What is a preauthorization?
Certain merchants, such as restaurants, gas stations, and hotels, may temporarily hold an amount greater than your purchase to confirm sufficient funds.
How long does it last?
Funds are usually held for up to a maximum of 8 business days.
Exception: For hotels, car rentals, airlines, and cruises, preauthorizations may take up to 30 business days to be released.
Transaction update
Once processed, the transaction amount is updated to the actual purchase price.
Any unused funds from the authorization are automatically released back to your account.
During this time, the charge will appear as “Pending” in your transaction history.
This video explains what a preauthorization is: