> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.dishink.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Reservations

> Reserve a table for a future guest — how the Reserved status works, converting to an active session, and daily housekeeping.

Reservations hold a table for a future guest, keeping it off-limits to walk-ins and giving hosts a clear visual cue on the floor plan.

## Overview

A reservation is a **table-level** state, not a session. That means:

* The table is still Free — there's no open bill.
* The card shows the **Reserved** border colour on the floor plan.
* Walk-ins can't be seated at that table by mistake (staff will see the Reserved badge).
* Waiters and cashiers can still take a reservation without a Manager PIN.

## Reserve a table

1. Open the target table from the floor plan.
2. In the Table Session modal, tap **Reserved**.
3. Optionally add a note in the reservation field: *"7pm, Mr. Banda, party of 6"*.
4. Confirm.

<Frame caption="Reserving a table — note the reserved border colour">
  <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/dishink/images/tables/reservations.png" alt="Reservation" />
</Frame>

The card immediately shows the Reserved colour, and the reservation appears in the status pill count at the top of the floor.

## Guests arrive — convert to active

When the reservation walks in:

1. Tap the reserved table.
2. Tap **Open** (or **Ordering**) to start the session.
3. Enter the guest count and (optionally) the assigned waiter.
4. The Reserved state clears automatically.

The table is now Ordering. The reservation note is preserved in the session history for the shift report.

## Cancel a reservation

1. Tap the reserved table.
2. Tap **Free** (or **Cancel Reservation**).
3. Confirm.

No Manager PIN required for cancellation.

## Reservations across shifts

Reservations do **not** auto-expire. If a table is still Reserved at end of shift and no one arrived:

* The manager should **cancel** it as part of shift close-out.
* Otherwise the table stays Reserved into the next shift, blocking walk-ins.

<Warning>
  Manager PINs are **not** required to cancel a reservation, but a habit of leaving stale reservations on the board causes lost revenue — include a reservation sweep in your close-out checklist.
</Warning>

## Can I reserve an active table?

No. If the table is Ordering, Preparing, Served, Billing, or Merged, the **Reserved** button is disabled with a tooltip explaining why. Close the current session first.

For "future occupancy planning" where the current guests will leave soon, you have two options:

1. Wait for them to leave, then reserve.
2. Reserve a **different free table** for the incoming guests.

## Reservations and split lock

Reservations are unaffected by split lock — they operate on tables, not sessions. You can reserve neighbouring tables even while others have active split payments.

## Tips & best practices

<Tip>
  Include the **guest name and party size** in the reservation note. It shows up in the modal when staff tap the table, so any waiter can greet the group correctly.
</Tip>

<Tip>
  Reserve **windows**, not points. If the guest is booked for 7pm, reserve from 6:30 to give buffer. If the previous session runs long, at least you've flagged it.
</Tip>

<Tip>
  Cancel stale reservations at end of shift. It's a 10-second job that keeps the next shift's floor plan clean.
</Tip>

## Common mistakes

* **Reserving an occupied table.** Blocked. Wait for the session to close.
* **Forgetting to cancel a no-show.** The table sits Reserved forever until someone acts.
* **Using Reserved as a "do not touch" flag.** For maintenance or cleaning, just leave it Free and note it verbally. Reserved is for actual guests.

## Related pages

* [Table Statuses](/tables/table-statuses)
* [Floor Plan](/tables/floor-plan)
* [Waiter Assignments](/tables/waiter-assignments)
* [Opening Tables](/waiter/opening-tables)