Schengen Visa - Confirmed Flight Reservations

[jbak_ih]

I'm thinking about taking a trip to The Netherlands and hence need to apply for a Schengen Visa and have a quick question....According to the Dutch Embassy's website, one needs to show proof of "airline reservation or airline ticket" and it says if you are unsure whether the visa will be approved "do not buy an airline ticket yet, bring a confirmed airline reservation which can be cancelled or itinerary."

How does one get a "confirmed airline reservation" without buying a ticket, i'm curious to know?