Bookings
Resize Booking Duration
Last updated 8 July 2026
Resize Booking Duration
Resize booking duration when an appointment needs more or less time without moving it to a different staff member or rebuilding the whole booking. Calendar resize changes the booking start or end time, updates the itinerary plan, checks conflicts, and records the change in booking history. It is best for simple time adjustments, such as extending a colour service by 15 minutes or shortening a finish that ended early.
TL;DR
- Resize duration from the calendar when the booking needs more or less time in the same slot.
- Duration changes snap to 15-minute steps and never go below the service minimum.
- Clients are not notified automatically after a calendar duration resize.
- Use the itinerary editor for deeper service order, segment, gap, or staff assignment changes.
What duration resize changes
Duration resize changes the appointment's timing and itinerary plan, not the service menu template. OpenChair recalculates the booking start or end time, line-item duration, assigned staff snapshot, segment timing, and booking history entry for that booking only.
| Resize type | What changes |
|---|---|
| End-time resize | Extends or shortens the booking from the bottom edge while keeping the start time the same. |
| Start-time resize | Moves the start edge while keeping the end time the same. This is available from mobile selected-booking resize handles. |
| Service-part resize | Changes one visible service part inside a split or multi-service booking while preserving the parent booking context. |
If OpenChair has to clamp the change to a minimum duration, the success message says Booking shortened to the minimum service duration and a follow-up message says Use the itinerary editor for deeper runbook changes.
Resize from the web calendar
On web, resize from the bottom edge of an active booking block in the calendar.
- Open Calendar.
- Hover the booking block.
- Drag the bottom resize handle up or down.
- Release the handle when the block ends at the correct time.
- Check the success toast for Booking duration updated.
The web calendar previews the new end time while you drag, snaps to 15-minute intervals, and blocks hard overlaps with other bookings. The success toast says Client not notified and includes Undo.
Resize from mobile
On mobile, duration resize is available from selected booking handles and from the booking detail duration sheet.
| Mobile surface | How it works |
|---|---|
| Schedule tab selected booking | Select a booking, then drag the Start-time resize handle or End-time resize handle. The preview pill shows Starts [time] or Ends [time] and the new duration. |
| Booking detail | Open the booking detail screen, open Adjust duration, then use 15 min, -30, Reset, or +30 before tapping Save duration. |
While the save is in progress, the selected booking can show Updating duration.... Mobile success messages also include Undo where the resize path supports it.
Schedule warnings and overrides
OpenChair checks the resized booking against operating hours, team working hours, blocked time, active work overlaps, and itinerary service overlaps. A hard conflict is blocked. A soft scheduling warning requires explicit acknowledgement before the resize is saved.
On web, the override dialog shows the warning, the new end time, and the checkbox I understand this change overrides normal scheduling safeguards. Tick the checkbox, then choose Resize anyway.
On mobile, the duration sheet shows the warning and the checkbox I understand this overrides normal scheduling. Tick the checkbox, then choose Confirm override.
Notifications and history
Duration resize records the change in booking history, but it does not automatically message the client. The resize call saves with client notification turned off, and the success description says Client not notified.
| Item | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| Client notification | Not sent by the calendar duration resize flow. |
| Staff notification | Internal staff booking-changed notification is triggered after a successful resize. |
| Booking history | Records the resize source, edge, previous timing, new timing, override reason, and itinerary diff. |
| External calendar sync | Existing external calendar links are marked for a pending push after the booking timing changes. |
When to use the itinerary editor instead
Use the itinerary editor when the booking needs more than a simple start or end adjustment. Duration resize is quick, but it is not a full runbook editor.
| Use duration resize | Use the itinerary editor |
|---|---|
| Add or remove 15 minutes from the end of the appointment | Reorder services in a multi-service booking |
| Pull the start edge earlier or later on mobile | Change staff assignment for a service segment |
| Adjust one visible service part from the calendar | Change processing gaps or deeper segment timing |
| Fix a small overrun without notifying the client | Review broader conflicts before changing the service plan |
Who can use this
| Role | Access |
|---|---|
| Owner | Can resize bookings from calendar and booking detail surfaces they can access. |
| Manager | Can resize bookings from calendar and booking detail surfaces they can access. |
| Team | Can resize bookings according to their normal calendar and booking permissions. |
| Customer | Cannot resize duration from My Bookings or the manage booking page. Customers can reschedule or cancel when venue rules allow it. |
Common mistakes
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Expecting the client to receive an automatic update | Send or refresh a confirmation from the booking detail if the customer needs the changed time. |
| Using resize for complex multi-service edits | Use the itinerary editor when service order, gaps, staff assignment, or segment timing need review. |
| Dragging into another booking | Pick another time or use the booking detail tools. Hard overlaps are blocked. |
| Ignoring the minimum duration clamp | If the booking will not shorten further, the service has reached its minimum duration. Edit the itinerary or service setup if the planned time is wrong. |
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| I cannot see the resize handle on web | Hover an active booking block in the calendar. Resize is not available in kiosk mode or for blocks that cannot be dragged. |
| The booking says Updating duration... | Wait for the save to finish. If the schedule does not refresh, pull to refresh on mobile or reload the calendar. |
| I see This resize conflicts with the schedule. | The resize hit a hard conflict. Choose a different duration or move the booking first. |
| I see a scheduling override warning | Review the warning. Tick the acknowledgement only if you intentionally want to save outside normal scheduling safeguards. |
| Undo did not complete | Resize the booking back manually or update it from the appointment details. |
FAQ
How do I resize a booking duration?
On web, hover the booking block and drag the bottom resize handle. On mobile, select the booking and use the start or end resize handle, or open Adjust duration from the booking detail screen.
Does resizing a booking notify the client?
No. Calendar duration resize saves with Client not notified. Use the booking detail confirmation tools if the client needs an updated message.
What happens if the new duration creates a schedule warning?
OpenChair asks for an explicit scheduling override. Tick the acknowledgement, then choose Resize anyway on web or Confirm override on mobile if you still want to save the warned time.
Can I undo a duration resize?
Yes. After a successful resize, use Undo in the success toast before it disappears. If undo fails, resize the booking back manually or update it from the appointment details.