If you see a deduction after submitting a booking request, don’t worry, this is not a charge. It's a temporary pre-authorization to confirm your card has sufficient funds. No payment is processed unless the host accepts your booking.
What Is a Pre-authorization? Pending charges, also known as authorization holds, are temporary holds placed by your bank to verify the availability of funds for a transaction. These are not actual charges but a way for the bank to ensure that the amount is available for payment. If a booking is declined or canceled, the pending charge remains visible until the bank processes the reversal.
A pre-authorization is a temporary hold placed on your card.
This hold verifies that your payment method is valid and has sufficient funds for the booking.
You are not charged at this stage.
What happens next?
After you submit your booking request:
If the host accepts your request, the pre-authorized amount will be converted into a confirmed charge. Your booking is then officially confirmed.
If the host declines the request or doesn't respond within the allowed timeframe, the pre-authorization will be automatically released, and no charge will occur.
You’ll receive a confirmation via SMS and email once the host responds to your request. Payments are only captured once a booking is confirmed. For example, if a host accepts your booking request or if the booking is an Instant Booking, the payment is processed. If the booking is declined or canceled before confirmation, the pending charge remains an authorization hold and is not converted into an actual charge.
When will the hold be released?
The hold is typically released within a few days if the booking is not accepted. However, this timeline can vary depending on your bank's policies.
Depending on your bank, the amount may take 5-7 business days to reflect back in your account. In most cases, pending charges clear automatically without any action required. However, if the pending charge does not disappear after a few days, you can:
Contact your bank to inquire about the status of the authorization hold.
Provide your bank with details of the transaction, such as the date and amount.
Request the bank to release the authorization hold if the transaction has been canceled or declined.