What Happens If My Booking Expires?

When you start a booking on BookingDuo, a 24-hour payment window begins. If payment is not completed in time, the booking expires automatically. Here's what that means and what you can do.

How long do I have to complete my payment?

You have 24 hours from the moment you submit your passenger details to complete your payment. A live countdown timer is displayed on the payment page so you always know how much time remains.

What happens when the 24 hours run out?

If no payment or proof of bank transfer is received within 24 hours:

• Your booking is automatically cancelled.
• Your selected seats and itinerary are released.
• You will see a message: "The payment window has closed and your booking was automatically cancelled."

Can an expired booking be recovered?

No. Once a booking expires, it cannot be recovered or reactivated. The flight seats and price that were held for you are released back to the airline.

However, you can always search for the same flight again and create a new booking. Please note that the price may differ, as airline prices change dynamically based on availability and demand.

What if I'm paying by bank transfer?

Bank transfers work differently because they take time to process:

• You still need to act within the 24-hour window — but you only need to upload proof of your transfer (a screenshot or PDF), not wait for the money to arrive.
• Once you upload proof, the 24-hour deadline no longer applies. Your booking stays active while we verify the payment.
• Verification typically takes 1–3 working days (excluding weekends and bank holidays).

In short: make your transfer and upload proof within 24 hours, and your booking is safe.

What if I paid by credit card but the payment failed?

If your credit card payment was declined, the booking remains active — you still have time within the 24-hour window to try again with a different card or switch to bank transfer. The countdown continues from when you originally submitted your details, not from the failed payment attempt.

How can I avoid my booking expiring?

• Have your payment method ready before you start booking — credit card details or banking app for bank transfer.
• Complete payment promptly after entering passenger details. The sooner you pay, the sooner your booking is confirmed.
• If paying by bank transfer, upload your proof of payment as soon as possible — this extends your booking beyond the 24-hour window.
• Watch the countdown timer on the payment page to track your remaining time.

I didn't pay in time — what now?

Don't worry. You can:

1. Go back to bookingduo.com and search for your flight again.
2. Create a new booking with the same details.
3. Complete payment within the new 24-hour window.

The rebooking process is quick — your passenger details won't carry over, but entering them again only takes a few minutes.

Quick summary:

• You have 24 hours to pay or upload bank transfer proof.
• Expired bookings are cancelled automatically and cannot be recovered.
• Uploading bank transfer proof extends the deadline — your booking stays active during verification.
• You can always rebook the same flight, though the price may change.
• Need help? Submit a support request.