diff --git a/src/modules/chatelet/components/BookRoomDialog.vue b/src/modules/chatelet/components/BookRoomDialog.vue
index eccdb5d..61381ff 100644
--- a/src/modules/chatelet/components/BookRoomDialog.vue
+++ b/src/modules/chatelet/components/BookRoomDialog.vue
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { toTypedSchema } from '@vee-validate/zod'
 import * as z from 'zod'
 import { toast } from 'vue-sonner'
 import { format } from 'date-fns'
-import { Check, CheckCircle2, Copy, Loader2, Wallet, Zap } from 'lucide-vue-next'
+import { Check, CheckCircle2, Copy, Loader2, TimerOff, Wallet, Zap } from 'lucide-vue-next'
 import {
   Dialog,
   DialogContent,
@@ -112,12 +112,19 @@ const holdExpiry = computed(() => {
   return isNaN(d.getTime()) ? '' : format(d, 'p')
 })
 
-const step = computed<'form' | 'invoice' | 'confirmed'>(() => {
+const step = computed<'form' | 'invoice' | 'confirmed' | 'lost'>(() => {
   if (flow.isPaid.value) return 'confirmed'
+  if (flow.lostStatus.value) return 'lost'
   if (flow.quote.value) return 'invoice'
   return 'form'
 })
 
+const lostLabel = computed(() =>
+  flow.lostStatus.value === 'expired'
+    ? 'The hold on your dates expired before the invoice was paid.'
+    : 'The host released these dates before the invoice was paid.',
+)
+
 watch(
   () => flow.isPaid.value,
   (paid) => {
@@ -303,6 +310,20 @@ watch(
         </p>
       </div>
 
+      <!-- Hold lost before payment: nothing to pay any more -->
+      <div v-else-if="step === 'lost'" class="py-4 space-y-4 text-center">
+        <TimerOff class="mx-auto h-12 w-12 text-muted-foreground" />
+        <div class="space-y-1">
+          <h3 class="text-lg font-semibold">Dates released</h3>
+          <p class="text-sm text-muted-foreground">{{ lostLabel }}</p>
+        </div>
+        <p class="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+          If you already paid, the host will see it — otherwise check the dates
+          again and start over.
+        </p>
+        <Button class="w-full" @click="emit('update:isOpen', false)">Close</Button>
+      </div>
+
       <!-- Step 3: paid -->
       <div v-else class="py-4 space-y-4 text-center">
         <CheckCircle2 class="mx-auto h-12 w-12 text-primary" />
diff --git a/src/modules/chatelet/composables/useBookingFlow.ts b/src/modules/chatelet/composables/useBookingFlow.ts
index 26e49fa..ea1d8af 100644
--- a/src/modules/chatelet/composables/useBookingFlow.ts
+++ b/src/modules/chatelet/composables/useBookingFlow.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { toast } from 'vue-sonner'
 import { SERVICE_TOKENS, tryInjectService } from '@/core/di-container'
 import type { PaymentService } from '@/core/services/PaymentService'
 import type { ChateletApiService } from '../services/ChateletApiService'
-import type { BookingQuote, BookingRequest } from '../types/booking'
+import { LOST_BOOKING_STATUSES, type BookingQuote, type BookingRequest, type BookingStatus } from '../types/booking'
 
 const POLL_MS = 2000
 
@@ -11,10 +11,8 @@ const POLL_MS = 2000
  * Drives one booking from request → invoice → paid. Modeled on events'
  * useTicketPurchase: the backend holds the dates and returns a bolt11;
  * this composable renders it (QR / copy / open-in-wallet / pay from the
- * LNbits wallet) and polls settlement until the invoice is paid. The
- * extension's paid-invoice listener is what confirms the booking
- * server-side — the guest only needs to see "paid" to know the dates
- * are theirs.
+ * LNbits wallet) and polls the booking until the extension's paid-invoice
+ * listener flips it to `confirmed` — or the hold lapses (`expired`).
  */
 export function useBookingFlow() {
   // DI, never a direct import (workspace rule).
@@ -26,6 +24,8 @@ export function useBookingFlow() {
   const isRequesting = ref(false)
   const isPaymentPending = ref(false)
   const isPaid = ref(false)
+  /** Set when the hold is gone (expired / declined / cancelled) before payment. */
+  const lostStatus = ref<BookingStatus | null>(null)
   const copiedInvoice = ref(false)
 
   let pollTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null
@@ -49,27 +49,32 @@ export function useBookingFlow() {
       } catch (err) {
         console.error('Error generating QR code:', err)
       }
-      startPolling(q.payment_hash)
+      startPolling(q.booking.id)
       return q
     } finally {
       isRequesting.value = false
     }
   }
 
