Bookings
Booking Approval Mode
Last updated 8 July 2026
Booking Approval Mode
TL;DR
- Booking Approval Mode is the Review first booking mode for PRO venues.
- Online bookings are held as Pending requests until you accept, offer other times, or decline.
- Bookings starting within 24 hours still use instant confirmation.
- The setting is changed on web in Settings > Booking settings.
Booking Approval Mode lets a venue review online bookings before they become confirmed appointments. In OpenChair this setting is called Review first under Booking mode. It only affects online bookings far enough in advance for review; walk-in bookings, phone bookings, and online bookings starting within 24 hours are still confirmed instantly.
What is Booking Approval Mode?
Booking Approval Mode is a PRO booking setting that changes online bookings from instant appointments into review requests. When Review first is enabled, eligible online bookings are created with Pending status and an approval deadline.
The booking detail footer shows request actions:
| Action | What it does |
|---|---|
| Accept booking | Confirms the request and sends the customer a booking confirmation. |
| Offer other times | Opens the counter-offer flow so you can suggest alternative slots. |
| Decline request | Declines the request and refunds any deposit automatically. |
How do you turn on Review first mode?
The venue owner turns on Review first mode from the web booking settings page. The mobile Booking settings screen covers cancellation policy, deposit rules, and online availability, but the Review first switch is configured on web.
- Go to Settings.
- Open Booking settings.
- Find Booking mode.
- Select Review first.
- Choose an Approval window.
Note
Review first requires a PRO subscription. FREE venues see the PRO-gated option but cannot enable it.
Settings
Booking Approval Mode has two confirmation modes and one approval window setting.
| Setting | Options | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Booking mode | Instant confirmation, Review first | Instant confirmation |
| Approval window | 4 hours, 6 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours | 12 hours |
The approval window is stored on each pending booking as the venue response deadline. OpenChair sends operator nudges as the deadline approaches, and overdue pending requests remain visible so the venue can still accept, offer other times, or decline from the diary.
What customers see
Customers see the booking as a request when Review first applies. They are told the venue may approve the request, suggest alternative times, or decline it.
If you accept the request, OpenChair sends the normal booking confirmation. If you offer other times, the customer can accept one of the offered slots or cancel the request. If you decline, any deposit is refunded automatically.
Rules and limits
Booking Approval Mode has several rules that affect whether a request is held for review.
| Rule | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| PRO required | Review first cannot be enabled on the FREE plan. |
| Short-lead bookings | Online bookings starting within 24 hours are confirmed instantly. |
| Walk-in and phone bookings | Manual bookings are still instant. |
| Pending request limit | A customer can have up to 2 pending requests at the same venue. |
| Counter-offers | Pending and counter-offered bookings are counted in the approval queue badge. |
Who can use this
| Role | Access |
|---|---|
| Owner | Can enable Review first, choose the approval window, and action pending requests. |
| Manager | Can action pending requests when they can access the booking detail. |
| Team | Can action pending requests when they can access the booking detail. |
Common mistakes
Booking Approval Mode does not make every booking manual-review. Online bookings inside 24 hours, walk-in bookings, and phone bookings are still instant.
The approval window is not a customer cancellation policy. It is the venue response deadline for pending online requests.
Declining is final for the original request. Use Offer other times when the requested time does not work but you can still fit the customer somewhere else.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Review first is greyed out | Check your subscription. Review first requires PRO. |
| A booking confirmed instantly | Check whether it starts within 24 hours, or whether it was created as a walk-in or phone booking. Those bookings stay instant. |
| I cannot see request actions | Open a booking with Pending status from the calendar or booking detail. Confirmed, declined, cancelled, expired, and completed bookings do not show the pending-request footer. |
| The customer has too many pending requests | Ask the customer to wait for a response. OpenChair blocks a third pending request for the same customer at the same venue. |
FAQ
What is Booking Approval Mode?
Booking Approval Mode is the PRO Review first setting for online bookings. It holds eligible online bookings as Pending requests until the venue accepts, offers other times, or declines.
How do I turn on Review first mode?
Go to Settings, open Booking settings, then set Booking mode to Review first. Choose an Approval window of 4 hours, 6 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, or 24 hours.
Who can approve booking requests?
The venue owner can configure Review first mode. Signed-in venue members who can open the booking detail can use Accept booking, Offer other times, or Decline request on pending requests.
Why did an online booking confirm instantly?
An online booking confirms instantly when it starts within 24 hours, even if Review first mode is on. Walk-in and phone bookings are also instant.