Dummy ticket price: US$15 (₹1,200) per passenger, one-way or return

The dummy ticket price at Dummy Tickets Visa (DTV) is US$15 (₹1,200) per passenger for a flight reservation, one-way or return, on any route. A hotel voucher or extra multi-city flights add to that in steps of ₹1,200, and customers outside India pay US$15 or the listed price in their currency. The order form adds everything up and shows the total before you pay.

The dummy ticket price list

Every item is priced per passenger, in units of US$15. The table gives the US-dollar base price and the fixed price we charge in India.

The price is per passenger, not per booking. Two travellers on one return itinerary pay US$30 (₹2,400) and four pay US$60 (₹4,800), up to 9 passengers on one order. On the booking form the fare summary updates as you add passengers, flights and hotels, so you see the figure before you reach the payment screen.

Multi-city is charged per pair of flights. A two-flight trip counts as one pair (US$15 / ₹1,200). The form counts an odd number of flights as the next full pair, so three flights cost the same as four. Our multi-city itinerary page explains how the legs are laid out on the PDF.

Prices in every currency we accept

US$15 is the base price of one unit, and ₹1,200 is our fixed price for customers paying in India. You can also see and pay the price in any of the 24 other currencies PayPal supports. Pick yours in the currency box on the order form and every total on the page switches to it; the table below lists one, two and four units in each currency, with your own currency highlighted.

The server works out the amount from this same table when you submit the form, so the price you see is the price you pay. Amounts in other currencies are reviewed when exchange rates move a lot; the US-dollar and rupee prices stay fixed.

Worked examples: four trips and their totals

A solo return trip costs US$15 (₹1,200), and each of the three larger trips below comes to US$60 (₹4,800). The arithmetic is shown so you can adjust it for your own party.

The couple pays for the hotel twice because the voucher is priced per passenger, even when both stay in the same hotel. The three-country trip could be Delhi to Paris, Paris to Rome, Rome to Madrid and Madrid to Delhi: four flights, two pairs, US$30 (₹2,400) per passenger. Take the train from Paris to Rome instead, and the trip has three flights; the form still counts two pairs, so the total stays the same.

What the US$15 (₹1,200) includes, and what it does not

US$15 (₹1,200) buys one reservation for one passenger, made in the airline's reservation system, with a PNR and a PDF itinerary.

You will find cheaper offers. Before you compare on price alone, check whether the PNR opens on the airline's own site and what the seller does if it does not; our article on what a cheap dummy ticket really buys goes through the checks. For a combined flight and hotel file, the flight plus hotel page shows how the two documents are matched on dates. For hotels in several cities or a long stay, message us on WhatsApp before you order.

How the price compares with a fare hold, a refundable ticket and an agent

A DTV reservation costs a fixed US$15 (₹1,200) per passenger; the alternatives are priced by the airline or the agent, so the reliable figure is the one quoted to you on the day.

Airline fare holds

Some airlines sell a fare-hold option, typically for one to three days. The fee, the window and the routes it covers are set by each airline and change, and we could not confirm current figures on the airlines' own pages, so we do not quote them here. Check the airline's page on the day you book; our guides to 24, 48 and 72-hour fare holds and holding a flight without payment cover how they work. A short hold has to be timed to your appointment just as a reservation does.

One free option is set by regulation. Airlines selling flights in the United States must let a booking made at least one week before departure be "held at the quoted fare without payment, or cancelled without penalty, for at least twenty-four hours" (14 CFR 259.5). The airline chooses which of the two it offers, so you may have to pay first and cancel within the 24 hours.

Refundable tickets

A refundable ticket costs the whole fare up front, and how much comes back, and how quickly, depends on that fare's rules. It is the right choice where a rule asks for a paid ticket. Immigration New Zealand says "Your onward tickets must be paid for before your travel" (Visa Waiver Visitor Visa), and the US Visa Waiver Program requires travellers to arrive with "a round trip ticket" (8 CFR 217.2). A US$15 (₹1,200) reservation does not meet either wording. Our comparison of a dummy ticket and a refundable ticket sets out the money tied up and the refund risk.

Travel agents

A travel agent who blocks a seat charges their own service fee, and no official source publishes a standard figure. Ask for the total in writing, and ask whether the PNR will open on the airline's own website. Our page on blocked tickets for visa explains what agents usually mean by the term.

How to pay, in India and from abroad

In India you pay in rupees by UPI; everywhere else you pay in US dollars by PayPal, debit card or credit card. After a UPI payment, send the payment screenshot on WhatsApp so the order can be matched to it. The PayPal and card screen shows the exact amount, US$15 per unit or the listed price in your chosen currency; our page on paying by PayPal or card walks through it.

