Traveler Glossary

PNR / Booking reference

6-character flight booking code; used to manage your booking with the airline

Layover

Connection <24h; >24h is a stopover (often allows city sightseeing)

Open-jaw ticket

Fly into one city, out of another — often cheaper than two singles

Bumping / overbooking

Airline sold more seats than exist; denied boarding means €250–600 EU compensation

Codeshare

Ticket from one airline, flight operated by another; baggage/rules follow the operator

Schengen 90/180

90 visa-free days within any 180-day window; track with a calculator

ETIAS

Pre-authorization for visa-free EU travelers (~€7, being introduced)

Duty-free limits

Into the EU: 1 L spirits, 200 cigarettes, €430 goods (air); land borders lower

Jet lag

Circadian disruption crossing >2 time zones; eastward is worse than westward

Hostel vs hotel

Hostel = bunk in a room; hotel = private room; aparthotel = room with kitchen

Tourist tax (city tax)

Local per-night hotel tax in Italy/Austria/Germany — €1–7, paid on site

Cabin baggage

Usually 55×40×20 cm up to 10 kg; low-costs often allow only a small 40×25×20 bag free

eSIM

Virtual SIM activated by QR code — no physical card

Landside / airside

Landside = before security, airside = after; many services exist only on one side