-  function startPolling(hash: string) {
+  function startPolling(bookingId: string) {
     stopPolling()
     isPaymentPending.value = true
 
     const check = async () => {
       try {
-        const status = await api?.getPaymentStatus(hash)
-        if (status?.paid) {
+        const b = await api?.getPublicBooking(bookingId)
+        if (!b) return
+        if (quote.value) quote.value = { ...quote.value, booking: { ...quote.value.booking, ...b } }
+        if (b.status === 'confirmed' || b.status === 'checked_in' || b.status === 'completed') {
           isPaid.value = true
           stopPolling()
+        } else if (LOST_BOOKING_STATUSES.has(b.status)) {
+          lostStatus.value = b.status
+          stopPolling()
         }
       } catch (err) {
         // Transient network errors just mean "try again next tick".
-        console.error('Error checking booking payment status:', err)
+        console.error('Error checking booking status:', err)
       }
     }
 
@@ -117,6 +122,7 @@ export function useBookingFlow() {
     quote.value = null
     qrCode.value = null
     isPaid.value = false
+    lostStatus.value = null
     copiedInvoice.value = false
   }
 
@@ -130,6 +136,7 @@ export function useBookingFlow() {
     isRequesting,
     isPaymentPending,
     isPaid,
+    lostStatus,
     copiedInvoice,
     userWallets,
     hasWalletWithBalance,
diff --git a/src/modules/chatelet/services/ChateletApiService.ts b/src/modules/chatelet/services/ChateletApiService.ts
index c468c47..2be1400 100644
--- a/src/modules/chatelet/services/ChateletApiService.ts
+++ b/src/modules/chatelet/services/ChateletApiService.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import type { AvailabilityResult, Room } from '../types/room'
-import type { BookingQuote, BookingRequest, PaymentStatus } from '../types/booking'
+import type { BookingQuote, BookingRequest, PublicBooking } from '../types/booking'
 
 export interface ChateletApiConfig {
   baseUrl: string
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ export interface ChateletApiConfig {
  * HTTP client for the LNbits `chatelet` extension's guest surface.
  *
  * Plain config-wrapper (same pattern as events' TicketApiService) — not a
- * BaseService. Guest browsing, availability and the booking request are all
- * public endpoints; settlement is polled on the invoice via LNbits core.
+ * BaseService. Guest browsing, availability, the booking request and the
+ * booking read-back are all keyless public endpoints.
  *
  * Transport note: this is HTTP-for-now. The extension also exposes a
  * kind-21000 Nostr-RPC surface (chatelet_room_list / _availability / …), but
@@ -56,14 +56,12 @@ export class ChateletApiService {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Anonymous settlement check on LNbits core. Chatelet's own
-   * `GET /bookings/{id}` needs a wallet key, so until a public booking
-   * status endpoint lands the guest polls the invoice instead — the
-   * extension's paid-invoice listener is what flips the booking to
-   * `confirmed`.
+   * Keyless read-back of the guest's own booking — what the invoice screen
+   * polls. `confirmed` means the extension's paid-invoice listener has
+   * run; `expired` / `declined` mean the hold is gone.
    */
-  async getPaymentStatus(paymentHash: string): Promise<PaymentStatus> {
-    return this.request(`/api/v1/payments/${paymentHash}`, { method: 'GET' })
+  async getPublicBooking(bookingId: string): Promise<PublicBooking> {
+    return this.request(`/chatelet/api/v1/public/bookings/${bookingId}`, { method: 'GET' })
   }
 
   private async request(path: string, init: RequestInit = {}): Promise<any> {
diff --git a/src/modules/chatelet/types/booking.ts b/src/modules/chatelet/types/booking.ts
index 8a843a2..83c0831 100644
--- a/src/modules/chatelet/types/booking.ts
+++ b/src/modules/chatelet/types/booking.ts
@@ -60,12 +60,19 @@ export interface BookingQuote {
 }
 
 /**
- * Anonymous read of LNbits core `GET /api/v1/payments/{hash}` — the guest
- * cannot read their booking over HTTP yet (that endpoint needs a wallet
- * key), so settlement is polled on the invoice instead. `status` is only
- * present on a failed payment.
+ * Keyless read-back of the guest's own booking
+ * (`GET /chatelet/api/v1/public/bookings/{id}`, chatelet ≥ v0.4.0): the
+ * Booking minus the guest's pubkey/contact and the Lightning/Nostr plumbing.
+ * The booking id from the quote is the capability.
  */
-export interface PaymentStatus {
-  paid: boolean
-  status?: string
-}
+export type PublicBooking = Omit<
+  Booking,
+  'guest_pubkey' | 'guest_contact' | 'payment_hash'
+>
+
+/** Statuses that mean the hold is gone and the invoice will never confirm. */
+export const LOST_BOOKING_STATUSES: ReadonlySet<string> = new Set([
+  'expired',
+  'declined',
+  'cancelled',
+])