Changing dates for non-refundable bookings

Updated 3 months ago | 5 min read time
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Travellers searching on our platform want to feel confident that their bookings are flexible enough to adapt to changing circumstances. Allowing changes to non-refundable bookings can help you tap into the demand for flexibility while remaining in control of your revenue, workload and achieving better cash flow management.

What’s in this article

  1. How date changes for non-refundable bookings work
  2. Conditions for date changes for non-refundable bookings
  3. Setting up date changes for non-refundable bookings
  4. FAQ

How date changes for non-refundable bookings work

Most guests on our platform book flexible rates in the event they have to change their plans at the last minute. More than half of all cancellations due to guests wanting to modify their booking occur because of date change needs. However, we understand that you also need security in your revenue.

That’s why we offer a date change for non-refundable bookings. It allows guests one change to their stay dates, without affecting the rest of their reservation. This added assurance reduces the risk of cancellations.

By enhancing your non-refundable rate with some flexibility, you benefit from secure revenue while also offering guests the confidence that you’ll be able to accommodate their needs. 

Conditions for date changes for non-refundable bookings

The easiest way to guarantee your revenue is to automate the process for date changes for non-refundable bookings. Once you do this, guests will only be able to change dates under certain conditions. They’ll also be able to see the option on your property page.

These are the conditions for date changes:

  • Guests can only reschedule for the same or a higher price.
  • Their booking conditions won’t change.
  • They can only change the dates of their booking once.
  • Their changes can only reflect real-time availability, rates and restrictions.

You can also add additional restrictions, meaning you stay in control of the whole process. For example, you could limit how far in advance a guest can change dates – up to three, five or seven days before check in. You could also set block dates for when a guest cannot change dates.  

Setting up date changes for non-refundable bookings

Here’s how to automate changes for non-refundable bookings:

  1. Log in to the extranet.
  2. Click on Property and then select Policies.
  3. Under Date changes for non-refundable bookings, click on Edit.
  4. Check the box that allows guests to change dates, then select the deadline for making changes.
  5. Add exceptions to the date changes if necessary.
  6. Click Update preferences to save.

FAQ

  • No, the change must result in an equal or higher value.

  • Guests can make one change per reservation.

  • Yes, as long as the total booking value is equal to, or higher than the original reservation.

  • No, the guest can only modify dates with the same non-refundable policy.

  • If you use Payments by Booking, the difference will be added to the existing virtual credit card. 

    If you use another payment method, you can charge guests the difference using the original payment method. Guests will be charged within 24 hours, or they’ll have to provide a new credit card to avoid the booking being cancelled.

  • Yes. The virtual credit card dates will be modified to match the new check-in dates.

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