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Introduction

Making test reservations

Learn how to make test hotel reservations in the sandbox environment.

Please follow all procedures detailed below to ensure you produce only test bookings. BCD Travel is not responsible for any live bookings you create during the testing process.

Important rules

  • Always make test bookings for dates at least a few months in the future (frequently there is a real inventory allocation involved, even if temporarily).
  • Always read the cancellation policy for the rate before booking and verify that you are booking outside of the cancellation policy. Never book non-refundable rates or rates that impose penalties for cancellation.
  • Avoid booking over a holiday season where inventory may be in high demand (e.g. Manhattan for New Year, Munich for Oktoberfest).
  • Try to book a different hotel location every time. Suppliers should not suspect that tests are done against their live inventory.
  • Don’t use fake-looking traveler information (names, emails, special requests) for test bookings.

Fake booking tests

This procedure will test your API integration against our API core but will cut off prior to supplier interaction, producing a fake booking. Your pnr_id will be 000000 and your supplier_confirmation_number will be FAKE.

You must use 4111111111111111 VISA card for the reservation to produce a true test booking (none of the above limitations apply). Any other card will result in a real reservation.

Live booking tests

If you are at the integration stage that requires real supplier interaction:

  • The only true live test is to use your own credit card to produce a live booking.
  • Non-refundable bookings or bookings outside the cancellation policy will NOT be refunded by suppliers. You will personally incur the charge for any non-refundable fees.
  • If you don’t cancel a live hotel booking, it will be charged to your account.
  • Use fake bookings for all development activities. Use live booking testing at the very final stage.
  • Keep live tests to an absolute minimum since inventory is pulled from the distribution lines.
  • Reservations made with “test” credit cards obtained elsewhere could be treated as fraud by suppliers.