Why do online bookings say "pending"?

Pending means manual confirmation is on — online requests wait for you to Confirm or Decline them.

Online bookings arrive as pending because Require manual confirmation (online bookings only) is switched on in Settings → Bookings → How people book, under Approving online bookings (*Available on Plus plan and above*). With Approve only some online bookings also on, only the bookings its conditions catch wait — big parties, short notice, or both — and a chip on the booking says why. A request from a party bigger than your online maximum (Let bigger parties send a request) always waits, and so does a customer's change to a booking that needed approval. Each one waits until you click Approve or Decline (for a change, Approve change or Decline change) — you'll find them on the Bookings page's Active tab, with an Approve button on each row, and under Needs attention on Home. Approving sends the customer their confirmation; declining a request cancels it, emails the customer, and refunds any deposit in full, while declining a change keeps their original booking. Switch the setting off if you'd rather online bookings confirm themselves instantly. Related: How do I approve or decline online booking requests?