We don’t take bookings in advance

[johnalison]

No mate. You've not got the point. Booking means reserving something in advance. Everyone understands that. But what the effineck is 'pre'-booking? Clearly something you do before booking...but what?
I know, it's a complete nonsense, so why does anyone use such a daft expression?

Although it is tautological, it does have the benefit of clarity. I find the term ‘pre-booked’ conveys the idea that something needs to be booked in advance more readily than ‘booked’ would on its own.

 

[snowbird30ds]

I've been booked by a policeman and that was done on the spot with no advanced warning, well apart from the blue flashing light and siren.