A confirmed reservation means that you have not yet paid, but the hotel agrees to hold a room for you based on some condition. For example, in a typical confirmed reservation, the hotel may agree to hold the room for you until 8 p.m. on a specific day.

A confirmed reservation is a legal and operational status in the travel industry indicating that a service provider (airline, hotel, or car rental) has accepted your booking and guaranteed a space for you on a specific date. In 2026, this is usually indicated by a "Confirmed" status on your digital receipt and the issuance of a Confirmation Number or PNR (Passenger Name Record). While a "requested" or "waitlisted" reservation means you are essentially in line for a spot, a confirmed one means the hotel has blocked a room or the airline has assigned you a seat (even if the specific seat number isn't picked yet). It is important to distinguish this from a "reconfirmed" reservation, which is an old practice where travelers had to call ahead 72 hours before a flight to say they were still coming—a step that is now largely automated by check-in systems.