for visa purposes should show:

• Clear arrival date

• Clear departure date

• Reasonable trip duration

• Return to your home country

Even if you're planning a longer trip with multiple stops, show that complete route. Which brings us to...

Multi-City Bookings (For Complex Trips)

Planning to visit multiple countries? A multi-city booking shows:

• All your flights in sequence

• Layovers and connections

• Different entry/exit points

For example: London → Paris → Rome → London

This is perfectly fine for visa applications. Just make sure your Schengen visa (if that's what you're applying for) covers all the countries you're visiting, with your main destination being where you spend the most time.

When to Include Hotel Reservations

Many visa applications—Schengen visa applications, especially—also want to see where you're staying. A hotel reservation or hotel itinerary showing your accommodations strengthens your application by proving you've actually planned the trip.

Get Itinerary can bundle flight and hotel bookings together, which:

• Saves money

• Ensures your dates match

• Provides complete documentation

• Makes your application more credible

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Booking before your visa appointment: Wait until you know your visa appointment date before creating reservations. You want them to still be valid when you submit.

Wrong dates: Double-check everything. If your visa application says you're traveling July 15-25 but your booking shows July 20-30, that's a red flag.

Impossible itineraries: Don't book a flight that lands at 10 pm with a connecting flight at 11 pm. Make it realistic.

Missing return flights: Always show how you're leaving the country.

Expired bookings: Most provisional bookings last 2-3 weeks. Submit your visa application while they're still active.

The Bottom Line

Getting a flight reservation for your visa application doesn't have to be complicated or expensive:

✅ Use a legitimate booking service (like Get Itinerary)
✅ Get round-trip reservations
✅ Include hotel itinerary if required
✅ Make sure dates match your visa application
✅ Keep bookings valid through your visa appointment

❌ Don't buy full-price tickets without pre-approval
❌ Don't use fake generators
❌ Don't book one-way only
❌ Don't wait until the last minute

For Schengen visa applications and most other visa types, a provisional booking satisfies the requirement without the financial risk of buying tickets you might not be able to use.

At Get Itinerary, we've helped thousands of people through this process. Fast service, legitimate bookings, and actual human support when you need it. Because visa applications are stressful enough without adding booking nightmares on top.

Need a flight reservation for your visa? Get one in 5 minutes at getitinerary.com. Your future self will thank you when that visa gets approved and you didn't gamble hundreds of dollars on pre-approval tickets.

Ready to start your visa application? Get your provisional flight and hotel bookings instantly, backed by our support team and positive reviews from thousands of successful visa applicants. No fake documents, no gambling with expensive tickets—just legitimate bookings that work.