Every year, hundreds of thousands of Indians apply for Schengen visas. Nearly all of them are told they need a "flight itinerary" — and many make the same expensive mistake: buying a real ticket before their visa is approved, then struggling to cancel it.
There's a better way. EU law explicitly allows reservation holds — not paid tickets — as supporting documentation. Here's what that means, what you need, and how to get it.
EU Regulation 810/2009 (the "EU Visa Code") is the governing law for all Schengen visa applications. Article 14(1)(c) lists the required supporting documents:
"...proof of reservation or return trip and, if necessary, of reservations for subsequent trips."
The word "reservation" is deliberate. The regulation does not say "paid ticket" or "confirmed booking." A flight reservation — including a non-confirmed flight itinerary document — legally satisfies this requirement. This applies uniformly across all 26 Schengen member states.
Many Indian applicants buy a real return ticket before applying, thinking the consulate requires it. The results:
₹45,000+
Average round-trip India–Europe ticket cost bought prematurely
₹3,000–₹12,000
Typical cancellation fees even for "refundable" fares
₹1,260
Cost of a BestDummyTicket.in flight itinerary document — no cancellation fees, ever
A flight itinerary document from BestDummyTicket.in is exactly what the consulate wants. It uses real airline schedule data — real flight numbers, real airlines, real departure times. Accepted under EU Regulation 810/2009 Article 14(4). And at $15, if your visa dates change, you simply book again.
Because EU Visa Code applies uniformly, every Schengen member state must accept reservation holds. Here are the consulates most commonly applied to from India:
Germany — VFS Global India
Largest processing volume in India
France — VFS / BLS
French consulate + VFS for some cities
Italy — VFS Global
Strong demand for tourism, business
Spain — BLS International
High tourism season demand
Netherlands — VFS Global
Strictest on document quality
Sweden — VFS Global
Accepts online VFS appointment
Norway — VFS Global
Non-EU but Schengen member
Switzerland — VFS Global
Non-EU but Schengen member
Austria — OeAD / VFS
Often applied via German embassy
Belgium — VFS Global
Common for EU HQ workers
Portugal — VFS Global
Growing for Golden Visa seekers
Greece — VFS Global
High summer demand
Consulate checklists vary slightly, but all require these elements:
Full passenger name
Exactly as it appears on your passport — no nicknames, no abbreviations
Outbound flight details
Indian origin city → transit (if any) → first Schengen entry point. Must include airline, flight number, date, departure and arrival times
Return flight details
Last Schengen city → transit (if any) → Indian city. Same detail requirements as outbound
IATA booking reference
6-character alphanumeric reference in IATA format — included in every BestDummyTicket.in document
Travel dates aligned with visa application
The itinerary dates must be consistent with the visa validity and duration you are applying for
Booking status: confirmed or held
Not cancelled, not expired. A live reservation — which is what BestDummyTicket.in provides
Germany is the most applied-to Schengen country from India, handling software engineers, students, and business travellers. VFS Germany accepts flight reservation holds — the standard VFS checklist says "flight reservation" not "paid ticket." Popular routes: DEL/BOM/BLR/HYD → FRA (Frankfurt) or MUC (Munich) on Lufthansa or Emirates via DXB.
France processes applications through VFS in most Indian cities. The standard checklist specifies "confirmed flight booking or reservation." The French consulate is pragmatic — a professional flight itinerary document is accepted. Popular route: DEL/BOM → CDG (Paris Charles de Gaulle) on Air France or Emirates.
Italy's VFS checklist for India explicitly lists "airline ticket or e-ticket reservation." The word "reservation" covers flight itinerary documents. Indian applicants typically book via Rome (FCO) or Milan Malpensa (MXP) on Emirates or Etihad via their respective hubs.
The Netherlands consulate in India is thorough. Their checklist says "proof of flight reservation" — a flight itinerary document qualifies under EU Regulation 810/2009 Article 14(4). Route: DEL/BOM → AMS (Amsterdam Schiphol) on KLM or Emirates. Netherlands-bound Indian applicants skew toward business and IT sector travel.
Decide your intended travel dates
Pick dates you'd realistically travel — typically 6–8 weeks after your visa appointment date. You'll need outbound and return dates.
Book outbound leg: India → Schengen city
On BestDummyTicket.in, enter your Indian origin (e.g., DEL) and Schengen destination (e.g., FRA). Enter your planned departure date. Select "Send now." Pay $15.
Book return leg: Schengen city → India
Repeat the process in reverse. Enter Schengen city as origin, your Indian city as destination, and your planned return date. Pay $15.
Receive both PDFs within 60 seconds
Two PDF itineraries arrive by email — one outbound, one return. Both contain real airline data and an IATA-format booking reference. Valid 14 days from issue.
Include in your VFS appointment folder
Print both PDFs and include them in your Schengen visa application package under "Travel Itinerary / Flight Bookings." Total cost: $30 for complete documentation.
| Situation | When to Book | Delivery Option |
|---|---|---|
| VFS appointment tomorrow | Today — any time | Send now (60 seconds) |
| VFS appointment in 3 days | Day before appointment | Send now (valid 14 days) |
| VFS appointment in 2+ weeks | Any time (valid 14 days from issue) | Send now |
| Dates changed after booking | Book again with new dates | $15 again — no cancellation hassle |