Two Ways to Show Proof of Travel — Which One Should You Use?
When preparing your visa application, you will encounter two common options for showing proof of travel: a dummy ticket (flight itinerary) and an airline hold reservation. Both documents show a planned flight using real airline data. But they work very differently — and choosing the wrong one can cause problems with your visa application.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about both options so you can make the right choice for your specific situation.
What Is a Dummy Ticket?
A dummy ticket — also called a flight itinerary for visa — is a professionally formatted document that shows your intended flights using real airline flight numbers, passenger names, and routing. It is specifically designed for visa application purposes. The document does not represent a purchased ticket; it is an itinerary that demonstrates your travel plan.
EchoFlights generates dummy tickets for 100 Taka via bKash, with instant PDF delivery. The document uses real airline schedule data and is formatted to meet embassy standards.
What Is an Airline Hold Reservation?
An airline hold reservation is a temporary booking placed through an airline's reservation system. It holds a specific seat on a specific flight for a limited time — usually 24 to 72 hours — without requiring full payment. After the hold period expires, the reservation is automatically cancelled and the seat is released.
Some travel agents in Bangladesh offer to place airline holds for a fee. This is a legitimate service, but it comes with significant limitations for visa applicants.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Dummy Ticket (EchoFlights) | Airline Hold Reservation |
|---|---|---|
| Cost in Bangladesh | 100 Taka via bKash | 500–2,000 Taka (agent fees) |
| Contains real flight numbers | Yes | Yes |
| Has a real PNR | Yes (document reference) | Yes (active airline PNR) |
| Verifiable on airline website | No (itinerary only) | Yes — temporarily |
| Validity period | Document valid until flight dates pass | 24–72 hours only |
| Risk of expiring before visa decision | None | High — most visas take weeks |
| Can be reissued easily | Yes — instant, 100 Taka | Requires contacting agent again |
| Embassy acceptance | Widely accepted globally | Accepted, but may have expired |
| Risk if visa rejected | Minimal (100 Taka lost) | Minimal (hold auto-cancels) |
| Best use case | All visa applications | Same-day or next-day submissions only |
| Delivery time | Instant PDF download | Depends on agent availability |
| Available 24/7 | Yes | No — agent dependent |
The Core Problem With Airline Hold Reservations
The fundamental issue with airline hold reservations for visa applications is their extremely short validity window. Most visa applications — especially for Schengen, UK, US, and Canada — take several weeks or even months to process. A 24 to 72 hour hold will expire long before the embassy makes a decision on your application.
This means that when the embassy officer reviews your file, they may check the PNR you provided and find it is no longer active. A cancelled PNR can raise questions about the credibility of your travel plan and, in some cases, lead to a visa refusal.
Schengen Visa Processing Time vs Hold Validity
Schengen visas from Bangladesh typically take 10 to 15 working days to process. A 72-hour airline hold will expire approximately 12 days before the embassy even begins reviewing most applications. By the time your visa officer looks at your file, the hold is gone.
When an Airline Hold Could Work
An airline hold reservation makes sense only when you are submitting your visa application within 24 hours of placing the hold AND the embassy's processing time is so short that a decision will be made before the hold expires. In practice, this is rare from Bangladesh.
Why Dummy Tickets Are the Preferred Choice in Bangladesh
Bangladeshi visa applicants almost universally use dummy tickets for visa applications, and for good reason:
- Cost-effective: At 100 Taka via bKash, EchoFlights is the most affordable option in Bangladesh. Learn more about dummy ticket costs in Bangladesh.
- No expiry problem: The document remains valid as long as the flight dates are in the future.
- Instant delivery: No need to contact a travel agent or wait for business hours.
- Flexible: If you need to change dates, you can generate a new document instantly.
- Embassy-accepted: Major embassies including Schengen, UK, US, and others accept flight itineraries for visa applications.
If you are wondering whether dummy tickets are truly accepted by embassies, read our in-depth post on how to get a free or low-cost dummy ticket for your visa.
Does the Embassy Check the PNR?
This is one of the most common questions about dummy tickets. The honest answer is: some embassies do check, most do not. Embassy officers are primarily looking at whether your travel plan is realistic and consistent with your other documents. They are not typically running PNR lookups as a standard part of the review process.
That said, a well-formatted document using real airline flight numbers and credible routing is always better than a poorly formatted one. EchoFlights uses real airline schedule data to ensure your itinerary reflects actual flight options, making the document as credible as possible.
Which Option Should You Choose?
For the vast majority of visa applications from Bangladesh, a dummy ticket from EchoFlights is the right choice. It is cheaper, more flexible, does not expire before your visa is processed, and is available instantly 24/7.
An airline hold reservation is only worth considering if you are applying for a visa that requires a verifiable active PNR and you are submitting your application immediately after placing the hold — a very specific and uncommon scenario for most Bangladeshi applicants.
For most Schengen, UK, US, Canada, and Australia visa applications, a professionally formatted flight itinerary from EchoFlights at 100 Taka is the practical, risk-free choice.