Navigating the world of online Travel Booking can sometimes feel like deciphering a new language. When you’re managing your travel plans, especially through corporate travel platforms, understanding the status of your booking is crucial. This guide breaks down common travel booking statuses, ensuring you’re always in the loop with your arrangements and know exactly when to take action.
Decoding Common Travel Booking Statuses
Travel booking systems use various statuses to indicate where your trip is in the reservation process. Here’s a breakdown of what each status typically means, helping you manage your travel booking effectively:
In Progress – Unfinished Reservation
This status, “In Progress,” signals that you’ve started the travel booking process, perhaps selecting flights, hotels, or car rentals, but haven’t yet finalized your reservation. Think of it as leaving items in your online shopping cart. You’ve made selections within the travel booking system, but you haven’t completed all the necessary steps to officially submit your trip for approval or ticketing. At this stage, your travel booking is not yet confirmed.
Awaiting Approval
Once you’ve completed your itinerary within the travel booking system and submitted it, the status will likely change to “Awaiting Approval.” This signifies that your travel booking is now in the hands of your designated approver. Often in corporate travel, a manager or administrator needs to review and approve travel requests before they can be fully booked. The system will usually indicate an “Approval deadline,” which is a critical date. If your trip isn’t approved by this deadline, it might be automatically canceled, and you’ll need to restart the travel booking process. Keep an eye on this status and the deadline to ensure your travel plans proceed smoothly.
Rejected
A “Rejected” status is unfortunately straightforward. It means your approver has reviewed your travel booking and has not given the green light. The reasons for rejection can vary depending on your organization’s travel policies and the specifics of your trip. If your travel booking is rejected, you’ll need to understand the reasons why. It might be necessary to adjust your itinerary to align with company policy or discuss the rejection with your approver to find a solution.
Rejected and Withdrawn
The status “Rejected and withdrawn” essentially confirms the rejection and indicates that the itinerary is now canceled within the travel booking system. This status reinforces that the rejected travel booking is no longer active and cannot be approved in its current form. You will need to start a new travel booking if you still need to make the trip.
Withdrawn
“Withdrawn” status means the travel booking itinerary was canceled or withdrawn from the approval process by you, the user. Perhaps you changed your plans, or no longer need the trip. This status indicates a deliberate cancellation on your part, removing the itinerary from the system’s workflow.
Ticketed
The most desirable status in the travel booking process is “Ticketed.” This confirms that your travel booking is complete and finalized. Specifically, for air travel, “Ticketed” means your flight booking is confirmed, and your airfare has been purchased. At this stage, you should have received confirmation details and your tickets are issued. This status provides assurance that your travel arrangements are secure.
What if Your Booking Status is Unclear?
Sometimes, despite these clear statuses, you might encounter confusion or delays. For instance, if you’ve re-submitted a withdrawn booking, and your approver isn’t receiving notifications, it’s best to take proactive steps. While systems are designed to be efficient, glitches can occur.
In such situations, the most effective course of action is to directly contact the travel agency or the support team associated with your travel booking platform. Explain the situation, providing details of your booking and the unclear status. They can directly check if the itinerary was indeed booked, confirm the status, and ensure that all necessary notifications are sent to your approver. Direct communication with the travel provider is often the quickest way to resolve any uncertainties and keep your travel booking on track.
Understanding these travel booking statuses empowers you to manage your travel arrangements effectively and address any issues promptly. By staying informed about each stage of the booking process, you can ensure smoother, stress-free travel experiences.