The form asks for the same details in either currency: names exactly as in the passport, date of birth, nationality, route, travel dates, and an email address or WhatsApp number. There is no passport scan and no account. Orders are final once the reservation is issued, as the refund policy explains, so check every name before you pay.

• Count passengers, flights and hotels, and check the total on the form
• Add a hotel only if your checklist asks for proof of accommodation
• Pick a delivery date one day before you need the reservation
• Once the PDF arrives, check the PNR on the airline website

When the numbers look right, start your order and the total is confirmed on the payment screen.

Working out real value

The cheapest document is not always the cheapest outcome. Consider the full cost of each route:

• A refundable fare costs more upfront, and refunds can take weeks; cancellation fees may apply.
• A free generated ticket costs nothing until it is checked. Then the cost can be your application and your record.
• A genuine reservation costs a fixed fee and carries no fare risk.

Comparing quotes fairly

When you compare providers, line up the same product. A plain itinerary at a low price is not comparable with a verifiable reservation at a higher price. Ask each provider:

• Is the price per traveller or per booking?
• Is GST included?
• Is a return or multi-city route extra?
• What does a date or name change cost?
• What happens if the reservation cannot be verified?

Comparing a reservation with buying a ticket and cancelling

For many families, the difference between a reservation and a full fare for four or five people is large, especially for Europe or North America.

Spending wisely on the rest of your file

The flight reservation is only one document. Applicants in India often overspend on things that do not help, and underspend on things that do.

• Worth spending time on: a clear cover letter, a complete bank statement, a leave letter on company letterhead, and travel insurance that meets the requirement.
• Worth spending a little money on: a genuine flight reservation, and hotel proof if you are not staying with family.
• Not worth paying for: "visa guarantee" packages, fake bank balances, purchased invitation letters from strangers, or premium formatting of documents.

A modest, honest file that fits together beats an expensive one with weak spots.

The real cost of a visa trip, and where the reservation fits

A dummy ticket is a small part of the money you spend on a visa application. A typical Indian applicant's costs include:

Check current visa and service fees on the official embassy or visa-centre website, because they change. The reservation saves you from paying the largest item, the flights, before you know the outcome.

Example: what a refusal could cost

Imagine a family of four from Pune who buy non-refundable return tickets to Europe before applying, and are then refused. Depending on the fare rules, they may recover only part of the taxes, and possibly nothing. With reservations, the loss is limited to the reservation price. That is the main reason applicants choose a reservation, and why most official checklists advise against buying tickets before a decision.

Budgeting tips for Indian families

• Apply for the whole family together, with one flight reservation listing everyone.
• Book hotels yourself with free cancellation if you are comfortable managing deadlines. That saves the hotel reservation cost.
• Do not pay for "premium" add-ons you do not need, such as express delivery when your appointment is two weeks away.
• Keep invoices for every visa-related expense. They help with reimbursement claims if an employer is paying.

A simple cost-benefit test

Ask yourself: "If my visa is refused, how much money would I lose with each option?" With a reservation, the answer is the reservation price. With a non-refundable ticket, it could be the whole fare for everyone travelling. With a refundable fare, it is the cancellation fee plus the weeks your money is tied up. For most Indian applicants, especially families, the reservation is the lowest-risk option. If your visa process is quick and you are confident, a refundable ticket can also make sense.

Price versus the cost of buying early

The most useful comparison is not between reservation services, but against buying a real ticket before your visa decision. For Europe, the Schengen reservation guide explains what consulates expect, and our page on verifiable reservations shows why a checkable booking is worth the fee. If you are still tempted by a cheap fare, read the refusal and refund scenarios first; a refused visa with a non-refundable ticket usually costs far more than any reservation.

Is the cheapest option good value?

A low price is fine if the booking is real. Problems arise when the price is low because there is no booking at all. Ask:

1. Can I check the booking on the airline's website?
2. Who do I contact if it cannot be found?
3. Is there a written refund policy?
4. Is the company name on the invoice?
5. Are there extra charges for changes or hotels?

If the answers are vague, the cheap option may cost more in the end.

Comparing prices only makes sense between like products; our provider chooser lists the questions to ask before you pay.

Frequently asked questions

Last updated 30 October 2026 by Girish A. Visa requirements change, so confirm the current checklist with the embassy, consulate or official application centre before you apply. A reservation supports a visa file and cannot guarantee a visa decision.