In this article, you will learn: What the “Allow Future Appointments” feature does, how it works, and what purpose it serves.
Table of Contents:
- What is the “Allow Future Appointments” feature?
- How does the “Allow Future Appointments” feature work?
- Why do members receive the “Pending” status?
- When is the “Pending” status removed?
- Where can I enable or disable this feature?
- What are the benefits of this feature?
What is the “Allow Future Appointments” feature?
This feature allows members to book an appointment in the future, even if their current contract expires before the appointment date. The system assumes that the contract will be automatically renewed upon expiry.
Example:
A member has a contract that ends on the 28th of the month, but renewal is already planned. With the “Allow Future Appointments” feature enabled, the member can still book an appointment for the 29th.
How does the “Allow Future Appointments” feature work?
The system checks with each reservation whether the member’s contract will still be valid on the appointment date. If the contract had expired but is set to be automatically renewed, the reservation is allowed – but initially given the status “Pending”.
An automated system check runs regularly to verify whether the member's contract has been renewed.
- If the contract remains active, the “Pending” status is removed, and the reservation remains valid.
- If the contract is not renewed, the system automatically cancels the reservation to free up space for other participants.
Why do members receive the “Pending” status?
A member receives this status if:
- The booking is for a future appointment.
- The current contract expires before the appointment date.
- The contract renewal is planned but not yet officially confirmed.
Once the system confirms that the contract has been renewed, the status automatically updates.
When is the “Pending” status removed?
The status is removed when the system confirms that the member has a valid contract for the booked appointment. This typically happens through an automated check that runs regularly.
Possible scenarios:
✅ Contract renewed: The status changes from “Pending” to “Confirmed”.
❌ Contract not renewed: The booking is cancelled, and the slot is released.
Where can I enable or disable this feature?
The setting for the “Allow Future Appointments” feature can be adjusted directly in the course settings within the System. Follow these steps:
- Open the course management section in your system.
- Select the relevant course, enter “Administration”.
- Go to the “included contingent for members” section.
- Find the option “Allow future bookings without contingent” in the dropdown menu.
- Here, you can enable or disable the feature.
What are the benefits of this feature?
- More flexibility for members: Members can continue booking appointments without interruptions, even if their current contract is set to expire soon.
- Automated verification instead of manual intervention: The system efficiently manages reservations and ensures that only eligible members can participate.
- Prevention of overbooking: If a contract is not renewed, the reservation is automatically cancelled, making the slot available for other members.
Summary
The “Allow Future Appointments” feature ensures that members can continue booking appointments even after their contract expires, as long as a renewal is planned. The “Pending” status indicates that the system is still awaiting confirmation of the contract renewal. Once confirmed, the reservation is either automatically approved or cancelled.