Booking or Reservation

[rodrimuino]

Are these two words synonyms?

Booking == Reservation ????


Thanks in advance!

[bhaisahab]

Originally Posted by rodrimuino

Are these two words synonyms?

Booking == Reservation ????


Thanks in advance!

Yes they are. Booking is predominantely Br. English and reservation predominantly Am. English.

[Anglika]

There is a shade of difference.

A reservation is the arrangement for (a seat, ticket, etc.) to be kept for the use of a particular person:
in a restaraunt, you will hear Do you have a reservation for tonight?
In a hotel: I have a reservation for a double room.

A booking is the arrangement to have a seat, room, entertainer, etc. at a particular time in the future:
I would like to book a table for tonight.
I would like to book a room for three nights next month.
I have booked a seat on the train tomorrow.
We have a booking for a table tonight.

Both are used in the UK, with these differences.

[bhaisahab]

Originally Posted by Anglika

There is a shade of difference.

A reservation is the arrangement for (a seat, ticket, etc.) to be kept for the use of a particular person:
in a restaraunt, you will hear Do you have a reservation for tonight?
In a hotel: I have a reservation for a double room.

A booking is the arrangement to have a seat, room, entertainer, etc. at a particular time in the future:
I would like to book a table for tonight.
I would like to book a room for three nights next month.
I have booked a seat on the train tomorrow.
We have a booking for a table tonight.

Both are used in the UK, with these differences.

Anglika, really, in practically every example you have given the two are synonimous and in England one is much more likely to hear "booking" than "reservation", although I accept that one does hear it from time to time, mainly from people who are trying to appear "sophisticated".

[Anglika]

Well, the pub we booked a table in today asked if we had made a reservation.

[bhaisahab]

Originally Posted by Anglika

Well, the pub we booked a table in today asked if we had made a reservation.

D'you know Anglika, this goes some way towards confirming what I've been thinking for some time now, pubs in England are becoming more and more pretentious. Speaking, admittedly, as someone who hasn't lived in England for 20 years but who, nevertheless, visits regularly and keeps in touch with people there.

[Anglika]

Originally Posted by bhaisahab

D'you know Anglika, this goes some way towards confirming what I've been thinking for some time now, pubs in England are becoming more and more pretentious. Speaking, admittedly, as someone who hasn't lived in England for 20 years but who, nevertheless, visits regularly and keeps in touch with people there.

I see nothing pretentious in asking if you have reserved a table. Seems to me to be totally normal.

I think it is much more that the whole balance is changing. Pretentious pubs don't last. And these days, with smoking and drink-driving as crimes, pubs have to find other attractions for their customers than merely good beer.

[bhaisahab]

Originally Posted by Anglika

I see nothing pretentious in asking if you have reserved a table. Seems to me to be totally normal.

I think it is much more that the whole balance is changing. Pretentious pubs don't last. And these days, with smoking and drink-driving as crimes, pubs have to find other attractions for their customers than merely good beer.

What is wrong with a good old fashioned English booking? Please see my original response to this post.

Originally Posted by rodrimuino
Are these two words synonyms?

Booking == Reservation ????


Thanks in advance!
Yes they are. Booking is predominantely Br. English and reservation predominantly Am. English.

[David L.]

I don't know about you rodrimuino, but this seems clear to me:

A reservation is the arrangement for (a seat, ticket, etc.) to be kept for the use of a particular person:
in a restaraunt, you will hear, "Do you have a reservation?"
In a hotel: "I have a reservation for a double room."

A booking is the arrangement to have a seat, room, entertainer, etc. at a particular time in the future:
I would like to book a table for tonight. (The person rings the restaurant in the morning.)
I would like to book a room for three nights next month.
I have booked a seat on the train tomorrow.


I ring today and make a booking, so when I turn up in a week/a month's time, a seat at a concert, or a table at a restaurant, or a hotel room, has been reserved that night for my use.
Me to hotel receptionist: I have a reservation for tonight in the name of Smith.
She: We have no listing for that name for tonight.
Me: But I made the booking over a week ago.

[bhaisahab]

Me to hotel receptionist: I have a reservation/booking for tonight in the name of Smith.
She: We have no listing for that name for tonight.
Me: But I booked it/made the booking over a week ago.