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Every deadline on BukNau, and why it exists

Why your dates are held for 8 minutes when the operator has 2 days, and every other clock that travellers, work accounts and operators work to.

Every deadline here is a promise, either to you or from you. None of them is set by the operator, and the numbers on this page come from the same settings the booking system itself runs on.

From Reserve to Confirmed

  1. You tap Reserve

    The dates are held for you. The operator's bank details and your payment reference appear straight away.

  2. Within 8 minutes

    Make the transfer and tap “I've made the transfer”. That keeps the dates held while the operator checks.

  3. Within 2 days

    The operator finds your money in their account and records it. If your trip starts sooner, this is shorter. The exact deadline is on your booking page.

  4. Confirmed

    You get your receipt, and the operator's phone number and email appear on your booking page.

Why 8 minutes if the operator has 2 days? They are two different clocks. The 8 minutes is how long a tap on Reserve holds dates on its own. It stops an abandoned checkout from blocking dates that someone else is ready to pay for. The 2 days starts when you say you have paid, and is the operator's time to see the money arrive.

  • Took longer than 8 minutes? Your booking is not cancelled and you can still pay. Until you tap “I've made the transfer”, though, the dates are not held, so someone else could book them first. If they do, the operator decides what happens next rather than the booking being cancelled.
  • Operator not confirmed in 2 days? Your booking is not cancelled. The hold is extended once automatically, and after that the operator has to decide. A booking you have reported paying for is never cancelled automatically.
  • Never tapped the button at all? The booking is cancelled once the payment deadline on the invoice has passed, plus 1 day of grace. Nothing is owed.

Travellers

Free cancellation
24 hours before
You can cancel for a full refund until 24 hours before your service date begins — midnight in the operator's country, the night before. After that, a change or refund is up to the operator.
Payment query
3 days
If an operator says your money has not arrived, you are asked for your receipt. A query nobody resolves in this time closes in your favour.
Refund sent
7 days
An operator who owes you a refund must send it within this time. If they miss it, BukNau stops them taking new bookings until they do, and emails you to say we are chasing it.
Refund received
7 days
Once the operator marks a refund sent, confirm it arrived. If you do not, it is treated as received after this time, so tell us before then if it has not come.
Deposit deductions
2 days
For hire cars and charters, the operator has this long from when the deposit is due back to itemise any damage. They can never take more than the deposit.
Event tickets
Final once paid
Tickets are non-refundable once paid. If the organiser cancels the event, you get your money back in full.
Waitlist offer
1 day
When a place at a full event frees up, the next person on the waitlist has this long to pay for it, or until the event starts if that is sooner.
Grace
1 day
Added to every payment deadline before anything is released. Automatic steps run once a day, so nothing expires on the exact minute.

Work accounts

Quote
14 days
A quote made from your cart is valid for this long. It holds nothing, and booking it re-prices first.
Purchase order
7 days
After reserving on monthly billing, your organisation has this long to attach the PO. A reminder comes 2 days before. A late PO never cancels the booking; the operator is asked to decide.
Monthly invoice
7 days
The standard time to pay the monthly invoice, counted from its date. A different term can be agreed with the operator directly.

Operators

Confirm a transfer
2 days
From when the traveller says they have paid. Then one automatic extension, then the booking waits for your decision. It is never cancelled over the traveller's head.
Payment query
3 days
A query you raise and nobody resolves in this time closes in the traveller's favour, so look properly before you raise one.
Send a refund
7 days
From when it falls due. You are reminded at 3 days and warned at 6 days. Miss it and your new bookings pause until you mark it sent. Existing bookings are not touched.
Deposit deductions
2 days
From when a deposit falls due back, to itemise damage. Never more than the deposit, and the traveller is emailed the itemisation.
No-show
2 days after
You can mark a no-show from check-in day until 2 days after the end date. You keep the payment; any deposit still goes back.

Quick answers

Why are my dates only held for 8 minutes when I have 2 days?

They are two clocks. The 8 minutes is how long a tap on Reserve holds dates on its own, so an abandoned checkout cannot block someone ready to pay. Tap “I've made the transfer” in that time and the dates stay held for the 2 days the operator has to confirm your money.

More guides like this

For everyone. Last checked against the product on 2026-09-24.

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