Travel bookings for South African travellers come with their own set of statuses, from a flight ticket being confirmed to a hotel reservation being held. This guide covers the general ideas behind flight tickets, PNR records, trains, buses, hotels, and other reservations.
Flight tickets and PNR
A flight booking status usually shows whether a ticket is confirmed, on a waiting list, or cancelled. A PNR (Passenger Name Record) is the reference code tied to a booking, and is typically what's used to look up a reservation's current status on an airline's own system.
Write down your PNR, booking reference, and ticket number as soon as you receive them — you'll need these to check flight status, make changes, or resolve issues at check-in.
Trains and buses
Train and bus bookings generally follow a similar pattern to flights, with a status showing whether a seat is confirmed, on a waiting list, or cancelled. Some services also show real-time status for delays or schedule changes.
Hotels and reservations
A hotel or other accommodation booking status usually confirms whether a reservation is held, guaranteed, or has been cancelled or modified. This is typically visible through the booking confirmation or the provider's own portal.
A word of caution
Always check booking status through the official airline, railway, bus operator, or accommodation provider's own website or app, and avoid sharing booking references or payment details through unofficial sites.