GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jul 27, 2026
Booking
A booking is the formal reservation of cargo space with a shipping line, airline, or road carrier for a specified shipment.
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Definition & Explanation
A booking is the formal reservation of cargo space with a shipping line, airline, or road carrier for a specified shipment. The shipper or freight forwarder submits the key shipment details to the carrier: commodity, quantity, weight, dimensions, routing, desired sailing or flight date, and any special requirements such as dangerous goods, temperature control, or heavy lift. Once confirmed, the booking secures the allocated capacity and serves as the prerequisite for issuing transport documents such as a bill of lading or air waybill. In ocean freight, bookings are now predominantly placed via carrier online portals or EDI connections – effectively securing a slot on a specific vessel. The booking itself should be distinguished from the booking closing, which is the hard deadline by which that reservation must be submitted and confirmed.
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