Reservation.coffeeSuite.coffee
Bookings and demand

Manage and convert the waitlist

Keep unmet demand separate and convert a request only when a valid table becomes available.

1 min readUpdated Aug 23, 2026

Keep demand without capacity separate until a valid table and time genuinely become available.

Before you start

  • Confirm there is currently no suitable booking slot.
  • Collect a reliable contact and acceptable time window.
Reservation waitlist with requested date, guest, party size and conversion action.
The waitlist preserves unmet demand without consuming table capacity.

Record the request

Save desired date, party size, optional time window and contact details. A waiting entry is not a booking and consumes no table capacity.

Convert against real availability

When a suitable time appears, convert the waiting entry. Reservation creates a confirmed booking transactionally, assigns valid tables and links the original request.

Know the current boundary

The internal waitlist supports operational follow-up. The public booking page does not currently let guests add themselves automatically when no slot exists.

Step by step

  1. Open Waitlist and add a request.
  2. Record desired date, party size and optional time window.
  3. Add customer name and at least one useful contact channel.
  4. Review waiting entries when capacity changes.
  5. Convert only after choosing a valid available time.

Final check

  • The request is not counted as a booking.
  • Contact and time window are actionable.
  • Conversion creates one linked confirmed booking.
Tip: Do not promise a table from the waitlist; confirm availability at the moment of conversion.